Six Degrees of Separation – from The Correspondent to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

It’s time for #6degrees, inspired by Kate at Books Are My Favourite and Best. We all start at the same place as other readers, add six books, and see where it ends up. April’s starting point is The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025). I enjoyed this book and thought it was an ideal choice for my book group because it was very readable, included serious and lighter topics (Sybil’s surprise when her friends enjoyed Outlander), and there was lots to discuss. My review.

First Degree

I have always enjoyed epistolary novels. One recommended to me not long ago was Henrietta’s War by Joyce Dennys (1985). It’s a collection of fictionalized letters that appeared in a magazine during WWII about a busy doctor’s wife writing to a friend in the army. Fans of D.E. Stevenson would enjoy this.

Second Degree

Dear Hugo by Molly Clavering (1955) is another great epistolary novel, actually written by a friend of Stevenson’s (that’s two links!). The heroine, Sara, is corresponding with the brother of her deceased fiancé about her new home in Scotland and the reader hopes they will wind up together . . . .  I am pleased I still have a few more by this author to read.  My review.

Third Degree

I could go on for some time with epistolary novels but I’ll just give you one more. Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevemer (1988) was a gift from my mother when it first came out.  It's a fun, sort of Regency fantasy featuring cousins, Kate and Cecelia. As I recall, the authors each took a character and sent chapters back and forth (pre-Internet) so the characters had very distinct personalities. A sequel came out much later, which I own but have not read yet.

Fourth Degree

My link is now chocolate. Anthony Berkeley, the author of The Poisoned Chocolates Case (1929) is one of those relatively obscure British Golden Age of Detective Fiction writers who did not make much impression in America. A poisoned box of chocolates kills an innocent bystander, and the author provides possible explanations - and then reasons why those don't work.  This is not an author I'd rush out to purchase.  My review.

Fifth Degree

I love this subgenre of historical fiction about young working women during their bit in various industries during WWII. In Chocolate Girls by Annie Murray (2003), three young women work together in the Cadbury factory in Birmingham, and their friendship helps them withstand the losses of the war. There are five books in the series but they are hard to find in the US and not worth paying to import.

Sixth Degree

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (1964) was one of the books in my grade school library that I read several times about poor but honest Charlie Bucket, who wins a golden ticket to tour the magical, mysterious chocolate factory of the eccentric Willy Wonka. Even those who never read the book probably saw a movie or a children’s production (both my nephew Nicholas and niece Tess have played Charlie - years apart - and Katherine played Mike, so I have seen this multiple times - what a devoted aunt). I often wish for a golden ticket when ripping open candy bars but no luck so far.

So I traveled from suburban Maryland to Devon, then Scotland, London/Essex, more London, and Birmingham, plus Charlie with no specific setting (it never seemed like London to me). Have you read any of these?

Next month, May 2, 2026, the starting point is Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy, a runner-up in my Best of 2025.  Happy Easter to those who celebrate!