Time to Vote for the March Tag

[Anita]

Please vote for the tag you would most like to read for March at the following link:

https://forms.gle/7qVPGeRCRB1dd1ck8

Here are the lists of books for each tag:

Japan: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
music: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
realistic fiction: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

Remember, you may cast up to a total of 10 participation points for your choice. Every PBT member gets one vote for free so please vote even if you don't have any participation points!

You can see how many participation points you currently have in the spreadsheet below.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Happy voting! Please cast your votes by 12 noon EST on 2/21.

[Book Concierge]

Interesting choices the randomizer picked this month ....

[Michelle H]

There are some very cool options. I voted but was torn which one was really my top choice.

[Joy D]

I like all three.

[Meli]

I say this every month, but... ALREADY!?
Also, I love all these tags!

Japan is near and dear to my heart because I studied Japanese in college, lived there for a year and a half for study abroad, and have been working for Japanese companies for the past 15 years. But I like the other 2 also, Gonna have to think on this one.

[Amy]

Voted ~ I think I have a 2/3 shot of getting a tag that will get me to pick up a book for the Top Fiction 100 birthday Candle. Which was a very tough candle for me. But either way, I think March will knock it out for me.

[LibraryCin]

I think I'm ok with any of these!

[Theresa]

OOH cool options! Both Japan and Music are all over my TBR Towers and read books lists -- between the recent availability of translations of golden age Japanese detective novels and enjoying books set in the world of music, especially mysteries. I'm torn.

Realistic Fiction - I never quite get what is considered realistic fiction. But I am quite sure I have plenty of options in my TBR.

Decisions decisions... I actually believe there a books in every genre that easily fit each of these tags.

[Robin P]

Realistic fiction sounds grim, but I see there are books included like Red, White & Royal Blue. I wish it were more so - The fantasy in that book isn't just acceptance of a gay relationship, but having a woman as US president!

All interesting selections.

[Booknblues]

All are good.

I will say, I am a bit surprised at the one I had to dig the deepest for something to read.

[Lyn]

I have something for each of these tags on my bookshelf, but only one will blow out a birthday candle! Fingers crossed...

[Amy]

Lyn, wouldn’t it be funny if it were the same! Again, the top 100 fiction and nonfiction were probably two of the hardest of the 15 candles. Will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

[Karin]

Not sure how I'll vote, but note that there are many novels in many genres for that work for music, such as this newer mystery The Violin Conspiracy


I only have 48 books on my Music shelf (not all that would count) and you can see VARIETY https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

But there is literary fiction, mainstream, romance, scifi (https://www.tor.com/2016/09/19/five-s... books-that-make-use-of-music/ plus of course Project Hail Mary , mystery, etc

Plus many cool nonfiction books such as memoirs and biographies.

[Charlotte]

Of course I'm reading a Japan book now. It's the second in a super cute series, Tokyo Dreaming by Emiko Jean. The first book is Tokyo Ever After.

I'm generally not a fan of realism but there are authors that I like on the list, so I'm happy with all three. I will say Japan is my favorite culture and I love reading about it.

[Theresa]

Karin wrote: "Not sure how I'll vote, but note that there are many novels in many genres for that work for music, such as this newer mystery The Violin Conspiracy


Daisy Jones & The Six fits Music - and that is one of Amy's favorite authors and books, thus blowing out a birthday candle ...

[Nicole R]

Meli wrote: "I say this every month, but... ALREADY!?
Also, I love all these tags!

Japan is near and dear to my heart because I studied Japanese in college, lived there for a year and a half for study abroad..."

I do not think I knew this! How cool! Do you speak Japanese?

[Theresa]

An Artist of the Floating World would fit Japan and blow out the historical fiction birthday candle. A wonderful read telling the aftermath of WW2 in Japan from one family's experiences.

[Meli]

Nicole R wrote: "I do not think I knew this! How cool! Do you speak Japanese?"

I do 🤓

[NancyJ]

Robin P wrote: "Realistic fiction sounds grim, but I see there are books included like Red, White & Royal Blue. I wish it were more so - The fantasy in that book isn't just acceptance of a gay rela..."

I think realistic fiction simply means fiction that is not fantasy or sci-fi. There are more grownup books later in the list, but I liked many coming of age books too.

[Joy D]

I read mostly realistic fiction. As a general observation, I don't find it grim. There is grim stuff in any genre. I agree with Nancy that it's basically everything that exists in the real world, i.e. not fantasy or Scifi. Even though I read it a lot, I'm not sure it's a great tag because it is so wide open, but of course, some people like wide open.

[Hannah]

I have something in my TBR for all three tags, so I would be happy with any of them.

[Joanne]

voted

[SouthWestZippy]

It is too soon for March! LOL
I voted and will be happy with any of them.

[Theresa]

I voted but was really torn how to.

[Karin]

NancyJ wrote: "Robin P wrote: "Realistic fiction sounds grim, but I see there are books included like Red, White & Royal Blue. I wish it were more so - The fantasy in that book isn't just acceptan..."

Some funny books aren't realistic even if they aren't scifi or fantasy :) Plus some others. I always think of them as books that are close to how real life happens without too many coincidences, etc. Eg as much as I enjoyed it, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared is not realistic which is why some people didn't like it (but it was part of the humour, IMO)

[DianeMP]

I'd be happy with any of the choices. But I cannot decide which of the three I like the most. Will need to think about it more and quickly too as the 21st is coming up fast!

[LibraryCin]

Joy D wrote: "Even though I read it a lot, I'm not sure it's a great tag because it is so wide open, but of course, some people like wide open...."

Although I'd be happy with any of the three, I would prefer either of the other two for this reason - they are narrower.

[Lyn]

It will be interesting to see if we follow England with Japan. Maybe we can take a trip around the world :)

[Jen]

Not a good selection for me again. Nothing for Japan or Music at all on the lists given. However I do have "Spiral" (sequel to Ring) which I think fits Japan and I do have "Watch You Bleed" (G n' R biography) which I think fits music. Not that I'm in the mood for a biography at all atm. As for Realistic Fiction, apparently I have read loads of it and really enjoyed a lot but have nothing on my current TBR.....AND who put 50 shades as realistic fiction?????? Makes me worry for the state of the world.

[LibraryCin]

Lyn wrote: "It will be interesting to see if we follow England with Japan. Maybe we can take a trip around the world :)"

Haha! I like it!

[Karin]

Jen wrote: "Not a good selection for me again. Nothing for Japan or Music at all on the lists given. However I do have "Spiral" (sequel to Ring) which I think fits Japan and I do have "Watch You Bleed" (G n' R..."

That's along the lines of what I was saying ;)! I haven't read it but did laugh a lot when I read what Dave Barry wrote about it after he read it.

[Jen]

Karin wrote: "Jen wrote: "Not a good selection for me again. Nothing for Japan or Music at all on the lists given. However I do have "Spiral" (sequel to Ring) which I think fits Japan and I do have "Watch You Bl..."

I read it because all the kids (y10 up) at school were reading it. It allowed me to have some good conversations about boundaries and how what is or is not ok is up to the individual. Just because something has been written in a book/shown on TV/certain internet sites does not mean that it should be expected from everyone. People are entitled to say no to anything they don't like the sound/feel of. I teach psych as one of my subjects which does enable subjects like this to be addressed when they arise.

[Karin]

Jen wrote: "Karin wrote: "Jen wrote: "Not a good selection for me again. Nothing for Japan or Music at all on the lists given. However I do have "Spiral" (sequel to Ring) which I think fits Japan and I do have..."

I'd have read it if my kids were reading it at school, too. Thankfully it wasn't on the list. I've read many books I wouldn't have otherwise because I was raising kids (when homeschooling but even when they went to public high school.)

[NancyJ]

Joy D wrote: "I read mostly realistic fiction. As a general observation, I don't find it grim. There is grim stuff in any genre. I agree with Nancy that it's basically everything that exists in the real world, i..."

I have a lot more books for realistic fiction than the others, but I have the same misgivings about choosing the broadest option. I still haven’t voted.

Before I forget, I want to recommend Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki, for music and especially transgender representation. The blurb makes it sound really wacky (it’s sci-fi fantasy) but I found it remarkably sensitive. I liked it much more than the trans books I read last year.

[DianeMP]

Voted.

[Jen]

Karin wrote: "Jen wrote: "Karin wrote: "Jen wrote: "Not a good selection for me again. Nothing for Japan or Music at all on the lists given. However I do have "Spiral" (sequel to Ring) which I think fits Japan a..."

Luckily it was not a book recommended by the school just one they had chosen to buy and read themselves.

[NancyJ]

I can’t wait to see which tag won, and which books people will recommend.