I’m about to finish The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu and I had just finished reading The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert before that. I noticed that both books dealt with the theme of Man Vs. Nature and the extinction of other species as a result of civilization growth. Both books approach the subject rather differently as one is a non-fiction scientific narration of the subject and the other one is a science fiction novel. Both works make reference to Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (which I feel I must read next). I’ve read back to back books about certain subjects on purpose but from time to time a couple of books read around each other seem to have a connection that speaks to something that I’m interested in but didn’t go seeking to approach from those two angles. Have you ever had connections between books read near each other that have made you marvel about the randomness of these connections?
Comments
Jotakave OP t1_iucoa89 wrote
I like that idea if an Easter egg from the universe. I’ve never heard of the Cutting Crew btw.
uncreativemonkey t1_iu9u1q7 wrote
Experienced this recently, twice. I read a retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher (book is What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher) a couple weeks ago. After that I read my next book, The Fisherman by John Langan, and they had similar vibes, though completely different overall, but they both had supernatural elements and dealing with losing loved ones. And i thought there was an interesting similarity between the two. I don't want to give too much away, because they're both great books and I don't want to spoil anything.
Another time, happened a couple days ago. I'm currently reading two books: The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher; and What-the-Dickens by Gregory Maguire. I had just gotten to a part in What-the-Dickens about a being (fairy thing of some sort) finding themselves in a tin can, and it's attacked by a cat, its a whole thing.. Then when I went to read my other book later that day tin cans were also mentioned. It was just random, but I thought it funny that in two totally unrelated stories, read on the same day, each would feature a bit about tin cans.
Jotakave OP t1_iu9ut7w wrote
I love it. I haven’t read What The Dickens by Maguire and I have read other books by him so I should give it a try. It’s so weird when it’s so specific, like with the tin can. Almost like Deja Vu
uncreativemonkey t1_iu9vcfm wrote
I love Maguire.
And for sure! My brain like hiccupped. I don't normally make connections like that, and I momentarily thought I had made the other story up or something, was a weird feeling.
cordelaine t1_iu9xr6o wrote
Not quite the same, but I recently read Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury followed by Fairy Tale by Stephen King.
I didn’t know this before reading them, but the MC of Fairy Tale reads Something Wicked in the course of the story, and there are some other connections.
Neckwrecker t1_iubasgu wrote
>I’m about to finish The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu and I had just finished reading The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert before that.
Hah, I have both of these in my to-read list.
Jotakave OP t1_iucock2 wrote
Then you’ll see what I mean! I enjoyed both although the sixth extinction is a tad depressing
akira2bee t1_iublmsl wrote
Yes! Definitely have had this happen before though its been awhile and I can't remember them off the tip of my head, but it is definitely very funny and amazing. Almost like you were meant to be reading those books close together or at the same time :)
killdeerpoppy t1_iub5s28 wrote
Yes, I’ve actually been thinking about this a lot lately. I think it’s a fun little Easter egg from the universe. Last month I read a book that referenced the song “I just died in your arms” by the Cutting Crew. The very next book I read referenced the Cutting Crew as well (didn’t specify a song). The book I read after that had a character that was a woodsman and talked about being on a cutting crew. It was just a delightful little bit of synchronicity.