The starting point this month is Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. As usual, I know very little about this book. It came out in 2019, and it was a very successful debut novel. It explores marriage and divorce.
My first link is to A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin. Published in 1956, it was also a very successful debut novel. I read it for the first time this month. Too tense for me, but a well-written book.
Which leads me to another suspense novel. Queenpin by Megan Abbott gave me the same feelings of tension and dread while reading the book. Set in the 1940s or 50s, in the world of gangsters and gamblers, with two women as the main characters, a young woman learning the ropes from an older woman.
My next link is to A Night of Long Knives by Rebecca Cantrell, also a historical mystery and also featuring a strong female protagonist. The setting is 1930's Germany.
Still in Germany, or at least another version of Germany, is SS-GB, by Len Deighton, an alternate history, set in a world where Germany won World War II and the UK is invaded. Although Len Deighton is one of my favorite authors, I still haven't read this book.
Another alternate history / mystery novel is The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. This one is set around the same time but the story is quite different. In this book, Jewish refugees settled in Sitka, Alaska rather than Israel following World War II. An unusual and fascinating book.
And the location of the previous book took me to my last link in the chain, The Woman Who Married a Bear by John Straley, also set in Sitka. This was the first book in a series featuring Cecil Younger as a private investigator.
It has been several months since I last participated in Six Degrees meme, and I enjoyed doing again. My chain this month mainly used links to locations. With the exception of Fleishman is in Trouble, and SS-GB, I have read all of the books and enjoyed them.
Next month the meme will start with Lucy Treloar’s Wolfe Island.
19 comments:
Excellent links, Tracy! I'm reminded that I wanted to read SS-GB a while ago so must get around to it. Also interested in The Yiddish Policemen's Union and The Woman Who Married a Bear. In fact all of your books sound inreresting. I can see this meme is not going to decrease my tbr pile...
You have a really clever set of connections here, Tracy. And I really like your choices. Megan Abbott and Rebecca Cantrell have both written some excellent books, haven't they? And I've been wanting to read The Yiddish Policeman's Union since it came out. I'm glad you reminded me of it.
Can't follow it...maybe being sick (a week now!!) has muzzied up my brain. At least I've read one of them.
well, half of one. I didn't finish the Straley.
Cath, I have had SS-GB many years and I don't know why I haven't read it. I always put off reading alternate histories but I usually enjoy them when I do.
I enjoyed The Yiddish Policemen's Union a lot but I found it confusing to read. That was sort of true for The Woman Who Married a Bear, also, but I liked the main character... even though he was an alcoholic... and I have more to read in that series.
Margot, I really need to read more by Megan Abbott. Based on reviews I have read, I am sure they fall in the "too tense for me" category, but I think they will be worth the effort.
Rick, I am sure it is me. I don't want to be too wordy so then I err on the side of not saying enough. I am sorry you are still sick. I have been bothered by allergies lately, which makes me feel spacey.
I was intrigued when The Woman Who Married a Bear was the final link. I found it one of the best books I read in 2019. I hope to read more of the series in 2020. Cecil Younger has been dysfunctional but I found him more reflective than self-destructive.
I liked that book a lot too, Bill. I have more in that series by John Straley and plan to read book #2 this year.
Nice chain. I've read two Chabon but not this one because my husband said it was a bit too strange for him, and he's more apt to enjoy stranger books.
Nice chain!
Thanks, Davida. I remember enjoying The Yiddish Policemen's Union a lot, but I reread my review and I had problems with confusion with various aspects of the writing and the story while reading it. I have not read anything else by Chabon. I enjoyed your chain too.
I am considering reading the Fleishmann book - I have heard good things. Though am trying not to buy any new books.
Thanks, Maria Helena. I went over to your blog and checked out your chain, it was a nice mix of titles.
Moira, I am with you, I am trying not to buy any new books either, and not succeeding. I had mixed reactions to the Fleishmann book when I looked into it for this chain. At first it seemed very interesting, I like reading about marriage and relationships. And then I read a lot of negative reviews, so could not decide. Plus of course I already have plenty to read for now. So, if you read the book and pass on your thoughts, maybe that will help me decide.
Tracy, I do plan on reading Ira Levin this year. I'm also intrigued by Rebecca Cantrell's "A Night of Long Knives" both for the subject and the setting.
Prashant, I hope to hear what you think of any Ira Levin book you read. Rebecca Cantrell's books are very good, I have not finished that series yet.
A few there I want to read.........Deighton, Levin, Abbott and Straley. There's never enough time though.
I know exactly what you mean, Col. Everywhere I go in my house I have unread books staring at me. And I keep finding more books and authors to read.
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