The #6degrees meme is hosted at Books are my Favourite and Best.
This month the chain begins with True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey. I haven't read this novel, but I understand that it is a man writing his life story for his child. This is also the premise of one of my very favorite books so I will start with it: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. Among the many things that main character John Ames tells his son about in this novel is the history of their family which included an abolitionist grandfather who fought in Kansas. That history is also the backdrop to the novel (2) Bleeding Kansas by Sara Paretsky. Also referencing that history as a backdrop (though less directly) is (3) Kansas Troubles by Earlene Fowler which is #3 in the Benni Harper mystery series. All the Benni Harper books have a quilt named in the title and some connection to quilting in the story. Another series of quilting mysteries begins with (4) Forget Me Knot by Mary Marks. I haven't read this one yet, but one of my quilter friends has been devouring these so it is on my TBR. A series that I have binged on is The Elm Creek Quilts series by Jennifer Chiaverini, which is quilt-related, but isn't mysteries. My favorite one in the series (so far) is (5) Circle of Quilters. The novel (6) How to Make an American Quilt by Whitney Otto also features a circle of quilters. Otto's novel includes two of my favorite quotes:
“Why are old lovers able to become friends? Two reasons. They never truly loved each other, or they love each other still.”
“There are no rules you can follow. You have to go by instinct and you have to be brave.”
I like your chain, especially all the references to quilts and quilters. I don't sew or quilt but my mother was really into it - in fact she gave me some quilting books in the (vain) hope that I'd take it up, but I just don't think I have the patience.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I too have read some of the Jennifer Chiaverini books and I enjoyed them very much - thanks for reminding me about them. And I am going to add the other quilting-related books you mention to my TBR - I'd not heard of any of them.
I do recall, as a teenager, visiting family friends near Bath in Somerset and going to the American Museum there. They had a fabulous collectionof quilts, I still remember admiring them. It's a fascinating subject.
Thanks for all the ideas!
Glad you enjoyed the chain! Quilting does require a lot of patience, luckily you can enjoy the finished product of other people's efforts. I like the Chiaverini books partly because they actually get into the nitty-gritty of quilt making.
DeleteI read a lot of the quilt books by Jennifer Chiaverini back in the day but it has been a long time since I read one.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your chain.