Play Book Tag discussion

Nicole D. wrote: "I will feel annoyed if Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow makes PBT top 100. I bet most of us won't even remember that book in two years ..."

So will I--I loathed it and shelved it dnf. Sometimes I wonder if we should refrain from voting for books until they've been out for a couple of years and the dust has settled :)

LOL all this love/hate for Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow makes me curious about it!

I just voted. Had not revised my choices in over a week and felt confident in them all. Yay!

It's going to be interesting to see how it all ends up.

Voted on round 2

annapi wrote: "LOL all this love/hate for Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow makes me curious about it!"

I know! It makes me want to read it sooner just so I can make an informed vote.

Now I am really confused. So many people have ideas - like or dislike. Are we voting again? peace, janz

Peacejanz wrote: "Now I am really confused. So many people have ideas - like or dislike. Are we voting again? peace, janz"

This is the second vote, so that we can finalize our new top 100 list.

Peacejanz wrote: "Now I am really confused. So many people have ideas - like or dislike. Are we voting again? peace, janz"

No, if you already voted, you can just ignore this thread. We have until Sept 30 to vote, so the chit-chat might go on for a long time. Some of us want to read more of the books before we vote, and I like hearing the different criteria, perspectives, opinions, etc.

I don’t know if you can turn off notifications on individual threads, but it might be worth trying if it’s annoying. If you only get notifications on topics you joined, you might have to delete your own comments. (I need to figure out how it works because I’m getting a lot of notifications I don’t need.)

NancyJ wrote: "Peacejanz wrote: "Now I am really confused. So many people have ideas - like or dislike. Are we voting again? peace, janz"

No, if you already voted, you can just ignore this thread. We have until ..."

If you figure it out Nancy, let me know! Not for anything here on PBT, but some groups there is way more than I want or need

For some reason I thought it was September 1. Because I knew I would have time to read demon copperhead. It’s really September 30? I wish I had time to read covenant of water.

Amy wrote: "For some reason I thought it was September 1. Because I knew I would have time to read demon copperhead. It’s really September 30? I wish I had time to read covenant of water."

I know, me too. I haven't started either one yet. My bookclub is discussing Demon Copperhead Sept 7.

The 15/15 list deadline is early September (the 5th maybe). That might be what you were thinking.

Joanne wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Peacejanz wrote: "Now I am really confused. So many people have ideas - like or dislike. Are we voting again? peace, janz"

No, if you already voted, you can just ignore this thread...."

Joanne,
Go into your profile > account settings > email settings. At the bottom of the page you can find all your groups, and settings for the groups or individual topics. It looks like you can click to turn any of them off (I didn't try yet). You can get notifications, emails, both or neither. Or you can get a digest only.

I get notifications for ALL PBT topics (7000!) so when we had a spammer posting on old monthly reviews, he clogged up my notifications that morning.

I never look at my emails from GR (I check direct messages every day though), so I'm turning them all off. I'm turning some of my groups off too.

So funny how different we are, I'm impressed how serious some of you are about considering the most options. I was perfectly content to vote on books I already read without worrying about any I haven't yet read. There are more than enough to choose from already. As usual, I have already forgotten what I voted in or out! It's not the Nobel Prize, after all. I've never used the Top 100 as a guide for what to read or not read, unless it was part of a specific game.

I hope this doesn't sound critical of anyone, it's great to do things thoroughly, but nobody should be stressed out if they don't get to every book they are considering.

NancyJ wrote: "The 15/15 list deadline is early September (the 5th maybe). That might be what you were thinking,..."

That is correct.

OK - so I have time for both. I will do them both as soon as I finish Demon Copperhead. Which is a five star read from the first few pages in. You know how you can just tell.....

Robin P wrote: "So funny how different we are, I'm impressed how serious some of you are about considering the most options. I was perfectly content to vote on books I already read without worrying about any I hav..."

I don't think any of us is nearly as serious, thorough, or as stressed, as it might seem. Some of us exaggerate just a teeny bit.

15 candles is my favorite challenge this year, and the top 100 is one of my side challenges, so I'm trying to fit them in when I can. I'm not at all stressed out about voting, but deadlines often give me a little nudge to do what I wanted to do anyway - just a little sooner.

I don't think Demon Copperhead is on the ballot, but Amy and I both picked it to read for this month's tag. It's long and maybe depressing so (for me) it's been easier to talk about than to read. But I'll get to it soon. I suggested it to my IRL bookclub, so I'll kill myself if I don't finish it by Labor Day!!!!

(haha)

Amy wrote: "OK - so I have time for both. I will do them both as soon as I finish Demon Copperhead. Which is a five star read from the first few pages in. You know how you can just tell....."

That's good to hear. I liked the preview a lot. I saw a few negative reviews early on, so I was a little worried. But I really do love this author.

I'm reading a truly depressing book for this week's bookclub. It has some of the same topics (or intentions) as Kingsolver's books about eating and her family farm. Her book was such a pleasure to read, and this one is decidedly not. I'm going to have to pick up one of her books for my neighbor - as an antidote to our bookclub book.

I loved Demon Copperhead. Having read David Copperfield several times, I often found myself cringing because I knew something bad was about to happen if it followed the arc of the original. But at the same time, I knew it had to eventually work out ok. Overall I wouldn't say it is depressing, though it is disturbing to find how realistic it is for a child to have a "Dickensian" life in our era. But Demon does have a wonderful survivor's attitude. The audio was very effective. The only part that dragged for me is the section that departs from the original in order to have more focus on the opioid epidemic.

There was a very interesting recent interview with Barbara Kingsolver where she says Appalachia (pronounced by the locals as Apple-at-cha) was basically a colony of the US. It was stripped of its natural resources (timber, coal, etc.) and deliberately targeted with opioids, much like the Chinese were in the 19th century. Then the inhabitants are blamed for all their problems.

I don't remember if I voted for it or not. My reaction to every poll on every website is to immediately go there, enter whatever is on top of my mind and then forget what I picked. (You can tell I have ADD tendencies.) But I think I went with books I had given 5 stars. I am a tough rater and only assign 5 stars a couple times a year but Demon qualified.

I don't remember if it was in this group that it was suggested to watch one of the David Copperfield movies before reading Demon. You certainly don't have to, but it does make you realize how great a job the author did.

Robin P wrote: "So funny how different we are, I'm impressed how serious some of you are about considering the most options. I was perfectly content to vote on books I already read without worrying about any I hav..."

I voted this week Robin, it only being the 2nd time I really looked at the list, and voted for what I read and remembered as a great book. Nowhere near 30 books- Some books I stopped and thought about for minute or two, but then moved on as they were not so rememerable was the ones I had already chosen, and truly have no desire to read more than half of them.

Robin P wrote: "So funny how different we are, I'm impressed how serious some of you are about considering the most options. I was perfectly content to vote on books I already read without worrying about any I hav..."

Agreed! But the differences are what makes this group interesting. Who wants a bunch of bland people who all think exactly the same as you and never challenge you to understand any other perspectives? How would we ever grow as people?

Jen wrote: "Robin P wrote: "So funny how different we are, I'm impressed how serious some of you are about considering the most options. I was perfectly content to vote on books I already read without worrying..."

🥰

Jen wrote: "Robin P wrote: "So funny how different we are, I'm impressed how serious some of you are about considering the most options. I was perfectly content to vote on books I already read without worrying..."

Yes, I agree. This group is rare in that we really get to know each other. There are people I have been around for years in "real life" that I know less well!

Jen wrote: "Robin P wrote: "So funny how different we are, I'm impressed how serious some of you are about considering the most options. I was perfectly content to vote on books I already read without worrying..."

Perfect example - the two camps for Wolf Hall!

This is one of the rare online book groups at least in my experience, that not only actually discusses the books, but have lengthy disagreements about them yet remain friends and move on to just as passionate a discussion on another book.

That is rare -- though I do also have it in my IRL book club and among many friends. But I know that' s not the case for all.

I just voted for 28 books. Did not see Covenant of Water there, which since I had the room, I would have voted for even in advance since I had such confidence in it. But I can honestly say I had read the other 28 (in Demon Copperhead now) and I thought they were deserving of support. I had 11 left over that I discriminated out as a B list. In the end, I did not feel any of the eleven were equal enough for the first list. But it was interesting after having done our Favorite Author Challenge to see what was there five years ago. Two Barbara Kingsolver, 2 Backman, Amor Towles, 2 Anthony Marra, 2 William Kent Kruger, and many others that were voted out early. Also interesting to note, that 14 of them were on my long list to consider for the top 15 list, which I think is due in a couple of weeks. I thought of 30 books off the top of my head for consideration, and like 15 of them were amongst these 47. I haven't even looked back yet at my five star reads. But I may not even bother, because I have have over 30 I can recall without looking, maybe that is the better guide to choose from. Maybe I should do it right now, as I have a few minutes to spare to try to pare it down. Good thought.

Amy wrote: "I just voted for 28 books. Did not see Covenant of Water there, which since I had the room, I would have voted for even in advance since I had such confidence in it. But I can honestly say I had re..."

Oh, I thought Covenant of Water was on the list too. I probably saw it on the 15-15 thread. I'll have to look at the ballot again. It looks like I'll have extra room on my next subdue list for a couple more.

Theresa wrote: "Jen wrote: "Robin P wrote: "So funny how different we are."

I really appreciate that too. We had a lively discussion in my real life book club last night about a NF book with a lot of political implications. I was a little worried because we had a new member, but she loved it. (When she first asked to join the group, I did warn her that our discussions sometimes get a little political, and we tend to be on the liberal side.) It was a very fun night even though the book was depressing.

Geez - this 15 for 15 is hard. I have pared down to 16 with a bunch of honorable mentions. But.... I may be saved as i haven't looked yet at the dates and its extremely possible some in my top 15 don't qualify. That would make this easier.

Amy wrote: "Geez - this 15 for 15 is hard. I have pared down to 16 with a bunch of honorable mentions. But.... I may be saved as i haven't looked yet at the dates and its extremely possible some in my top 15 d..."

Good luck! Hopefully you'll be able to cut something out that way!

Yes, one of the 16 was too old to use. So I am at 15. And I’m absolutely sure about 14 of them. My last question is whether I should replace a certain one of the 15 with one of the other equal amount of honorable mentions. I’m so close to having finished and I just can’t look at this again and figure it out. I almost wish one of you was nearby so I could say let’s run into Starbucks and just take a look at this and talk it through. Because I’m a true Book nerd this way. Other than you guys, who the heck else would be this agonizing over a decision….. but I’m almost incredibly happy with it. I have a solid 14 1/2. Which range from 2009 to 2022.

Amy wrote: "Yes, one of the 16 was too old to use. So I am at 15. And I’m absolutely sure about 14 of them. My last question is whether I should replace a certain one of the 15 with one of the other equal amou..."

Amy, trust yourself.

You do have until September 5 if you want to change it.

You have given me courage. I’m just gonna figure it out right now and post it. If I end up keeping or replacing the one book I will let you guys guess which title is the one that was driving me crazy separate from the solid 14.

With everything going on IRL I'd forgotten about this!

I'm truly baffled that people think Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow will stand the test of time. I ADORED The Dog Stars when I read it, but that doesn't mean I think it should be on this list ...

Anita can you confirm that my vote went through? The ballot is still on my iPad, but i probably submitted it from my laptop. Thanks!

NancyJ wrote: "Anita can you confirm that my vote went through? The ballot is still on my iPad, but i probably submitted it from my laptop. Thanks!"

I will check on it!

NancyJ wrote: "Anita can you confirm that my vote went through? The ballot is still on my iPad, but i probably submitted it from my laptop. Thanks!"

I do see your vote Nancy so I presume we are all set!