5 Jul 2014

6 DEGREES OF SEPARATION #4: THE GOLDFINCH.

They say every person on the planet is linked to any other in six or fewer steps BUT what about books?'

Books can be linked in obvious ways - for example, books by the same author, from the same era or genre, or books with similar themes or settings. Or, you may choose to link them in more personal or esoteric ways: books you read on the same holiday, boos given to you by a particular friend, books that remind you of a particular time in your life, or books you read for an online challenge'

Yeah! It's that time of the month again, its 6 Degrees of Separation #4.


Hosted by Emma and Annabel who would love for you to join in the fun (for more information/to post a link to your choices click HERE) this month's book is ......


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Aged thirteen, Theo Decker, son of a devoted mother and a reckless, largely absent father, survives an accident that otherwise tears his life apart. Alone and rudderless in New York, he is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. He is tormented by an unbearable longing for his mother, and down the years clings to the thing that most reminds him of her: a small, strangely captivating painting that ultimately draws him into the criminal underworld. As he grows up, Theo learns to glide between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love - and his talisman, the painting, places him at the centre of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle.
The Goldfinch is a haunted odyssey through present-day America and a drama of enthralling power. Combining unforgettably vivid characters and 
thrilling suspense, it is a beautiful, addictive triumph - a sweeping story of loss and obsession, of survival and self-invention, of the deepest mysteries of love, identity and fate.

Another book I have yet to read but for me The Goldfinch brings to mind .....

#1 BLACK CROW WHITE LIE. The story of Carson Calley who at twelve is almost the same age as the thirteen year old Theo. Raised by his mother, he sets out on an extraordinary journey to finally be with the absent father he believes to be a war hero.

#2 THE LAST TRAIN TO OMAHA. Just as I loved Carson because of/despite his flaws another character who will stay with me for a long time is war veteran Martin Diggs in The Last Train To Omaha which is set in a palliative care hospital for veterans of various conflicts.

#3 SPIDER BONES. The 13th book in the Temperance Brennan series, Spider Bones is the story of John Lowery, an American soldier who it would appear has died twice.

#4 CHARLOTTE'S WEB. Last read before I began blogging. Charlotte's Web is the story of a little girl named Fern who, with the help of a friendly spider (surely the only one to be loved by even arachnophobes), saves Wilbur, her pet pig, from a fate not uncommon to pigs.

#5 THE COOK. Containing descriptions of butchery that would see Wilbur running for his pig-pen this is the story of 17 year old Zac who is given the choice of either going to a young Offender's Institute or enrolling on a rehabilitation scheme that teaches juveniles to cook.

#6 SILENT BOY. Another story of a disturbed young man though this one happens to be based on actual events. Whilst in The Cook Zac is offered an alternative to life as a juvenile delinquency in Silent Boy the author of the book, an educational psychologist, is determined to offer the fifteen year old Kevin a chance of a life not spent 'desperately afraid of the world around him'.

Please note: Unless otherwise stated all the links are to books reviewed on Pen and Paper.


Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper. All original content on http://pettywitter.blogspot.co.uk/ is created by the website owner, including but not limited to text, design, code, images, photographs and videos are considered to be the Intellectual Property of the website owner, whether copyrighted or not, and are protected by DMCA Protection Services using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act Title 17 Chapter 512 (c)(3). Reproduction or re-publication of this content is prohibited without permission.

10 comments:

The Bookworm said...

Nicely done. I have read Last Train To Omaha myself.

Stephanie Faris said...

Great job! Yes, the books we read do often feel connected to others in one way or another.

Kelly said...

I always enjoy seeing your connections. Well done!

Charlotte's Web is the only one listed I've read and I love how you segued from that to The Cook (which sounds very interesting).

Brian Joseph said...

This meme is such a neat idea. I love to connect books up like this,.

I really do want to read Goldfinch, it sounds very good.

Suko said...

Tracy.

You did a great job with this. I have not read The Goldfinch but would like to. I've read #2 and #4 on your list.

I'll be on a short blogging break but will return in a few weeks. Enjoy your reading!

Literary Feline said...

Very clever. I like the associations you made between all the books, Tracy.

Kelly said...

Ah, Charlotte's Web :-)

Anonymous said...

Charlotte's Web linked to The Cook? BRILLIANT!

Here's my chain: http://booksaremyfavouriteandbest.wordpress.com/2014/07/08/six-degrees-of-separation-from-the-goldfinch-to-playing-beatie-bow/

Annabel Smith said...

ohmygadz, I think the link between Charlotte's Web and The Cook is my favourite from this round of the meme! The Cook was so dark, and hilarious. Thanks again for playing.

Yanting Gueh said...

Love the connections from book to book. I have yet read The Goldfinch. The storyline sounds inviting so I'll put it on my to-read pile.