It’s time for #6degrees. Start at the same place as other wonderful readers, add six books, and see where you end up.
This month we begin with Orbital by Samantha Harvey. This links to Judith Schalansky’s An Inventory of Losses , in which Schalansky refers to the time capsules on board the Voyager space probes – ‘…the authors of this space-age message in a bottle themselves conceded… [that the chances of the time capsules being found are], …so slim that this undertaking can be viewed as the product of a kind of magical thinking that lives on in the scientific community…’.
One of my favourite essays in An Inventory of Losses was about a ‘lost island’, which provides a snapshot of Schalansky’s first book, Atlas of Remote Islands.
Based on name alone, my next link is to Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart.
Atlas of the Heart is organised according to emotion, as is Garth Risk Hallberg’s incredibly creative novel, A Field Guide to the North American Family.
I was so impressed by Field Guide that I rushed to Hallberg’s back catalogue, which features his award-winning debut novel, City on Fire.
City on Fire is a door-stopper at over 900 pages. Do I dare…?! The last door-stopper I read was 11/22/63 by Stephen King, which totalled 849 pages. I only have the strength for one a year – maybe it will be City on Fire in 2025.
Where will other chains go? Link up below or post your link in the comments section.
Next month (February 1, 2025), we’ll begin with a classic – Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.
Great chain Kate … though I’ve heard of almost none of your links this time. I haven’t read that length doorstopper since I don’t know when. My doorstopper for 2025 will be my reading group’s summer read, and it’s only about 650 pages. That’s doorstopper enough for me!
Anyhow here’s my link which, of course, went in a different direction though I briefly considered an outer space approach: https://whisperinggums.com/2025/01/04/six-degrees-of-separation-from-orbital-to/
Inhave been debating back and forth about City of Fire but since I’m reading by random pick this year I don’t know that it will come up. Orbital and Dusk are both on our 2025 reading group list. I like Robbie Arnott but not read Orbital yet.
Very interesting chain. I’ve only read Orbital and know about Stephen King’s book, but haven’t read it. Always wonderful to hear about new-to-me books.
Great chain I researched books set in space or spacemen books but went in an entirely different direction. I have Atlas of the Heart on my shelf, it was a birthday present but haven’t had a chance to take a good look at it yet.
I loved 11/22/63 – it’s certainly a doorstop of a book!
I think I’ve added to the linky but just in case, here’s mine for this month.
https://portobellobookblog.com/2025/01/04/6degrees-of-separation-for-january-2025-from-orbital-by-samantha-harvey-to-devorgilla-days-by-kathleen-hart/
I haven’t read any of those books, although I used to read a lot of Stephen King. Good luck with that 900 page doorstopper!
Here’s mine: https://shereadsnovels.com/2025/01/04/six-degrees-of-separation-from-orbital-to-prague-nights/
Here’s mine: https://anzlitlovers.com/2025/01/04/six-degrees-of-separation-from-orbital/
Smart chain which has added a few titles to my list!
Here’s mine: https://alifeinbooks.co.uk/2025/01/six-degrees-of-separation-orbital-to-disobedience/
awesome chain to start the year. It made me curious about several books, especially A Field Guide to the North American Family.
Mine: https://wordsandpeace.com/2025/01/04/six-degrees-of-separation-loyal-servants/
I like the brevity of your post and I’m delighted with the starting book for next month – Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos is a book I loved!
My link is up now: https://hopewellslibraryoflife.wordpress.com/2025/01/04/six-degrees-of-separation-orbital-by-samatha-harvey/
Happy New Year, Kate! I don’t know any of these, even the Stephen King book, although I met him a couple times when working at Penguin in the 90s. He once came to watch The Stand miniseries with staff and you have never seen so much candy for us to munch!
Here is my chain: https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/2025/01/six-degrees-of-separation-from-orbital.html
Great chain. I also used space travel for mine.
Here it is:
https://booksaremyfavouriteandbest.com/2025/01/04/six-degrees-of-separation-from-orbital-to-11-22-63/
I’ve never seen this chain before, it’s a fabulous idea. I might try the next one. I tried to read 11/12/63 a long time ago, maybe in 2012, but it proved too much of a doorstops for me at the time. I might need to try it again.
I’m late as usual, but aiming to post mine today or tomorrow. But love that you included Judith Schalansky’s Inventory of Losses – a very interesting book, not very widely known.
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I’ve also been a little self-indulgent by including a book I’ve just translated as the last in the set of links, hope that’s ok…
I have only heard of 11/22/63 on your list and read none of them, except – for a change (for once) – am in the middle of reading the starter book this time around! And loving it…
my chain(s) here https://www.ladyinreadwrites.com/two-roads-diverged-in-the-words-with-trivia-twists-too/