Greetings, Bookworms!
I was on the fence about participating in the Six Degrees of Separation meme (hosted by Annabel Smith and Emma Chapman) this month because the starting point is a book I haven’t read, The Luminaries
by Eleanor Catton. Boosted by the fact that April created her post not having read the book either, I figured I could go ahead and play along. I do so love this meme!
1. I don’t know a whole lot about The Luminaries other than it’s a book that’s won a lot of awards. I’m not good with award winning books, I tend to find them a bit stodgy. Highbrow literary fiction and I don’t always get along, which brings me to my first book in the chain, 1Q84 
by Hakuri Murakami. I took this book out from the library thinking it was something else and I simply couldn’t make it through (it’s a big ass book!) I’ve been put off on reading his work since then.
2. Which brings me to book number two, Never Let Me Go
by Kazuo Ishiguro. When I ended up with that Murakami, I only did so because I am a HORRIBLE PERSON. We had recently read Never Let Me Go in book club and I LOVED it, but I couldn’t remember the author’s name, only that it was Japanese. Hence, the Murakami I wasn’t prepared for.
3. Since we’re talking about Japanese names, why don’t we just stick with the Japan theme and head to book number three, Memoirs of a Geisha
by Arthur Golden. You know I can’t get enough hooker books! I don’t know what it is, but the varied and fascinating tales of prostitution always draw me in.
4. Ladies of the night, you say? Let’s talk about Slammerkin
by Emma Donoghue. Holy cats, this book BLEW ME AWAY. The underworld of 18th Century London? How exactly does one find themselves in such a profession? Then there’s the class system. “The Quality.” I can’t even.
5. If anybody would slip through the proverbial cracks in society, it would be a prostitute working the Seven Dials in the 18th Century, which leads me to book number five, Neverwhere
by Neil Gaiman. Gaiman’s dark and twisty imagination created an elaborate underground London that exists in the famed subway tunnels under the city. Magical!
6. Speaking of dark and twisty and magical, how’s about we finish this out with Erin Morgenstern’s gorgeous novel, The Night Circus? What a glorious tale of magic and whimsy and love!
Any of you Bookworms read The Luminaries? Should I give it a go?
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Sarah @ Sarah's Book Shelves
What a fun meme! I’ve heard mixed reviews of The Luminaries and, I too, am not good with award winners (i.e. The Round House and The Orphan Master’s Son are two I found blah and hard to get through – who picks these things anyway…we should have our own blogger awards for entertaining books!!). However, I did love 1Q84…it was a weird book, but I got sucked in. It’s the only thing of his that I’ve read…I need to try some more.
Great post!
Annabel Smith
Oh I adored The Roundhouse. It was my favourite book I read last year. But I agree, award winning books can often be disappointing.
Words For Worms
The Roundhouse has been sitting on my TBR list for far too long!
kristin @ my little heart melodies
Have you ever read Sin in the Second City by Karen Abbott? It’s about the sisters who ran Chicago’s famous brothel the Everleigh Club at the turn of the twentieth century. Great read!
Marisa
Very, very clever! I want to try this meme but I’m a bit intimidated by having not read many of the starter books. Luminaries will be on my TBR pile for years I’m afraid.
Annabel Smith
Don’t worry Marisa, you can join in even if you haven’t read the starting book. Next month we are starting with The Goldfinch and I’ll tell you a little secret – I haven’t read it.
Words For Worms
I actually did read The Goldfinch! I’m dreaming up an epic chain, I tell you!
Annabel Smith
Can’t wait!
Monika @ Lovely Bookshelf
LOL I still can’t get over that you started with this huge, surreal, did I say HUGE Murakami book… you jump right into things, fearless Katie!!
Words For Worms
In my defense, it was a library kindle download, I had no idea how HUGE it was ahead of time :). What do you recommend as a starter for his work? What won’t make me feel like a big dummy?
Annabel Smith
I think The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is his best work.
Words For Worms
I’ll keep that in mind, thanks!
marsar2
Hi! I have read The Luminaries, and it’s actually not your “typical” award-winning type of novel. It’s nothing but a huge monster of a Victorian pastiche, and while I didn’t LOVE it, I think it was okay, overall: if you’re into those things, perhaps you should give a try :).
By the way, I love your blog, you have a very unique, funny voice.
Words For Worms
Thanks for stopping by! I’m not sure a “huge monster of a Victorian pastiche” would be something I’d like, so I’m glad to hear you put it that way :).
Annabel Smith
I like your Japanese theme, katie. I loved Never Let Me go and they also did a pretty good job of the movie, which is rare. I went through a massive Ishiguro phase some years back – The Unconsoled is my favourite of his but I liked the spec-fic twist in Never Let Me Go.
Though I can’t say I share your fascination for ‘hooker books’ I was surprised by how much I loved Memoirs of a Geisha. Incidentally, I read a tweet yesterday that in the 19th century, women who took up the oldest profession in the world, had on average, 4 years to live, because: syphilis.
Also in a twist you might appreciate, The Luminaries is also a hooker book! Yes, the main female character is a former lady of the night, and her frenemy is a ‘madame’.
Words For Worms
Whaaaaat?! The Luminaries is a hooker book? I might have to re-think my position.