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Reviews & Recommendations

6 Degrees of Separation: From Like Water for Chocolate to Once Upon a Small Rhinoceros

Melinda Tognini October 7, 2017 12 Comments

Have you ever played Six Degrees of Separation? It’s based on the idea that you are connected to anyone else in the world in six steps or less. Well, welcome to the bookish version, where Kate from booksaremyfavouriteandbest nominates a book, and we link it to six other titles in any random connection that comes to us – join in and have some fun!

6 Degrees of Separation Like Water for Chocolate

This month’s starting book is Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel. I confess I’ve only heard of it because I saw its film adapation at the cinema.

I remember its sense of magic realism, which probably means my first link should be 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the first book I read in that genre; however, my immediate response was to link it to Chocolat by Joanne Harris.

When I was a kid, I hated chocolate after making myself physically sick one Easter – so I used to leave  my unopened Easter eggs out for Father Christmas. One year, I also left him my copy of E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web to read. How I thought he had time to read on his busiest night of the year, I’m not quite sure, but he did take the time to write me a thank you note.

Another childhood favourite was Storm Boy by Colin Thiele. When I was 11, my family travelled around Australia, and we stopped on the Coorong, where the book is set.

6 Degrees Chocolat, Charlotte's Web, Storm Boy

We also spent time in Tasmania, where Louise Allan has set her debut novel, The Sisters’ Song. I’ve followed a lot of her journey to publication over the past couple of years, so I can’t wait to read it when it’s released in January 2018.

I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you how I’ve made the connection to Dianne Wolfer’s debut novel, Dolphin Song. This book was first released back in 1995, the year I started teaching and began devouring young adult fiction, on the lookout for books I could recommend to reluctant readers.

Just recently, I won over another reluctant reader, a young girl I’m mentoring through 12 Buckets, an organisation making a real difference in young lives. The book? Once Upon a Small Rhinoceros by Meg McKinlay.

The Sisters' Song, Dolphin Song, Once Upon a Small Rhinoceros

I’ve travelled from Mexico and the land of magic realism, down the memory lane of childhood, and have come to rest with a story I hope encourages the next generation to relish the worlds that can be found between the pages of a book.

Next month, we’re beginning with Bret Easton Ellis’s Less Than Zero.

Over to You

Where will Six Degrees of Separation lead you?

 

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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

12 Comments

  1. Margaret @ BooksPlease says:
    October 7, 2017 at 1:32 pm

    I like how you’ve linked your chain to events in your life! My first thought for the first link was also ‘Choclat’, but I’d already featured that book in an earlier chain and I’m trying to use different books for each chain (a bit daft, I know). So, I went for the Mexico link.

    Reply
    1. Melinda Tognini says:
      October 7, 2017 at 4:32 pm

      Hi Margaret, I didn’t initiallly link the chains to my life, but that’s the way my mind went. Could make an interesting structure of an autobiographical piece though! Heading over to check your chain now …

      Reply
  2. Kate @ booksaremyfavouriteandbest says:
    October 7, 2017 at 7:23 pm

    Oh! I LOVE your Father Christmas story 🙂 And your 12 Buckets link 🙂

    Reply
    1. Melinda Tognini says:
      October 7, 2017 at 8:50 pm

      Thanks, Kate!

      Reply
  3. Louise Allan says:
    October 7, 2017 at 7:59 pm

    Thank you for mentioning my book, especially putting it after ‘Storm Boy’, one of my childhood favourites! I bawled at that book, actually, and howled again when I read it to my kids decades later.
    A lovely chain of books indeed! xx

    Reply
    1. Melinda Tognini says:
      October 7, 2017 at 8:51 pm

      You are very welcome. I reallly am looking forward to finally reading it!

      Reply
  4. mariahelena (@mh_marelden) says:
    October 7, 2017 at 8:23 pm

    I love that your chain is like a trip down memory lane.

    Reply
    1. Melinda Tognini says:
      October 7, 2017 at 8:53 pm

      I didn’t set out for it to be a trip down memory lane, but I guess you never can tell where six degrees will lead!

      Reply
  5. Lisa Hayes says:
    October 9, 2017 at 2:49 am

    Very interesting list–many I hadn’t heard of, which is even more fun.

    Reply
    1. Melinda Tognini says:
      October 9, 2017 at 7:32 am

      I agree – I enjoy hearing about books other participants include, although my to-read pile is growing exponentially as a result!

      Reply
  6. Marina Sofia says:
    October 11, 2017 at 4:09 am

    I love the story of you leaving a book for Father Christmas – you clearly wanted to spread the love of reading and good stories even back then!

    Reply
    1. Melinda Tognini says:
      October 11, 2017 at 5:10 am

      I’d never thought about it in that way – but I like it! Thanks for pointing that out, Marina!

      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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