Saturday 1 February 2020

Six Degrees of Separation


The Six Degrees of Separation meme is a monthly meme hosted by Books are my Favorite and Best. This is my second go at this so it looks like it's going to become a regular thing with me.

Books can be linked in obvious ways – for example, books by the same authors, from the same era or genre, or books with similar themes or settings. Or, you may choose to link them in more personal ways: books you read on the same holiday, books given to you by a particular friend, books that remind you of a particular time in your life, or books you read for an online challenge.

A book doesn’t need to be connected to all the other books on the list, only to the ones next to them in the chain.


This month's chain begins with Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, a book set in New York about a newly divorced man who is suddenly irresistibly attractive to women.


I haven't read this and have no intention of doing so, so the link I've chosen is New York as I don't know enough about the book to choose another. Also living in New York, but in real life, is screenwriter, film director and essayist, Nora Ephron.




Her book, I Feel Bad About My Neck, is a book of essays about all sorts of subjects but my favourite by far were those where she speaks about everyday life in New York. Fascinating.

Another excellent book of essays is Making It Up As I Go Along by Marian Keyes.




Marian is Irish and speaks about her homeland and its people with warmth and humour, I loved this book. Also set in Ireland is Haunted Ground by Erin Hart.




This rather good archaeological crime story with a wonderful sense of Ireland is based around the finding of a severed head in peat bog. Severed heads (isn't this lovely?) also feature strongly in Head in the Sand by Damien Boyd.




This excellent series is set in and around the county of Somerset in the UK. As is the title story in a book of short stories, The Sedgemoor Strangler by Peter Lovesey.




It's an excellent murder story set on the Somerset Levels not far from where I live, in fact this is a very solid short story collection all told.

So, my journey this month has taken me from New York to Ireland and thus to Somerset in the UK. Not many stops this time but good fun nevertheless.

Next month will begin with Wolfe Island by Lucy Treloar.

~~~oOo~~~

9 comments:

Marg said...

I must take a look at the Marian Keyes book. Did you ever see the cookbook she did. She included a number of anecdotes about her life in that which were interesting.

I enjoyed your chain.

TracyK said...

Cath, this is a very interesting chain. I am not familiar with Erin Hart. I will have to ask my husband if he is interested; he likes the combination of archaeology and mystery. I know severed heads are not that uncommon in crime fiction (especially on TV) but still very icky.

The Marian Keyes book sounds good. Have you read any of her fiction?

DesLily said...

Sigh... Haunted Ground sounds good. So many books for and old lady...

Cath said...

Marg: I think I knew MK had written a cookbook but no I haven't seen it. I'll check the library as I love her anedotes. We see her on TV occasionally and she always creases me up with the things she comes out with.

Tracy: I think the best archaeology crime combo is definitely Ruth Galloway by Elly Griffiths. I can't remember if you read those or not but they are wonderful.

No, I haven't read any of MK's fiction, not really my thing to be honest, prefer her essay type books.

Pat: Don't rush out to buy Haunted Ground. It was 'okay', quite readable, but nothing amazing.

TracyK said...

Cath, my husband read two of the Elly Griffiths books, and I have read the first four books. I hope to continue with them but now there are 12. So far behind.

Cath said...

Tracy: I'm behind with the Ruth Galloway books too, not sure how many, 3 I think. In fact I seem to be behind with most of my series. Maybe I don't like the idea of waiting for the next book to come out. LOL!

Margaret @ BooksPlease said...

I don't fancy reading the Fleishman book either, but the other books in your chain do look interesting!

I'll check the library for the Marian Keyes book. I think she's very funny when I've seen her on TV and I haven't read any of her essays - not so keen on her fiction, though.

Sam said...

I've never tried to do one of these, but find it fascinating to compare book one and book six, books you would have never believed had much of a connection, if any at all. Fun stuff.

Cath said...

Margaret: Here's a strange thing. We went to the library on Monday and there on the 'newly arrived' table was that Fleishman book. I wasn't tempted...

No, I'm not keen on MK's fiction either, I fancy I tried one of her books and couldn't get on with it.

Sam: I've decided I like doing it for the mental exercise. I surely need it. LOL!!