6 Degrees Of Separation: Matilda to Magnus

6 Degrees Of Separation is a monthly meme hosted by Kate at booksaremyfavouriteandbest

On the first Saturday of every month, a book is chosen as a starting point and linked to six other books to form a chain. Readers and bloggers are invited to join in by creating their own ‘chain’ leading from the selected book.

This months starting point is a memoir, Where Am I Now? by Mara Wilson. I watched Matilda until my VHS wore out when I was little, so reading Mara Wilson’s story has some appeal just for the childhood nostalgia, but I’m really not a big fan of autobiographies (or celebrity biographies in general) so we’ll see if I ever actually pick it up.

Another movie-star and role model is Carrie Fisher. I own two of her autobiographies [and, of course, have reader neither… *sigh*] Wishful Drinking and The Princess Diarist. Isn’t it funny how an actor and character can become so synonymous?

To move from one strong, iconic Star Wars woman to another: Have you seen this? E.K. Johnston is writing a book all about Padmé Amidala, legendary badass who the films treated so badly. I’m so excited about this book, Star Wars: Queen’s Shadow. I really hope we’re going to see politicking and backroom dealing, and Padmé being the incredibly intelligent Queen she is.

“When Padmé Naberrie, “Queen Amidala” of Naboo, steps down from her position, she is asked by the newly-elected queen to become Naboo’s representative in the Galactic Senate. Padmé is unsure about taking on the new role, but cannot turn down the request to serve her people. Together with her most loyal handmaidens, Padmé must figure out how to navigate the treacherous waters of politics and forge a new identity beyond the queen’s shadow.”

Speaking of E.K. Johnston, I read one of her novels, A Thousand Nights, and really enjoyed her unique style of storytelling. I really want to read both Ahsoka (another Star Wars tie-in) and, the awesomely titled, Exit, Pursued by a Bear. Exit, Pursued by a Bear is a reference to a stage direction in Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. 
[Review of A Thousand Nights]

The Queens of Innis Lear takes a little more obvious inspiration from a Shakespeare play, retelling King Lear. This time it puts the three sisters front and centre. It’s a complicated, beautifully messy world and each sister is complex and full of contradictions.
[Review of The Queens of Innis Lear]

After reading The Queens of Innis Lear I’ve been keen to read more of Tessa Gratton’s books. I’m incredibly excited to read Strange Grace, which come out this month.

“Once, a witch made a pact with a devil. The legend says they loved each other, but can the story be trusted at all? Find out in this lush, atmospheric fantasy novel that entwines love, lies, and sacrifice.”

In the meantime I’ve started on her back-catalogue. The one that most jumped out at my was The Lost Sun, the first in The United States of Asgard trilogy.

And finally, if you’re interested in a Norse-mythology-infused contemporary world, you definitely have to read the Magnus Chase trilogy by Rick Riordan. In fact, even if you’re not interest now, go read it anyway, you soon will be. It starts with The Sword of Summer.
[Reviews of The Hammer of Thor and The Ship of the Dead]