Book Reviews

‘The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.’ Alan Bennett

“Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.” ― Franz Kafka

Saturday, 5 July 2014

Six Degrees of Separation: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

6 Degrees of Separation is an original meme hosted by authors Annabel Smith and Emma Chapman. All are welcome to join in; just follow the guidelines below. And if you don’t have a blog, simply post your chain in the comments.  - See more on Annabel Smith and Emma Chapman's sites 



This month the starting point is...


The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I was delighted to hear the author speak about the novel in Cambridge when she was in the UK for the launch, though I haven't read it yet! Another author I met in Cambridge and saw at the same wonderful venue at the last Literature Festival there was Pat Barker who discussed her novels, including the Regeneration Trilogy, so I'll take Regeneration as my next link:


Regeneration by Pat Barker: this deals with the First World War and features war poets Siegfried Sasson and Wilfred Owen, which reminds me of this novel...


The Great Lover by Jill Dawson: which takes Rupert Brooke, another WWI poet, as a subject, is partly set in Grantchester near Cambridge, and incidentally I also saw Jill Dawson at the Literature Festival, where she appeared with Rachel Joyce...



The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce: in which Harold journeys across much of England, which reminded me of...



Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson: a very funny and warmhearted travel book which sees the author travel around the UK, and whose title brought me to...


Small Island by Andrea Levy: an excellent novel I read several years ago now, telling of an immigrant's experience, which reminded me of...


The Road Home by Rose Tremain: another novel I really loved, and which also tells of an immigrant's experience in the UK. 

That's my six degrees post for July, from The Goldfinch to The Road Home!

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4 comments:

  1. Felicity Grace Terry5 July 2014 at 10:17

    Another great selection, it never fails to amaze me just how wide a range of books appear on this meme.

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  2. Brian Joseph5 July 2014 at 15:53

    Another interesting post on the topic of this meme.


    I also want to read the Goldfinch. It really looks good.

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  3. Anonymous8 July 2014 at 04:23

    Great picks! Soooooooo jealous that you got to hear Donna Tartt speak. Don't be daunted by the size of The Goldfinch - it's easy and compelling reading.

    Glad to see Rose Tremain in your list - I always enjoy her writing and each time I read anything of hers, I think to myself that I must seek out more. I haven't read The Road Home, so will be looking it up.

    Here's my chain: http://booksaremyfavouriteandbest.wordpress.com/2014/07/08/six-degrees-of-separation-from-the-goldfinch-to-playing-beatie-bow/

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  4. Anonymous8 July 2014 at 06:18

    Thanks for playing; it's interesting to see so many UK books on your list - I read very few English writers which is something I keep trying to remedy and not quite getting there. The Great Lover has the most beautiful cover.

    ReplyDelete

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