It’s time for the super monthly tag Six Degrees of Separation, which is hosted by Kate at Booksaremyfavouriteandbest, Six Degrees of Separation #6degrees picks a starting book for participants to go wherever it takes them in six more steps. Links to my reviews are in the titles of the books chosen. The starter book this month is:
Seascraper by Benjamin Wood
Wood’s Booker longlisted novella was the buddy read for #NovNov25, and there’s much to like in the tale of a young man stuck in a failing job harvesting shrimp with a horse and cart, but yearning for a brighter future and the affections of Joan. When an American film director turns up needing someone to show him around the location, that glimmer is awakened, but is that how it turns out? I couldn’t possibly say, but a lovely book. I’m staying with a sea theme this month, so my first link is to:
From a Low and Quiet Sea by Donal Ryan
Three men – three stories: Farouk, a doctor, is a refugee fleeing from the war in his country with his wife and young daughter; Lampy is an Irish lad without much of a future, obsessed with, and heartbroken by, his ex girlfriend Chloe; John is older, an accountant/lobbyist who is full of regrets for the things he has done or not done in his life. Ryan tells each man’s story separately, converging them in a fourth segment which connects each man to the others in a surprising coda, having got to know the three men’s characters in detail, each beautifully written. Still staying with the sea for my second link:
Beside the Sea by Veronique Olmi
A single mother takes her two young children to the seaside for the first time. Sounds nice doesn’t it, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s a budget outing by coach staying in a sleazy hotel with no lift. Narrated by the mother, we feel for her plight straight away. She is in a bad place mentally, but one thing shines through – she does love her boys. It’s so intense and bleak, building up the portrait of this damaged woman who lives for her boys, and you sense that there are more shocks to come. I won’t say more. The translation excellently captures the mother’s voice, and you really feel sympathy for the mother and her sons. Staying by the sea, but not so grim for my third link:
Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper
Some see OS, US as a prequel to the main story in Cooper’s wonderful The Dark is Rising sequence. OS, US is certainly a wonderful adventure, published in 1965, the Drew family travel to Trewissick (modelled on Mevagissey) on Cornwall’s south coast. The children, guided by Great-Uncle Merry find an old map – and embark on a grail quest, but not before having awakened the interest of the Dark Ones. Steeped in Arthurian myth and legend, this was such a great story on its own, prequel or no. Moving along the coast to Dorset, my next link is:
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
Another great short novel from McEwan, exploring the steps of a young couple towards physical intimacy on their wedding night; set in 1962 when it wasn’t uncommon to be a virgin. Despite being short, the story is drawn out before reaching its climax (yes!). I found it wistful and ultimately sad, but as always with McEwan, beautifully observed. We’ll now take a short hop over sea to Iceland for my next link:
Names for the Sea by Sarah Moss
Not exactly about the sea, this is a memoir of Moss’s year living in Iceland combined with scenes of travelogue and a cultural exploration of Iceland. She meets many people, notably a lady who believes in elves, but also more serious interviews. It’s a great insight into the country and its people, and what it’s like for an outsider living there. My final link is another non-fiction sea book:
Spirals in Time by Helen Scales
A wonderful look at the world of shell-making molluscs – sea shells and the like. Scales is a marine biologist, but incorporates cultural and mythological details into her portraits of this group of creatures, to make this book much more than just popular science, making a a book to recommend to a far wider audience than just those who like the natural world.
My six degrees this month haven’t strayed far from various coastlines. Where will your sixdegrees take you?
That’s a very salty set of links! I like the sound of Spirals in Time.
She’s an excellent communicator, and it’s lovely that she builds all the stories into the nature.
Well, I didn’t care for On Chesil Beach, but no matter. I like the shore connections here, much like my own water connections.
Names For the Sea is good surprise here!