Six in Six was the idea of Jo, who used to blog at The Book Jotter and was something I joined in with every July, as I thought it was a good way to look back on the first six months of the year. We would choose six categories (Jo provided a list of suggestions but participants could come up with new topics of their own if they preferred) and then try to fit six books or authors we’d read from January-June into each category.
Although Jo is no longer blogging, some of us still wanted to take part in this and so far I’ve seen posts at In Another Era and Hopewell’s Public Library of Life. My attempt is below – some of the books could have fit more than one category, but I only wanted to use each book once.
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Six books set in countries other than my own
The Ghosts of Rome by Joseph O’Connor (Italy/Vatican)
Strange Pictures by Uketsu (Japan)
The Rush by Beth Lewis (Canada)
Clear by Carys Davies (Scotland)
The Sirens by Emilia Hart (Australia)
Woman in Blue by Douglas Bruton (Netherlands)
Six books with a bird or animal in the title
The Little Sparrow Murders by Seishi Yokomizo
Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd
The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis
Secrets of the Bees by Jane Johnson
The Tiger in the Smoke by Margery Allingham
We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida
Six novels with a touch of fantasy or the supernatural
The Morrigan by Kim Curran
The Hymn to Dionysus by Natasha Pulley
Written on the Dark by Guy Gavriel Kay
Jennie by Paul Gallico
The Darkening Globe by Naomi Kelsey
The Secrets of the Rose by Nicola Cornick
Six books with a mystery to solve
Tea on Sunday by Lettice Cooper
Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz
The Edinburgh Murders by Catriona McPherson
Traitor’s Legacy by SJ Parris
A Schooling in Murder by Andrew Taylor
A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie
Six books about real people
The Queen and the Countess by Anne O’Brien (Margaret of Anjou/Countess of Warwick)
Britain’s Greatest Private Detective by Nell Darby (Henry Slater)
Cleopatra by Natasha Solomons (Cleopatra)
The Cardinal by Alison Weir (Cardinal Wolsey)
That Dark Spring by Susannah Stapleton (Olive Branson)
Love, Sex & Frankenstein by Caroline Lea (Mary Shelley)
Six books I’ve read but still need to review:
The Portrait Artist by Dani Heywood-Lonsdale
The Greek House by Dinah Jefferies
The Game is Murder by Hazell Ward
A Case of Life and Limb by Sally Smith
Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon
White Corridor by Christopher Fowler
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What do you think of my six sixes? Have you read any of these books? Did you enjoy your reading in the first six months of the year?
She Reads Novels 
I loved The Ghosts of Rome and Woman in Blue.
I loved those two books as well. I’m looking forward to the final book in the Joseph O’Connor trilogy.
I haven’t read any of these, but many of them interest me.
I’ve never taken part in this challenge before, and I’m terrible at keeping up with reviews – but this one looks manageable and I might have a go at it when I get home (currently in a coffee shop with MFK Fisher’s ‘Long Ago in France’.)
It’s fun to do, although sometimes more difficult than it looks if your books don’t fall neatly into categories!
I love your choices for this list and have read several of them. Did you enjoy Glorious Exploits. I loved it and it is definitely my most popular book review on my blog so people are obviously still reading it ( or at least thinking about it 😃)
I didn’t think I would like Glorious Exploits at first as I wasn’t sure about the modern language, but I ended up enjoying it. I need to get caught up with my reviews!
Did you make up your own categories, or are you all using the same ones?
We’re all using different categories, I think, maybe with one or two overlaps. You can pick anything you want, to suit your own reading.
I saw that finally. Thanks!
Ah, this is fun!
Yes, I think so!
Read The Little Sparrow Murders. Enjoy all this books! And added several to the TBR as usual 🤣
I enjoyed The Little Sparrow Murders! I have Yokomizo’s new one, Murder at the Black Cat Cafe, on the TBR.
Just two that I’ve read – The Tiger in the Smoke and Traitor’s Legacy – both excellent! But why did you remind me of this?? You know I’m now going to spend hours seeing if I can find six groups among my own!! 😉
My books seemed to fall into categories quite easily this year, but it does often take hours!
Hello Helen, as usual, what a wonderful selection of categories and books. and just so many books read! From your choices, I have also read The Secret of the Rose, The Cardinal, and The Queen and the Countess. I was so sad this year that Jo wasn’t around to host this great event, but you and Annelies inspired me to take part anyway. 😊
Blessings, Jessica 💌
Thanks, Jessica! I’m sorry that Jo isn’t hosting this anymore too – it’s such a good way to look back on our reading and I’m glad to see people are still joining in with it anyway.