Play Book Tag discussion
November 2023: Dragons
>
Announcing the Tag for November
Robin, you are so darn smart! I wish I would have thought of that. The only book that appealed to me the year I turned 15 was The Winds of War-That's a busty book, and I already read it. Wouldn't you know it, I started it already (am pretty well into and enjoying it), so there is no going back now.
Robin P wrote: "Jgrace wrote: "Just realized Dragonflight works for my last Birthday candle,...Now, there's a thought. My Birthday is in November. If I look at the year that I was 15 rather than when I turned 15..."
As an early childhood teacher I was always highly aware of the kids with fall birthdays. As a child myself I hated always being the youngest in the class. I tended to advance my age as soon as school started. It's still a habit. Makes it less of a shock when the actual day rolls around. ( 67!! ack !)
I want to say, and it’s probably not even the right thread for it, but since we are on the theme, that the book I read for the year, I turned 15 was actually one of my favorite experiences of the year. I was actually disappointed that I could find almost nothing. For 1983. Which is actually even funny because I was born in the last days of 1968. I turned 15 in 1983 but I spent 1984 being 15. For 363 days. Anyway, I wasn’t having much luck until I realize that Nora Ephron’s heartburn was a very big 1983 read. And what did I find on the Audible? That was six hours? Meryl Streep. The book was amazing but Meryl Streep made it even better. That was one of the nicest surprises I thought the birth of challenge and the year. I never would have picked up. I listened to that book from 1983. And, if I shoot my horn a little bit, I actually would have finished before Joy. I was 14 books down at least 6 to 8 possibly more weeks before I actually finished like second or third. But it literally took me 2 1/2 months, if not longer to read far from the tree. Which was excellent, and well worth the read. Anyway, I digress, except to say that the birthday challenge for the year you turn 15 was such a delight!!!
Thank you so much to those of you who made special suggestions for me. They all looked a lot better than what I personally had in mind.If I was in a better place personally, I'd try something epic like Game of Thrones, but I think Tessa suggested the perfect little read for me to start out with. And maybe if I have time I'll get more adventurous. I've never missed reading for the tag, so don't want to start now.
Don't forget that there is a real lizard called a komodo dragon!I'm not sure if there is a long enough nonfiction book on the komodo dragon to count, but they have them for children.
Joanne wrote: "I can highly recommend A Wizard of Earthsea, for anyone who loves a writer who wrote beautiful prose.Anne McCaffrey's Dragonflight #1 -a mix of Sci-Fi and Fantasy, and ..."
I agree, I really liked Wizard of Earthsea, with its psychological journey. I’m going to read Dragonflight for this tag.
Well, I don’t know if it is on the list, but I just got an email that the latest Percy Jackson is available for me to pick up from the library, so I know what I am doing tonight!
I just got good news from the library about Iron Flame. I’ll be able to get it right away. Do you remember when I wondered why the library got so many audios of Covenant of Water? I mentioned it when I put in my purchase request, and I got this reply: Greetings Nancy,
Thank you for suggesting Iron Flame be added to the Library's collection. We won't order this title until it is released on the 7th. I can see from the marketplace the same type of license is offered as we had for The Covenant of Water (100 checkouts at the same time). I do plan to purchase that model - so you will be able to get it that evening or the next day. As soon as the 100 checkouts are exhausted I purchase another license.
Hope this helps - this one is going to be as big as the last!
Collection Development
Covenant of Water was on Oprah's recommended reading list.
Jgrace wrote: "As an early childhood teacher I was always highly aware of the kids with fall birthdays. As a child myself I hated always being the youngest in the class. ..."My birthday is Dec 1. Even in a small town (with only about 20-25 kids in my class from K-12), I always giggled a bit, as one of the other girls' birthdays was Dec 2! We were both there all the way through from K-12! How she really felt, I'm not sure, but we always joked that I beat her by only a day!
Karin wrote: "Don't forget that there is a real lizard called a komodo dragon!I'm not sure if there is a long enough nonfiction book on the komodo dragon to count, but they have them for children."
Ooooh, I bet there's something interesting, too!
Joy D wrote: "Covenant of Water was on Oprah's recommended reading list."Yes as a matter of fact in my note to her, I think I referred to it only as the Oprah book (because my message was too long otherwise). Fourth Wing is still going strong so I think they anticipate even greater demand for Iron Flame. Fourth Wing really isn’t my kind of book, but it sure was entertaining. I was pretty sure I would read the sequel eventually but the tag is pushing me to read it sooner, especially because it’s the only dragon book I want to read. I hope I remember to look for it on election day.
Joy, you might like the parts of Fourth Wing involving the historians and politics, with slight shades of 1984 and maybe Chechnya. There Is more sexual tension than sex, and I think the actual sex is all in one scene, so it’s easy to skip over.
Karin wrote: "Don't forget that there is a real lizard called a komodo dragon!I'm not sure if there is a long enough nonfiction book on the komodo dragon to count, but they have them for children."
Sea dragons too.....
Apple wrote: "Well, I don’t know if it is on the list, but I just got an email that the latest Percy Jackson is available for me to pick up from the library, so I know what I am doing tonight!"Which one is that?
NancyJ wrote: "Joy, you might like the parts of Fourth Wing involving the historians and politics, with slight shades of 1984 and maybe Chechnya. There Is more sexual tension than sex, and I think the actual sex is all in one scene, so it’s easy to skip over..."Thanks, Nancy, I'll check it out.
Jen wrote: "Karin wrote: "Don't forget that there is a real lizard called a komodo dragon!I'm not sure if there is a long enough nonfiction book on the komodo dragon to count, but they have them for children..."
Yes, thanks--I knew there was some underwater animal called a dragon but didn't take the time too look it up. Komodo dragon is easier--my kids must have read about them when they were young, plus I am quite sure they came up in at least one of my university biology classes.
Jen wrote: "Apple wrote: "Well, I don’t know if it is on the list, but I just got an email that the latest Percy Jackson is available for me to pick up from the library, so I know what I am doing tonight!"Wh..."
The Chalice of the Gods. Didn't get far through, a very painful left eye is making reading difficult at the moment, but nothing has changed with Percy ;)
If anyone is looking for something that is not fantasy, then I would recommend a trilogy by Lisa See that begins with Flower Net. It is a crime / mystery / thriller series set in China. It is a couple of years since I read these books, but the crime gang in this book is called something about a Dragon.I would also recommend the How to Train Your Dragon series as a cute, funny MG series. I really loved the audiobooks which are read by David Tennant and listened to them with my friend's children when I was babysitting them.
I'm planning on reading Daughters of the Dragon for the tag this month. It's historical fiction about the Japanese occupation during WW2 and is available on Kindle Unlimited.
Hannah wrote: "If anyone is looking for something that is not fantasy, then I would recommend a trilogy by Lisa See that begins with Flower Net. It is a crime / mystery / thriller series set in China..."Thanks for that reminder about Lisa See. I have read the first two in the trilogy, now might be the perfect opportunity to read Dragon Bones and finish up that series.
Lyn wrote: "Hannah wrote: "If anyone is looking for something that is not fantasy, then I would recommend a trilogy by Lisa See that begins with Flower Net. It is a crime / mystery / thriller seri..."I had forgotten that series - have Flower Net right here. Thanks Hannah and Lyn for the reminder!
Karin wrote: "Jen wrote: "Karin wrote: "Don't forget that there is a real lizard called a komodo dragon!I'm not sure if there is a long enough nonfiction book on the komodo dragon to count, but they have them ..."
My son raised bearded dragons. They were actually quite sweet and cuddly (they like to be warm) despite the prickly edges.
I saw a mention of The Bird and the Sword. It was one of my favorite audios when I first joined audible. It’s a gentler fantasy as I recall. I loved the use of language in the magic,
I'm very surprised, but pleased! Perfect timing for the release of the sequel to Fourth Wing, Iron Flame on November 7!
Anna - so looking forward to the banner you come up with for November.
Joanne wrote: "I never get to make suggestions-LoL, so here I goHis Majesty's Dragon- a lot of HF set in Napoleon times-lots of fun too
Double the recommendations for His Majesty's Dragon
LibraryCin wrote: "Theresa wrote: I actually just went back and looked -- the only time 'dragons' has been read as a tag was in 2008 - long before I was a member. ..."Yup! It was in the summer of our first year of ..."
I joined just as Dragons was chosen in 2008. I was surprised and had never read much fantasy so I was reluctant about going forward or waiting until the next month and just lurking. However, I read some of the recommendations and chose based on that. I loved the books I read and I'm happy to see Dragons back. Again, using all these wonderful recomendations.
I'm going to throw this one in as it's one I remembered vividly of staying up late (or is it early? to 3 or 4am) to read. I was heavily pregnant with my first so this would be 15 years ago! Eon: Dragoneye Reborn (I don't like this title!! I read the original titled book, The Two Pearls Of Wisdom.) It's the first book of a duology. It is fantasy & YA, setting inspired by ancient China and was just exquisite. Characters were brilliant. Or The Ghost Bride - set in colonial Malaya. There is a Netflix adaptation which I really enjoyed too.
I am going to see if I can get my hands on a copy of The Penguin Book of Dragons which sounds like "non fiction" in that it explores dragons & imageries of dragons across cultures throughout history, I think.
Tien wrote: "I'm going to throw this one in as it's one I remembered vividly of staying up late (or is it early? to 3 or 4am) to read. I was heavily pregnant with my first so this would be 15 years ago! Oh I didn’t know Ghost Bride has dragon tags. That’s great news. I really enjoyed another book by that author, The Night Tiger. I really loved the Malaysia setting.
NancyJ wrote: "Oh I didn’t know Ghost Bride has dragon tags."Oh me either. I just added that one to my TBR a few days ago off a Martha Wells recommendation. Adding that one to my next Subdue board now :)
Thanks, Tien!
Tien wrote: "I'm going to throw this one in as it's one I remembered vividly of staying up late (or is it early? to 3 or 4am) to read. I was heavily pregnant with my first so this would be 15 years ago! [book:E..."Both of those sound wonderful!
Pam wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Oh I didn’t know Ghost Bride has dragon tags."Oh me either. I just added that one to my TBR a few days ago off a Martha Wells recommendation. Adding that one to my next Subdue boar..."
I would have added it to my subdue board too if I saw it a day earlier. I might use a swap to fit it in. I must have seen the same I recommendation from Martha Wells. The plot sounds creepier than I usually like, but I really liked how the author handled a spirit issue in her other book. It was quite moving.
Friends, I have decided that my audio for November (I have been listening to a few shorts) is going to be Tom Lake. Is anyone interested in reading (or listening) to Tom Lake this November?Your brave girl who has no interest in Dragons whatsoever has three dragon books out of the library and is waiting for the fourth. (Fourth Wing). I will indeed step into Priory of the Orange Tree. If I don not care for it, that 848 page chunkster is off my TBR forever. Here is its one chance. Same with Fourth Wing, if it should arrive to the library. I also have Flower Net and Nora Roberts the Awakening.
But lord knows, I still have plenty to read. Following my current book, Jerusalem's Queen, I am next up for the Perfumist of Paris, which my IRL Book Club is doing the third and last installment next Sunday night. I do hear some people consider this one the best of the three. Following that is Once We Were Home, my number 84 for the Subdue train. There are some fun November surprises, and I might even knock off some High Priority Reads if it works. But... Tom Lake is the newest surprise add for me, so I just thought to see if anyone else might be game to join me?
Amy wrote: "Friends, I have decided that my audio for November (I have been listening to a few shorts) is going to be Tom Lake. Is anyone interested in reading (or listening) to Tom Lake this November?Your b..."
I really enjoyed Tom Lake last month. I’ll be happy to add to the discussion. Meryl Streep was just perfect as the narrator. I think you will like it. The mother-daughter relationships in the modern timeline were very interesting (even though I had all boys). It made me want to visit a cherry orchard.
I really liked Fourth Wing too, even though the books are so different. It has a lot more energy and action, so it might be jarring to read them back to back.
Joy D wrote: "Covenant of Water was on Oprah's recommended reading list."DEAR GOD - HATTTTEEEEDDD that book
Nicole D. wrote: "Joy D wrote: "Covenant of Water was on Oprah's recommended reading list."DEAR GOD - HATTTTEEEEDDD that book"
It's one of those "love it or hate it" types. I loved it but I can see why others didn't.
Anita - If I know anything about you, an I think I do - you'd probably need to go 50 pages deep in the dragon tag to find something which is not fantasy but which has a dragon. Hopefully the one you found works for you. I enjoyed Fourth Wing but I listened to it on a road trip and it was a perfect distraction. I just couldn't see you getting through it, or the others. I loved Anne McCaffrey when I read them, but they didn't stand up to re-reads for me.
I am going to pipe up here again pushing Miss Percy's Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons for the non- fantasy readers. It is really HF of a poor relation governess who unexpectedly inherits this odd rock from an eccentric uncle which turns out to be a dragon egg. One that hatches. What ensues is basically Miss Percy being freed, given a life she embraces. Miss Percy and this book reminded me of Miss Pettigrew in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. Miss Percy's interior debates are wonderful!Author used her cat and its behavior as model for Fitz the baby dragon and it works in a very fun way.
At heart this is about a woman being rescued in middle age and given a rich rewarding life.
The book is available on Kindle Unlimited for those who subscribe.
I'm definitely reading The Rage of Dragons and Iron Flame.@Amy, Fourth Wing is a lot more accessible and quick paced than The Priory of the Orange Tree which can be a bit of a slog at times, I liked it in the end but didn't love it. I'm slightly tempted to join if you try the Nora Roberts one.
Oh Jen-you are in for a wonderful read with The Rage of Dragons. The book made Time magazine's 2020 list of the top 100 fantasy of all time. It deserves it's spot on that list. So anticipating the release of Book 3 in March!
Jen K wrote: "I'm definitely reading The Rage of Dragons and Iron Flame.@Amy, Fourth Wing is a lot more accessible and quick paced than "
Jen, I agree with that, I tried them both around the same time last summer. The Priory didn’t click with me but Fourth Wing pulled me right in.
My library ordered 100 copies of the Iron Flame audio, so I will definitely start that one shortly after Election Day. I’ll also be reading Enough for Election Day November flurries.
@Nancy, I recently read "Enough" by Cassidy Hutchinson and really liked it. Now, I'm interested in reading Adam Kinzinger's new book, "Renegade". Attended a virtual book talk with him last night.
Holly R W wrote: "@Nancy, I recently read "Enough" by Cassidy Hutchinson and really liked it. Now, I'm interested in reading Adam Kinzinger's new book, "Renegade". Attended a virtual book talk with him last night."Thanks for the recommendation,
Joanne wrote: "Oh Jen-you are in for a wonderful read with The Rage of Dragons. The book made Time magazine's 2020 list of the top 100 fantasy of all time. It deserves it's spot on that list. So a..."Thanks JoAnne! I'm excited for it. I've owned for a while now and very happy to have good motivation to move it up on my list.
Hi everyone, happy November! I joined this group today. I'm not much of a fantasy reader, but since the tag is #dragons I think this is the perfect reason to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I hope #dragon (singular not plural) counts too hahaThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Welcome James, and your dragon will so just fine for the tag! Happy reading.
Annapi - another wonderful colorful banner! You did not disappoint!
James wrote: "Hi everyone, happy November! I joined this group today. I'm not much of a fantasy reader, but since the tag is #dragons I think this is the perfect reason to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by..."The only trouble is that you might feel compelled, as I did, to keep reading the trilogy. I didn't read any of the sequels written by other people, as I heard they weren't that good.
Welcome, James! We are glad to have you. You probably noticed that we have a lot of female members. (That's true of a lot of book groups on & off GR.) I find myself mentally reviewing to see if some of our threads on personal life were totally centered on women's issues!
James wrote: "Hi everyone, happy November! I joined this group today. I'm not much of a fantasy reader, but since the tag is #dragons I think this is the perfect reason to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by..."Welcome, James! I think that is an excellent pick, even perfect! It is a terric book. I still have the rest of the trilogy to read.
Play Book Tag
Books mentioned in this topic
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents (other topics)The Magician King (other topics)
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents (other topics)
Iron Flame (other topics)
The Poppy War (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Naomi Novik (other topics)Naomi Novik (other topics)
Terry Pratchett (other topics)
E. Nesbit (other topics)
Maria Grace (other topics)
More...
That has tripped me up endlessly! My Feminerdy Book ..."
I like that idea! 1970 was an abysmal publication year. I am not sure if 1971 is better but with an August birthday, more of my 15th year falls in 1971.