It was Jo’s idea a couple of years ago, and now it’s become an annual event – celebrate the first six months of the reading year by putting six books into each of six categories.
Not quite as easy as it looks. I’ve tweaked the categories to suit my reading style, and because I wanted to push disappointments to one site and simply celebrate some of the books I’ve read and the books I’ve discovered.
Here are my six sixes:
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Six books illuminated by wonderful voices from the twentieth century
Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner
The Diary of a Provincial Lady by E M Delafield
The English Air by D E Stevenson
The Castle on the Hill by Elizabeth Goodge
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter
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Six books from the present that took me to the past
The Visitors by Rebecca Maskell
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
An Appetite for Violets by Martine Bailey
Turning the Stones by Debra Daley
The True and Splendid History of the Harristown Sisters by Michelle Lovric
Sugar Hall by Tiffany Murray
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Six books from the past that pulled me back there
Wired Love by Ella Cheever Thayer
Esther Waters by George Moore
Griffith Gaunt by Charles Reade
Nine Pounds of Luggage by Maud Parrish
The Count of Monte Christo by Alexandre Dumas
Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope
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Six books that introduced me to interesting new authors
Wake by Anna Hope
Still She Wished for Company by Margaret Irwin
The Lie of You: I Will Have What is Mine by Jane Lythell
Mr Perrin and Mr Traill by Hugh Walpole
My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff
None-Go-By by Mrs Alfred Sidgwick
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Six successful second meeting with authors
The Auction Sale by C H B Kitchin
The Twelfth Hour by Ada Leverson
A Hundred Pieces of Me by Lucy Dillon
Wild Strawberries by Angela Thirkell
Mrs Westerby Changes Course by Elizabeth Cadell
Her by Harriet Lane
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Six used books added to my shelves
The Heroes of Clone by Margaret Kennedy
The Serial Garden by Joan Aiken
Portrait of a Village by Francis Brett Young
The West End Front by Matthew Sweet
The Stag at Bay by Rachel Ferguson
Elizabeth’s Women by Tracy Boorman
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Do think about putting your own sixes – it’s a great way of perusing your reading, and I’d love to read more lists.
Fleur in her World 
I really like the Six Sixes and the way you’ve altered them to fit your reading. You have highlighted some great books too 🙂
I have Jonathan Strange on the TBR shelf, bought for only $1 at the library sale. . . in hardcover. . it’s taking up a lot of space so I should really tackle it soon!! I’m just daunted by the sheer size of it! Your mention is pushing it higher on the to-read list.
Such a productive reader and so many good books! I’ve only read two from your lists…I’m visiting here on a break from hoovering, I should be reading.