It’s time for #6degrees. Start with the monthly read, add six books, and see where you end up. The 6 Degrees of Separation Meme is hosted every month at Books are my Favorite and Best.
Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary is the book for May 2021. As the blurb says, “Newbery Award winner Beverly Cleary delivers a humorous portrayal of the ups and downs of sisterhood. Both the younger and older siblings of the family will enjoy this book.“
This made me think of various sibling relationships done well in books over the years. Let me start with Christina Rosetti’s poem, Goblin Market. (Incidentally, this was also the final link in last month’s chain.) Laura succumbs to the lure of the goblins’ marketing song, both craving and detesting the fruit. But luckily, she has her loyal sister to rescue her.
Next comes Winter Rose by Patricia McKillip (my review here). Two sisters fall in love with the same Tam Lin figure. It could have become a story of bitter jealousy, but McKillip manages to make this a touching story of two sisters who come first to each other.
Third in this chain is The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. Many of you would recognize this popular YA fantasy series, for the first book won the Newbery in 1996. Eugenides plays kingmaker for his beloved cousin Eddis, by stealing a mythical, magical gemstone for her.
Fourth up, is The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky, which looks at a sprawling family saga in 19th century Russia. The three sons of Fyodor Karamazov and his three sons are very different from each other, but ultimately must make peace with these differences.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is the fifth book here. Witty but judgmental Elizabeth Bennet is a perfect foil to the kinder elder sister, Jane. A similar contrast was also there between the younger impulsive Marianne and the older, more balanced Elinor in Sense and Sensibility by the same author. Looking at the same people with different lenses, and trying to reconcile the differences, is what sisters do best.
Which books did Beezus and Ramona make you think of? And are there any other sibling pairings that stood out for you?
21 replies on “Six Degrees of Sibling-Hood”
This is a lovely chain, reminding me of books I know (Austen, Rosetti), books I ought to know (Dostoevsky), and ones I don’t know at all (all the rest). Lots to think about here – thanks!
Glad I could remind you again about some of the older gems!
Love your title! I do like the Austen books, but I’ve never heard of any of the others except for The Brothers Karamazov. I’d like to read some of the Russian classics, but I know they can be really heavy reads.
That’s true, and door-stoppers all of them. You can always use the movie versions to catch up though!
Some interesting choices–Brother’s Karamazov, the poem, and the new-to-me Winter Rose and Queen’s Thief series. Good job!
Thanks! I read Winter Rose and Queen’s Thief recently, so they were foremost on my mind.
I love the two Jane Austen books – she writes so well about the relationships between sisters. I haven’t read any of the other books in your chain but The Brothers Karamazov has been on my TBR for years!
Yes, Austen really represents sisterhood so well. Each sister is different, but it’s so wonderful they love each other so much (well, mostly).
I love stories about sisters! Nice chain!
It seemed the most obvious chain to me at the time. 🙂
Seems like this book led to several chains about siblings and sisters, but they were all different! Lovely chain here.
Thank you! I seem to have missed out Little Women though, and that was definitely a book about sisters.
Aaah I should have remembered the Bentley sisters! I love your list and don’t know all the books. Definitely interested in Winter Rose, that sounds like a fascinating read!
Hope you will have a good week and a wonderful month of May!
Winter Rose was mesmerising, so dream-like, and the test of sisterly love stands true. Wishing you a wonderful reading month/ May ahead too. 🙂
Awww, trust you to find an additional interesting twist and challenge to the six links! As an only child, I tend to idealise siblinghood (always craved siblings and that’s why I decided to have two children), but they are not always easy relationships, and your links here show how varied a picture it can be.
Hmm, that’s a very important point. Each sibling group, so very different. That would make a wonderful blogging prompt!
I have to try McKillip again…
Yep, I keep meaning to go attack her backlist but the other TBR books get in the way…
I’ve always liked the relationship between Jane and Lizzy but Mary, Kitty, and Lydia were annoying. I guess they didn’t stand a chance with a mother like Mrs. Bennet!
And you included a Russian classic! I’ve read a few (Anna Karenina, Doctor Zhivago) and they are work. I can never keep all the characters and their nicknames straight!
Great chain!
So true, Kitty, Mary and Lydia were so annoying! Mary was still more bearable, but ultimately so sanctimonious. Some of the sequels by other authors try to show them in a better light though — I think, in Death comes to Pemberley, for example. I certainly hope that happened in Austen’s world!
Oh I wish I had thought of Pride and Prejudice! You’ve found some excellent links, and unusual books.
I personally thought Death Comes to Pemberley was dreadful, but I’m sure lots of people liked it. I felt PD James had given Elizabeth an unfortunate resemblance to Elizabeth Pargetter in The Archers!
My chain is here: https://sconesandchaiseslongues.blogspot.com/2021/05/six-degrees-of-separation-may-2021.html