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Reading

6 Degrees of Separation: A Prayer for Owen Meany

Melinda Tognini April 14, 2016 4 Comments
6 Degrees of Separation A Prayer for Owen Meany

6 Degrees of Separation A Prayer for Owen Meany

Welcome back to Six Degrees of Separation.

This bookish meme was inspired by the idea that everyone is connected to every other person by no more than six points of separation. I was introduced to this idea while watching the 1993 film of the same name, but it actually originated in a short story called ‘Chains’ written by Hungarian writer and poet Frigyes Karinthy back in 1929.

This literary version was initiated in 2014 by authors Annabel Smith and Emma Chapman. Recently, the baton has been passed on to Kate at booksaremyfavouriteandbest and I’m really glad that it’s continuing. It’s a lot of fun; I hope you’ll enjoy it – and join in.

Each month, Kate will nominate a starting book, and it really is as easy as connecting it to the next book that jumps into your head. The link could be by title, theme, plot, character or any other random way that comes to mind. If you’d like more ideas on how to do this, then check out Kate’s explanation over at her blog – or just keep reading to see my chain.

This month’s launch pad is A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, a book I’ve heard recommended numerous times but haven’t yet read.

The Prayer Tree by Michael Leunig also has ‘prayer’ in the title. I love Leunig’s quirky drawings and poetry as well as his insightful, and sometimes political, observations.

Continuing with connections via titles, Western Australian author Danny Parker has written a book called Tree, with stunning illustrations by Matt Ottley. The story is about a a young sapling growing up in the shelter of an older tree until a huge storm destroys everything that’s familiar; however, it eventually learns that every ending is also a beginning.

Danny is the first name of Tree‘s author, and it’s also the name of the main character in Roald Dahl’s Danny the Champion of the World.

The Prayer Tree, Tree and Danny the Champion of the World

As well as children’s books, Roal Dahl also wrote a memoir called Boy: Tales of a Childhood.

Yassmin Abdel-Magied is a very different person to Roal Dahl, but her book Yassmin’s Story is also autobiographical. Yassmin was born in Sudan but raised in Australia. She says that growing up, she never saw herself reflected in the books she read or the television she watched. Yassmin’s Story is her attempt to change that.

I think it’s really important to listen to voices from diverse cultural backgrounds. One of the first I heard in fiction was that of Josephine in Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta. Marchetta (and her character Josephine) comes from an Italian family rather than Sudanese but I wonder if, growing up, she had a similar reading experience to Yassmin Abdel-Magied.

Boy, Yassmin's Story and Looking for Alibrandi

So, this month I started with a book I haven’t read (yet), travelled through genres from fiction to picture books, poetry to non-fiction and ended up in the world of YA and a novel I’ve read, and enjoyed, multiple times.

Over to You

Please join in! If you have a blog, add the link in the comments section of my post, and over on booksaremyfavouriteandbest. If you don’t have a blog, you can still participate by including your chain in the comments.

Next month (May 7th, 2016) the chain will begin with a book that topped international best-seller lists – Patrick Süskind’s Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.

6 Degrees of Separation - A Prayer for Owen Meany (1)

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Previous Paying My Respects
Next Beyond Gallipoli: Reflections on Anzac Day
Melinda Tognini

story-gatherer & mentor

Related Posts
The Distance Between Dreams: In Conversation with Emily Paull March 31, 2025
6 Degrees of Separation: From Dangerous Liaisons to My Place February 1, 2025
6 Degrees of Separation: From Orbital to Imperfect January 4, 2025

4 Comments

  1. Kate W says:
    April 14, 2016 at 12:26 pm

    Thanks for joining in Melinda!

    Love that you used Leunig as your first link. I’ll have to check out the book Tree – looks beautiful.

    Reply
    1. Melinda Tognini says:
      April 14, 2016 at 12:36 pm

      Thanks for hosting it! I was so disappointed when I thought it had simply stopped being run, so was really happy to see Annabel’s post with a link to your blog.

      Reply
  2. Maureen Helen says:
    April 14, 2016 at 5:20 pm

    Sounds like a lot of fun, and I love your list, Melinda! I like the idea that everyone is invited to join in, rather than having to wait to be nominated. That could make the links even more diverse. I’ll wait until next month, hoping I will have recovered from shingles by then.

    Reply
    1. Melinda Tognini says:
      April 14, 2016 at 6:46 pm

      It is a lot of fun, Maureen, a lovely way to write a post and mention some lovely books in an interesting way. And it is very much join in if you feel inclined. There have also been months I’ve missed and then just re-joined when I can. I do hope you’re feeling better soon. When I had shingles, I was lucky that it was only on my back and not very painful, but I felt so tired for much longer – so do take it easy and rest up, and even when you start to feel better, it’s important not to do too much too soon. I hope it will at least give you an opportunity to read some books on your to-read pile.

      Reply

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Latest Comments

Apologies for the late reply! I shall go check out your post - even the title is intriguing!
In 6 Degrees of Separation: From Orbital to Imperfect
I haven't read any of the books on your chain (though am reading Orbital currently) but love the clever links... And now adding Writer Laid Bare to my TBR.. my post is here - https://www.ladyinreadwrites.com/two-roads-diverged-in-the-words-with-trivia-twists-too/
In 6 Degrees of Separation: From Orbital to Imperfect
You're welcome! Thank you for being so generous with your time in answering my questions as well as all the incredible work encouraging creatives everywhere!
In Reflect. Simplify. Create: In Conversation with Amanda Viviers

Recent Posts

  • The Distance Between Dreams: In Conversation with Emily Paull
  • Creative Writing Prompts: April
  • Creative Writing Prompts: February
  • 6 Degrees of Separation: From Dangerous Liaisons to My Place
  • Creative Writing Prompts: January
  • 6 Degrees of Separation: From Orbital to Imperfect
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