Play Book Tag discussion
2016-19 Activities & Challenges
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Announcing the 2019 PBT Challenges!
Nicole R wrote: "Susie wrote: "I’m going to have be more clever about my book choices in the coming year if I do decide to take all of this on! "And remember, our challenges are not all are nothing, you can parti..."
But I am all or nothing! ;-)
Susie wrote: "But I am all or nothing."Hahaha, oh I know. Just trying to reassure our less intense members who come here and are perhaps dissuaded to see all of the intense PBT members planning furiously! lol
Dear less intense members, you are my tribe. Please, dip a toe into the shallow waters! lol
Nicole R wrote: "Susie wrote: "But I am all or nothing."Hahaha, oh I know. Just trying to reassure our less intense members who come here and are perhaps dissuaded to see all of the intense PBT members planning f..."
I am having the best night of my life planning all of this. The kids are asleep, my husband is away overnight for work, I have chocolate and my brand new super fast MacBook Pro. It really doesn't get better than this.
Oh, and dear less intense members, I apologise for my obsessive nature!
Susie wrote: "Oh, and dear less intense members, I apologise for my obsessive nature! "No apologies necessary! I love the enthusiasm! I also get really excited to plan and make lists, but I am not as good as you at the actual execution part. lol
And your evening does sound lovely! Nothing like some quite time with a new laptop to make the night complete. I recently got a new one and it almost makes working on it fun. Almost. ;)
Susie wrote: "Would you believe that my children are expecting me to parent them while I plan next year's reading? How dare they! ;-)"LOL!
So unreasonable . . .
You may just choose to put 36 books on your list that have been languishing around forever and read them that month if they strike your fancy.This is how I started -ordered my TBR by date added and then started at the earliest book-(the point of this challenge is to clean the list, right!)Got through 8 pages TBR(of which there are 22-geez!). I then had to verify I had not already pegged any of them for SRC.
Now have a list of 36. Next step is checking which I books I own, and those definitely make the cut. Up next: I have to look up the others on my Library's website and make sure they have the book-if not it gets cut and I go back to TBR on page 9 and find another!
Alot of work, but I am enjoying it! And, I actually ditched a few books that I decided I probably would never read!
For Trimming the TBR.....how far in advance will we receive our monthly title? I am making sure my library has them all, but I have to make sure I can get my hands on the title once I know my monthly pick.
I was hoping Expanding Our PBT Horizons would be one of the winners and am thrilled this is one of the options! I'll be focusing on this one and the monthly tag. Nicole R, I'm joining you in the less intense camp!
Joni, I will be announcing the random number for the month on first day of the month, maybe the last day of the proceeding month. Definitely a factor to consider when putting books on your list!
Hayjay, welcome to the land of reading whatever strikes your fancy and just hoping it fits with a challenge 😂
The "trimming the TBR" is the most practical and attractive option, so I think I might give that a try. I don't read enough to do multiple challenges, but I think I could trim the TBR and try to fit some monthly tag books in as well. Now, how to pick 36 books!
On the cultural challenge. Would the administrators being willing to accept things like: "prison culture", "white house culture", or "frontier Hawaii" or "Frontier Alaska". I ask because these are sub-cultures but they seem very unique.
Oh my goodness, I can hardly wait to get started! I've already chosen my thirty-six and now I'm scrolling through, looking for different cultural options. Waiting is not my strong suit, January 1 can hardly come fast enough! (We can skip over Christmas, I'd be fine with that! haha)
J.W. wrote: "On the cultural challenge. Would the administrators being willing to accept things like: "prison culture", "white house culture", or "frontier Hawaii" or "Frontier Alaska". I ask because these are ..."We will not accept these as official monthly culture theme nominations because of how narrow they are. However, you can use them for your own personal culture challenge if (1) they fit within one of the broader culture themes (for example, if US is selected, then any of those would fit) or (2) you want to read them for the 1 participation points and not get the second point for fitting a theme.
We would accept is something like a "Pacific Islands" or "South Pacific" theme. Also, we would accept "Caribbean Islands or "Arctic and Antarctic." Those are examples of things that are more geographic areas, but have a common cultural tie and would probably have enough books for people to choose from.
Also, above someone was talking about Africa. I realize that unless you are reading about South Africa, Egypt, or maybe Kenya, books are probably more limited. We would be open to something that is a subset of Africa if you make a good pitch for it! Subsaharan Africa, maybe?
Definitely feel free to float any other ideas you have by us! There is no hard and fast rule and I am basically just trying to gauge that there would be enough book options for people to have some flexibility without it being so broad as to not make you stretch a bit!
Nicole wrote: "(We can skip over Christmas, I'd be fine with that! haha) "*GASP* You take that back!! ;)
For the Expanding our Horizons you said no fantasy, does that include magical realism? There are some cultures where magical realism is a large part of their literary culture. For example, would a Murakami work for Japan or Gabriel García Márquez work for Columbia.
Cora wrote: "For the Expanding our Horizons you said no fantasy, does that include magical realism? There are some cultures where magical realism is a large part of their literary culture. For example, would a ..."Magical realism counts, especially because, as you point out, it is a huge part of some cultures!
I was more thinking no fantasy/dystopian that is just really using a country/culture for its name but, other than that, has no basis in actual fact about that country.
Honestly, something like Harry Potter I don't think should count. It takes place in England, but other than just providing a general location and maybe some insight into double decker buses, there is nothing in those books about British culture.
The admins are not going to go through and approve individual books or anything, we just encourage everyone to bear in mind that the goal of the challenge is to learn something new about different cultures.
Nicole R wrote: "Cora wrote: "For the Expanding our Horizons you said no fantasy, does that include magical realism? There are some cultures where magical realism is a large part of their literary culture. For exam..."That makes sense! Thank you.
Well I created a list of 36 and it was quite satisfying! I managed to significantly trim my TBR in the meantime. I removed any book that was added pre-2017 that I didn’t recognise. I just added to my 36 on gut and I’m happy with it. There’s a good mix of books that I’ve been meaning to read for an age, along with some newer titles. Bring it on!
Building the list of 36 is tough! As I was going through, I've either got the book earmarked for another challenge or it made me want to read it right now. I'm pretty good about rotating through my IRL TBR using the local used bookstore. I actually had to add to my TBR to come up with books for the list. I'm about halfway and still need some more lol. I cleaned out my goodreads TBR earlier this year so most of what is in it is books of a series for an author I love or books that I seriously have plans to read sometime soon.
Decisions... decisions...
I loved building the list of 36. My children had to put their lives on pause too for that project! Has anyone seen Jenny’s plan for 2019? Made my head swim and was deeply impressed. So glad you won the Decathalon Jenny! Nobody deserves it more than you.
Can I make a request? Can the admin‘s revisit the idea of announcing the number for the next month on the first day or the day before? Can you give us a few days so that we can plan for the next month? Or get books out of the library? Or have some sense of what we’re going to read next? I wonder if others feel the same way that a tad more advance notice would be helpful in our planning. But so excited about this upcoming year.
Amy wrote: "I loved building the list of 36. My children had to put their lives on pause too for that project! Has anyone seen Jenny’s plan for 2019? Made my head swim and was deeply impressed. So glad you w..."
I like that idea since I might be depending on the library for a bunch of mine.
Amy wrote: "I loved building the list of 36. My children had to put their lives on pause too for that project! Has anyone seen Jenny’s plan for 2019? Made my head swim and was deeply impressed. So glad you w..."
Yes I think i will need more than one day before the month starts too, as 75% of my books will be borrowed
Susie wrote: "Would you believe that my children are expecting me to parent them while I plan next year's reading? How dare they! ;-)"LOL!!
As an admin, I won't be getting points, but I do plan to do the TBR challenge, if for nothing else than to have someone else choose from my TBR for me! I will also plan for the cultural challenge, though that one is going to be much trickier, I believe. I choose 95% of what I'm reading from my 600+ tbr. But, the author being from that culture and writing insights about the culture will be trickier, for sure. I guess I'll find out how much of that kind of thing is actually ON my tbr!
Again, being an admin since I'm not really competing for points or anything, I suppose I could be a little less strict about it. I would, ideally, like to read the culture that's chosen for each month.
My mom is joining the group and the challenges!!! Her house sold today so she now lives next door and she’ll be able to use my IRL TBR and I’ll be able to help her get going! But she’ll be joining these challenges too!!
Charlotte wrote: "My mom is joining the group and the challenges!!! Her house sold today so she now lives next door and she’ll be able to use my IRL TBR and I’ll be able to help her get going! But she’ll be joining ..."How fun is that! I would love getting someone IRL involved.
Nicole R wrote: "Cora wrote: "For the Expanding our Horizons you said no fantasy, does that include magical realism? There are some cultures where magical realism is a large part of their literary culture. For exam..."Funny. I always thought that Harry Potter is very British in that (except for all the magical stuff) it was a fair representation of the British school tradition.
You will not know the culture theme or the Trim random number a month in advance, that is not how PBT has ever made announcements. The admins will consider your requests and will select a time for the announcements that fits with our monthly timeline for the numerous announcements and tasks that we do each month.
I really need to start adding books to my TBR. I am over 20 books short. Send me suggestions if you have them.
Nicole R wrote: "You will not know the culture theme or the Trim random number a month in advance, that is not how PBT has ever made announcements. The admins will consider your requests and will select a time fo..."
Thanks for the consideration Nicole-You all do so much for this group, I know it is hard to please everyone! However you make this work I know it will be successful and fun!
Charlotte wrote: "My mom is joining the group and the challenges!!! Her house sold today so she now lives next door and she’ll be able to use my IRL TBR and I’ll be able to help her get going! But she’ll be joining ..."How much fun!
Kelly wrote: "I really need to start adding books to my TBR. I am over 20 books short. Send me suggestions if you have them."Kelly, I would suggest you look at the past PBT Annual Top 10 lists, that should give you some good ideas! You can find them here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
Can I get a clarification on the Cultural Challenge-Does the book have to be written by an author that is of that culture?
Whew!!! I did it, I compiled my list of 36. It took some work like I mentioned in an earlier post because I've recently cleaned out my TBR on here and I rotate through my IRL TBR book shelf pretty regularly. For me the challenge is that we can't read it unless it is chosen, so we are basically locking down 36 books for half the year. I used my TBR on here, my IRL TBR, my kindle list, past Goodreads winners, past top 10 PBT books, and what people are suggesting for top 10 this year. Stephen King makes a bunch of appearances in my list hehehe... he has some chunky books that are rated high.
I also looked at the listopia list called 'Big Fat Books Worth the Effort'.
I wasn’t thinking a month in advance. My suggestion was a couple of days. At most a week. Like by the 28th of the month before. Like how the monthly tag would come out around the 23rd and then the Decathalon came out around the 25th. I totally understand if that request can’t get honored, but I just wanted to be clear about what it was I was asking. I agree with you that a month advance would be too early. Can we re-consider the request for days?
I'll definitely be participating in the Trim the TBR challenge. I have physical shelves at home stacked with books just waiting to be read!I'll try the cultural one when I can, but I think I'll be plenty busy with the monthly reads and the TBR challenge (and homeschooling, and working, etc.) I've also started a reading challenge with my 8 year old, so there will be LOTS of reading in 2019. =)
Joanne wrote: "Can I get a clarification on the Cultural Challenge-Does the book have to be written by an author that is of that culture?"Ideally it should be, but it is not a hard and fast requirement.
Amy wrote: "I wasn’t thinking a month in advance. My suggestion was a couple of days. At most a week. Like by the 28th of the month before. Like how the monthly tag would come out around the 23rd and then the ..."I do not have a set date that we will make the announcements but it will be several days in advance of the start of the month, but after the announcement of the next month's tag. That way, you should have plenty of time to plan to knock out multiple tasks with one books if possible!
That’s just perfection Nicole, thank you! Also, I have to write to you about the Decathalon price. It’s on my list for today. Really so fun! And by the way, wishing you, all the admin’s, and everyone a very happy holiday and new year.
Nicole R wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Can I get a clarification on the Cultural Challenge-Does the book have to be written by an author that is of that culture?"Ideally it should be, but it is not a hard and fast requi..."
thanks Nicole-I have a lot to kick off my TBR-not so many with author being a native though-I will try my best, but I have a feeling I won't be adhering to "hard and fast requirement" more than a few times🙄
I doubt I'll be able to get my 36 list done before I return home around Dec 29. So I'll probably miss out in January if you announce before Dec 31. Oh well ...
Expanding Horizons sounds right up my alley!
These were my top two choices so I'm thrilled! I've compiled my list of 36 books for the trim the TBR challenge but I still might make a few changes. When do we have to have our list worked out by?
Hahtoolah wrote: "Expanding Horizons sounds right up my alley!"Me too, I'm finding all sorts of books that would be suitable!
Magdalena wrote: "These were my top two choices so I'm thrilled! I've compiled my list of 36 books for the trim the TBR challenge but I still might make a few changes. When do we have to have our list worked out by?"
When we start posting our lists of 36 TBR books, would anyone like to try to coordinate their numbers, to allow the possibility of a Buddy read? For instance if a lot of people want to read Ladder to the Sky (Boynes), we might all agree to give it the same number as the first person who listed it. Just an idea!
NancyJ wrote: "When we start posting our lists of 36 TBR books, would anyone like to try to coordinate their numbers, to allow the possibility of a Buddy read?"I like that idea!
Play Book Tag
Books mentioned in this topic
The Tuscan Child (other topics)Just So Stories (other topics)
Rebecca (other topics)
The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Rhys Bowen (other topics)Rudyard Kipling (other topics)
Sam Kean (other topics)
Yes, the rules above specifically state that historical fiction counts.