Play Book Tag discussion
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2022 PBT Challenges - Time to Vote!
PBT'S WALK DOWN HISTORY LANEEach year members say they would like a nonfiction challenge and each year the admins offer some variation of this challenge. It has yet to be selected, but perhaps this is the year!
Members will sign up to play this challenge and the admins will randomly put them into groups of 6.
The first person on each team will read a book to start off this challenge. The book must either be nonfiction or fiction that is based on a real life person or event. Once that person completes their read and posts their review, then the next person will read a book that links to the previous one. Then, the third reader must link their book to the second, etc.
The links between the books do not all have to be the same and we encourage you to get creative! A link could be any other person or topic referenced in the first book. Or it could be a book by the same author or with the same word in the title or written in the same year or winner of the same prize or narrated by the same person—you get the idea. Groups can be as creative as they want with identifying the links, but they need to specify how each connects to the next.
The ultimate goal for each group is to:
1. Complete two loops of the group.
2. Each group member reads at least one nonfiction and one fiction book.
Prizes will be awarded for linking creativity (as voted by the Admins), completion of the two loops, and total pages read.
PBT HIGH ROLLERSGot luck on your side?! Let’s put it to the test!
In this challenge, the goal is to move along our game board, reading tags and collecting participation points as you go, with the goal of completing the challenge first!
1. We will solicit tag submissions from our members and randomly create a list of 100 tags that the players will all be able to see.
2. Starting on January 1st, each player rolls the dice (www.random.ord/dice/?num=1) and moves that many spaces along the board. To record your move, you’ll need to note the roll plus the time and date stamp from Random.org to your post, note your starting space and your new space. You rolled 1 die:
Start: Square 5
Roll: 2 (Timestamp: 2021-11-20 19:31:02 UTC)
End: Square 7
3. Each player will then read a book that is tagged with that exact tag AND the exact monthly tag. Each tag has to be used by at least 5 users for your book on GoodReads.
4. Once you complete your book, you report back to the thread and you will get participation points based on the length of your book:
<350 pages – 1 point
350-600 pages – 2 points
601-700 pages – 3 points
701-750 – 4 points
751-800 pages – 6 points
801-900 pages – 9 points
901-1000 pages – 15 points
>1000 pages – 25 points
5. After you report your book, then you roll the dice again and see where you head to next!
But...
(You didn’t think we’d make it that easy, did you?)
Along the way certain tags will have “surprises” underneath! The “surprises” will take on a couple different forms:
1. A prize! If you land on a prize then only the first person who lands on that tag is able to claim the prize. But, don’t worry there will be more than one. (And no, it will not be a new car or a plane ticket to a destination of your choosing.)
2. Move forward! If you land on a “move forward” space, then you will immediately move forward the number of spaces directed and then select and read a book for that tag (and NOT the one you originally landed on).
3. Move back. If you land on a “move back” space, then you will immediately move back the number of spaces directed and then select and read a book for that tag (and NOT the one you originally landed on).
Prizes will be given out for different achievements: first to complete the 100 tag list, person to read the most books, person to collect the most participation points along the way, etc.
Questions? We know you have them!
WHO'S PBT'S FAVORITE?Let's figure out which author is the PBT favorite!! You nominate your faves, and they compete in a head to head challenges every other month until only one author remains.
In addition to helping us determine our most favorite author, you can win by submitting predictions of your final four authors, final two authors, and the winner before the votes begin . . .see how well you know our membership and can predict their selections!
1. Nominate your favorite authors (up to two). Each nominated author must have published at least three books.
2. We will start with 64 authors presented in random pairs. (For you sports enthusiasts, think March Madness brackets!) Each member may cast 1 vote for their favorite in each head to head match up.
3. If you read any books by any of the 64 authors before the winners are revealed (mid March), you will earn 1 point per review that you can then apply to your vote to move your favorite author further in the bracket. Or you may save your votes to use later in the tournament. If your book also fits the monthly tag, then you will earn 2 points for future use!
4. Every other month, we will repeat the process. We announce the 32 winners in mid- March and everyone will again get to cast 1 vote in each head-to-head match up for their favorite. Plus you may cast any extra points you received from reading/reviewing books by the authors previously in the game (if you so choose).
Then, again, you may read any of the 32 to earn points to apply to future votes!
5. We continue, whittling the brackets down every other month to 16, 8, 4, 2, and then 1, until we announce the winner on December 1st.
6. Then, we tally your predictions and announce the winners! Anyone who reads the winning author before year end gets 20 participation points.
SURVEY SAYS? LET'S PLAY PBT FEUD!1. To start the year, the admins will ask PBTers to submit answers to questions about books/reading. Here is a sample of questions which may be asked:
Favorite literary fiction book of all time?
Best Booker prize winner?
Favorite genre?
Children's book you can't forget?
First book you remember reading by yourself/
Book you most remember your parent reading to you?
Favorite movie based on a book?
2. We'll then rank the "top answers" for the board, with a certain number of answers from most popular to least popular.
3. Twice each month, 1st and 15th we will post one question to the group.
4. Wait 3 days before you post your answers, so you have time to consider your answers. After the 3 days, members may post their guesses on the official group thread! Each member only gets one guess so choose wisely!
5. The first person to guess each of the "top answers" on the board gets the points associated with it! If, after 3 days, we still have unrevealed answers, then everyone will be able to submit another guess.
PBT BOOK CLUB: THE LITERARY PRIZE EDITION1. Who wants to join a Book Club for Prize Winners? We have had some fun with reading literary prize winners over the years at PBT. We will be having a book club for each of 4 Prizes to be named (i.e. Woman's Prize for Fiction, The Edgar Awards, Booker Prize, National Book Award, The Hugo Awards)
2. Moderators will start the year, with their book of choice and guide the discussion with 4 questions per book. One at 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%.
3. Points will be given for participation and completion with a review.
4. In February, a PBT member will be chosen to lead the discussion and choose a book. Each following month a PBT member will pass the baton to another member.
5. It should be fun with lots of lively discussion!
Anita wrote: "PBT'S WALK DOWN HISTORY LANEEach year members say they would like a nonfiction challenge and each year the admins offer some variation of this challenge. It has yet to be selected, but perhaps th..."
I am attracted to the "PBT's Walk Down History Lane" challenge. My question concerns tags. Will books have to meet a tag requirement to count?
Holly R W wrote: "Anita wrote: "PBT'S WALK DOWN HISTORY LANEEach year members say they would like a nonfiction challenge and each year the admins offer some variation of this challenge. It has yet to be selected, ..."
It won't be required, but there will be some kind of individual incentive/reward for books that also fit the current month's tag.
Great challenges as usual. I have an outright sense of the order already and it has surprised me. But I am waiting to hear other people's thoughts before I cast my final vote. I am actually reallly drawn personally to the High Rollers. That seems super fun! Plus I can always find a book for something. I am used to reading for both the challenge and the tag. History Lane sounds great too! I would not have expected myself to rate that as high, but the set up sounds intriguing. I liked the other three as well. Curious to see how it will all work out!
You would think that after discovering I read a lot of history/historical books I would have put it as #1, but actually the literary prize one appealed to me more!
The moderators are really clever to come up with these every year, it's very impressive. So these aren't complaints, just personal concerns I have.High Rollers seems really hard to me, to find a book with the exact monthly tag and the exact tag from the dice roll, and to read from my existing stash (even though it is over 300 books.) I rarely was able to do that in this year's games, unless it was a very broad category like Family Drama. There are too many discrepancies, like Feminist vs Feminism. I think it would be better if you just got extra points for exact match.
I always prefer the more "creative" options, like the history one, where you can justify your choice, rather than those where you are at the mercy of how someone else tagged a book for their random purposes. You also can't plan ahead at all with this challenge, since you don't know where you will land next. That's not necessarily a problem for me, since I'm not a big planner, more impulsive, just something I noticed.
I also feel like PBT's Favorite is too limited with 64 authors (and then fewer as the year goes on). There are many very popular authors that don't interest me, or the only book I haven't read is a new one that I can't easily get.
I have a question about the Literary Prize one. Can they be from any year, not just the most recent one?
The Literary Prize can be from any year.
I have questions about the teams on Walk Down History Lane.Does each team member have to read before we can start over at the top of the roster? Two loops are mentioned - can we double up or otherwise read out of order? And am I correct in assuming that one book would be submitted per team per month? (Vs. the fun but massive read-a-thon we had with Poll Ballot?)
What happens when a team member's schedule changes or life otherwise intervenes - and they can no longer participate?
Robin P wrote: "The moderators are really clever to come up with these every year, it's very impressive. So these aren't complaints, just personal concerns I have.High Rollers seems really hard to me, to find a ..."
And this is why we vote, lol!! It is definitely the case that not every challenge/activity will resonate with every member, so we try to offer up some diverse options.
However, on High Rollers, I do see your point about needing to match two tags and how that could be too limiting. I am open to the idea of making the tag on the board be the exact match and extra points if you also match the monthly tag . . .if High Rollers is a top vote getter, I will solicit opinions from those who want to participate, and we can adjust accordingly. Some people want the challenge and others may want more flexibility.
Great questions, Sue! Does each team member have to read before we can start over at the top of the roster?
I think we can be more flexible. We want all the team members to read one fiction and one non-fiction book, but I don't think the order needs to be prescribed. That allows you to switch out if someone is on vacation.
Two loops are mentioned - can we double up or otherwise read out of order?
Yes. But everyone needs to read one fiction and one non fiction book.
And am I correct in assuming that one book would be submitted per team per month? (Vs. the fun but massive read-a-thon we had with Poll Ballot?)
The goal is 12 books by year end. When you read them is more up to you, but there's no bonus for speed.
What happens when a team member's schedule changes or life otherwise intervenes - and they can no longer participate?
I think we would advertise for a substitute for your dropping out player. If that doesn't work, we will adjust on a case by case basis in some way that allows you to continue.
Nicole D. wrote: "Clever as always!"Thanks so much!! We always have fun coming up with new ideas, but this year was extra challenging with Nicole's work schedule, my move, and a new administrator! But we got our act together, lol.
So am I reading PBT'S WALK DOWN HISTORY LANE correctly in that each member will only read 2 books for the year, total: one fiction and 1 non-fiction?If so, this seems like one that could easily be done in addition to any other challenge.
Great options as always. I like the History challenge, and hope more people will consider it. There are so many good non-fiction books out there.Not sure where my votes will land just yet-
A big thank you to the mods, you all do a fabulous job here and are very appreciated!
For HIGH ROLLERS - Prizes will be given out for different achievements: first to complete the 100 tag list, person to read the most books, person to collect the most participation points along the way, etc.I assume the board starts on 1 and ends on 100 so that means that prize is for the first to complete the board and read for each tag landed on.
The number of books to be read for the game could be as few as 16 if you roll all 6s and get no move backward spots; to as many as 50+ if you are unlucky enough to get 1s and 2s and some move backward spots. Does that mean the game ends on a given date and not when that first someone completes the board?
(BTW, I vote for the non-fiction linking game every year.)
I guess I'm also biased in favor of something simple, where you either do it or you don't, as opposed to the scoring by pages in High Rollers. Though I suppose the extra work is mostly for the Mods. You might have to make a rule about how page numbers are counted, is it by the original hardcover if there is one, by whatever version you read, or what? There can be a big variation between ebooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers, translations, or editions from different publishers.
Right now my favorites are History Lane and Literary prize book club, and maybe the Author competition. High rollers would definitely NOT work for me this year.History Lane is appealing. It looks like you took many of the comments from last year into consideration, and came up with something more flexible. I really appreciate that! I love the small teams, and that we can help each other come up with good ideas that work together. To make it more challenging, perhaps individuals could get a bonus for reading all 12 books selected by their team. Or better yet, a bonus for reading our own 12 book chain. How many points would we earn?
The Literary prize discussion also appeals to me, assuming that we will have some choices and/or input into the book selections. My interpretation is that there will be 4 books per month (possibly from different genres/award categories) and we can choose 1 or more of the books each month. I had 12 target lists (most were based on awards) this year, and I loved the books I discovered.
The author competition is appealing also, assuming we get bonus points for reading many different authors from the list (not just the winners). My favorite authors keep changing, so I don't know who I would root for. Would we be trying to "guess" the winner, or campaign for who we wanted to win?
I would love to see what list this group would come up with, even if this game wasn't selected.
High Rollers is definitely not for me this year. It conflicts with all of my other goals this year. Two tags, 5 each is too restrictive, especially with 100 books. I would predict that the extreme skewing of the page length points will lead to some extreme competition (like poll tag on steroids).
Anita wrote: Let's figure out which author is the PBT favorite!! You nominate your faves, and they compete in a head to head challenges every other month until only one author remains.How will the 64 be determined?
Will we know the list of 64 authors before we decide to participate?
Joy D wrote: "Anita wrote: Let's figure out which author is the PBT favorite!! You nominate your faves, and they compete in a head to head challenges every other month until only one author remains.How will th..."
Each person will nominate 2 authors and from that we will find the top authors..
Joy D wrote: "Anita wrote: Let's figure out which author is the PBT favorite!! You nominate your faves, and they compete in a head to head challenges every other month until only one author remains.How will th..."
It would be fun to see what list this group would come up with. I would have a hard time deciding on just two. Maybe we would need to submit a ranked list of alternates in case our names were already submitted by someone else.
Linda C wrote: "So am I reading PBT'S WALK DOWN HISTORY LANE correctly in that each member will only read 2 books for the year, total: one fiction and 1 non-fiction?If so, this seems like one that could easily be..."
Yes
LOVE the challenge ideas! I've already voted. The Walk Down History Lane most closely relates to the books I've already wanted to prioritize for next year, so that was easy. I also went for the Literary Book Club, because I've realized how little I've read on those lists...
Looking forward to see what wins!
Linda C wrote: "For HIGH ROLLERS - Does that mean the game ends on a given date and not when that first someone completes the board?.."That is correct, the game will end at a specific date, probably at the end of November to allow time for scoring, etc.
Robin P wrote: "You might have to make a rule about how page numbers are counted, is it by the original hardcover if there is one, by whatever version you read, or what?."We usually use the hardcover page count as listed on Goodreads (or Amazon).
Nancy,If History Lane wins, we will take your suggestion under advisement. I need to think about how it would work in the context of the team challenge.
On the author challenge, you do not need to only read the winners. All the authors in the round would be available to read. And yes, you would be predicting the final four authors, the final two authors, and the winning author ahead of the game. There will be a prize for whoever is best at the predictions.
In terms of the author submissions, everyone would be limited to two. If authors get multiple votes, then they will be more likely to be included. So if an author gets submitted by 10 PBT members, they will likely make it to be one of the 64. If you are the only person who submits an author, they might still make it, but probably through a random selection to fill any remaining slots.
Awesome work, ladies, on crafting these! I am amazed at the originality!My very superficial initial reaction is I like the Walk Through History and Lit Fic, am confused by the others, and feeling anxious and stressed in general. That last will pass, reflecting my busy schedule right now.
Personalky, I have to consider carefully what to vote for. I read primarily from TBR Towers ... which are huge and diverse ... but may not work well in some challenges. I also have several more months of intense work on a couple of projects. Add in non-PBT reading...
I need to reread in a calm period to see what questions i have. But what a great selection.
Joy D wrote: "Will we know the list of 64 authors before we decide to participate?"You will see the initial brackets as you will need to make your predictions before we officially start. So yes, you will know the authors before you commit.
Heather Reads Books wrote: "LOVE the challenge ideas! I've already voted. The Walk Down History Lane most closely relates to the books I've already wanted to prioritize for next year, so that was easy. I also went for the L..."
Thanks, Heather!! So glad you are excited about them!!
Theresa wrote: "Awesome work, ladies, on crafting these! I am amazed at the originality!My very superficial initial reaction is I like the Walk Through History and Lit Fic, am confused by the others, and feeling..."
Well the good news is that the challenges are always optional! Just one of the many things we do here at PBT (including many wonderful member-led activities in Footnotes). So no pressure.
We basically are just thrilled if people read for the tag each month!! And that's not required either.
So don't let these things stress you out . . .some people love the complexity and the competition. Others are drawn to the straightforward. We try to have both!
Anita wrote: "You will see the initial brackets as you will need to make your predictions before we officially start. So yes, you will know the authors before you commit..."Wonderful! Thanks, Anita.
Like Theresa, I try to read books I already own, so it's nice to see the list beforehand.
Those look like some fun challenges. I like the Who’s PBT’s Favorite and High Roller one the best. I think they’ll work the best with my participation or lack thereof. 😂I hope to be a more involved PBTer and reader next year. We’ll see what happens.
Jenni Elyse wrote: "Those look like some fun challenges. I like the Who’s PBT’s Favorite and High Roller one the best. I think they’ll work the best with my participation or lack thereof. 😂I hope to be a more involv..."
We hope to see you here. Take care, Jenni!
These challenges sound fun, I don't know how you all come up with so many good ideas each year!I have a question about High Rollers, I am assuming that you can't move forward on the board until you read a book that matches both tags (if it moves forward as written), if I can't find a book to match both tags, can I wait until next month to see if a book works better with the next monthly tag? Example, I roll Historical Fiction and Horror is the monthly tag, but I don't find a book to match. Can I wait until the next month to read my Historical Fiction and whatever that month's tag is before rolling again?
Matching two tags can sometimes be difficult, and it would help to know if we had to match both tags before voting. I would move that challenge up on my list if I only had to match the rolled tag and got bonus points for matching the monthly tag too.
Thanks!
Wow! You guys have done it again, great choices. I have a lot to think about now.
Lyn wrote: ".if I can't find a book to match both tags, can I wait until next month to see if a book works better with the next monthly tag? ."Thank you for your kind words!
Great question . . .and yes, you would be able to wait. You are moving along the "board" on your own time table . . .so you could definitely wait until the month turns over and a new tag is available.
Cheryl wrote: "Wow! You guys have done it again, great choices. I have a lot to think about now."Thanks so much, Cheryl!! We seriously try, and what's so funny is how bad I am at actually predicting what choice will catch on with the members!!
Jenni Elyse wrote: "Those look like some fun challenges. I like the Who’s PBT’s Favorite and High Roller one the best. I think they’ll work the best with my participation or lack thereof. 😂I hope to be a more involv..."
So awesome to see you, Jenni!!!
I have a lot of trust in High Rollers. Yes, it can be difficult or easy. But I think its so creative that I really hope it wins. Plus, the mods aren't going to pick things that have zero chance of matching. You would never see Horror on there. But you would see plenty of other things be able to match. Plus, we are the ones voting for the monthly tag. No one is going to pick Criticism, if high rollers is the yearly challenge. I think its going to be broad enough that it would be hard to be out of luck for too long.
Amy wrote: "I have a lot of trust in High Rollers. Yes, it can be difficult or easy. But I think its so creative that I really hope it wins. Plus, the mods aren't going to pick things that have zero chance of ..."Basically members are picking the 100 tags AND the monthly tag (to some degree), so you will have lots of control collectively on how High Rollers plays out!
Amy wrote: "I have a lot of trust in High Rollers. Yes, it can be difficult or easy. But I think its so creative that I really hope it wins. Plus, the mods aren't going to pick things that have zero chance of ..."(Popping in to stick up for the horror genre. I hope that it has as fair a chance of being a tag as other genres. :) I think it is one of the easier ones to match with a variety of tags.)
I'm adding my two cents to Cora's regarding the horror tag. There are a huge number of subgenres within horror that give readers plenty of options to mix and match. I'm not much of a horror reader but I feel like no tag should be off limits.I always think it's funny that I love this group so much when I don't particularly care for a lot of literary fiction. Over the years I've discovered some good ones, but have always been able to be an active participant.
It continually amazes me that the mods come up with such creative ideas every year. This year I don't have a clear favorite because they all look like fun. I voted and can't wait to see what wins.
I voted. I can't wait to see the winners, they all look like so much fun but I do have a couple I am crossing my fingers they win.
Challenges are not always "challenges" per se. This year we included some activities and games, but regardless, you can read some great books and earn some participation points!!
Each challenge is described below (one challenge per post). Please vote at the following link when you are ready:
https://forms.gle/P9fXcbg4LA2ccP6H9
Please cast your vote by December 16th.
A note on the voting: You are essentially ranking each choice, but do to limitations with our survey functionality, we created five questions.
Q1 - You are voting for your favorite option
Q2 - You are voting for your next favorite option
etc.
Q5 should represent your last choice.
Only Q1 is required.
Feel free to ask questions below.