Play Book Tag discussion
February 2020: Survival
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Announcing the tag for February
I just had a stroke of luck - a late Christmas present just arrived (somehow it had been mailed to our US street address, but in the UK...) and it is A Gentleman in Moscow - I just checked on the off-chance and 6 people have tagged it survival. No idea how fitting it is, but I'll take it :-)
Nikki wrote: "I just had a stroke of luck - a late Christmas present just arrived (somehow it had been mailed to our US street address, but in the UK...) and it is A Gentleman in Moscow - I just ..."Actually, I think it fits survival on many levels. It is also a glorious read.
Theresa wrote: "Actually, I think it fits survival on many levels. It is also a glorious read."Excellent!!
I have a couple of books that'll fit this tag. I'm definitely going to read Watership Down. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society both fit the tag as well, so I might try to squeeze one of those in, as well.
After reading a bedtime story to my son I would like to add another middle-grade recommendation - Pax, a beautiful but sometimes harsh tale of a fox and 'his' boy trying to get back to each other in wartime, which I think I'm enjoying just as much as he is.
Nikki wrote: "After reading a bedtime story to my son I would like to add another middle-grade recommendation - Pax, a beautiful but sometimes harsh tale of a fox and 'his' boy trying to get back..."That reminded me of one I have on my TBR which fits, A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World it is a YA dystopian book.
Hebah wrote: "Nicole R wrote: "Hebah wrote: "Ditto for Crooked Kingdom, follow-up to Six of Crows, also read last year.."ooo, Six of Crows is on my TBR. Holly Black's [book:The Cruel Prince|260..."
The Cruel Prince was there too....
LibraryCin wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I'm thinking at least one of these as they'll cross-over with poll ballot, even if not necessarily tagged 'survival':..."
I have so many "survival" books on my tbr. Maybe this is how..."
It's helping me choose how to vote each month! I have a word document that i write down all the books that are on my tbr that fit each tag when they're announced on the 15th, then get rid of any that aren't on my planned list for challenges. I then vote for whichever tag has the most books left on it!
(This didn't really work for feb though as both 19th century & survival had equal number of books - so I then worked out how many fitted poll ballot tag & went with the one that most fitted that challenge!)
It takes some time to do but it helps get me reading different things to my usual ones!
I have so many "survival" books on my tbr. Maybe this is how..."
It's helping me choose how to vote each month! I have a word document that i write down all the books that are on my tbr that fit each tag when they're announced on the 15th, then get rid of any that aren't on my planned list for challenges. I then vote for whichever tag has the most books left on it!
(This didn't really work for feb though as both 19th century & survival had equal number of books - so I then worked out how many fitted poll ballot tag & went with the one that most fitted that challenge!)
It takes some time to do but it helps get me reading different things to my usual ones!
Jen wrote: "The Cruel Prince was there too....."I saw that as well when I checked.
For me though, it is less about whether a book is tagged a certain way and more about whether a book fits how I want to personally define "survival" for the month. I am leaving toward "man v nature" this time, and am also leaning toward some nonfiction. I have really been on an NF kick lately....
Also, I typically only read one or two books each month that fit the tag, so I do not want my entire month to be dominated by survival books. There are too many other books out there on my TBR just begging for me to pick them up! lol.
Michael wrote: "I think of survival for a shelf tag in terms of individuals against nature, cases of torture and imprisonment, war situations, people facing genocide, family members under oppression of domestic violence and child abuse, humanity in the context of apocalypse and its aftermath.I like how you have divided up how you think about survival! I agree there are so many types of survival. If I were more ambitious, I would perhaps try to read one book from each of a couple different buckets, but I am not that prolific of a reader and think I am going to stick with man v. nature.
Of the books you are considering for the month, Isaac's Storm by Erik Larsen is one that has also been on my radar forever.
yeah, I try for at least 1 that fits the tag but sometimes I just focus on the challenges - for example I didn't read a single 2005 book but did read my trim in December & in January I've read 3 thrillers - 2 of which fitted poll ballot tag!
Jenny wrote: "LibraryCin wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I'm thinking at least one of these as they'll cross-over with poll ballot, even if not necessarily tagged 'survival':..."I have so many "survival" books on my tbr..."
Ha! This is exactly how I do things Jenny. Great minds, they say, think alike! And my survival and 19th century were nearly equal also.
Nicole R wrote: "Michael wrote: "I think of survival for a shelf tag in terms of individuals against nature, cases of torture and imprisonment, war situations, people facing genocide, family members under oppressio..."I really think you would love Isaac's Storm!
Nicole R wrote: "Jen wrote: "The Cruel Prince was there too....."I saw that as well when I checked.
For me though, it is less about whether a book is tagged a certain way and more about whether a book fits how ..."
I get that....Personally I wouldn't have thought of Cruel prince either in my definition. I would have included all the Obernewtyn chronicles though since they are survival after a disaster but they are not on the list (at least that I could find). They are amazing too if you like YA/NA with a strong female lead and by an Aussie author.
Susie wrote: "I can't remember what I voted for, but yay! lol I can always find something. Upon first glance I think I might read The Dog Stars. I started it a few years ago but was sidetracked and never went ba..."PLEASE Love the Dog Stars
This is one of the tags I use the most. I include emotional survival when I'm tagging. I'm listening to American Dirt and if it's not tagged survival already it will be when I'm done.
Just a guess that Educated is tagged "survival" because her father is a survivalist ... stockpiling food, weapons, etc for the day when it's every man for himself.
Jen wrote: "Nicole R wrote: "Jen wrote: "The Cruel Prince was there too....."I saw that as well when I checked.
For me though, it is less about whether a book is tagged a certain way and more about whether..."
I love the Obernewtyn books! I started reading them, gosh, about 20 years ago when I had otherwise given up on fantasy. I need to finally order the last book, which only came out a couple or few years ago.
Nicole D, I will definitely be looking for your review of American Dirt!
Nicole R wrote: "Nicole D, I will definitely be looking for your review of American Dirt!"I think we all will! The controversy is swelling.
I noted it months ago to read...as just a thriller set among current controversies.
Nicole D. wrote: "This is one of the tags I use the most. I include emotional survival when I'm tagging. I'm listening to American Dirt and if it's not tagged survival already it will be when I'm d..."
As Nicole R. said, looking forward to your take on that. I almost bought it because of Jeanine Cummins. I read her book A Rip in Heaven years ago and was interested to see what she is writing now.
Hmm, this is a hard one for me. I have 2 recommendations: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
and
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Choosing what to read was harder. I think I've come up with 2 possibilities:
The Voting Game by Peter Gulgowski
or
Safekeeping byKaren Hesse
Oh, I read A Rip in Heaven . . .didn't put it together that the author was the same lol.
Hebah wrote: "Jen wrote: "Nicole R wrote: "Jen wrote: "The Cruel Prince was there too....."I saw that as well when I checked.
For me though, it is less about whether a book is tagged a certain way and more a..."
2014 it came out it is a monster at over 1000 pages. Hence I have it but still haven't read it because I always get behind in my challenges when school is back.
~*Kim*~ wrote: "Hmm, this is a hard one for me. I have 2 recommendations: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
and
A Thousand Splendid Suns by [author:Khaled Hoss..."
A Thousand Splendid Suns was one of only 3 books I rated 5* last year.....Totally amazing and totally gut wrenching.
Anita wrote: "Oh, I read A Rip in Heaven . . .didn't put it together that the author was the same lol."I didn't at first but I usually check out authors to see what else they have written, so I added it to my wishlist. And then saw the controversy and wondered if I wanted to read it. Right now I'm not sure.
Here are some more suggestions (probably some repeats)Fiction
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena war-struck Chechnya
The Martian
Andersonville Civil War POW camp, Pulitzer in 1956
The Great Alone Alaska and the darkness
Matterhorn Vietnam War
Non-fiction
I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of September 11, 2001
Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania
Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex (Moby Dick for real)
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
I am thinking of
Kon-Tiki which was a favorite of my dad's but I have not read it or
In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette
Shelly wrote: "Here are some more suggestions (probably some repeats)Fiction
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena war-struck Chechnya
The Martian
Andersonville Civil Wa..."
I read Kon-Tiki in primary school. Fascinating and I still remember a lot of it which is saying something after 36 years. Certainly had an impact on 10 year old me.
Jen wrote: "Shelly wrote: "Here are some more suggestions (probably some repeats)Fiction
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena war-struck Chechnya
The Martian
[book:Andersonville|..."
Same here about Kon Tiki, except I was a teen when I read it.
It's a safe bet that none of us will be reading an English village cosy mystery for the survival tag, but maybe it's something to consider. These survival tips from Crime Reads gave me a good laugh this morning:
https://crimereads.com/your-guide-to-...
Jgrace wrote: "It's a safe bet that none of us will be reading an English village cosy mystery for the survival tag, but maybe it's something to consider. These survival tips from Crime Reads gave me a good laug..."
Funny! I love it.
I love it-"No one would defile a Pub" 🤣🤣
Jgrace wrote: "It's a safe bet that none of us will be reading an English village cosy mystery for the survival tag, but maybe it's something to consider. These survival tips from Crime Reads gave me a good laug..."
So good!
I think I'll read "Happiness" by A. Forna for the tag.
Theresa wrote: "Jgrace wrote: "It's a safe bet that none of us will be reading an English village cosy mystery for the survival tag, but maybe it's something to consider. These survival tips from Crime Reads gave..."
Yup! The safe places/people are perfect!
Nikki wrote: "I just had a stroke of luck - a late Christmas present just arrived (somehow it had been mailed to our US street address, but in the UK...) and it is A Gentleman in Moscow - I just ..."Wow, it’s amazing that the package got to you!
Re your question... He “survives” by living in a luxury hotel, and by refraining to say anything negative about Russia or communism. I couldn’t finish it on time for a book club meeting 2 or 3 years, so maybe it gets more dangerous than I know. I might read it now too. Everyone in my book club loved it, but it hasn’t called to me.
Amy wrote: "I am 77% through educated. I’ve been reading it with my son since August. Very slowly. I think I can wait another week to finish it."Wow, you are so patient! After 6 months I wouldn’t remember the beginning. When I read books with my boys, I was never able to wait so long. With Harry Potter, I finished reading it as soon as he fell asleep.
NancyJ wrote: "Amy wrote: "I am 77% through educated. I’ve been reading it with my son since August. Very slowly. I think I can wait another week to finish it."Wow, you are so patient! After 6 months I wouldn’t..."
This was a DNF for me-just could not get into it
Good news! The formerly illiterate one is actually really enjoying the Great Gatsby! Says he wants to see what happens next - and that he’s into it! Score! Middle child I just gave the President is Missing to. He’s gonna love that!
Amy wrote: "Good news! The formerly illiterate one is actually really enjoying the Great Gatsby! Says he wants to see what happens next - and that he’s into it! Score! Middle child I just gave the President is..."Score!
Amy wrote: "Good news! The formerly illiterate one is actually really enjoying the Great Gatsby! Says he wants to see what happens next - and that he’s into it! Score! Middle child I just gave the President is..."Isn't it amazing what the formerly illiterate ones will read? My college sophomore read 1984 all on his own because a fellow employee at his summer job moving furniture off trucks at a furniture warehouse recommended it to him. Now how many of us think of warehouse workers as being so literate? But some of them are!
Had I tried to get him to read that it might not have turned out so well, although he did like Boys in the Boat.
Karin, I had said on another thread how badly I have felt that I still haven’t had the opportunity to respond to your note. It touched me deeply. It would appear I am always waiting for a moment to be able to respond thoughtfully, and then sometimes I miss the chance. Wanted you to know you were on my mind.
Amy wrote: "Karin, I had said on another thread how badly I have felt that I still haven’t had the opportunity to respond to your note. It touched me deeply. It would appear I am always waiting for a moment to..."That's okay--when you have time!
My unofficial trim book matches the survival tag, so I'll be reading A Stolen Life- a true crime kidnapped survivor's memoir.Dear Edward has been getting tons of buzz too, so I have that on my radar.
Just took a look at the shelf this morning. So many possibilities. I'm considering:Hatchet
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster
Divergent
The Great Alone
Holes
January was the first tag that I completed since being a member of PBT. Let's see if I can go 2/2!
Kathy wrote: "January was the first tag that I completed since being a member of PBT. Let's see if I can go 2/2!"WooHoo!
Kathy wrote: "Just took a look at the shelf this morning. So many possibilities. I'm considering:Hatchet
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster
[book:Divergent|13..."
Into Thin Air is good!
Play Book Tag
Books mentioned in this topic
Still Alice (other topics)Hatchet (other topics)
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster (other topics)
Holes (other topics)
Divergent (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Ruta Sepetys (other topics)Ruta Sepetys (other topics)
Khaled Hosseini (other topics)
Peter Gulgowski (other topics)
Karen Hesse (other topics)
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I have so many "survival" books on my tbr. Maybe this is how I should decide! Figure out what also fits Poll Ballot Tally!