Play Book Tag discussion

Please vote for the tag you would most like to read for June at the following link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/D2WZ8FL

You may click on the answer choices in the survey to see a listing of books that fit each tag.

Remember, you may cast up to a total of 10 participation points for your choice. Everyone gets one vote for free so please vote even if you don't have any participation points!

You can see how many participation points you currently have in the spreadsheet below.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Happy voting! Please cast your votes by 12 pm EST on 5/23.

Note: If no one choice receives more than 50% of the vote, people who chose the least popular choice will be asked to recast their votes for one of the remaining two options.

OMG, it cannot be that time again!

But hey, Nicole, there are several covers with shirtless men under ‘military’... If you haven’t overdosed with ‘beautiful’ ;)

Time flies when you're havin fun!

Creepy... creepy aaaaaaalll day long. That is my niche 😈

Meli wrote: "Time flies when you're havin fun!

Creepy... creepy aaaaaaalll day long. That is my niche 😈"

LOL, good to know!!

KateNZ wrote: "OMG, it cannot be that time again!

"

I literally say this every single month.

KateNZ wrote: "But hey, Nicole, there are several covers with shirtless men under ‘military’... If you haven’t overdosed with ‘beautiful’ ;)"

That is shockingly true! What is that true?

I have to say, when I think 'military' - I don't think incredibly sexy men with their shirts off. And that's coming for a Marine's wife! (And yes, he does look good with his shirt off, but still ...)

I didn't even look at the other choices :P
I know military was one based on the discussion, but what was the 3rd option?

Retellings. I love a good retelling!

I have a feeling no one will pick creepy :(

Retelling, like all the various others to do a spin off on Jane Austen’s works or other classic works? Like hag seed is a retelling of the tempest? That sort of thing? An old man re-morphed? Like Cinder?

Song of Achilles - Once again (four months in a row now) this book fits one or more of the tags. It's a retelling of The Iliad, it includes a war, and it's creepy what the God's demand.

I've noticed a lot of retellings lately, so this really intrigues me. There are a ton of retellings related to mythology, fairy tales and classics. Pride and Prejudice retellings alone could fill a month.

Creepy? Hmm. I suppose this means horror, but I found Gone Girl creepy too. I have a low tolerance for horror, so my definition of creepy might include books that others think are very tame.

Military. This would be hardest for me, but I suppose it could include military families. Would spy stories fit?

KateNZ wrote: "OMG, it cannot be that time again!

But hey, Nicole, there are several covers with shirtless men under ‘military’... If you haven’t overdosed with ‘beautiful’ ;)"

Here you go!
Axel

Surprised that a few on my TBR list are on all of three of these tags-And all of these tags give a wide range of choices-And I do not do creepy, so I was worried a bit. There is a lot of fantasy dispersed between all of them-And, since when is Harry Potter Creepy????

Hmm. Interesting choices. Two I'd be OK with, and one that had one item on the first page of results that I could live with.

Picked one of the two and threw an arbitrary number of votes at it since this feels like the sort of mix that might go to run-off voting.

Joanne wrote: "Surprised that a few on my TBR list are on all of three of these tags-And all if these tags give a wide range of choicdes-And I do not do creepy, so I was worried a bit. There is a lot of fantasy d..."

I think any work that has enough popularity probably has an entry on any given tag list. Hence Outlander fitting in literally any tag month.

KateNZ wrote: "OMG, it cannot be that time again!

But hey, Nicole, there are several covers with shirtless men under ‘military’... If you haven’t overdosed with ‘beautiful’ ;)"

Hahahaha! I feel like this should be a new challenge: for each PBT theme, find a book featuring a shirtless man that will fit.

I have a few retellings from Hogarth Shakespeare on my trim so that would work out nice if one of those got picked.

I think the monsters and ghosts and baddies aspect of Harry Potter is creepy. They are usually facing a creepy enemy that is central to each story, so I think it fits.

Nicole R wrote: "Hahahaha! I feel like this should be a new challenge: for each PBT theme, find a book featuring a shirtless man that will fit. ."

Oh, that's fun!

Joanne wrote: "Surprised that a few on my TBR list are on all of three of these tags-And all if these tags give a wide range of choicdes-And I do not do creepy, so I was worried a bit. There is a lot of fantasy d..."

The dementors are pretty creepy!

Voted for creepy as it has the most on my trim list.

I'll be really annoyed if retellings win as my Trim for this month would have fitted!

Jenny wrote: "Voted for creepy as it has the most on my trim list.

I'll be really annoyed if retellings win as my Trim for this month would have fitted!"

YAY! Another creepy fan ;)

Jenny wrote: "The dementors are pretty creepy!."

Oh yeah, the Dementors were bad bad bad!

Voted. Really don't think I would enjoy two of the choices so I'm hoping for the third one.

I would call books like Lolita creepy, too. Old geezer ogling preteens? Ick.

With trying to stick with tags I have books in to avoid adding more, it was a clear cut choice.

Nicole R wrote: "KateNZ wrote: "OMG, it cannot be that time again!

But hey, Nicole, there are several covers with shirtless men under ‘military’... If you haven’t overdosed with ‘beautiful’ ;)"

Hahahaha! I feel ..."

Game On! Nicole-my summer mission, and graduation present to you!😂

Amy wrote: "Retelling, like all the various others to do a spin off on Jane Austen’s works or other classic works? Like hag seed is a retelling of the tempest? That sort of thing? An old man re-morphed? Like C..."

Hey Amy-Temeraire is on the Military list! I remember you saying you would read the 2nd book if it fit a tag-I am sure it won't win, but , I want to read the last book and have been waiting for the right tag

Joanne wrote: "Temeraire is on the Military list!"

Oh. Hey. So there are a couple more options for me in that tag then.

Tracy wrote: "I would call books like Lolita creepy, too. Old geezer ogling preteens? Ick."

Agreed-much more creepy than dementors in my book!

Yes, but Temeraire is not on my TBR! You would be proud of me. The faux pretender to the Trim and Slash throne, actually did get rid of like 20 more books. But I think I kept on a Jane Austen retelling of Persuasion, and i'm pretty sure Hag Seed is still on there. However, I do need to research the three tags before a decision is made about my votes. I already think re-telling is interesting, but i can see finding things for the other tags too....

Sorry Ladies, to my delight, retellings has 16 books on my TBR. I never do this and I never announce this, but i am throwing all ten points there! What on earth am I keeping them for, I've certainly racked them up! If it wins, i will publish my list of 16. All great books I have been wanting to read, spanning multiple genre's and kinds of tales and myths, and interests. The Winternight Trilogy is on there (book three for me), as is Home Fire, Alex and Eliza, Bitter Greens, a Jane Austen, Hag Seed, My Lady Jane, Sea Witch, Flame in the Midst, Wicked, and about another 8 more. This vote is happening for me friends in this direction. Dragon only if necessary, creepy only if needed.

Amy wrote: "Yes, but Temeraire is not on my TBR! You would be proud of me. The faux pretender to the Trim and Slash throne, actually did get rid of like 20 more books. But I think I kept on a Jane Austen retel..."

I am not amused..........put Temeraire on one of your list-I care not which!

The one most in my wheelhouse is the one I assume, most people will avoid unless they are enticed by shirtless men.

I do have books on my TBR for all categories so, I'm cool with that.

No extra points for me this month.

Meli wrote: "I have a feeling no one will pick creepy :("

Not so fast! I am very surprised to say that so far I found more books on the creepy list that I'd like to read than the others.

My first reaction was retellings, but most of the retellings I liked are also on the creepy list (e.g. Circe, Bear and the Nigthingale,)

The creepy tag could also fit many crime, mystery, thriller, fantasy and classic books, such as the Tana French series, Rebecca, Silent Patient, Golem and the Jinni, Shadow of the Wind, Picture of Dorian Gray and Jane Eyre.

No matter which one wins, I'll have something good to read, but I probably won't get a Trim-tag match this month.

NancyJ has a point - creepy fits almost anything, so please pick it so you can get the most points next June! >:-)

Voted. I am actually fine with any of the categories.

I like 2/3 of them, but NOT creepy by name alone--but then, I didn't even look at that one, just the other two. None are new genres for me, so que sera sera, correct?

First - I'm definitely in the military shirtless man cover category! I actually have some on my TBR - so there!

Also fitting military some of which are on my TBR - biography of Napoleon, historical fiction set during wartime - especially books by Bernard Cornwell, Patrick O'Brien, etc., Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series or Dicken's A Tale of Two Cities. Oh, and most of Suzanne Brockmann's fiction.

Creepy -- not my thing at all. I have enough insomnia and bad dream issues! However, I fully agree that Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series fits the bill - at least The Likeness absolutely did. And some of the HP did for me too -- Chamber of Secrets for example. In some respects, I think creepy has different meanings for different people, thus making it quite flexible.

retelling - that's also one I have lots and lots on my TBR - all sorts of Jane Austen retellings lurk there, ikeeping company with Song of Achilles and The Winter of the Witch, any Gregory Maguire (whom I do not like or recommend - but others do) likely fits. I also might put a new or different translation of a book into this category - for example Bugakov's The Master and Margarita have several different translations, all quite distinct from each other. Same happens with classics like The Odyssey or Beowulf.

Oooooh, I think I'm ok with any of them this time, but I really really want "creepy" to win! LOL! I'm guessing it won't. :-)

It surprised me, but I have more TBR books on the military pages than on the other two. None with shirtless men on the covers, but several history or historical fiction. Doesn't move me far from what I usually read, but it might motivate me to dig into the bottom of the book pile.

I love a good retelling.
there's something cool about taking a well set-up world and adding to it. or keeping the basic plot line but changing the setting all together.
sometime it just makes for a fun guilty pleasure, but when done well it can be very rich.
I'll have to research but will look through any retelling of mythology/classic/biblical/maybe fairy-tale-but-it's-gotta-be-good

there're the Cannongate Myths - they approached many authors and asked them to choose a story to retell. I read Margaret Atwood's Penelopiad and David Grossman's Lion's Honey (Samson's tale), but could try Ali Smith's or one of the others.
Or Wild Sargasso Sea, or Gap of Time / weight by Jeanette Winterson, heaps of Geraldine Brooks or Beowulf retold as Mere Wife or Grendel...

otherwise - for Military I might read Birdsong or some war shakespeare or Pat Barker

Creepy... I'm against. I hate horror movies and feel like the world has enough sadness to not go looking for fictional creeps. Although I'm sure to find something for this as well

Nicole R wrote: "KateNZ wrote: "OMG, it cannot be that time again!

But hey, Nicole, there are several covers with shirtless men under ‘military’... If you haven’t overdosed with ‘beautiful’ ;)"

Hahahaha! I feel ..."

I have a feeling you've started something...

Idit wrote: "I love a good retelling.
there's something cool about taking a well set-up world and adding to it. or keeping the basic plot line but changing the setting all together.
sometime it just makes for ..."

I'm in for Pat Barker if Military takes the gong.

Theresa wrote: "First - I'm definitely in the military shirtless man cover category! I actually have some on my TBR - so there!

Also fitting military some of which are on my TBR - biography of Napoleon, historic..

- for example Bugakov's The Master and Margarita have several different translations, all quite distinct from each other. Same happens with classics like The Odyssey or Beowulf. "

Ah. I was thinking of adding Master and Margarita to my revised TRIM list, and I plan to read Homer's books in the next year. Do you have any translations your recommend for M and M?

Ah, NancyJ, the opinions on M&M translations - at least 5 - are all over the place, in.part because early copies of the novel were severely censored. And they are highly personal opinions. I have 2 at hand I plan to read before July 1st to discuss with a group of friends each of whom is picking at least 1 to read for the discussion. One has a cover that seduced me (very arty and colorful) but seems to be considered too literal and thus dry and dull a translation - published most recently. The other (brown cover with black cat profile) is considered a better quality in catching the humor and satire and thus best, but not so accurate or complete. A friend likes best the old translation of the severely censored first publication (green cover with black cat)

This article is a great discussion and guide:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/orangera...

Theresa wrote: "Ah, NancyJ, the opinions on M&M translations - at least 5 - are all over the place, in.part because early copies of the novel were severely censored. And they are highly personal opinions. I have 2..."

Thanks Theresa, we had a similar concern with Count of Monte Cristo. The older translations were censored, but many copies make no mention of who did the translation.

Underwhelmed by the choices again this month. But I have at least one for each of them. Voted (and, as per usual, used only 1 vote).

Idit wrote: "I love a good retelling.
there's something cool about taking a well set-up world and adding to it. or keeping the basic plot line but changing the setting all together.
sometime it just makes for ..."

Idit, if retelling wins, I'll come to you for advice. The list seems to be dominated by YA fantasy and romance (or things that "look" like YA because of the covers).

Idit wrote: "Creepy... I'm against. I hate horror movies and feel like the world has enough sadness to not go looking for fictional creeps. Although I'm sure to find something for this as well."

Just let me get on my soapbox for just a sec.... I love horror movies and watch a shit ton of them. Common misconception is they are indulging in violence or suffering. Not always wrong, but on the whole these movies are about facing and beating baddies. Whether they are super natural or real life baddies horror is about facing that fear / challenge / evil and conquering so I consider it to be very inspiring rather than sad. Often the heroes are also women or someone who starts out weak but gains strength through their battle with evil.

End rant :P

Meli wrote: "Idit wrote: "Creepy... I'm against. I hate horror movies and feel like the world has enough sadness to not go looking for fictional creeps. Although I'm sure to find something for this as well."

J..."

I am chuckling. You are correct that they are about facing fear/challenge/evil and overcoming!!! BUT, for many of us it brings on nightmares even knowing that. The last time I watched my brother in a horror movie (and there is nothing more reassuring to the fake-ness of film to have a healthy, living relative be an actor in one), I covered my eyes for the nightmare-invoking scenes as per usual, but in the one where his character was killed (the last or second last because he was one of the leads) the sounds were enough to give me nightmares.

In addition, if I don't cover my eyes I can get nightmares from TV 14 shows with violence or gore that aren't even horror--I am prone to vivid dreaming in general.

This also goes for novels. I am not at all frightened when I read novels like this while reading them, but I get nightmares every single time.

This is why if creepy wins, I will cull the list for things that have been shelved that that are not horror, etc.

For some reason, I am just unaffected by horror... it is my favorite genre >:-)

Can you reveal what movie your brother was in?