It’s time for #6degrees, inspired by Kate at Books Are My Favourite and Best. We all start at the same place, add six books, and see where we end up. This month’s starting point is The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Oseki (2021), which I have not read. It’s about Benny who hears voices from inanimate objects while the story explores themes of mental illness and bereavement. 
First Degree
The Foreigner by Gladys Malvern (1954) is a retelling of the Book of Ruth. Like Benny, Ruth suffers bereavement. When her husband dies she stays with her mother-in-law, Naomi, out of loyalty, rather than return to her own family. I often say most of what I know about the Old Testament came from Malvern, so I am glad this book is back in print.
Second Degree
Another Ruth is the heroine of Elly Griffiths’ entertaining series about an archeologist and the members of the local police department. I am eager to read the latest book, The Locked Room (2022). It always amuses me that Ruth is portrayed as overweight and somewhat disorganized (i.e., human, which is good) yet never has a hard time attracting men, even as a single mother. Not much like real life.
Third Degree
The one thing I don’t like about the Ruth Galloway books is that they are written in the present tense. Another book I read recently that uses the present tense is The Maid by Nita Prose (2022). Molly is obsessive about cleaning – which results in her being suspected of murder. My review.
Fourth Degree
In Nora Roberts’ newest romantic suspense novel, Nightwork (2022), the hero’s mother and aunt have a housecleaning business. Unfortunately, when his mother gets cancer, he begins on a life of crime, although he is just a child. Could he really be so successful a criminal – starting small but eventually stealing priceless art – that he is able to pay all the bills and not get caught?
Fifth Degree
There is plenty of illicit behavior at Hotel Portofino by J.P. O’Connell (2022), including stolen art, secret assignations, and blackmail. Yet all Bella Ainsworth wanted was to create an upscale hotel with fascinating guests. My review.
Sixth Degree
One of the most famous fictional hotel guests is Eloise by Kay Thompson (1955).
I am Eloise.
I am six.
I am a city child.
I live at the Plaza.
Have you read any of these? Did you play #6Degrees this month? Next month, we’ll start on September 3, 2022 with the book we finished with this month (and if you haven’t done an August chain, start with the last book you read).
The Foreigner by Gladys Malvern (1954) is a retelling of the Book of Ruth. Like Benny, Ruth suffers bereavement. When her husband dies she stays with her mother-in-law, Naomi, out of loyalty, rather than return to her own family. I often say most of what I know about the Old Testament came from Malvern, so I am glad this book is back in print.
Another Ruth is the heroine of Elly Griffiths’ entertaining series about an archeologist and the members of the local police department. I am eager to read the latest book, The Locked Room (2022). It always amuses me that Ruth is portrayed as overweight and somewhat disorganized (i.e., human, which is good) yet never has a hard time attracting men, even as a single mother. Not much like real life.
The one thing I don’t like about the Ruth Galloway books is that they are written in the present tense. Another book I read recently that uses the present tense is The Maid by Nita Prose (2022). Molly is obsessive about cleaning – which results in her being suspected of murder. My review.
In Nora Roberts’ newest romantic suspense novel, Nightwork (2022), the hero’s mother and aunt have a housecleaning business. Unfortunately, when his mother gets cancer, he begins on a life of crime, although he is just a child. Could he really be so successful a criminal – starting small but eventually stealing priceless art – that he is able to pay all the bills and not get caught?
There is plenty of illicit behavior at Hotel Portofino by J.P. O’Connell (2022), including stolen art, secret assignations, and blackmail. Yet all Bella Ainsworth wanted was to create an upscale hotel with fascinating guests. My review.
One of the most famous fictional hotel guests is Eloise by Kay Thompson (1955).
I am Eloise.
I am six.
I am a city child.
I live at the Plaza.
5 comments:
I'm not a fan of books written in the present tense, but they're difficult to avoid. Sometimes it works well but usually I just find it distracting. I'll be interested to see your chain starting with Eloise next month!
I quite enjoyed the Maid; love how your chain took you from Ruths to cleaning and crime! Cleaning up was a theme in Form and Emptiness too!
Interesting chain here. I tried to read Hotel Portofino but failed. I'll see the TV series instead.
Lots of variety in where your chain led you.
I look forward the reading The Maid sometime soon. I love to read books about / set in hotels but your review convinces me not to read Hotel Portofino.
I love the Eloise books. We have had copies since our son was very young and we found them in used book stores.
Great chain, interesting connections. I haven't read any of the books but you linked them up so nicely that we all learned something from that.
My Six Degrees of Separation ended with The Pillars of the Earth Ken Follett.
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