It’s the first Saturday of the month – and of 2026! – 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’re starting with the book with which we finished last month’s chain (or the last book we read if we didn’t take part last month). For me, this was The Night Circus by Erin Morgernstern. Here’s how I described it in my review:
The Night Circus tells the story of Celia and Marco, two young magicians who have been selected by their mentors to take part in a very special contest. The rules of the competition are shrouded in mystery and even the two illusionists themselves aren’t sure what they have to do to win. And the venue for this magical battle? Le Cirque des Rêves, or the Circus of Dreams, one of the strongest, most vivid fictional worlds I’ve ever come across in a novel.
The Night Circus was a great starting point, with lots of options to move forward with the chain. Usually I choose books that I’ve actually read and reviewed on my blog, but instead I’m going to start with a first link suggested to me by one of my blog readers. Thanks Paul! Round the Bend by Nevil Shute (1), which I haven’t read yet, follows the story of two aircraft engineers who begin their careers with Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus. I would like to read this eventually as I enjoyed the one Shute novel I’ve read (Pied Piper) and am looking forward to reading more.
The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson (2) is set in 1919 and features a group of women who buy a damaged fighter plane to restore so that they can begin training female pilots. I enjoyed this book – it’s a fascinating portrayal of life in the aftermath of the First World War when the War Practices Act meant that many women were dismissed from their jobs to make way for the returning soldiers.
I’m going to break my own rule of only including books I’ve reviewed again, because the next book that comes to mind is one I read years before I started blogging: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig (3). It was published in 1974, although I think I read it in the 90s. It’s about a man who travels across America with his young son by motorcycle, discussing philosophy along the way. I remember finding it interesting but I probably only understood half of it and wouldn’t want to read it again today.
I want to get away from transport related books now, so I’m linking next to another novel published in 1974 – Cashelmara by Susan Howatch (4). This novel, like some of Howatch’s others, is a family saga retelling Plantagenet history in a more recent setting. In this one, Edward I, Edward II and Edward III of England are recreated as Edward de Salis, his son Patrick and grandson Ned, a fictional 19th century family. It’s not necessary to be familiar with the history, but if you can spot the parallels it makes the story even more interesting!
An author who shares a name with Susan Howatch is Susan Hill, who wrote The Small Hand (5), a ghost story in which an antiquarian book dealer begins to have several unsettling experiences where he feels a child’s small hand holding his own. I found this an eerie, atmospheric novel rather than a particularly scary one, though maybe that’s because I read it in the summer – it’s a story for a dark winter night, I think!
The word ‘small’ also appears in the title of A Small Circus by Hans Fallada (6), which brings my chain full circle this month! I usually love Fallada, but this novel, first published in German in 1931, wasn’t for me. It does have an interesting setting, describing tensions and corruption in a small German town in the period between the two world wars, but I struggled with the unpleasant characters and confusing plot. I read a modern translation by Michael Hofmann.
~
And that’s my chain for this month! My links have included circuses, flying, motorcycles, books published in 1974, authors named Susan and books with ‘small’ in the title.
In February we’ll be starting with Flashlight by Susan Choi.
She Reads Novels 
I love when a chain becomes a full circle!
It doesn’t happen very often, but it’s great when it does!
Brilliant chain! It started so well and then you brought it full circle.
It’s always good when you can find a way to bring the chain full circle!
I have a couple of Nevil Shute novels, although not the one you mention, on my Classics Club list. Also Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada. Round the Bend made me think of Eagle & Crane by Suzanne Rindell which also involves two men in a flying circus
I haven’t heard of the Suzanne Rindell book, but yes, that would have been a good next link. Alone in Berlin is great – I hope you enjoy it!
Cleverly linked back to the beginning, Helen. And you’ve reminded me that I have yet to read the Simonson!
I really enjoyed the Simonson. It covers some aspects of the First World War that I’ve never read much about before.
Very nicely done. That Simonson book was lovely, and a good chance to add a motorcycle!
Yes, I think this is the first time motorcycles have appeared in one of my chains!
Always fun to see your bookish chains. I love that you start and end with circus.
Thanks! I didn’t plan to end with another circus book, but I’m glad it worked out that way.
Nice work! The Susan Howach book sounds good. I’m gradually reading all of Nevile Shute’s works–I don’t think I’ve seen this one.
I hadn’t heard of that Shute novel until recently. I have some others of his I want to read first, though. I’ve read three of Susan Howatch’s books and enjoyed all of them, including that one!
If you are interested, I have read several Shute books and have reviewed them. No pressure!
The Night Circus sounds good. I’ve got Round the Bend on my shelves, too. It’s so satisfying when the first and last books on the chain link, well done!
I can’t remember much about The Night Circus now, except that it has a very atmospheric setting! Round the Bend does sound interesting.
the night circus sounds like my cub of tea and so does the small hand, I love an atmospheric ghist story
The Night Circus and The Small Hand are both very atmospheric. I hope you like them if you decide to read them!
Super clever! Somehow the Night Circus does not work for ne though many folks do like it. I too remember reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and liking parts, though I read it in late teens so a revisit may be enriching.
I thought The Night Circus had a great setting, but I remember being a bit disappointed with the characters and plot. I liked it, but not as much as other people seemed to. I’m not sure if I would want to revisit Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, but I think I would probably get more out of it than I did the first time.
Great chain, I loved the Night Circus . I’ve had the Art of motorcycle maintenance on my shelf for years but I’ve never attempted to read it, possibly because I’m not sure i’d understand it much either.
Thanks! I’m glad you loved The Night Circus. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is definitely a challenging read but I thought it was worth reading overall.
how fun to go round in a circle, I’m picking up lots of linking tips!
I may have to add The Night Circus to my 26 for 2026 list. Ive been meaning to read it for years and forgot all about it 🙈 what you’ve said about its world is very intriguing too.
I love seeing how you’ve tied all of these together. The only one I’ve read is The Small Hand but I agree it was more eerie than full out scary. I wasnt expecting the emotional gutpunch of its ending though.