Play Book Tag discussion

This vote wasn't as close as I expected. Our winner for April is:

friendship

Please share your reading plans and recommendations below.

Remember, for the regular monthly reads, the book can be shelved as "friendship" on Goodreads, or be a book that is not yet shelved that way but you feel should be.

One way to find books to read for this tag is to please visit:

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

We encourage people to link to additional lists below if they find them.

Happy Reading!!!

WooHoo!! The possibilities are endless. Off to see what I have upcoming on my TBR or that might be a good crossover for PBT Birthday….

Hmmm, this is harder than I thought it would be. Mainly because I like to read new releases and want to stick to a book truly about friendship and not just a random book where someone has friends. lol.

BUT, having said that, I think I may choose from:

Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close (also fits the PBT candle to pick a read that reminds you of Amy. It seems like a self-development book, which always makes me think of Amy and her profession!)

The House in the Cerulean Sea (also fits the PBT candle of a book that has been a buddy read)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (I have read this book so many times I could probably recite it! But, it was published the year I turned 15 so I could use it for a PBT candle)

Happy with the results! Lots of choices to pick from.

Maybe it’s time to see once again, if anyone is interested in reading house of the cerulean sea. That is what I’m using for my buddy read candle. Although it doesn’t have to be this month, it Has to be in the next couple. I would love to do a buddy read for the buddy read candle. And since it’s Todd, friendship, anyone who wants to join me, I would be happy to do it right away.

I am laughing at the amount of paranormal romance on that list.

Pam wrote: "I am laughing at the amount of paranormal romance on that list."

YAY! I was hoping for that.

I haven't even looked at the list and I was like "blah, friendship!" Which is terrible. I am sure this is a fine tag.

I had my fingers crossed as I was hoping for this. I have 3 books at the top of my list for this:
Have You Seen Luis Velez?*
The Bandit Queens*
A Quiet Life*

For recommendations:
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
The Marlow Murder Club
How Lucky
Lost Roses
Really Good, Actually
The Overstory
The Friend
Project Hail Mary
The Giver of Stars
The Narrowboat Summer

I think this might have been my first choice, but there were two I liked so I don't remember which order I put them now. In any event, hooray! I am not sure what I'll be reading but think I already have a few in the pile I've started for reading in April.

Some of my 5 star recommendations from this shelf in the order I find them on the shelf (and I think they are all by women):
The Help,
Big Little Lies,
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Housekeeper and the Professor
Pride and Prejudice

Wait--a few by men, but note that two of these are by the same author, and very different books by him:
Beartown
A Gentleman in Moscow
Little Women
All the Light We Cannot See
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry

I agree with many of the recommendations already mentioned - and want to recommend the book I am currently reading for the Japan tag:

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - at 3/4's in, it is likely to be a 5 star read for me. Can't believe how long this has sat in the TBR Towers. Would make a fantastic buddy read and an excellent companion read to Clark and Division.

A couple other excellent recent reads that fit:

Legends & Lattes - cozy fantasy
The Thursday Murder Club

I’m looking for a book that is really about friendship too. I like unlikely friendships and stories with long term friendships over time.

Big Friendship sounds perfect for this month!
These seem like good options:
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Tomorrow x 3
Story of arthur Truluv
The story of a new name - Ferrante
The elegance of the hedgehog

For the cusp between Japan and friendship, I recommend:
Sweet Bean Paste
The Housekeeper and the Professor
The great passage (I haven’t read this yet)

Does anyone recommend any of these specifically for this tag? Or in general? (They all have tags, but as Nicole noted, some might not be relevant to the theme.)
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
Three daughters of eve
The book of longings
Signature of all things
Olga dies dreaming
Beloved - Morrison
A little life -
Alice Network
The absolutely true diary of a part-time indian.
The Robber Bride - Atwood
The Secret History
Prime of Miss JeanBrodie
Babel
The chaperone
A Million Things
My Brilliant Life
Gods of tango
All the ugly and wonderful things.
Six of Crows
My Antonia
Children of blood and bone
Horse
Red tent
Dovekeepers
The Cottingly secret

My favorite friendship book is kinda dark ... City of Thieves by David Benioff.

Anita wrote: "This vote wasn't as close as I expected. Our winner for April is:

friendship..."

*groan. Way too easy...

Book Concierge wrote: "My favorite friendship book is kinda dark ... City of Thieves by David Benioff."

That is a great book!

Ah, my prediction was right. No idea what I'll read, I'm sure many random books will turn out to work. Some of the mysteries with sidekicks work, also romances where the man and/or woman have friends (or the story is friends to lovers), much "chick lit", workplace drama or comedy, fantasy where people are on a quest together, sci-fi with a small group in space, etc. Plus the whole human/animal angle.

Book Concierge wrote: "My favorite friendship book is kinda dark ... City of Thieves by David Benioff."

Loved that book and that friendship that developed between the two

I already picked this as my favorite tag for the birthday candle. I own Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow so I'll at least be reading that for the tag and the candle.

Rachel, I happen to be reading it too. But not for a candle. I’m glad it fits the tags, but the reason I’m reading it right now. It’s because I have been waiting for it for 3 to 4 months from the library and it finally turned up! So I have three weeks to read it before they want it back. But I’m happy that it fits the tag and I’m happy that we will both be reading it at the same time. Are you using it for Nicole’s candle?

Book Concierge wrote: "My favorite friendship book is kinda dark ... City of Thieves by David Benioff."

That sounds perfect. We'll need some dark stories in the mix to provide some balance. Too much sunshine and lollipops probably isn't good for us.

NancyJ wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "My favorite friendship book is kinda dark ... City of Thieves by David Benioff."

That sounds perfect. We'll need some dark stories in the mix..."

I alwats need to balance out darker or more emotional reads with liberal sprinklings of cozies, historical romance or mystery and these days SFF that is pure adventurous escapism. Often the lighter reads are the bedtime reads so I have a shot at peaceful sleep.

But as you say, too much of the lighter fare makes me twitch.

NancyJ wrote: "I’m looking for a book that is really about friendship too. I like unlikely friendships and stories with long term friendships over time.

Big Friendship sounds perfect for this month!
These seem ..."

Babel is definitely about a group of friends. It combines alternate history and dark academia with a magical element relating to the properties of silver. The story revolves around a group of translators living in the fictional tower of Babel in the middle of Oxford University in the 1830s. Four of them become close friends.

The special properties of silver are activated by combinations of words. They have brought in students from around the world to expand access to these linguistic combinations. Silver-working has enabled Great Britain to achieve an advanced society and economic dominance.

I wrote a rather lengthy review on it and ended up giving it one of my rare 5 stars. If you're looking for a book on friendship that is definitely not "light and fluffy" this is a good one.

I am going to read Don Quixote Book 2. It is about friendships but not always the ones you want. Sometimes they think they are all doing the very best for each other. Sometimes they think one takes himself too seriously and they play tricks on him.

I read the first book in February and this would help me get this book completed. (Was thinking of only reading the first book, which was really good.)

Joy D wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "I’m looking for a book that is really about friendship too. I like unlikely friendships and stories with long term friendships over time.

Big Friendship sounds perfect for this mont..."

Thanks Joy. Babel is a definite. I would have read it this month if I didn’t speed past it on my subdue list.

I might also read Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett. She discussed it (and the controversy) in one of her memoirs. It sounds different from most of the other books on the list.

Did everyone see Daisy Jones and the Six on the list? Hoopla has an Audio of the Music created for the new TV show, plus all the episodes of the show for free, and with no wait lists. (With your library card).

Truth and Beauty came to mind immediately when I saw the winning tag. And I agree about Babel. Joy's review captured everything that I felt about that book.

The Lions of Al-Rassan is on our 100 fiction list. There's a wonderful, heartbreaking friendship in that book. For that matter G.G. Kay writes wonderful books full of friendships and the divided loyalties that happen across cultures.

Babel sounds interesting. I just found your review, Joy. Not sure if it's my thing, and I'm worried about the length. Did it read fast? I like academia settings.

I am really torn about what to read. I have Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry on my Kindle.

I also got What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love from the library just knowing I love memoirs and can breeze through it.

Would love to know which books on our top 100 lists fit the tag . . .so wish there was a search function by shelf here beyond looking at pages and pages on the shelf. Like show me all the books on MY shelf that are unread and on a specific shelf, sigh.

I must like reading about friendship, as I have enjoyed so many books with that theme.

Here are some of my recommendations:

*Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a wonderful book that is all about friendship.

Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships is NPR legal reporter Nina Totenberg's memoir about her friendship with Ruth Bader Ginsberg. I loved reading it.

Meet Me at the Museum is about a friendship formed through letters between a British woman and a Scandinavian man. It's beautifully written.

Etta and Otto and Russell and James is a quirky, fun, original novel. Friendship is a strong theme.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand is another good book - this time, about a developing friendship between a British gentleman and a Pakistani-British woman in a provincial village.

The next two books are well-loved by many people, deservedly so:

Bel Canto and Plainsong

Anita, it's a little long (545 pages), but I never felt it bogged down. I have a fairly high tolerance for long books, though. I tend to like them if they are well done, and this one is.

Jgrace wrote: "Truth and Beauty came to mind immediately when I saw the winning tag. And I agree about Babel. Joy's review captured everything that I felt about that book.

The Lions of Al-Rassan is..."

I loved Guy's book-highly recommend it!

Jgrace wrote: "Truth and Beauty came to mind immediately when I saw the winning tag. And I agree about Babel. Joy's review captured everything that I felt about that book.

The Lions of Al-Rassan is..."

OOH, I have been wanting to get to that for ages! It's in my physical TBR pile and knowing it blows out a candle - sweet.

GGK is a superb writer.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - at 3/..."

Still working my way through Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

I was thinking of reading Epitaph, it was rated 5 stars by more than one PBT admin so it would cover candle #3.

I also love everything by Guy Gavriel Kay. I think he is a much better writer than many of the famous fantasy writers. He is also a poet and his books are wonderful on audio.

As you'll see on the list, many Frederick Backman books work for friendship. Also books with groups carrying out plots and heists, either in the "real" world or fantasy. There is a wonderful "bromance" in the series by Michael J. Sullivan that starts with Theft of Swords.

A book I read a few months ago and loved that is largely about friendship is Still Life by Sarah Winman.

Anita wrote: "Babel sounds interesting. I just found your review, Joy. Not sure if it's my thing, and I'm worried about the length. Did it read fast? I like academia settings.

I am really torn about what to rea..."

I created tag lists for them, so you can glance down the list to see which books you added. I’ll look to see where I posted them.

Anita wrote: "Would love to know which books on our top 100 lists fit the tag . . .so wish there was a search function by shelf here beyond looking at pages and pages on the shelf. Like show me all the books on MY shelf that are unread and on a specific shelf, sigh."

This is the number 1 feature I miss most from Shelfari. I used to tag every book on my TBR with my initials and then could search for books that were tagged with both my initials and "friendship." It really was the best.

Nicole R wrote: "Anita wrote: "Would love to know which books on our top 100 lists fit the tag . . .so wish there was a search function by shelf here beyond looking at pages and pages on the shelf. Like show me all..."

Agree completely - - that was an amazing feature, and I miss it all the time. It just doesn't seem like it should be so hard to build better search in this day and age.

NancyJ wrote: "Anita wrote: "Babel sounds interesting. I just found your review, Joy. Not sure if it's my thing, and I'm worried about the length. Did it read fast? I like academia settings.

I am really torn abo..."

I'm curious to see what you did. I can see the two lists readily on our bookshelf, but I can't see if they are tagged friendship or not (without clicking and searching on every single one which I'm too lazy to do).

Joy D wrote: "Anita, it's a little long (545 pages), but I never felt it bogged down. I have a fairly high tolerance for long books, though. I tend to like them if they are well done, and this one is."

Thanks, Joy. I'm on the waiting list for it at the library now. We'll see how that goes, lol.

Anita wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Anita wrote: "Babel sounds interesting. I just found your review, Joy. Not sure if it's my thing, and I'm worried about the length. Did it read fast? I like academia settings.

I am ..."
Yeah, it can only help you identify the books that you already added. I did a multiple search of my lists, but I didn’t tag enough with the friendship tag. These are on the top 100 list and have friendship tags. I’m sure there are more than this.

A little Life
City of thieves

Cora wrote: "I was thinking of reading Epitaph, it was rated 5 stars by more than one PBT admin so it would cover candle #3."

Have you read Doc?

Booknblues wrote: "Cora wrote: "I was thinking of reading Epitaph, it was rated 5 stars by more than one PBT admin so it would cover candle #3."

Have you read Doc?"

Yes. I read Doc back in 2016.

I've been MIA for a while so didn't vote, but this seems like a pretty easy tag to get back into the swing of things.

Most of the books I have that are 4 or more stars are children's literature (I homeschool, so that's inevitable,) but the 5 stars consist of:

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
One Day in December by Josie Silver
Throne of Glass (entire series, really) by Sarah J. Maas
House of Earth and Blood (also entire series) by Sarah J. Maas*
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio (I originally gave this 4 stars, but on further reflection going to change it to 5)*

I'm trying DESPERATELY to read only books on my physical tbr for the next quarter or two, so with that said I'll be attempting:

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

That's all I could find after almost 15 pages of searching. I'll be checking my non-fiction tbr to see if anything fits the tag because, tbh, I'm heavily immersed in the Throne of Glass world (on book 5 of 6!) so not sure my brain is willing to delve into another fantasy world at this point.

*books that I believe fit the best for the friendship tag

Cora wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Cora wrote: "I was thinking of reading Epitaph, it was rated 5 stars by more than one PBT admin so it would cover candle #3."

Have you read Doc?"

Yes. I read Do..."

So Epitaph would be a good choice.

On Hoopla:

Babel
The Housekeeper and the professor
My Brilliant Life
Lions of Al RAssan
Truth & beauty

Nicole R wrote: "Anita wrote: "Would love to know which books on our top 100 lists fit the tag . . .so wish there was a search function by shelf here beyond looking at pages and pages on the shelf. Like show me all..."

It is possible to do this at LibraryThing, so I do those things there (it's why my tbr is more up to date there).

I have no plans, but I have a few fantasy books lined up in my other group and they always have a gang of friends. I know one of them will work here.

I may need to check out LibraryThing again to see if I can import my books to it. Thanks Cindy for the heads up/reminder on that.

Anita wrote: "I may need to check out LibraryThing again to see if I can import my books to it. Thanks Cindy for the heads up/reminder on that."

Anita, just linking back to my instructions on how to import books onto LibraryThing for convenience!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Jenny wrote: "Anita wrote: "I may need to check out LibraryThing again to see if I can import my books to it. Thanks Cindy for the heads up/reminder on that."

Anita, just linking back to my instructions on how ..."

You are the best! Thank you!!!

My library came through, and I have my friendship book. The Book of Goose. YAY!!!

I am considering reading Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. I have it one my physical bookshelf, and it takes care of a birthday candle :)