#6Degrees Of Separation Book Challenge From The Arsonist to My Antonia

My March #6Degrees challenge

Hosted by Kate from Books Are My Favourite And Best The idea is to start at the same book as other readers, then find themes that link six books, and see where you end up!

The starting point this month is The Arsonist by Chloe Hooper, a true crime novel. (I have not read this, but I have read my six books).

I chose fire as my link to my first book.

Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire. I’m sure I don’t need to tell readers about Harry Potter!

My next link goes from Goblet of Fire, to The Column Of Burning Spices by P.K. Adams. Book two of the Hildegard of Bingen series. Hildegard is regarded as Germany’s first physician; this book takes place in the twelfth century.

I chose burning as my link to my third book. The Burning (Spirit Warriors #3) by D.E.L. Connor. This is a #YA series, set in Montana around a group of teenagers and their connections to animal spirits revered by the Native Americans.

Spirit was my link to book four. Trusting The Currents by Lynnda Pollio. Told through a form of conscious storytelling. It is the story of two women: Lynnda Pollio who reached a point in her life when she was ready for a spiritual journey, and Addie Mae, a Southern African-American woman who chose to speak about her own teenage life through Lynnda.

My next link is about journeys. The Call Of The Canyon by Zane Grey. A western set in the 1920s. Parts of Arizona, particularly around Sedona, are said to be filled with strong cosmic forces conducive to healing and spiritual experiences. The author’s story of Glenn and Carley highlighted the effect the land can have on people.

The link to my last book is early settlers. My Ántonia by Willa Cather. Classic American historical fiction set in Nebraska in the 1880s. This story tells of harsh pioneering times, when people spread across America in search of a better future. They tamed the land, withstood the seasons and the hardships that Mother Nature threw at them and many thrived.

If you would like to take part, April’s challenge begins with How To Be Both by Ali Smith. (Posting date is April 6th)

 

This is my Review of the Month for the review collection on LovelyAudiobooks.info

2018 WHEN Are You Reading? @SamAnnElizabeth ‘s Challenge – Completed

Way back in January I decided to try this challenge run by Sam Ann Elizabeth 

The complete challenge was to include at least 12 books, one from each of the following eras:

• Pre 1500
• 1500-1599
• 1600-1699
• 1700-1799
• 1800-1899
• 1900-1919
• 1920-1939
• 1940-1959
• 1960-1979
• 1980-1999
• 2000-Present
• The Future

I wasn’t sure if I read widely enough across the timeline, but today my results surprised me. In sections where I’ve read a high volume of books, I’ve chosen a selection of books. Book titles have links to my reviews.

Pre 1500s

Athena’s Champion by David Hair and Cath Mayo – Greek mythology

Brethren by Robyn Young – Knights Templar

Smile Of The Wolf by Tim Leach – Set in Iceland

The Greenest Branch by J.K. Adams – Set in Germany and features Benedictine abbess Hildegard

The Heart Of The Conqueror by G. Lawrence – About William the Conqueror

Daughter Of War by S .J .A. Turney – Knights Templar

1500-1599

The Golden Lynx by C.P. Lesley – Set in Russia

1600-1699

Flood by Ann Swinfen – Set in England’s Fenlands

The Green Phoenix by Alice Poon – Set in China

1700-1799

The Earl And The Enchantress by Paulette Golden – Historical romance

Whales And Strange Stars by Kathy Sharp – Set in Kent

1800-1899

The Tides Between by Elizabeth Jane Corbett – YA tale of emigration

The Mysterious Lord Millcroft by Virginia Heath – Historical romance

From Governess To Countess by Marguerite Kaye – Historical romance

The Dressmaker’s Secret by Charlotte Betts – Features Princess Caroline Of Brunswick

Winds Of Time by Lilly Gayle – Historical romance set in Texas

My Antonia by Willa Cather – Classic American historical fiction set in Nebraska

1900-1999

The Wild Air by Rebecca Mascull – Featuring early women aviators

Call Of The Canyon by Zane Grey – Set in Arizona

The Captain And The Calvalry Trooper by Catherine Curzon – M/M romance set during WW1

1920-1939

Trusting The Currents by Lynnda Pollio – Set in small town America, with a spiritual theme.

The Madonna Of The Mountains by Elise Valmorbida (begins in 1923) Set in Italy

1940-1959

A Ration Book Christmas by Jean Fullerton – Family saga set in London during WW2

Never Say Goodbye by Hilary Green – A resistance-themed WW2 drama

1960-1979

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen (begins in 1962) Set in southern Georgia

Mourning Dove by Claire Fullerton – Set in Memphis

1980-1999

Nightfall Berlin by Jack Grimwood – A cold war thriller

Dear Comrade Novak by Silvia Hildebrant – Set in Romania during the revolution

Lucky Star by Holly Curtis – Coming of age story

2000- present

Connectedness by Sandra Danby (begins in 2009) – Story featuring adoption

Lush by Gabrielle Fernie – A true story soaked in gin

The Woman At Number 24 by Juliet Ashton – Set in Notting Hill

Future

Amendments by Hannah Lynn – Set in futuristic Britain

The Afterlife Of Alice Watkins by Matilda Scotney – Mild scifi

If you’d like to join in with the challenge for 2019 check out Sam’s blog post here.

Sunday Connection Books We’ve Reviewed This Week Plus Links To The Blogosphere #SundayBlogShare

This week we’ve been reviewing the following:

Monday – classic American historical fiction My Antonia by Willa Cather

And Knights Templar historical fiction Daughter Of War by SJA Turney

Tuesday – women’s fiction The Girl I Used To Know by Faith Hogan

And family saga Madonna Of The Mountains by Elise Valmorbida

Wednesday – Terry reviewed Tudor historical fiction Mary: Tudor Princess by Tony Riches

Thursday – Noelle reviewed crime fiction The Maori Detective by DA Crossman

Friday – Teri reviewed modern fairy tale The Royal Deal by DG Driver

And I reviewed thriller Girl Without A Voice by Chris Bridge

Saturday Judith reviewed thriller Hiding by Jenny M Potts

Plus links to interesting posts from the blogosphere.

Hashtags for new book bloggers

https://catonthebookshelf.wordpress.com/2018/03/26/the-guide-to-twitter-hashtags-for-new-book-bloggers/

A look behind the scenes of a small press publisher

http://www.scifiandscary.com/small-press-interview-crystal-lake-publishing/

How to write better fight scenes

http://www.springhole.net/writing/write-better-action-and-fight-scenes.htm

Being Published – Part 1 The Contract

http://emmadarwin.typepad.com/thisitchofwriting/2018/04/being-published-part-1-contracts.html

What is it really like to be an author?

https://ronelthemythmaker.wordpress.com/2018/04/13/what-is-it-really-like-to-be-a-writer-atozchallenge/

#Classic American #HistFic – My #Bookreview of My Antonia by Willa Cather

My Antonia by Willa Cather
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My Antonia is classic American historical fiction set in Nebraska in the 1880s.

It is told by Jim Burden, who met Antonia when they were both children. Jim was going to Black Hawk to live with his grandparents, while Antonia came with her family from Bohemia. Living close to each other, they quickly became friends.

This story tells of harsh pioneering times, when people spread across America in search of a better future. They tamed the land, withstood the seasons and the hardships that Mother Nature threw at them and many thrived. Antonia took to life on the land with ease, doing the work of men for many years. Her friendship with Jim drifted at times, especially when he left to study and become a lawyer, but, years later, they renewed their acquaintance.

I enjoy stories of early settlers and their strengths against adversity; I find them both humbling and motivating. This story involves a range of immigrants and their stories were all interesting; each worked hard for themselves and the future of their families. It makes me wonder how much the next generation and the ones after that really appreciated the hardships of their forefathers.

First published in 1918, this is a snapshot of a long past era. Even during the telling of this story change happened and progress marched confidently forward. Ideal for anyone, like me, who enjoys dipping back in history and losing themselves for a few hours of reading.

View all my reviews on Goodreads

My Antonia tells the stories of an orphaned boy from Virginia, Jim Burden, and the elder daughter in a family of Bohemian immigrants, Ántonia Shimerda, who are each brought to be pioneers in Nebraska towards the end of the 19th century, as children. Ántonia must work as a servant on the farms of her neighbors after her father commits suicide. She elopes with a railway conductor but returns home and eventually becomes the patient and strong wife of a Bohemian farmer, Anton Cuzak, the mother of a large family and a typical woman of the pioneer West.

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