6 Degrees of Separation 22.3

#6DegreesofSeparation is hosted by Kate at booksaremyfavouriteandbest. The gist is that everyone starts with the same book, then finds another book that relates to it somehow, then one that relates to the second, until you’ve got a chain of six additional books. It’s a twist on the theory that every person on earth can somehow be connected to any other person in six or fewer steps, and provides an opportunity to talk about random books we love (or don’t).

This linkup is technically hosted on the 6th of each month, but posting on the 26th is close enough, right?

Starting Point: The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki

Genre: Contemporary YA / Magical Realism

Have I Read It?: No, I had not even heard of it until a few days ago.

Synopsis: One year after the death of his beloved musician father, thirteen-year-old Benny Oh begins to hear voices. The voices belong to the things in his house–a sneaker, a broken Christmas ornament, a piece of wilted lettuce. Although Benny doesn’t understand what these things are saying, he can sense their emotional tone; some are pleasant, a gentle hum or coo, but others are snide, angry and full of pain. When his mother, Annabelle, develops a hoarding problem, the voices grow more clamorous.

At first, Benny tries to ignore them, but soon the voices follow him outside the house, onto the street and at school, driving him at last to seek refuge in the silence of a large public library, where objects are well-behaved and know to speak in whispers. There, Benny discovers a strange new world. He falls in love with a mesmerizing street artist with a smug pet ferret, who uses the library as her performance space. He meets a homeless philosopher-poet, who encourages him to ask important questions and find his own voice amongst the many.

And he meets his very own Book–a talking thing–who narrates Benny’s life and teaches him to listen to the things that truly matter.

Link 1. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Light Fantasy

Published: 2020

Have I Read It?: No

Link to Previous Book: The Midnight Library features a library full of books that tell alternate versions of a person’s life, which seems similar to the talking books (and other things) mentioned in The Book of Form and Emptiness.

Link 2. The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

Genre: Magical Realism

Published: 2010

Have I read it?: Yes, around 2011

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Link to Previous Book: Although there are no talking books or mystical libraries in The Girl Who Chased the Moon, there are other similar elements of magical realism including characters who can bake feelings into desserts and bedroom wallpaper that changes to match the occupant’s mood.

Link 3. Yesterday’s Christmas (A Season Passed #2) by A.M. Heath

Genre: Fiction

Published: 2018

Have I Read It?: Yes, in 2020

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ See my review here

Link to Previous Book: Stories of healing and realistically complicated relationships.

Link 4. The Secret Place of Thunder (Librarians of Willow Hollow #4) by Alicia G. Ruggieri

Genre: Historical Fiction

Published: 2020

Have I Read It?: No, it is the only book in the series that I have not read.

Link to Previous Book: The Librarians of Willow Hollow series is a collaboration between four authors, including the author of the previous book.

Link 5. The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Genre: Historical Fiction

Published: 2020

Have I Read It?: Started to, but DNF’d when school became too busy.

Link to Previous Book: A Christian fiction perspective on the packhorse librarians of Kentucky.

Link 6. Lady of the Limberlost: The Life and Letters of Gene Stratton-Porter by Jeannette P. Meehan

Genre: Nonfiction / Biography

Published: 1972

Have I Read It: Again, started to but DNF’d due to my schedule at the time.

Link to Previous Book: Both are books that I started to read and would, eventually, like very much to come back to and finish.

Somehow this list started with a book I have never heard of and still made its way through some of my favorite authors! Which books would be on your list?

Until the next chapter,

Jana