Greetings you all! I’m sure most of you in the Northern Hemisphere are enjoying the summer sun by now. Here in the Southern Hemisphere it is dreadfully cold already and we miss those hazy lazy crazy days of summer. I’m quite sure there is a bit more than 6 Degrees difference in temperature between us, but luckily there are no more than six degrees of separation between books!
I’m sure by now you all know the rules of this monthly fun meme hosted by Books are my Favorite and Best: On the first Saturday of every month, a book is chosen as a starting point and linked to six other books to form a chain. Books can be linked in obvious ways, for example: same authors, same era or genre, or books with similar themes or settings. Or you might choose to link them in more personal ways: books you read in the same holiday, books given to you by a particular friend or books that remind you of a particular time in your life. The choices are endless here!
Our start off point for this month, is again a book we don’t know. I don’t know how we miss all these great books. I haven’t seen it in any of our bookshops or being advertised on any any local sites.
Surging out of the sea, the Bass Rock has for centuries watched over the lives that pass under its shadow on the Scottish mainland. And across the centuries the fates of three women are linked: to this place, to each other.
In the early 1700s, Sarah, accused of being a witch, flees for her life.
In the aftermath of the Second World War, Ruth navigates a new house, a new husband and the strange waters of the local community.
Six decades later, the house stands empty. Viv, mourning the death of her father, catalogues Ruth’s belongings and discovers her place in the past – and perhaps a way forward.
Each woman’s choices are circumscribed, in ways big and small, by the men in their lives. But in sisterhood there is the hope of survival and new life. Intricately crafted and compulsively readable, The Bass Rock burns bright with anger and love.
Sounds brilliant, don’t you think? Maybe it’s a South African thing. We might not be as big with book supplies as with crime and corruption, but at least our fruit supply is nothing to complain about. Seeing that my Mommy is a bit a fruit bat, we’ll go with the fruit salad theme this month.
1st Degree: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck – Our start off book has grapes on the cover. So we’ll start with a book that has grapes in the title. I guess I don’t need to say very much more about this classic.
2nd Degree: Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris – My Mommy’s least favorite fruits, are citrus fruit. But the same can’t be said about her love for this book. I’ll attach her review for you Five Quarters of the Orange Book Review.
3rd Degree: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender – Sticking with citrus fruit. My Mommy loves baking anything lemony. Lemon meringue, lemon cake, lemon and poppy seed muffins. Baked goods make Daddy happy, not sad at all. We haven’t read this classic, but we’ve heard only good things about it. Will have to read it sometime.
4th Degree: James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl – Let’s move on to more summery fruits. Of which peaches are some of my Mommy’s favorite. I wanted to use another Joanne Harris book, Peaches for Monsieur le Curè, but my Mommy said the one we’ve chosen bring back memories of lazy summer afternoons when she was a young girl, reading Roald Dahl for the first time. The best memories.
5th Degree: A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass – We’ve picked this book for two reasons: 1. Mangos are my Mommy’s favorite and 2. The cover has a beautiful white cat on it! We haven’t read this one either. What can you tell me about it?
Aww, this was wonderful. James and the Giant Peach was my first Roald Dahl book too!!! I found this #6Degrees theme very difficult for some reason, but I think your chain works just fine. 🙂
This is completely delightful. You made it through all the fruits, even the controversial tomato. Love it!
I would gladly take the cold, this heat makes me want to melt into a puddle. I love snowy winter days.
Hmm, think I had to read Steinbeck in school, but I probably only read the Cliff's Notes. I've seen "Fried Green Tomatoes" movie…
I love your fruit theme – I would never have thought of that! James and the Giant Peach is a book I enjoyed as a child too.
Oh I love this chain of books! Love the chain of fruit and what a wide variety! It's been ages since I've read Fried Green Tomatoes. It's set in the state I live in (though in a VERY different area) so I should read more Fannie Flagg in general!
Glad you enjoyed it Katherine! Would love to see you join Six Degrees! Think you will be able to come up with a few fun links! I haven't read Fried Green Tomatoes in years. I guess I need to read it again and would also love to read more books by Fannie Flagg.
So sorry I reply so late, time for blogging was very limited lately!
Your chain is definitely my favorite this month with the fruit salad links. Delicious! James and the Giant Peach was one of my favorite books when I was growing up too. I enjoyed where the fruits led me!
Aaah thank you! I'll take that as a lovely compliment! I always have fun with Six Degrees and it's good to hear our readers enjoy it too. James and the Giant Peach was one of my favorites too. I still love reading Roald Dahl's books.
So sorry for the late reply to Six Degrees!
A creative and yummy chain. I loved The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.
Hi Linda! I still haven't read it, but a very dear friend can never recommend it enough. I guess I have to read it!
So sorry for the late reply to Six Degrees, it's been a bit hectic on my side.
So many great titles (some of the books are also good).
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Thank you Mae! I normally try to choose books that I've read already, but it doesn't always work out that way. At least I use books I've heard of or are on my ever growing TBR list!
Love the titles and the covers of these fruit flavored books!
Thanks Harvee! I had so much fun doing this post. I always love Six Degrees.
A Yummy chain – full of amazing books. The only one I've read is James and the Giant Peach. Just started Flagg's book tho – for the first time! Happy reading!
Thanks Beverley! Nothing like a yummy fruit salad to remind us of summer!
I haven't read Fannie Flagg's book in years. Really need to read it again.
So sorry for the terribly late reply….
i loved the post and even the title got a smile out of me. now i need something to eat. LOL
sherry @ fundinmental
Thanks Sherry! I had fun writing it. So sorry for the late reply! It's been hectic around here!
Well done. I love Fried Green Tomatoes ( the book, not the actual thing 🙂 ).
I don't think I've actually ever had fried green tomatoes… So I also just like the book!
I'm loving the theme of this book haul-food. citrus and especially grapefruit are not my favorite. I've also tried a fruit called starfish and that's one I could do without.
Thanks Trin! I always just goes with what my gut feeling says with Six Degrees. Lovely meme.
The Bass Rock does sound pretty good …. as does the peach in James & the Giant Peach …. I think I'll add the Bass Rock back to my TBR …. plenty of fruit in the others. And somehow I can't think of any other fruit titled books at the moment. hmm
Oh there are plenty! I had to pick carefully. I also think I'll add The Bass Rock to my TBR. Sounds like a good one.
Such a tasty and tasteful chain! Brava!
Thanks Davida! Six Degrees are always fun!