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: Your book group’s current read – and for us that’s …
The Names by Florence Knapp
We’re not discussing it at Book Group until Monday, but I’m sure most will love this novel of 3 possible lives explored after giving different forenames to a child as much as I did. Another novel of more than one life is
The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett
Banett’s first novel takes us on two possible life paths after a chance encounter in Cambridge leads to a relationship. The two paths weave around each other, crossing at some important life nodes which occur in both. Cleverly done. Another book by a Laura is
English Animals by Laura Kaye
In this sparkling debut, Mirka, a young Slovakian woman, finds herself working as housekeeper for an English couple in the depths of the countryside. I couldn’t help thinking of what it was like to listen to The Archers for the first time. All those posh folk going on about pheasant shooting, church flower arranging, so-and-so’s latest money-making venture, drinking like fishes of course and we mustn’t forget who’s shagging whom. It must be so alien if not your world! There are some hilarious set-pieces and moving moments too, plus lots of taxidermy. I enjoyed it a lot. Another book with a fox is
The Blue Fox by Sjón
I read this novella in the early days of the blog, and sadly my thoughts got lost in the transfer between web hosts. I can’t remember much about it, except it was beautifully written and evocative of the Icelandic winter. Another historical novel set in Iceland is
On the Cold Coasts by Villborg Davidsdottir
I really enjoyed this historical novel, especially the cut and thrust of the episcopal politics in 15th century Iceland, and the cod wars between Iceland and England. At the heart of it is the tale of Ragna, a young Icelandic woman from a family with property in Greenland which she will inherit, her disgrace via an English sailor and downfall, and the later return of her betrothed. Another book involving fishing fleets is
Whisper of the Seals by Roxanne Bouchard
The French-Canadian author’s crime thriller, set around Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, is the third to feature DS Joaquin Moralès. The main story concerns fisheries officer Simone Lord, a rare woman inspector in a man’s world, who has transferred to the Magdalen Islands for the winter to monitor and document the seal hunts, which are nearly over. Never has it seemed such a dangerous place for a woman as in the Whisper of the Seals! (NB: the seal hunts are described in detail!). I shall finish on another Canadian author
Bear by Marian Engel
First published in 1976, reprinted by Daunt Books last year, Bear by Canadian author Marian Engel is a novella with a reputation. At its centre is an ultimately abusive relationship between a woman and a bear – yes, that kind of relationship! However it is much more than that. It is about enjoying solitude, liberation from the normal life, living off-grid in nature, as librarian Lou goes to a small island to catalogue a library.
I’ve travelled from England (and Ireland in the starter) to Iceland and on to Canada in my six degrees this month.
Where will yours take you?
