Play Book Tag discussion

This may have been asked before, but I am curious ... When you have to choose between reading a book for a personal challenge (say, Climbing the Stairs) or reading a book for the monthly tag, which do you choose?

(I know we all love when they mesh, but sometimes they just don't.)

J.W. wrote: "This may have been asked before, but I am curious ... When you have to choose between reading a book for a personal challenge (say, Climbing the Stairs) or reading a book for the monthly tag, which..."

I usually do the monthly tag first to make sure it gets done in a month. Once I have one done for the monthly tag I will pick one for a different challenge before reading more for the monthly tag.

I do the same as Cora. My monthly tag book is always first...unless I am reading something else when the month starts.

I can't remember the last time I did not read for the tag. As I read a lot of books, this means I just may have to fit in another book. But if push comes to shove, the PBT tag challenge is the one I'll favor. As a very last resort I'll read of graphic novel (because they're quick). But I don't always write a review.

I also will pick the monthly tag as my priority

I usually read what I feel like reading. When I did the stairs, I made sure that books I would likely pick up were on that, so it was no sweat.

I always attempt to read the tag early in the month. If it starts to get past the 15th, I get a little anxious.

Along with whatever book is chosen for a local discussion group, I read whatever I am in the mood for and usually can find something to fulfill the monthly tag. Challenges are secondary, although come December, I would like to finish if there are only a few books left to read. Now I am using some book choice strategies to try and complete Climbing the PBT Stairs, while fulfilling the Social Issues tag.

Depends on the time of year. : )

At the beginning of the year, I will usually read the monthly tag first. However, at the end of the year, I might chose a book for a personal challenge. I’m like Sushicat in that my backup plan is usually a graphic novel for the monthly tag (depending on the tag).

First I read what I need to read for my F2F book club discussions. Then I fit in other reads as per monthly tag and/or various challenges. I've never come across a month where a book doesn't satisfy two or more challenges (but that is probably because I do so many of them). I've never missed a monthly tag, though in November I didn't finish my book until Nov 28 ... and I haven't gotten to writing my review yet.

I love planning out my next order of books - largely it's a combination of what's due back at the Library, what I'm really excited about, versus tags and challenges, upcoming book groups, and season and mood. I think it's fun to see what comes in from the library and in what timing. So I usually have a plan for the month. Sometimes I will also choose to read a book with the historical fictionistas- I've read three this year. I've also read three or four with the non-existent Jewish Book Club, of which I have long lamented that I appear to be it's sole and only member. I don't always pick the monthly tag first, because I like not to be pressured by the end of the year with the challenges. I knew I needed to be done by September or October, because I actually really enjoy the Fall Flurries. From Witches to Winter! I just didn't want to be pressured in November December. I feel like sometime this month I want an extraordinary fiction read. So this month, i'm going to make the tags happen and find myself a beaut!

Since I read more than one book per month, I can usually choose for both. If it's a year long challenge here and not too onerous, I don't worry too much about it early in the year (depending on what it is, but this is what I did for Stairs) and see how it starts filling in with other things I read. Until this fall, this was a big reading year for me, the number of books being reduced only because I read one 1800 page thing plus a few other long ones earlier in the year (I like to think of that one as 4-6 books worth, and in fact it's probably more since much of it has been published separately in different books).

I limit the number of challenges that are actually CHALLENGING, although sometimes not enough. This fall I have done zero challenging challenges due to my schedule and because my two TV series are back on. Plus I am back in the mood for cheesy Christmas movies this year, so am going to watch 2 or 3 a week.

I actually agree that High Notes and Stairs were actually pretty easy, and there were even times a book hit all three with the monthly tag. Enjoy your movie month.

Since I read fast enough to finish several books in a month, it doesn't matter to me, unless I've not read a book for the month yet and it's close to the end. Also depends if there's a prize for the challenge. And it depends on which book appeals to me more at the moment.

Unless others are depending on me (such as in a group for a game), I don't feel any real pressure to finish any challenge. I've been trying to finish Deep Dive from 2014 and still haven't made it.

annapi wrote: "Since I read fast enough to finish several books in a month, it doesn't matter to me, unless I've not read a book for the month yet and it's close to the end. ..."

Yes, this is the same for me. There are times I'm waiting for a library hold, though. For a couple of my challenges at LT, I will read and post a bit late if I didn't get to it because I couldn't get it from the library in time (the next book I'll read when I finish my current one that just came in is one like that).