30.5 (PJ Reads' Task - As Suggested By Tanja - Six Degrees of Separation)

[Katie]

What?! Is that a joke?

Edit: That was in reference to PJ's post about the Rock Bottom Remainders. And it's not a joke. They have pictures.

For anyone who is interested: Their Website detailing the "Still Younger than Keith" tour in 2007

[Cicek]

Tanja, let me know if this works:

I want to read The Source of Magic by Piers Anthony. So here goes:
1- The cover art of the book was designed by Doug Beekman
2- Doug Beekman also designed the cover art for byEllis Weiner
3- Ellis Weiner went to UPenn and took a comparative lit class with Philip Roth

So read Piers Anthony and Philip Roth?

[Cait]

pjreads wrote: "The Rock Bottom Remainders:

"The band members include Dave Barry, Stephen King, Amy Tan, Maya Angelou, Cynthia Heimel, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Sam Barry, Ridley Pearson, Scott Turow, Joel Selvin, ..."

Who would've thought that Amy Tan could be such a character! Those picture are pretty funny.

[Nicole]

I just had to jump in and say how I am just giddy from this post! And my brain is swimming with options! I may need to reflect for a few days.

I was going to ask about Oprah, but thought that she would be denied for the same reason my idea got denied. So I just want to clarify...I meant if the authors had been interviewed by the same interviewer, not if they were just in the same magazine. Okay. I am done with that for real this time. LOL.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Tanja wrote: "El - That's good with the previously married connection!

Nicole - NP!

Rachel Lee - It's good! Looks to be 5 degrees: Hynd to Ludlum to Damon to Affleck to Barrymore to author of Derby Girl.
..."

Okay so if I do co-authors do I read two books they co authored?

Tanja wrote: "El - That's good with the previously married connection!

Nicole - NP!

Rachel Lee - It's good! Looks to be 5 degrees: Hynd to Ludlum to Damon to Affleck to Barrymore to author of Derby Girl.
..."

[Usako]

Cicek - That's a great connection with the art cover!!

Jayme - You needn't read the book(s) that the two authors co-authored. You only have to cite that they co-authored a book but you can read a different book by each author. Example: Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch was written by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Part A I could read any book by Pratchett and Part B read any book by Gaiman. The connection is that they co-authored Good Omens.

Ruby - Both works. Mostly b/c I believe Austen may have spoke to Ann Racliffe to add the book title in Northanger. If that doesn't appear to be the case, just read any Austen book.

[Ruby]

Ok, ok. I think I got it.
Book A. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte
Book B. The Life of Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Gaskell

Anne Bronte's Sister is Charlotte Bronte and Elizabeth Gaskell wrote her biography. Yes? Could I also instead read another Gaskell novel?

[TMBookluvr]

does this work?
book A The Traveler by john twelve hawks
interviewed by Joseph Malozzi (of stargate producer) who was a writer on The Lost World by Michael Crichton so I could read any Crichton book....for book B

[Petra]

Tanja wrote: "Also with Highgate, you could tie Gaiman or Niffenegger to the people buried there! Check out the list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highgate..."

Tanja, isn't this a "thing" (Cemetery) connecting two people, rather than a person-person connection ("I need a person to connect them not a location per se")? I thought this list was vetoed after an earlier attempt to connect.
I'm not trying to be ornery. Just to understand so that I can make an interesting choice for myself (and anyone else).

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner)]

Two other connections:

Caleb Carr (author of The Alienist)..his father is Lucien Carr who was part of the Beat movement and was friends with Jack Kerouac, Ginsberg, and William S. Burroughs.

Augusten Burroughs's memoir Running with Scissors was made into a movie that was produced by Brad Pitt ..from there you could go a million ways..lol. Just with Brad Pitt..He is producing the memoir Eat, Pray, Love and produced The Time Traveler's Wife. He was in Fight Club (so you could read really any of Chuck Palahniuk's books), Curious Case of Benjamin Button, etc.

[Usako]

Ruby - Yes! You could then read another Gaskell novel.

Tracey - That'll work!!

Petra - Hm true BUT Gaiman and Niffengger WORKED at the cemetery which makes it slightly different and more specific. They'd have to have knowledge of those buried in the cemetery in order to give tours. Now if an author visited the cemetery or did research, naw. I think it's more initimate with the job being there. BUUUT lemme think on this part for the night! Wait for tomorrow for my final decision on this. You do bring up a point :)

[Sarah (Mood Reader)]

So let's see if I can get this right on my own.... I am thinking about reading The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci. Which won the Michael L Printz Honor Award and was an Edgar Allan Poe Finalist in 2002. So I could read a book that was nominated, tied or won the Michael L Printz Honor Award OR the Edgar Allan Poe Finalist in 2002?

[Jenna]

ok...here is my thought.
Book A: something by Philippa Gregory (not sure which one yet)
Book B: The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier

Philippa Gregory wrote The Other Boleyn Girl, and the movie of that book starred Scarlett Johansson. Scarlett was also in Girl with Pearl Earring, which was written by Chevalier, author of Virgin Blue.

Am I on the right track with this?
*Great task by the way! Fun to think about these connections.

[Sarah (Mood Reader)]

Jenna, I agree with you it is fun to think about the connections.

[Angela]

I am having a difficult time understanding this task...
So if I read for book A
My Fair Lazy One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being A Dumb Ass Is the New Black Or A Culture-Up Manifesto
by Jen Lancaster

for book B could I read a book by Stacey Ballis because they are good friends. I follow Jen Lancasters blog and she mentions several conversations that she has had with Stacey (both from Chicago), so I am assuming that a friend connection would work or am I totally off base here?
Thanks!

[Jennifer]

I think mine works, but I just need someone to confirm -

For Part A, I'll read Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt: A Novel by Anne Rice, who also wrote Interview With the Vampire (1 degree), which was made into a movie starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Christian Slater (2 degrees), Christian Slater starred in the movie In The Name of the Rose with Sean Connery (3 degrees), who starred in Finding Forrester with Anna Paquin (4 degrees), who stars in the TV series True Blood (5 degrees), and season 2 of True Blood is based on Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris (6 degrees), which is what I will read for Part B.

Did I do this correctly?

[Nicole]

It would be fun to think of a more obscure connection, but I think I am going with Jonathan Safran Foer who took a writing workshop with Joyce Carol Oates (thank you to whomever helpfully shared this information). This way I can move Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close to this task and read more Oates (which I always meant to do since she has written about 5,000 books). Then I can put The Help where I had Foer's book (Books that everyone should read once in their life).

Any one have any particular favorites by Joyce Carol Oates?

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner)]

Nicole wrote: "It would be fun to think of a more obscure connection, but I think I am going with Jonathan Safran Foer who took a writing workshop with Joyce Carol Oates (thank you to ..."

No problem! Wikipedia helped me on that one! I think I'm doing that too. I have been meaning to read Oates for a long time. I think I'm going to read We Were The Mulvaneys.

[Nicole]

Jamie wrote: "Nicole wrote: "It would be fun to think of a more obscure connection, but I think I am going with Jonathan Safran Foer who took a writing workshop with Joyce Carol Oates..."
That is one of the ones I read. I really enjoyed it. Which Foer book are you reading?

[Angela]

If mine is not approved, I am going that route too Jamie and Nicole. I am going to read Eating Animals
by Jonathan Safran Foer... I loved one of his books (name escaping me but with 9/11 as major theme) and just could not get into Everything is Illiminated at all.

[Nicole]

I think you are talking about the one I am going to read-Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I am still trying to figure out Oates. I am overwhelmed by too many choices. I just know I would prefer not to read one that is over 500 pages!

[Angela]

Yes, I have most of her books on my TBR and they are LONG!!! I was referring to that book...it was amazing! I am hoping his newest Eating Animals is good.

[Nicole]

Angela wrote: "Yes, I have most of her books on my TBR and they are LONG!!! I was referring to that book...it was amazing! I am hoping his newest Eating Animals is good."
Well let me know what you pick. I am going to postpone deciding at the moment since there is no pressing need. LOL. I always act like the house is on fire trying to get my list all "settled". Meanwhile I just put some holds on books that I need that have a wait at the library. So that was more pressing since I may be waiting a month!

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner)]

Nicole wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Nicole wrote: "It would be fun to think of a more obscure connection, but I think I am going with Jonathan Safran Foer who took a writing workshop with [author:Joyce Car..."

I'm going to do Everything is Illuminated. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is one of my all time favorite books..I kind of want to re-read it for this. We will see though when the time comes.

[Tammy AZ]

Fiona (Titch) wrote: "Tanja wrote: "Fiona - Hmm. Roberta Kray to a movie about the Krays with Martin & Gary Kemp. But where to go from there. Let me think about that."

Tanja, Martin Kemp played Steve Owen in Eastende..."

True by Spandeau Ballet was played in Sixteen Candles which had John Cusack in it. John Cusack was in High Fidelity, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and The Road to Wellville

[Erin (NY)]

I am having so much trouble with this! Could someone help me with some connections to Rick Riordan? I really want to read his 4th book...

[Jenna]

Erin wrote: "I am having so much trouble with this! Could someone help me with some connections to Rick Riordan? I really want to read his 4th book..."

Erin,
Here is the link to the imdb page for the Lightning Thief movie. There are some pretty good names in it. Maybe one of them could have a connection to another movie adapted from a book on your shelf? Just a thought. :)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0814255/

[Erin (NY)]

Jenna wrote: "Erin wrote: "I am having so much trouble with this! Could someone help me with some connections to Rick Riordan? I really want to read his 4th book..."

Erin,
Here is the link to the imdb page for ..."
Thanks yeah -- that is the path I went the first time, but it didn't lead anywhere. Only to The Tale of Desperaux which I have read...

[Nicki]

Would this connection work?

A. Big Sur
B. Bridge to Terabithia

Big Sur was written by Jack Keroauc and the book inspired a documentary with the soundtrack written and performed by Jay Farrar and Ben Gibbard. Ben Gibbard is married to Zooey Deschenal who starred in Bridge to Terabithia the movie which was adapted from the book Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Peterson.

4 degrees? if all the links are valid

Thanks!

[Petra]

Does this work:

Book 1: Set This House In Order by Matt Ruff

Matt Ruff’s book, Bad Monkeys, has been optioned for film by Matt Battaglia’s company, Blink International. (1st Degree)

Matt played Lisa Kudrow’s fireman boyfriend on “Friends”. (2nd Degree)

Kudrow starred with Jennifer Aniston (3rd Degree)

.....who was married to Brad Pitt. (4th Degree)

Pitt co-founded a film production company called Plan B Entertainment (5th Degree)

.......which produced the movie Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, with approval from the Dahl family (6th Degree)

Book 2: Charlie & The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Something I just realized, do we have to go to the sixth degree or would it be enough to just read books by two separate authors if I go the co authored route. I am really confused.

[Katie]

Erin wrote: "Jenna wrote: "Erin wrote: "I am having so much trouble with this! Could someone help me with some connections to Rick Riordan? I really want to read his 4th book..."

Erin,
Here is the link to the ..."

Erin,
The Percy Jackson film is directed by Chris Columbus, who also directed Gremlins, The Goonies, Adventures in Babysitting, Home Alone, and lots of more recent movies (though I thought I'd hit you with a wave of nostalgia). (Edit: I take that back, he wrote Gremlins and The Goonies, didn't direct.) Some of his movies based on books include the Harry Potter films, Christmas with the Kranks, and coming soon, The Help.
Some ideas:
- C.C. directed Home Alone with Daniel Stern who was in Whip It based on Derby Girl.
- Catherine O'Hara was also in Home Alone and in the Lemony Snicket movie.
- C.C. directed 9 months with Hugh Grant, who was in the film version of About a Boy, Bridget Jones's Diary, Sense and Sensibility...
- Julianne Moore was also in 9 months, as well as movies based on Blindness, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, The Shipping News,The Hours, The Children of Men...

There are lots, depending on what you want to read. Just tool around IMDB for a little while and you'll find something. :-)

[Katie]

Jayme wrote: "Something I just realized, do we have to go to the sixth degree or would it be enough to just read books by two separate authors if I go the co authored route. I am really confused."

Based on what Tanja has okayed, you do not have to go to the 6th degree. The 2nd is just fine.

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner)]

Erin wrote: "I am having so much trouble with this! Could someone help me with some connections to Rick Riordan? I really want to read his 4th book..."

How about this?

Rick Riordan to John Rocco(who created the the artwork for the Percy Jackson books) to Whoopi Goldberg (on John Rocco's about me he said he worked with her on Alice.) to Danielle Steele (Danielle Steele will be on The View with Whoopi on Wednesday)

Really you could find other authors who were on The View..or Whoopi knows a TON of people and you could go from there.You could even connect her to Oprah because they did The Color Purple together..and from there..Oprah has had many authors on her show and knows everybody lol

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Thank God! Thuis task is making my head hurt

[Cait]

To add on to Katie's:

Uma Thurman is in the Percy Jackson film. She is also in the adaptations of The Swarm: A Novel, The Golden Bowl, Les Misérables, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, and Les Liaisons Dangereuses.

To go further from Uma... she was in Pulp Fiction with Samuel L. Jackson, who was in Goodfellas directed by Scorsese, who also directed Shutter Island (so you could read any Lehane book) starring Leo DiCaprio, who was in a bunch of book to film adaptations I listed on a previous page. DiCaprio was in Titanic with Kate Winslet, who starred in Little Children, The Reader, Hideous Kinky: A Novel, Sense and Sensibility, and Hamlet.

OH! I also found out that DiCaprio has at least 2 book related projects in development, Cat's Cradle and Brave New World. He's also starring in Beat the Reaper: A Novel and I forgot to mention The Beach on the previous page.

[Cait]

Uma was in Kill Bill with Daryl Hannah, who was in Splash with Tom Hanks, who starred in Forrest Gump, The Green Mile, The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, The Lost Symbol, and Charlie Wilson's War with Julia Roberts, who is in Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia and has The Friday Night Knitting Club and Happiness Sold Separately in development.

Tom Hanks also has The Story of Edgar Sawtelle in development.

[Cait]

Erin, I also saw PS, I Love You on your TBR. It stars Hilary Swank, who was in Million Dollar Baby directed by Clint Eastwood. Eastwood also directed The Changeling, which John Malkovich was in. Malkovich was in being John Malkovich with Catherine Keener, who is in The Lightning Thief film based on the book by Riordan.

[Cait]

Katie wrote: "Erin wrote: "Jenna wrote: "Erin wrote: "I am having so much trouble with this! Could someone help me with some connections to Rick Riordan? I really want to read his 4th book..."

Erin,
Here is the..."

Chris Columbus directed The Goonies, which starred Josh Brolin, who is married to Diane Lane, who starred in Under the Tuscan Sun which I *think* was also on your TBR.

Columbus also directed Mrs. Doubtfire, which starred Mara Wilson (Matilda), Sally Field (David Copperfield, Where the Heart Is), and Robin Williams, who was in The Night Listener, Jakob the Liar, What Dreams May Come, and The World According to Garp

[Fiona (Titch)]

Tammy wrote: "Fiona (Titch) wrote: "Tanja wrote: "Fiona - Hmm. Roberta Kray to a movie about the Krays with Martin & Gary Kemp. But where to go from there. Let me think about that."

Tanja, Martin Kemp played St..."

Tammy, thats another good direction, but I am gonna go the way down the East End lol x

[Fiona (Titch)]

Nicki wrote: "Would this connection work?

A. Big Sur
B. Bridge to Terabithia

Big Sur was written by Jack Keroauc and the book inspired a documentary with the soundtrack written and pe..."

Nicki, did you know that Zooey Deschenal is the sister to the actress who plays Bones in Bones?

[Erin (NY)]

Oh my goodness! Thank you everyone for all your help! Now I have a tone of options to choose from!

[Usako]

Sarah - You have that correct - same award, same year, same category! Better check on the Edgar Allen Poe one for category.

Jenna - Great connection! Approved.

Angela - You have the right idea with the two authors being friends. Approved!

Jennifer L. - Nice way to lead from Anne Rice to Charlaine Harris. That's actually Rice->Slater->Connery->Paquin->Harris which is 4 degrees.

Nicole - I'm a bit confused. You want to do Extremely Loud Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer (Part A) who took a writing workship with Joyce Carol Oates and read one of her books? How does The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Part B) fit into the picture? I thought you were going to read a book by Oates.

Nicki - 3 degrees Keroauc->Gibbard->Deschenal->Peterson

Petra - Nice one to reach Charlie & the Chocolate Factory!

Jayme - You have up to 6 degrees to make any connection. If it's just one degree, that's acceptable.

Jamie - Solid connections there. I like how you researched the artist to Whoopi Goldberg!

[Usako]

Thanks all for helping out Erin with some author research! I'm really enjoying the non-actor ones, too, since those take a lil longer to research!

Petra - I'll pass on the cemetery job to the dead people. But I do approve Gaiman & Niffengger if they did the same job at around the same time. Chances are they exchanged notes. Gaiman's blog is very interesting to read btw!

[Sandra]

Here's another one...I had originally thought of doing just one degree of separation with co-authors but now I'm into finding a more convoluted connection!

Part A Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella

Her book Confessions of a Shopaholic was made into a movie starring Isla Fisher, who is engaged to Sasha Baron Cohen. He had a guest appearance in an episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" with Dustin Hoffman. Dustin Hoffman had a role in "Hook" which was directed by Steven Spielberg. Spielberg directed "Jurassic Park" which is based on the novel Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton.

Part B State of Fear by Michael Crichton

That makes 5 degrees of separation.

[Usako]

Sandra - Lovely! Who would have thought a book about shopping could lead to Jurassic Park!

[Petra]

Thanks, Tanja! I'll go with Set This House In Order and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory for this task.

Great task! It really got me thinking about connections.

[Kate]

Sandra wrote: "Here's another one...I had originally thought of doing just one degree of separation with co-authors but now I'm into finding a more convoluted connection!

Part A Shopaholic and Baby..."

wow, I really just don't know enough about anything to have even began to make any of these connections! Way to go!

[Lisa Julianna]

I'm not sure if I have this right. Would it be ok for me to read Fantasy Lover by: Sherrilyn Kenyon and Living Dead In Dallas by: Charlaine Harris The connection being that they co-authored the book Blood Lite

[Usako]

Lis Julianna - Absolutely! That works!

Kathryn - I don't know much myself but the power of wikipedia and its links helps! Try it by randomly picking a book and clicking on the author.