We’re halfway through the year and I’m pleased to see that the Six in Six meme, hosted by Jo of The Book Jotter, is back again! I love to take part in this as I think it’s the perfect way to reflect on our reading over the first six months of the year. The idea of Six in Six is that we choose six categories (Jo has provided a list of suggestions or you can come up with new topics of your own if you prefer) and then try to fit six of the books or authors you’ve read this year into each category. It’s not as easy as it sounds and I usually find that there’s a lot of overlap as some books could fit into more than one category, but it’s always fun to do.
Here is my 2019 Six in Six, with links to reviews where possible (I’m behind with reviews and will be posting the rest of them eventually).
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Six classic crime novels
1. The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie
2. Death of a Doll by Hilda Lawrence
3. Who Killed Dick Whittington? by E and MA Radford
4. A Knife for Harry Dodd by George Bellairs
5. The Secret of High Eldersham by Miles Burton
6. And Death Came Too by Richard Hull
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Six books with a touch of fantasy
1. Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
2. The Binding by Bridget Collins
3. Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb
4. The Woman in the Lake by Nicola Cornick
5. The Alchemist of Lost Souls by Mary Lawrence
6. The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo
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Six books that are not novels
1. The Mysterious Mr Quin by Agatha Christie (short stories)
2. Margaret Tudor by Melanie Clegg (non-fiction)
3. The Return of Mr Campion by Margery Allingham (short stories)
4. The Afterlife of King James IV by Keith John Coleman (non-fiction)
5. The Doll by Daphne du Maurier (short stories)
6. Amours de Voyage by Arthur Hugh Clough (narrative poem – I know this could be classed as a novel in verse, but I needed a sixth book!)
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Six books set in different countries
1. The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea (Iceland)
2. Cashelmara by Susan Howatch (Ireland)
3. Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh (India and Italy)
4. Casanova and the Faceless Woman by Olivier Barde-Cabuçon (France)
5. The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See (Korea)
6. Death in Kenya by MM Kaye (Kenya)
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Six authors read for the first time this year
1. E Phillips Oppenheim (The Great Impersonation)
2. Sarah Moss (Bodies of Light)
3. John Buchan (The Thirty-Nine Steps)
4. Michelle Paver (Wakenhyrst)
5. Alex Reeve (The House on Half Moon Street)
6. Samantha Harvey (The Western Wind)
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Six of my favourite books so far this year
1. The Way to the Lantern by Audrey Erskine Lindop
2. How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn
3. The Devil’s Slave by Tracy Borman
4. Things in Jars by Jess Kidd
5. Sprig Muslin by Georgette Heyer
6. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper
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Have you read any of these books? Will you be taking part in Six in Six this year too?
She Reads Novels 
I like your categories. I read Over Sea, Under Stone years ago and remember it as an excellent book. Ditto Cashelmara. I’ve also read some of the other books more recently – but although I started to read How Green Was My Valley I still haven’t finished it.
I’m glad you enjoyed Over Sea, Under Stone and Cashelmara too, Margaret. I remember How Green Was My Valley being quite slow at the beginning, but once I got into it I loved it.
Things in jars sounds wonderful (that seems like a weird thing to say – but the book does sound good.
I enjoyed Under Heaven this year after meaning to read it for a long time. I started River of Stars but got bogged down in the middle — it was somewhat jarring to shift to such a different dynasty. I think I’ll give it some time and try again.
I’ve read Over Sea Under Stone though it was not my favorite of the series. I think the other Cornwall book,Greenwitch, is brilliant. Atmospheric but concise.
Yes, Things in Jars was great. I loved Jess Kidd’s writing. I’m glad you enjoyed Under Heaven – I have a copy of River of Stars but decided to wait a while before reading it as I thought I might get confused with the shift to a different dynasty.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the Dark is Rising series!
I have read Over Sea, Under Stone and plan to read the rest of the series. Also read How Green Was My Valley. I am glad you had a good time looking back.
Yes, I think Six in Six is a great way to look back. I’m planning to read the rest of the Susan Cooper series too – I’ve heard that Over Sea, Under Stone is the weakest book, so I’m really looking forward to reading the others!
I’d forgotten you had read How Green was my Valley. Has it encouraged you to read any more Welsh authors? I have plenty of recommendations if you want them 🙂
Yes, I enjoyed How Green Was My Valley. I do want to read more Welsh authors, so any recommendations would be welcome!
On this page on my blogsite I have more than 80 books listed from Welsh authors – that should be more than enough to keep you happy. If you want to give me some pointers about the kind of books you’d like, I can select from that for you. https://bookertalk.com/literature-from-wales/85-books-from-wales/
Thank you. I’ll have to investigate some of those titles on your list when I have time. I’m sure I’ll find some that I would enjoy.
Very interesting selections. I used to do it but dropped out. Off to try it for this year!
I think I’ve done it every year since Jo started it! It’s a good way to look back and remind yourself of everything you’ve read over the last six months.
What a brilliant thought through post Helen! Bravo! I love How Green Was My Valley….that book is just something else! And Sprig Muslin is one of most favorite Heyer’s! Hope you have great reading next 6 months!
Sprig Muslin was such a fun book to read. Definitely one of my favourite Heyers so far too, though I still haven’t read all of her books yet.
Well done! I’ve read quite a few from your list which is unusual – these lists usually leave me wondering what exactly have I read?! A few of the vintage crime, the John Buchan, Wakenhyrst, the Susan Cooper series, and The Night Tiger of which I’m looking forward to your review. I haven’t put together a post on this yet, but I’ve been mulling over categories – soon!
I would love to see your Six in Six if you decide to do it. I think it’s a good way of looking back over your first six months of the year. My review of The Night Tiger will be up soon, I promise! 🙂
Helen, the only one I’ve read is The Doll by Daphne du Maurier, which I thought was really good and creepy! I believe my recommendation helped to encourage you to read it.
Great choice of categories – Particularly, like your touch of fantasy, not novels and set in different countries categories. I always love to see your choices because you always have such a range of books to choose from. 🙂
Yes, thank you for recommending The Doll! I love Daphne du Maurier’s short stories. 🙂
What a fabulous idea – definitely going to try it! I have my own “reading challenge”, but for whatever reason I just love making lists.
I love making lists too and I think the Six in Six is a great way to look back at your reading in the first half of the year.
Thank you for joining in again this year. A real variety of books and great categories.
And thank you for hosting it again, Jo! 🙂