Play Book Tag discussion

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

https://forms.gle/7hpiAHPS3fHBggn2A

Here are the lists of books for each tag:

European history: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
French: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
thought provoking: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

Remember, you may cast up to a total of 10 participation points for your choice. Every PBT member 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 noon EST on 1/22.

I really loved all three of these choices. Voted!

Probably the first time in my history of PBT that all of the choices are agreeable to me and my TBR. I may just wait to see what happens without voting.

I voted :)

Such good choices!

These are all pretty open-ended and I would have lots of choices. Not sure which to pick!

I voted. Great list.

I am so happy! Though I read 3 fiction books that fit the 'science' tag, and they were good, I am more than ready for a change.

I am voting for the one that speaks to my soul!

Three great choices. Voted.

I'm torn between two of them. I need to see how they fit the games. European history should be great for the history game. French isn't as easy to match as "France" would be.

Can anyone identify books from our 64 authors that match these tags?

NancyJ wrote: "Can anyone identify books from our 64 authors that match these tags?.."

I took a look in the first several pages for "thought provoking" and found:

Mitch Albom
Margaret Atwood
Jane Austen
Fredrik Backman
John Boyne
Ray Bradbury
Bill Bryson
Agatha Christie
Elena Ferrante
Diana Gabaldon
Kristin Hannah
Amy Harmon
Kent Haruf
Colleen Hoover
Kazuo Ishiguro
Stephen King
Barbara Kingsolver
William Kent Krueger
Liane Moriarty
Toni Morrison
Ruth Ozeki
Ann Patchett
Jodi Picoult
Terry Pratchett
Taylor Jenkins Reid
J.K. Rowling
Mary Doria Russell
Lisa See
J.R.R. Tolkien
Amor Towles
Lisa Wingate

I think I'll be ok with any of these!

Joy D wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Can anyone identify books from our 64 authors that match these tags?.."

I took a look in the first several pages and found:

Mitch Albom
Margaret Atwood
Jane Austen
Fredrik Backma..."

Thanks Joy! I don't normally watch much football, but this is a big game, so I'm trying to stay in the room with my husband.

Have to say, almost every book I've ever read has been "thought provoking".

I voted. I have a preference and I threw all my points toward it. However, if I have to, I can make the others work...

Charlie wrote: "Have to say, almost every book I've ever read has been "thought provoking"."

Some more than others.

I love the choices this month. All good.

Jenni Elyse wrote: "Charlie wrote: "Have to say, almost every book I've ever read has been "thought provoking"."

Some more than others."

I, too, was amazed at how many books I have read were considered "thought-provoking." In fact, I'm currently reading a thought-provoking novel.

First time ever that I have read almost every single book on the first page of one of the linked lists.☺

ETA: That is the FRENCH list, not thought-provoking.

I was also stunned on how many books I have read on the thought provoking books, but also how many were on that list that I would not have considered thought provoking at all. That is such a subjective list and such an interesting shelf. I don't have abstract and subjective tags like that. Know what? I threw ten points at it, even though I assume/d that European history would win. Its obvious to me that European History helps anyone playing the History Lane Game, But most of our 64 authors hit thought provoking. I even felt French was fine (second choice) because even though "French" is harder to get five history tags for, I have like my 10-15 Paris books that I am looking forward to. It was totally a screw the challenges vote, but all about my TBR, and all the wonderful things I want to read. But I have total faith that the rest of you kept the challenges in mind, and voted European History. I guess its another measure of "do we know the pulse of the group?" Thought provoking is getting some attention, so we shall see how that really plays out.

Far from every PBT member participates in one or both yearly challenges. Doesn't seem fair or right that the monthly tags should be chosen based on what fits a yearly challenge or two best. In fact, if it doesn't align easily with either yearly challenge, like science this month did not, those who did find and read a book that worked really earned the bonus 5 points.

Besides, History Walk is very limited participants at a given time. Most will not be in a position to take advantage of a favorable monthly tag.

I say vote for the one you have a book or books that fits that you really want to read.

Theresa wrote: "First time ever that I have read almost every single book on the first page of one of the linked lists.☺

ETA: That is the FRENCH list, not thought-provoking."

Same for me, since we were both French majors!

Theresa wrote: "Far from every PBT member participates in one or both yearly challenges. Doesn't seem fair or right that the monthly tags should be chosen based on what fits a yearly challenge or two best. In fact..."

I agree Theresa-I see no purpose in driving my self crazy over participation points, They are only good for voting on monthly tags and you are limited to how many you can use per month. But, that's just me, I respect other's opinions and choices on this I digress...

Theresa wrote: "Far from every PBT member participates in one or both yearly challenges. Doesn't seem fair or right that the monthly tags should be chosen based on what fits a yearly challenge or two best. In fact..."

Totally agree ....

And, I much preferred the "unstated rule" back in our Shelfari days, when virtually no one discussed the tags or even said for which they voted.

All strong tags - can't go wrong no matter which one is selected. I have a ton of books already on my shelves (waiting to be read) for one of them especially, so I voted for that one.

This is a good list! I have a favorite, but I'd be happy with any of these.

Book Concierge wrote: " ..."

Oh I'm sorry to hear that. These discussions are one of the things I love about PBT. I like to see recommendations for each tag, and hear plans. Sometimes they totally open my mind to new topics, genres and books. Even if that tag isn't selected, many of the topics or books will remain salient for a long time afterwards, affecting my decisions. For instance, when I saw the European History tag the other day, the first thing I thought of were the espionage books that I would have read this month if we didn't select science 4 weeks ago.

I would love to hear other's recommendations or possibilities for each tag. I like all the tags and haven't decided which one I'll vote for yet.

I love to try to find books that meet more than one of the tags. So, I just put in a library request for A Gentleman in Moscow which has both European History and thought provoking tags. The Night Trilogy is another option. I also want to read The Elegance of the Hedgehog and The Notebook.

The most thought-provoking books I read recently were for the science tag.
When We Cease to Understand the World
The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go from Here - which I'll review soon.
For European history I really enjoyed A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell and The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz

I find I am really appreciating this discussion too. That its not really about the points or even the challenges. I'm more into clearing my TBR lately than anything else and am really excited about upcoming reads. It's really about what you most want to read. I have also liked it when the votes were a surprise. I apologize if I have lately contributed to the disclosure trend.

Amy wrote: "I find I am really appreciating this discussion too. That its not really about the points or even the challenges. I'm more into clearing my TBR lately than anything else and am really excited about..."

Like Amy, I have so many marvelous books in my TBR Towers, many begging me to hurry up and read. I use these monthly tags to rummage through the towers and pull a book or 3 that I keep not getting to or forgot I had. When they are a surprise or go in a direction that suits me less, the choice becomes the boost I need to switch up my reading.

I also really enjoy discovering that a book I just happen to pick up to read ends up fitting the monthly tag. It is like a little present!

This month for example, I ended up reading 3 fiction books: a crime fiction, and 2 SciFi, for Science. All from my TBR. 2 got 3 stars from me and 1 got 5 stars. I enjoyed them all too.

Amy wrote: " It's really about what you most want to read. ."

That is what always influenced my vote, as well as what I least wanted to read.

Generally, if there was something I really wanted to avoid is when I threw those extra participation points in.

I've noticed that it is often the one which doesn't win that is talked about most. I've wondered if people don't talk about the one they wanted in case they jinxed it.

I have read many on the thought provoking page, but have seen this before so it wasn't new. I was surprised, though, at some of the titles. Some not listed on my shelves I started and discarded and some I am not planning to read--there are so many thought provoking books I still want to read out there :)

Book Concierge wrote: "And, I much preferred the "unstated rule" back in our Shelfari days, when virtually no one discussed the tags or even said for which they voted...."

Have to admit, I preferred this, too, Tessa.