Announcing the February Tag

[Anita]

I think this is the closest vote I've seen yet on PBT, and an extraordinary number of votes were cast, but at the end of the day, we settled on:

family drama

Please share your reading plans and recommendations below.

Remember, for the regular monthly reads, the book can be shelved as "family drama" 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!!!

[NancyJ]

OK! I was indecisive, so I found books for all the tags. I'm most excited to read Atonement by Ian McEwan (which fit both family drama and did not finish). I tried out the first chapter (because I had trouble with one of this other books) and I loved it. The writing is beautiful, and it adds so much to what I remember from the film. Thanks Joy! I received several other good suggestions from others, on the other thread (when I find it). I also plan to read Home and/or Jack from the Gilead series.

I recommend:
Hamnet.

[Barbara M]

Wonderful! The first page of the tag had 5 books on my TBR:

Little Fires Everywhere
Husband's Secret
Before we were yours
Pachinko
and, Atonement

All of these are ones I I've really been wanting to get to!

[[deleted user]]

Here's some ideas to help with Fly the PBT Skies! I'm going to Afghanistan as that adds the most miles to my total.

The great alone
The nightingale
A thousand splendid suns
Firefly lane
The brief wondrous life of Oscar Wao
A tale for the time being
The ocean at the end of the lane
Hamnet
The red tent

[Booknblues]

Last month, when voting I was not thrilled about any.

This month, I liked them all and considered each and ultimately decided on South America as it is the continent I seem to have the least reading material for, and decided it might be a good plan to read something from it early in the year. I guess South America can wait.

I didn't vote for family drama, because I thought that we had something like that recently, but truthfully one of the books, I most want to read fits with that and can be my next destination, Memorial by Bryan Washington. This works for Japan or Texas.

On the first page of family drama, I had 8 books on my tbr, so that says something.

[Meli]

Dang it, my fly the skies will not hit the tag :(

Theresa and I are flying to Jamaica for a girl's trip with A Brief History of Seven Killings and I am really excited about it.

Literally every book y'all want to read this month is also tagged "did-not-finish," but what's done is done and we shall never speak of this again! 🤭

[Theresa]

Yippee!

[LibraryCin]

Anita wrote: "I think this is the closest vote I've seen yet on PBT, and an extraordinary number of votes were cast, but at the end of the day, we settled on:

family drama

..."

Ohhh, I was really hoping for dnf. This is so broad (though I suppose it turned out that dnf was, too).

[Charlotte]

Yay! Looks like I'll be headed to Australia for PBT Skies!!

[LibraryCin]

I'll like read the same thing I was going to read for dnf, anyway. it should also fit well for Fly the Skies.
Crazy Rich Asians

ETA: I don't think it will work for the bonus though.

[Theresa]

@Meli - I will set up a Buddy Read in a few days in case anyone wants to join us for some jerk chicken and rum drinks. @ Joanne - rum drinks have umbrellas!

Think I will prep by listening to Bob Marley.

[Joi]

I had a feeling this one would win! Lots of great choices.

Just after looking on page 1 of the tag I'm thinking
The Mother-in-Law- Australia
or
Miracle Creek- Korea
Also just downloaded Firefly Lane (has a Netflix show coming out in Feb), it's shelved both Seattle and Washington State.

If anyone hasn't read The Vanishing Half, Pachinko, Little Fires Everywhere, or Big Little Lies those would be my first recommendations.

[Meli]

Theresa wrote: "@Meli - I will set up a Buddy Read in a few days in case anyone wants to join us for some jerk chicken and rum drinks. @ Joanne - rum drinks have umbrellas!

Think I will prep by listening to Bob M..."

Excellent, sounds good!

My husband loves Jamaican music, many iterations of Reggae so I'll have him whip me up a playlist for inspiration... I am partial to Prince Far I 😎

[~*Kim*~]

Yay! I'm sure I can find something to read that fits this tag. I'll have to research to see if there's something I'd like that will fit Fly the Skies, too.

As for recommendations, there are several on my list that I've given 5 star ratings to. Some of them are:

Everything, Everything
Nineteen Minutes
Big Little Lies
Flowers in the Attic (4 stars and older, but still good)
A Thousand Splendid Suns


A few that I may get to that I've got on my Kindle are:

Defending Jacob
Firefly Lane
Sometimes I Lie

Looking forward to more recommendations.

[Theresa]

Meli wrote: "Theresa wrote: "@Meli - I will set up a Buddy Read in a few days in case anyone wants to join us for some jerk chicken and rum drinks. @ Joanne - rum drinks have umbrellas!

Think I will prep by li..."

I also have a soundtrack to a movie from some years ago that is fabulous - let me see if I can find it - so old I think I have it in cassette tape actually with no way to play it any longer, ROFL. But I can at least check out the artitsts.

I have a LOT of Bob Marley. which of course is totally appropriate.

[Anita]

Booknblues wrote: "Last month, when voting I was not thrilled about any.

This month, I liked them all and considered each and ultimately decided on South America as it is the continent I seem to have the least readi..."

Oh, I am going to read Memorial too! I am reading it for a different group, but good to know it fits all these things here.

[NancyJ]

LibraryCin wrote: "I'll like read the same thing I was going to read for dnf, anyway. it should also fit well for Fly the Skies.
Crazy Rich Asians

ETA: I don't think it will work for the bonus though."

It has more than 50 Family Drama flags, and it has many countries tagged. Where do you want to go?

[Booknblues]

Anita wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Last month, when voting I was not thrilled about any.

This month, I liked them all and considered each and ultimately decided on South America as it is the continent I seem to h..."

I hope we both like it. It sounded to good to miss.

[forsanolim]

This works for me! I'm not sure how much reading time I'll have next month but I should definitely get something to work for this and Fly the Skies.

[Karin]

Hooray! This was my first choice, although I realize it was a close vote. I doubt my Fly the Skies book fits this, but it's possible I can change my Fly the Skies book, so I am not too worried about it.

Too late I realized that did not finish might have been better, but I am still happy with this one.

[Jenni Elyse]

I'm going to reread A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson because I love that book and it takes place in Brazil. It will be a fun place to visit for Fly the PBT Skies.

[DianeMP]

So glad it came out to be Family Drama. Lots of choices! My list of possibilities include:

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
On Earth We're Briefly Georgeous by Ocean Vuong
My Brilliant Friend by Elana Ferrante
Where'd You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple

I highly recommend:
A Thousand Splendid Skies by Khaled Hosseini

[NancyJ]

February Family Drama possibilities. Some of these seem really heavy. I may have to hold some for other FlytheSkies Destinations. I welcome comments.

*Behind the Scenes at the Museum, Kate Atkinson
*Atonement, Ian McEwan
*A History of Loneliness, John Boyne
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
And the Mountains Echoed
The Marriage of Opposites
The Light Years
*Home, Marilynne Robinson
*Jack, Marilynne Robinson
Queenie
The Lost Girls of Devon
As It Is in Heaven
Where the Line Bleeds, Jesmyn Ward
A Woman Is No Man
Salt Houses
Long Bright River: an intense family thriller or The Unseen World,Liz Moore


For something lighter:
The Snapper, Roddy Doyle
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler

Possible Jan-Feb transition books.
Girl, Woman, Other
A Tale for the Time Being

[Amy]

Some of my upcoming choices include:

A Spark of Light by Jodi Piccoult
The Family Upstairs - Lisa Jewell

[NancyJ]

DianeMP wrote: "So glad it came out to be Family Drama. Lots of choices! My list of possibilities include:

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
On Eart..."

I loved A Thousand Splendid Suns too. I might read another of his books next month: And the Mountains Echoed.

Actually I liked all the books on your list. The only one I didn't read was my Brilliant Friend. They all give you a great view of the culture in those areas.

[Kimber]

DianeMP wrote: "So glad it came out to be Family Drama. Lots of choices! My list of possibilities include:

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
On Eart..."

Lots of good possibilities there Diane! I loved Cutting for Stone.

[Sallys]

I'm already reading The Immortalists which definitely fits!

[Karin]

I have a few I'd like to read, and the question is, where do I start? Also, is there one that fits with my next country for Fly the Skies and, if not, does that really matter? What will I be reading for other groups?

[Hayjay315]

I'm most likely using Next Year in Havana to travel to Cuba for Fly the Skies.

[Book Concierge]

I'm currently listening to the audio of John Boyne's A History of Loneliness .... it fits Historical Fiction (our bonus tag this month) ... but would be excellent for Family Drama next month as well.

Isabel Allende's A Long Petal of the Sea should fit as well (though I haven't checked if it has a minimum of 5 for those who would use it for Fly the Skies)

My planned book for my next leg of travel for Fly The Skies doesn't fit. And I don't have the desire to go looking for another book in the same location that will fit. C'est la vie!

[LibraryCin]

NancyJ wrote: "It has more than 50 Family Drama flags, and it has many countries tagged. Where do you want to go? ..."

Oh, I know I can use it for Fly the Skies. I will either use it for China or Singapore. Not sure yet. Haven't checked the miles + am thinking I might want to use China later, so Singapore might be the way to go. (I already checked what locations were options a while ago.)

I missed "family drama" as a tag when I was looking for it. I just now realized why. I was doing a ctrl-f "Find" and forgot that GR adds hyphens between words, so I'd been looking for "family drama" rather than "family-drama".

Thank you for mentioning it, Nancy! Now I know!

[Robin P]

I suppose family drama doesn't have to be heavy, depends on the family! I was in Japan for January PBT Skies so planned to return to the US, where there are zillions of family dramas. I have Ask Again, Yes in ebook, though I wouldn't have remembered that if I hadn't put it into GR.

Many romances could also be considered family drama. I see Pride & Prejudice is on the list.

[Jen K]

I seem to mostly be out of sync with the group. This was at the bottom of my choices, a bit heavy after mental health. However I apparently enjoy it because I own tons on the list that need to be read and my trim book even matches. It will be good motivation!

Aiming to read:
Salt Houses for trim
The Immortalists
Anxious People
Nothing to See Here

Maybe others as well?

[forsanolim]

Coming back to add some books I'd love to get to, I would love to get to The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and My Brilliant Friend, which have both been on my radar for ages. (I actually started My Brilliant Friend a few years ago, since friends have raved about it, but got busy and set it aside.) Little Fires Everywhere is also set very close to my hometown so that could be fun.

I haven't read many of the popular books in this category, but I really enjoyed The Forgotten Garden.

[NancyJ]

Meli wrote: "Theresa wrote: "@Meli - I will set up a Buddy Read in a few days in case anyone wants to join us for some jerk chicken and rum drinks. @ Joanne - rum drinks have umbrellas!

Think I will prep by li..."

Then after a night of rum drinks, you could wake up to Marley coffee. They all have song names. My favorite was "One Love" (a medium roast Ethiopian blend).

[NancyJ]

LibraryCin wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "It has more than 50 Family Drama flags, and it has many countries tagged. Where do you want to go? ..."

Oh, I know I can use it for Fly the Skies. I will either use it for China or ..."

I ran across that problem last year with great lakes, so this time I just searched for family. I hope it will fit our monthly tag when I get around to that part of the world. It even has New York tags, so in a pinch, I could use it on my way home.

[NancyJ]

Jen K wrote: "I seem to mostly be out of sync with the group. This was at the bottom of my choices, a bit heavy after mental health. However I apparently enjoy it because I own tons on the list that need to be r..."

That was my reaction too. I have Salt Houses on my list too. It was never on my radar until I needed a book from the world lit list, now I'm seeing it everywhere.


Book Concierge wrote: "I'm currently listening to the audio of John Boyne's A History of Loneliness .... it fits Historical Fiction (our bonus tag this month) ... but would be excellent for ..."

I hope you're loving it. I'll look for your review. I want to read it soon.

[[deleted user]]

I must be weird - most of you have planned your journey and fitting the books around where you want to go for Fly the PBT Skies. Whilst I am letting my books tell me where to go each month!

[NancyJ]

Barbara M wrote: "Wonderful! The first page of the tag had 5 books on my TBR:

Little Fires Everywhere
Husband's Secret
Before we were yours
Pachinko
and, Atonement

All of these are ones I I've really been wanting ..."

Great I'll be reading Atonement too.

There was a nice little follow-up book to Before We Were Yours. called Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children's Home Society.

[Jenni Elyse]

Jenny, I am the same. Because one of the options was South America, it got me looking at possible books and the one I want to read (reread actually) fits all three tags. It also is tagged Brazil 9 times, I noticed, so I decided I might as well go there in February.

[NancyJ]

Jenny wrote: "I must be weird - most of you have planned your journey and fitting the books around where you want to go for Fly the PBT Skies. Whilst I am letting my books tell me where to go each month!"

@Jenny - Not weird at all. It's more relaxing your way. I tried to plan locations for the whole year, but I can't commit to a plan. I just keep finding more books/countries I want to read. That's the fun part for me anyway.

@Jenni - Your Brazil book sounds gorgeous. I'm trying to envision Swan Lake near the rain forest.

[Theresa]

Jenny wrote: "I must be weird - most of you have planned your journey and fitting the books around where you want to go for Fly the PBT Skies. Whilst I am letting my books tell me where to go each month!"

You are not alone. I have ideas, even goals, but am taking it month to month. I plan little when I travel other than broadly, ditto reading.

I am also doing non-pbt challenges that need to fit into my reading. That is another reason I keep things a bit loose.

[Theresa]

Just want to remind those doing the Popsugar 2021 Reading Challenge, one of the prompts is to read three generation work - grandparent, parent, children. Family drama fits that perfectly. Two prompts, one book, so to speak.

[[deleted user]]

NancyJ wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I must be weird - most of you have planned your journey and fitting the books around where you want to go for Fly the PBT Skies. Whilst I am letting my books tell me where to go each ..."

It may be more relaxing, but it's a whole lot of extra work when it comes to voting! Because I'm also doing non-pbt challenges I'm trying to only use books I have planned for them, which means going through all the tag pages to see what matches (although knowing to stop if it gets under 5 people is useful!) and finding all the possible books for each tag.

Then once I've found the books for all 3 tags I'm using the map calculator to find out which tag will get me the most miles and I can finally vote!

One of my non-pbt challenges is to read books set in Canada's provinces and territories, and another is to read books set in Asia, so expect a few of my fly the pbt skies books to be there!

[Joanne]

Book Concierge wrote: My planned book for my next leg of travel for Fly The Skies doesn't fit. And I don't have the desire to go looking for another book in the same location that will fit. C'est la vie!

Same here BC-book I have planned is tagged FDrama by only 2 people-too expensive to re-route ;)

[Joanne]

Jenny wrote: "I must be weird - most of you have planned your journey and fitting the books around where you want to go for Fly the PBT Skies. Whilst I am letting my books tell me where to go each month!"

Me too, Jen

[Robin P]

I am kind of in-between. I am also reading for other challenges, so I have a geographic area in mind, but if I happen to read something that fits PBT Skies, I might change my plan. I am so happy it is only 1 book per month, as that gives a lot of flexibility!

[Michael]

NancyJ wrote: "February Family Drama possibilities. Some of these seem really heavy. .."

Wonderful listing, though I am not sire if they are recommendations or possibilities from TBR. Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman not Walker. Good choice nonetheless.

For me the tag stretches from family saga to familty melodrama and dysfunctional families. For the former I recommend The Son by Philip Meyer, Legends of the Fall by Jim Harrison, and Giants in the Earth by Rolvaag.

For the latter I recommend Ordinary Grace by William Krueger, Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward, Beartown by Fredrik Backman, and Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart.

I think I'll have a go at A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews. Maybe Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China byJung Chang.

[Joanne]

Some suggestions:

The Nightingale
Cutting for Stone
Circe
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
The Turner House
The House of the Spirits
A Long Petal of the Sea
The Red Tent

And if all else fails, all of the Harry P. , Outlander and GoT are on the list-LoL

[Nicole R]

I love family drama books!!

I am intrigued by Memorial, and may go with that.

BUT, I know for sure I am going to read Bring Up the Bodies to continue with my reading of the Cromwell Trilogy. Who had more family drama than Henry VIII?!? Lol