Six Degrees of Separation for books is a monthly meme hosted by Kate. The idea is to start with a specific book and connect via six links to another book. Feel free to join in and post your link here.
Starting point: Murmur
This month’s starting point is Murmur by Will Eaves, whose protagonist Alec Pryor is inspired by Alan Turing. I have not read it, but I am a big admirer of Turing, who besides from being a code breaker and a mathematician also founded the principles on which modern computing is based.
1. From Murmur to Quantum: A Guide for the Perplexed
The next big step for computing will surely be the breakthrough of quantum computers built on quantum physics. Quantum: A Guide for the Perplexed by Jim Al-Khalili is a great introduction to quantum physics. As it happens Jim Al-Khalili hosted a BBC4 show Order and Disorder which featured Alan Turing.
2. From Quantum: A Guide for the Perplexed to The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Quantum physics is one of the world’s big mysteries. Even today nobody really understands what is going on. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie is another of the world’s big mysteries. It is amongst my favourite Christie novels.
3. From The Murder of Roger Ackroyd to Engleby
In The Murder of Roger Ackroyd we are introduced to an unreliable narrator. The same is the case in Sebastian Faulks’ Engleby. Various layers of perception and deception are present in Engleby’s narration, which makes it a fascinating and slightly disturbing read.
4. From Engleby to The Secret History
Mike Engleby is an outsider at Cambridge University, because he is not from a family of wealth or status. Richard Papen, the protagonist in Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, is in a similar situation at Hampden College. Donna Tartt is probably better known for The Goldfinch, but to be honest I prefer The Secret History.
5. From The Secret History to The Iliad
Richard Papen and his friends from The Secret History study Ancient Greek, including Plato and Homer. The Iliad is Homer’s master piece (together with The Odyssey). I remember reading it in school and enjoying the dactylic hexameter style as much as the story itself.
6. From The Iliad to All the Light We Cannot See
Paris, who ran away with Helen of Troy causing the Trojan war, is one of the many characters in The Iliad. Paris is also the place where Marie-Laure from All the Light We Cannot See lives with her father until the Nazi invasion drives them away.
Back to Murmur
Werner, the other protagonist in All the Light We Cannot See, has a natural inclination for mathematics, science and technology. The same goes for Alec Pryor from Murmur. And we are back to where we started.
So this week’s chain took us from Alan Turing and science to mystery, campus lit, ancient Greek poetry and World War 2. Where did your links lead?
Oh what a clever chain stargazer. Love how you managed to get it back to the beginning again. I also like your layout.
BTW I will argue though about Alan Turing. Well, perhaps, he WAS the founder of modern computing, but apparently he DID also recognise the pioneering work of Ada Lovelace who is regarded by some to be the first to recognise the potential of a computing machine. The computing language Ada was named for her. (But, maybe you know this!)
Aww thanks a lot. And thanks for visiting my blog! I don’t want to argue about Alan Turing vs. Ada Lovelace π I guess there are different aspects of computing and she might very well (well ahead of her time) have founded the ideas, whereas Turing wrote the practical paper on how to actually implement.
No, I wouldn’t argue either, I just wanted to make sure she wasn’t forgotten. π I believe he mentioned her in one of his papers, though I don’t know which one.
Did my first comment go into moderation?
I guess it is because you are a first time commenter (I am new to #6degrees), although wordpress sometimes sends random comments in moderation, which I haven’t quite figured out the reason for.
Yes, probably, I just wasn’t sure whether it had gone to moderation or just disappeared because there was no message – thought it did say “submitting comment”. Mostly – though obviously not always – you get a message saying something your comment waiting for moderation, so you know it’s registered somewhere. I have no idea what first commenters to my blog get! I just know what I see on other blogs!
Love your link to The Secret History – was actually talking about this book with a friend today, because it falls into the ‘to re-read or not to re-read’ category for me – there’s a bunch of books that I read in the 90s/2000s that I LOVED – would they hold up if I reread them now…?
I am always a bit worried, re-reading books I used to love. There is always the risk of disappointment. However, most of the books I re-read, have actually stood the test of time very well.
My re-reads are usually classics that Iβve read multiple times – Gatsby, A Room With a View, Austen – Iβm Less sure about the books I loved in my twenties!
This is so clever! I love the way you’ve brought your chain full circle. All the Light We Cannot See is an absolute favourite of mine so any chain which brings that one in gets brownie points. I really must get back to 6 degrees…. I said that last month too…. π
Yes, you should join in next time! I haven’t engaged much in book memes, but this one is fun. I enjoy thinking back to what I have read and it is so interesting to read all the other chains as well.
I enjoyed your links, though I suspect I would remain perplexed by Quantum Physics even with a guide.
I think everyone finds quantum physics perplexing, perhaps this is what I like about it π
Great chain. I do love an unreliable narrator. It is like talking to a real person. We only let out what we want people to know. All the Light We Cannot See is one of my favourites.
Yes, exactly it is like a real person. Although mostly I still get taken by surprise by an unreliable narrator – somehow you expect the narrator to tell the truth.
Btw, I tried to leave a comment on your #6Degrees post yesterday, but I experienced some technical difficulties and could not submit. Do you know if anyone else had that problem?
That is annoying. Sometimes the spam filter won’t show the comment until I approve it but i don’t know why it would not submit at all.
I just tried again, think I was successful this time. Typed in my details in the form instead of logging in via my wordpress account, this seemed to do the trick.
It worked!
Wow, great chain!
Thanks Meggy π
Haha – great links! I particularly loved the jump from quantum physics to The Murder of Roger Ackroyd – yes, indeed, Christie’s mysteries are nearly as baffling! π I also vastly preferred The Secret History to The Goldfinch…
Yep, the well-known Quantum-Christie connection π
I wonder what the links people choose in this meme tell about the person behind? Hmm, better not dwell on that π
This is a really clever #6degrees! I have been meaning to read The Secret History ever since The Goldfinch.
Thanks! Like Kate (our #6degrees hostess) I read The Secret History in my twenties, so perhaps I would have a different opinion of it today. I don’t think so though.
These are always so fun, and I happen to think your βrouteβ is especially clever! Well-done!
Yes, I think it is good fun to create the chain and I enjoy reading other people’s chains as well. Thanks, Jennifer.