The Six Degrees of Separation meme is hosted by Kate at booksaremyfavoriteandbest. The idea behind the meme is to start with a book and use common points between two books to end up with links to six books, forming a chain. The common points may be obvious, like a word in the title or a shared theme, or more personal. Every month Kate provides the title of a book as the starting point.
The starting book this month is Rapture by Emily Maguire. This is a historical fiction novel, set in the 800s, about a young girl who becomes a monk by disguising herself as a male. I may read this book because it sounds interesting and is not overly long. The book was longlisted for the 2025 Stella Prize, which celebrates the best writing by women and non-binary authors in Australia.
1st degree:
My first link is to another Australian novel, Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay, published in 1967. The story is about a group of young female college students that go on a picnic. Some of the girls don't return.
2nd degree:
Using "Rock" in the title of the previous book takes me to my next book, Brighton Rock by Graham Greene, published in 1938. I haven't read much by Greene so I was happy to find this old hardback edition of Brighton Rock with the dust jacket mostly intact at the 2023 Planned Parenthood book sale. The protagonist is Pinkie, a teenage gang leader who has murdered a journalist and thinks he can get away with it. The book goes beyond a thriller to explore moral issues.
3rd degree:
The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffith's is my next link because of its setting – Brighton, in the 1950s. This is from the description at the author's website: "When the body of a girl is found, cut into three, Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens is reminded of a magic trick, the Zig Zag Girl. The inventor of the trick, Max Mephisto, is an old friend of Edgar’s. They served together in the war as part of a shadowy unit called the Magic Men." This is the first book in the Brighton Mysteries series, and I have not yet read it.
4th degree:
Another book with "Girl" in the title is Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart. This book is also the start of a historical mystery series, set in the early 1900s in New Jersey. It is based on a real woman who was one of the first female deputy sheriffs in the US.
5th degree:
Again using a word from the title, I link to Gunshine State by Andrew Nette. This is a gritty heist novel set in Australia. Description at Goodreads: "Gary Chance is a former Australian army driver, ex-bouncer and thief. His latest job takes him to Surfers Paradise, Queensland, working for aging standover man, Dennis Curry. Curry runs off-site, non-casino poker games, and wants to rob one of his best customers, a high roller called Freddie Gao. ... Chance knows he can’t trust anyone, but nothing prepares him for what unfolds when Curry’s plan goes wrong."
6th degree:
Gunshine State takes me to State of Wonder by Ann Patchett, a novel that is set in the jungles of Brazil. From the description at the author's website: "Dr. Marina Singh, a research scientist with a pharmaceutical company, is sent to track down her former mentor, Dr. Annick Swenson, who seems to have all but disappeared in the Amazon while working on what is destined to be an extremely valuable new drug. Nothing about the assignment is easy: not only does no one know where Dr. Swenson is, but the last person who was sent to find her, Marina's research partner Anders Eckman, died before he could complete his mission."
My Six Degrees took me from Australia to the UK, then to the US and back to Australia, but ended in Brazil. I have not read any of the books in this post, but I have five of them on my TBR shelves. Have you read any of these books?
If you did this month's Six Degrees, where did your list take you?
The next Six Degrees will be on June 7, 2025 and the starting book will be All Fours by Miranda July.
26 comments:
I've read (and enjoyed) books by Griffiths and Patchett, and of course Graham Greene, but you've introduced me to some new-to-me authors too. A clever chain!
You have such great choices here, Tracy! Picnic at Hanging Rock is such an eerie book in its way; it's very atmospheric. And I haven't thought of Gunshine State in a few years. Thanks for reminding me of it. I think Andrew Nette is a skilled author.
Ah, I didn't know that our starting book was a Stella Prize nominee. Very nice chain here.
I've read none of these, Tracy, but I one that most interests me is PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK, which became my favorite film of all time.
I've always meant to read Picnic at Hanging Rock. I think that might be a good choice for my book group.
I did not like Zig Zag Girl nearly as much as her other series but I think I also read the second book in the series. And although I have liked most of Ann Patchett's books, State of Wonder was too buggy/snaky for me!
I've read several of these books. I liked Picnic at Hanging Rock, though it's a little odd. I really enjoyed reading Zig Zag Girl; it's a very fun mystery. And I have mixed feelings about State of Wonder--I love that Amazon setting, and I liked parts of it, but really didn't like something else that happens in it. Fun book chain. :D
I saw another blogger's take on this and I love seeing how everyone ties their links together. Hers was great and so is yours! I've read other books from several of your authors, but none of these titles. Picnic at Hanging Rock will be on my next Classics Club list. Good job!
Thanks, Margaret. I enjoyed doing this Six Degrees because it reminded of some books on my TBR that have been sitting on the shelves for a while.
Nice work. I like hearing of the Australian books--of them I'd only heard [no surprise, I'm sure] of Picnic at Hanging Rock. State of Wonder was really good.
Great selection of books Tracy. Rapture sounds interesting and Griffiths and Patchett are two authors that I must read. I have heard very good things about both of these authors.
I probably heard of Gunshine State first at your blog, Margot. It is about time I read it. I had never thought of reading Picnic at Hanging Rock but now I think I would like it.
Thanks, Davida. For some reason I thought it was now on the shortlist for the prize, but it did not make it there. Now that I know a little more about Rapture, it sounds worth a try.
Jerry, I have not seen Picnic at Hanging Rock, but now I would like to read the book first... then watch the film. Assuming I can get access to it.
Constance, I think Picnic at Hanging Rock would be great for a book group. It would be useful to hear lots of opinions about the story.
I thought I might like the Brighton series better than the Ruth Galloway series since it is not told in present tense. But I am still reading the Ruth Galloway series even though her style of writing annoys me sometimes.
I hope I like State of Wonder. We will see.
Lark, I am glad you liked Zig Zag Girl, I don't why it has taken me so long to read it. I have read several negative comments on State of Wonder, and they are all different. It makes me curious.
Thanks, Kelly. This chain was all over the place. Sometimes I like to have a theme. I am surprised that I never read Picnic at Hanging Rock before now.
Tracy, PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK is a 1973 Australian film by Peter Weir, one that helped cement his international reputation. In 1996 it was voted Best Australian Movie of All Time. It was also the basis for a six-part Australian television show in 2018, but this version is a pale shadow of the original film.
Lisa, I am glad you enjoyed State of Wonder. My experience so far with Ann Patchett's books have been very positive, so I hope I like that one.
Kathy, I think both Griffiths and Patchett are good authors to check out. With Griffiths' books, I have sometimes had problems with the use of present tense. I have less experience with Patchett.
Jerry, I would definitely want to watch the 1973 film. It is available via Max I think, but currently we don't get that. Maybe someday.
Superb links - Picnic at Hanging Rock was such an eerie book and film!
State of Wonder was such an interesting book! Good chain!
Marina Sofia, for the first time all my links are ones I have not yet read, and I want to read all of them. Picnic at Hanging Rock is the only one I don't have a copy of, but I will remedy that towards the end of the year.
Marg, State of Wonder has an unusual setting, and I like that, and I am thinking that the characters will be interesting too. I look forward to reading it.
So many interesting books in this chain (and I am adding them all to my poor groaning tbr!!).. My post is here - https://www.ladyinreadwrites.com/full-circle-from-rapture-to-more-and-back-again/
I know what you mean by an already overloaded TBR, Lady in Red. I checked out your post and was impressed with your choices.
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