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Reviews & Recommendations

6 Degrees of Separation: From the Beauty Myth to …

Melinda Tognini March 3, 2018 11 Comments
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Once again, it’s time for the literary version of Six Degrees of Separation, where Kate from booksaremyfavouriteandbest gives us the title of a book, and we link it to six other titles, in whatever random way our brain makes connections. Despite the common starting point, no two chains are the same, so why not play along and let me know how it turns out for you?

This month, we’re starting with Naomi Wolf’s controversial classic, The Beauty Myth.

The Beauty Myth was published in 1990, during the middle year of my Bachelor of Arts degree, where I was introduced to a wide range of literary texts and theories. These included the magic realism of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s 100 Years of Solitude, Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure and the Selected Poems of Emily Dickinson.

I chose Emily Dickinson as the subject of a major assessment. It wasn’t good enough to write about her life and poetry. No, I had to dress up and deliver a monologue as if I was her. Back then, I still had dreams of being an actor, as I hadn’t yet realised I preferred to work behind the scenes rather than have all eyes on me.

A poet who has recently launched her first book of poetry, and was a guest of the 2018 Perth Writers Week is Renee Pettitt-Schip. The Sky runs Right Through Us is full of beautiful – and at times heartbreaking – words about her time teaching asylum seekers and islanders on Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

Given that I also heard Tim Winton Speak at Perth Writers Week, I’m reminded of one of his early works, That Eye, the Sky. Now that I’ve read some of his autobiographical essays, I can see some parallels between this book and elements of Winton’s childhood.

Part of Tim Winton’s talk was a discussion about ‘toxic masculinity’ and his new novel, The Shepherd’s Hut, which I’m looking forward to reading when it’s released later in March.

The Shepherd’s Hut is set in rural Western Australia, as is Michelle Johnston’s debut novel, Dustfall, which is about the consequences of medical error, and the coverup that occured regarding the effects of asbestos mining at Wittenoom. I’m currently just a few chapters in – and loving it.

Linking via the title, my final book is Dusty by Frank Dalby Davison. Dusty is a dingo pup, and the story was first published in 1946. A treasured signed copy was loaned to me when I was 11 and travelling around Australia with my family. While reading it, we visited the studio of artist Jack Absalom in Broken Hill, where I discovered a print of a dingo at a waterhole. The original was not for sale as it was one of the artist’s personal favourites and hung on his own wall (but he kindly let us take a look at the original). I had to settle for the set of table mats my parents purchased instead.

I certainly travelled a fair way from a discussion about the relationship between beauty and female identity. However, it didn’t take me long to step into an Australian landscape, particularly isolated places and those who inhabit some pretty harsh and unforgiving environments.

Over to You

Where will six degrees of separation lead you this month? Leave a comment with your chain, or give me the link to the relevant post on your own blog.

Next month (7 April 2018), we’ll our starting point will be Arthur Golden’s bestseller, Memoirs of A Geisha.

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Previous 18 Things I’ll Do in 2018
Next 18 Books to Read in 2018 (part 1)
Melinda Tognini

story-gatherer & mentor

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11 Comments

  1. Whispering Gums says:
    March 3, 2018 at 10:43 am

    Great links Melinda – your first was particularly quirky! I love Winton, and That eye the sky. I’m looking forward to reading Shepherd’s hut. I love the sound of Dustfall. I’ve never read Dusty – though mean to one day. I did Man-shy in my first year of high school and enjoyed it. We did quite a lot of Aussie literature that year – in Queensland I was – unlike, I think, my peers in NSW where I ended up in second year high school.

    Reply
    1. Melinda Tognini says:
      March 3, 2018 at 10:49 am

      Dustfall is very engaging, as well as shedding some light on what was known – and covered up – in regards to the health ramifications of asbestos mining. I heard the author, Michelle Johnston, speak at Perth Writers Week last weekend, and was fascinated by what she had to say about the way the story evolved. Originally she had created a fictional town, but the more she researched, the more she felt it important to use the real setting of Wittenoom.

      Reply
  2. Susan says:
    March 3, 2018 at 6:50 pm

    I love the idea of a method acting dissertation! Great set of links.

    Reply
    1. Melinda Tognini says:
      March 3, 2018 at 8:48 pm

      Thanks, Susan. Looking back, I can’t quite believe I acted out Emily Dickinson – I can’t remember whether we had to present in that way, or whether I chose to.

      Reply
  3. Kay says:
    March 3, 2018 at 8:23 pm

    Very interesting chain. I love this event because it introduces me to so many new authors and books and the chains themselves are so unique. Well done!

    Reply
    1. Melinda Tognini says:
      March 3, 2018 at 8:47 pm

      Being introduced to so many new authors and books is both a blessing and a challenge, I think! There isn’t enough time to read all the good books we hear about …

      Reply
  4. Emma says:
    March 3, 2018 at 11:36 pm

    neat! Mine is here: https://wordsandpeace.com/2018/03/03/six-degrees-of-separation-from-beauty-to-truth/

    Reply
  5. Kate @ booksaremyfavouriteandbest says:
    March 4, 2018 at 2:02 pm

    I’m looking forward to reading Winton’s new book as well. He is giving a talk in Melbourne in a few weeks and I’m so cranky because I can’t go – missing a rare opportunity to hear him speak!

    Reply
    1. Melinda Tognini says:
      March 4, 2018 at 2:16 pm

      I think it will probably be the same (or similar) talk Tim Winton gave at Perth Writers Week. I am a big fan, so rather biased, but I think he speaks as well as he writes. I just love the way he puts words together!

      Reply
  6. Marina Sofia says:
    March 4, 2018 at 6:49 pm

    I love the poetry in your links – and I would have loved to see you as Emily Dickinson!

    Reply
    1. Melinda Tognini says:
      March 5, 2018 at 5:10 pm

      Ha! Looking back, I can’t believe I did dress up as Emily Dickinson, but I guess at the time, I was heavily involved in the theatre on campus and that was probably my default position. I much prefer behind the scenes these days!

      Reply

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    You did manage to turn it around at the end... but quite a dark chain there - I suppose, inevitably, if you start with Shuggie...
    In 6 Degrees of Separation: From Shuggie Bain to Munjed Al Muderis
    I'm not big on dystopian fiction, but this is an interesting chain, and gets a long way from poor old Shuggie!
    In 6 Degrees of Separation: From Shuggie Bain to Munjed Al Muderis
    I haven't read it yet, but it looks really interesting!
    In 6 Degrees of Separation: From Shuggie Bain to Munjed Al Muderis

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