Six Degrees of Separation― from The Safekeep to The Woman in the Library

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. This month’s starting point is The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden, which is described as a twisted tale of desire, suspicion, and obsession between two women staying in the same house in the Dutch countryside.

May 2025 Reading

Three books really stood out this month. I had to go to multiple shops in London to find the new book about Maeve Kerrigan, The Secret Room, but it made my flight home from Amsterdam most enjoyable. I also really liked Know Your Newlywed by Hillary Nussbaum and Heather Taylor, a fake relationship romance, and Lost Lorrenden by Mabel Esther Allan.

Keukenhof Gardens

On our final full day, the goal was tulips, which was our primary reason for the cruise. Keukenhof is one of the world’s largest flower gardens and consists of 80-acres of tulips, as well as many other flowers, including hyacinths, daffodils, lilies, roses, carnations and irises.

Amsterdam

The morning began with chocolate croissants, potatoes, bacon, and tea (wouldn't it be nice if these magically appeared at home about 7:30 every morning?), followed by an “enrichment talk” on Contemporary Netherlands from a local expert. There are so many cruise ships heading to Amsterdam that they are only allowed to dock for 48 hours, so the Amadeus was moored somewhere on the outskirts of the city (Ijmuiden?) and we took a bus to Oud-Zuid (Old-South), the Museum Quarter neighborhood, and parked in an underground garage, perhaps made for tour buses.  Everyone eagerly clambered onto four canal boats, each with its own guide. The day was chilly and initially gray so we were glad of the partial roof that could completely cover the boat if it began to rain.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Title: The Goldfinch
Author: Donna Tartt
Publication: Little, Brown & Co., hardcover, 2013
Genre: Fiction
Setting: New York, Las Vegas, Amsterdam

Description: On their way to what will be an unpleasant school meeting about Theo’s bad attitude, he and his mother stop at the Met to visit a Dutch Masters exhibit.