It’s the first Saturday of the month so that means it’s #6degrees of separation time! This month’s starting book is Stasiland by Anna Funder.
You can find the details and rules of the #6degrees meme at booksaremyfavouriteandbest, but in a nutshell, on the first Saturday of every month, everyone has the same starting book and from there, you connect in a variety of ways to other books. Some of the connections made are so impressive, it’s a lot of fun to follow.
I’ve been intending on reading Stasiland for the longest time, so when it came up as the six degrees title last month, I truly had the best of intentions. Alas, all three of my children celebrate their birthdays in March, one of which was a milestone occasion: 18! Plus, my eldest son has a savage case of tonsillitis, going on two weeks now; alas, with further symptoms popping up, it turns out he has glandular fever! 😱 The tonsilitis was just the start of it…
Anyway, time got away from me, and before I knew it, there was none of it left. However, I am all over the themes (particular reading interest of mine) and can do a chain of living within a communist state at the drop of a hat, so here goes:
1. The Museum of Broken Promises by Elizabeth Buchan
2. Confession with Blue Horses by Sophie Hardach
3. The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott
4. Invented Lives by Andrea Goldsmith
5. There Was Still Love by Favel Parrett
6. Home is Nearby by Magdalena McGuire
Theresa Smith Writes 
And, I haven’t read any of them! But I will be reading Parrett in May (I think). As I’ve said elsewhere, I do hope your son has a mild case.
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I think you’ll appreciate Parrett but I’ll be so keen to read your thoughts. Out of this list, The Secrets We Kept and Confession with Blue Horses are my favourites. They are such intimate examinations of life, at the individual level, yet still showcasing the bigger picture. Very fine fiction.
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Thanks Theresa. I’m looking forward to reading it.
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There’s a couple in your chain that are on my TBR list (particularly the Goldsmith). I think (hoping) the Parrett will win the Stella this year.
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I’d like to see that but I’m generally crap at calling it.
Invented Lives is excellent. Pretty sure you’d love it.
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Oh dear… I do hope your son is on the mend now. That’s just horrible! Take care!
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And… I haven’t read any of these. I haven’t read many books about living under communist rule, to be honest. There was the one… The Fox Was Ever the Hunter… about life in Romania under Ceausescu. Very good, actually. I reviewed it on my blog.
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That sounds interesting! I haven’t read much about Romania.
Thanks for the well wishes for my son. I am hoping for a swift recovery!
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I haven’t read any of your choices. I do have a couple of other Favel Parrett’s books here which I actually haven’t read it yet either. One day.
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I have one other of hers on my shelf here which I’ve heard is very good.
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You’ve chosen three books that I really liked: Invented Lives, Home is Nearby and There was Still Love:)
Here’s my chain: https://anzlitlovers.com/2020/04/04/six-degrees-of-separation-from-stasiland-to/
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I still just need to read Home is Nearby. I bought it when it first came out!
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How lovely to see Favel Parrett in your chain. Such a different jacket to the UK edition! Best wishes to your son. I hope he feels better soon.
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I’ve seen the UK jacket and really liked it. Thanks for the well wishes, they are accepted gratefully!
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Oh no, I got glandular fever in year 9, I had about two weeks off and then an entire term of half days I was exhausted all the time. My kids have now all caught my cold.
I haven’t read any on your chaun though I do have The Museum if Broken Promises and The Secrets We Kept on my shelves.
I
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I can’t help but think that this learning from home is going to work out for him, at least he can fit it in around feeling like rubbish.
That is not a great way to head into Easter – everyone sick! I hope it doesn’t hang around for too long.
The Secrets We Kept is better than The Museum of Broken Promises, just in case you ever wavered over the two! 😄
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I haven’t read any books in your chain, although The Museum of Broken Promises is on my wish list. I hope your family is soon well again.
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Thank you Yvonne. 😊
I hope you enjoy The Museum of Broken Promises when you do get to it.
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Your poor son! I hope he is feeling better. That can’t be fun for him or you. This is a great list! I haven’t read any of the books you listed in your chain, but several pop out at me as books I need to add to my wish list. All of them really. Haha. Thank you for sharing!
If you want to check out mine: https://www.literaryfeline.com/2020/04/six-degrees-of-separation-stasiland-to.html
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Thank you, he is improving all the time, thank goodness. I’ll pop over and look at your chain now. 😊
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