It’s the first Saturday of the month which means it’s time for another Six Degrees of Separation, hosted by Kate of Books are my Favourite and Best. The idea is that Kate chooses a book to use as a starting point and then we have to link it to six other books of our choice to form a chain. A book doesn’t have to be connected to all of the others on the list – only to the one next to it in the chain.
This month we are starting with The Anniversary by Stephanie Bishop. It’s not a book I’ve read – or had even heard of until now – but here’s what it’s about:
Novelist J.B. Blackwood is on a cruise with her husband, Patrick, to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
Patrick is older than J.B., formerly her professor. But now his success is starting to wane and hers may overshadow his.
For days they sail in the sun. They lie about drinking, reading, sleeping, having sex. There is nothing but dark water all around them.
Then a storm hits, and Patrick falls off the ship. J.B. is left alone, as the search for what happened to Patrick – and the truth about their marriage – begins.
With a stay-up-all-night plot and breathtaking prose, this is the haunting and unforgettable story of a marriage and a death.
~
I’m using the idea of ‘falling off the ship’ as my first link. Someone else who was swept overboard on a cruise is Nona Ranskill in Miss Ranskill Comes Home by Barbara Euphan Todd (1). Stranded on a desert island just before the start of World War II, Miss Ranskill is rescued after almost four years and returns to England to find that war has broken out in her absence and life has changed almost beyond recognition. I loved this book; it was one of the first books published by Persephone that I read and still one of my favourites.
Another novel set on an island is Haven by Emma Donoghue (2). In 7th century Ireland, three monks set out on a pilgrimage to look for an isolated place to build a monastery. Their search takes them to the steep, rocky island of Skellig Michael, uninhabited except for thousands of birds. The novel follows the monks as they try to establish their new settlement and prepare for a life of seclusion. It’s more interesting than it sounds, although I’ve preferred other books by Donoghue.
A pilgrimage of a very different sort takes place in Jerome K. Jerome’s Diary of a Pilgrimage (3). First published in 1891, the Diary is narrated by J, an Englishman who travels to Germany with a friend to see the famous Passion Play at Oberammergau. Although it’s not as funny as Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat, it is written in a similar style, with J sharing amusing anecdotes about the things he experiences and people he meets during the journey.
Staying with books set in Germany, my next link is to Nightmare in Berlin by Hans Fallada (4). Despite the title, there’s no connection to Fallada’s more famous book, Alone in Berlin, and this is a completely separate novel, following the story of Dr Doll and his wife Alma in post-war Berlin. Apparently the book is very autobiographical, as Fallada himself, like Dr Doll in the novel, was appointed mayor of a small rural town after the war and later struggles with a serious morphine addiction. I read a translation by Allan Blunden from 2016 (the first time the book was made available in English).
Nightmares are bad dreams and the title of my next book is the opposite – Dreams of Joy by Lisa See (5). Set in the 1950s, this is the sequel to See’s Shanghai Girls and follows nineteen-year-old Joy Louie as she leaves her home in Los Angeles to travel to Shanghai, full of enthusiasm for Chairman Mao’s new communist China. As you can imagine, the story isn’t very joyful at all and Joy eventually begins to learn that the new regime isn’t as wonderful as she hoped.
Another book about Communist China, a non-fiction one this time, finishes my chain. It’s Wild Swans (6), Jung Chang’s autobiography, telling the stories of her grandmother, mother and finally herself and taking us on a journey through the history of 20th century China. I found this book fascinating and was able to learn a lot from it; it’s also one of the most gripping non-fiction books I’ve ever read.
~
And that’s my chain for May! My links have included: falling overboard, islands, pilgrimages, books set in Germany, good and bad dreams and Communist China.
In June we’ll be starting with Butter by Asako Yuzuki.
She Reads Novels 
I always love how different everyone’s chains are! Great first link, Helen, which sent you off in interesting directions. I adored Wild Swans back in the day. Lisa See is an author I like very much and I still have much of her catalogue left to enjoy. I was disappointed in Haven. I have never noticed Miss Ranskill when I’ve browsed the Persephone catalogue which surprises me as it sounds like a great read. Thank you for the recommendation.
I thought Haven was okay, but definitely not a favourite by Emma Donoghue! Miss Ranskill doesn’t seem to get much attention compared to others from the Persephone catalogue. I thought it was a lovely book and I hope you have an opportunity to read it.
Another fabulous chain. I think I may have read Wild Swans many years ago.
Thanks. I loved Wild Swans!
A truly fascinating chain here – well done!
Thank you. I enjoyed putting it together.
Such an interesting chain. I’ve never heard of a woman as the protagonist stranded on a desert island.
It was an unusual book!
A great chain from which I have read two – the Donoghue and the Fallada. I like See’s work, so may well go for that, and you also tempt me with what you say about Barbara Euphan Todd’s book.
Dreams of Joy is excellent, although it may be best to read Shanghai Girls first, if you haven’t already.
I haven’t. Hint taken.
What a great chain! I loved Wild Swans years ago – it’s a remarkable book, full of courage and spirit. I first came across Barbara Euphan Todd when I was eight and read her children’s book Mr Blossom’s Shop. I loved it and have still got it. I must read Miss Ranskill Comes Home.
I don’t know if I ever read any of Barbara Euphan Todd’s children’s books. Miss Ranskill is great, though!
A wonderful chain Helen; I hadn’t thought of a person falling off a ship as a possible link but your use of it had me thinking Gentleman Overboard though I’m yet to read the book. The Jerome is a new to me title by him but sounds worth a read and I would like to look up the Fallada too after finally picking up his short stories last year. Alone keeps getting pushed back on my pile largely its length.
The Jerome book is definitely worth reading, although not as much fun as his more famous books. I loved Alone in Berlin and found it quite a quick read despite the length.
That’s encouraging. May be I can attempt it for German Lit Month this time then–last year I ended up picking his short stories over it because of length (but I’m glad I did as they were quite delightful).
Great chain Helen, I’m quite keen to read Haven.
Haven is an unusual book but I quite liked it. It has such an interesting, atmospheric setting.
Very nice work! And, Miss Ranskill Comes Home is one I need to move up my TBR for sure!
Thanks! Miss Ranskill is a great book – I hope you can read it soon.
Wow, what a wonderful and unusual chain! The Persephone one sounds interesting and I don’t think I’ve read that Fallada, will have to look out for it!
The Fallada is fascinating, although it’s not one of my favourites by him. I really enjoyed Miss Ranskill – it seems to get overlooked compared to others from the Persephone catalogue but it’s a lovely book.
I remember reading Wild Swans back in the day, and I am always a fan of Lisa See’s books.
Fun chain!
I love Lisa See but need to catch up with her more recent books.