Welcome to this month's edition of Six Degrees of Separation, which is a monthly meme hosted by Kate from Books Are My Favourite and Best. The idea is to start with a specific book and make a series of links from one book to the next using whatever link you can find and see where you end up after six links. I am also linking this post up with The Sunday Salon, hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz and A Good Book and a Cup of Tea hosted at Boondock Ramblings.
This month, the starting point is Land by Maggie O'Farrell, which is a book that I do intend to read but haven't yet. It's funny, I had already done my chain when I actually read the synopsis and I am pretty sure I could have come up with a completely different chain! Anyway, it's done now, and I am happy with it, so here we go!
Maggie O'Farrell is an author who I should have read more from, but I haven't. The only one of her books I have read is Hamnet, which I really loved.
Hamnet tells the story of Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, particularly following the impact on their lives of the loss of their son. Last year, I listened to Dame Judi Dench's book Shakespeare: the Man Who Pays the Rent which was co-written by Brendan O'Hara. This was an excellent book and audio.
My latest audio book is Unruly Kings:The Ridiculous History of England's Kings and Queens by David Mitchell who not only wrote the book but is also narrating it as well. I am familiar with David Mitchell from the British panel show Would I Lie to You
One of our favourite regular panelists on Would I lie to You is comedian Bob Mortimer. Last year we started listening to his novel The Satsuma Complex, which he also narrates, while we were on a weekend away but we never finished it.
An audiobook that I started listening to recently but decided to stop was The Names by Florence Knapp. It wasn't that the book wasn't good or that the narration wasn't good. Irish actor Dervla Kerwin was doing a great job. It's just that I felt like it is a book that I need to read so I can get through it quickly rather than listening to it over a number of weeks or month.
If I think of books that I have read set in Florence, one that immediately comes to mind is Still Life by Sarah Wingate. This book is almost a love letter to the city and it is a read that has stayed with me, despite it not being an absolute favourite!
Will you be joining us?
Still Life isn't a favourite of mine either but I did love the descriptions of Florence!
ReplyDeleteThat was my favourite part of the book Helen!
DeleteI don't think I've read anything by Maggie O'Farrell, and decided to correct that after reading some of the reviews on her books. Got Instructions for a Heatwave reserved. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy that book!
DeleteI'm reading the Judi Dench right now, and loving every minute. I'm guessing it would be awesome as an audiobook. As for The Names... yeah, I think you should try to read it instead of listen to it. Finally, I also loved Hamnet. I've read all of O'Farrell's books, and while I also loved Land, my favorite is still Hamnet.
ReplyDeleteI will get to reading The Names in due course
DeleteWe started with the same couple of first steps! But then branched wildly! Fun.
ReplyDeleteIt's unusual to see the same first two links!
DeleteI love the cover of The Satsuma Complex!
ReplyDeleteI must get back to finish listening to that book!
DeleteI keep meaning to read more Maggie O'Farrell, too!
ReplyDeleteGood intentions and all that!
DeleteAren't you the historical fiction lover! I love that you say that "Maggie O'Farrell is an author who I should have read more from, but I haven't". I reckon you should have too! (Just teasing). I enjoyed your chain. I have read Hamnet (and one other O'Farrell) and I would like to rad Judi Dench's book on Shakespeare. A couple of other books in your chain intrigue me but whether I'll ever get to read them is another thing.
ReplyDelete