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Time to Vote for the December Tag
LOL, one of these choices is not like the others :-). I don't think the randomizer likes December.
Rachel N. wrote: "LOL, one of these choices is not like the others :-). I don't think the randomizer likes December."Haha. Is holidays too ‘on point?’ I didn’t like the “idea” of bullying or war for the holidays, but there are some really good books on all the lists. The holidays list will be handy for December flurries if it doesn’t somehow get the tag vote.
The bullying list has some of my all time favorites, though I don’t remember bullying in all of them. Younger characters, coming of age stories, immigrant stories and some feel good books. I think bullying must be the new quick way for an author to make a young character sympathetic. (Which is better than a dead or missing parent like we see in a lot of classic books.) You Should See Me in a Crown and Front Desk are real charmers. Everything Sad Is Untrue was a favorite this year.
I feel like whoever donated the tag, did us all a serious favor. I didn’t even research this time around. Most of us in December are trying to finish up on our challenges, and still enjoy the fall flurries seasonal time. I don’t think this is much of a vote. I love the fall flurries in general, but particularly in December. I’m not much of a Christmas reader, but I love the joy of the season. I absolutely adore this time of miracles and love and magic and family and benevolence and communities coming together and eternal lights that do not fade and save the day. I love under the stars. I appreciate Winter Romance. The last few years I have been a flurry of Hanukkah romance books. I am excited for the joys of the season. Also, very much so, to finish my port, a ride safely and hop off the damn train! I am at number 89 on my Porter Board. (Shh… I don’t know if Ursula could hear us over here - but I do not tempt fate. All of our beloved books have taught us never to do that..) but I think if I could spend November, finishing my Chunksters, and use December to enjoy the holidays and get off the damn train that I have loved so much this year, it is a win! And we shall be ready for 2024! Voting now.
Bullying seems like something you wouldn't always know was in the book until you read it. And war is just too present these days outside of our reading. Of course books about Vietnam don't have to be about war but it's hard to avoid.
Oddly, holiday is the only one in which I don't have a "want to read" book on the first 5 pages.
KTloves2listen wrote: "Since I am new here, if there is an overwhelming amount of votes early on for a tag, will the admins notify us of the winning tag?"No. Tag is announced only after vote closes. Anita does tell us then if it was a close vote or overwhelming.
Robin P wrote: "Bullying seems like something you wouldn't always know was in the book until you read it. And war is just too present these days outside of our reading. Of course books about Vietnam don't have to ..."Not that I am voting for it -- if anyone here doesn't know which one I'm voting for a hint is that I started Christmas In July challenge - but if Vietnam were to win I'd head for travel essays of which there are many or immigrant stories. The war is there in immigrant stories but they are primarily the story of assimilation. One book I'd absolutely recommend is Hot Sour Salty Sweet: A Culinary Journey Through Southeast Asia - a cookbook but equally a book to read for the journey along the Mekong, the cultural and travel and social revelations.
Holiday tag of course is far broader than the first pages of that list show. You could opt for the 4th of July or Mardi Gras or any number of holidays, even ones celebrated in other countries like Diwali or Holi in India. Of course with Flurries, those falling in December will dominate.
oh gee, guess which one is going to win🤔
Not sure what we will do if we get a month when all the options are dark or weirdly specific. Though in months where I thought I didn't have anything for the tag I am always surprised that something I read for a different purpose turns out to fit.
I am laughing because for the tag everyone wants, I technically have ONE book on my TBR that fits. One. Guess I know what to reserve from the library.And honestly, I'm not even sure I want to read that.
Anita wrote: "I am laughing because for the tag everyone wants, I technically have ONE book on my TBR that fits. One. Guess I know what to reserve from the library.And honestly, I'm not even sure I want to rea..."
Are you absolutely sure there is nothing on your TBR that is set during a holiday of some kind during some portion of the book? Except one book that is.
Booknblues wrote: "Oddly, holiday is the only one in which I don't have a "want to read" book on the first 5 pages."Me too. I don't read a lot of holiday type books, other than one or two for Flurries. I have the most on my TBR for Vietnam, which is not really surprising since history is one of my interests, but not sure I want to revisit the Vietnam War in December....probably not the best timing for it.
ETA - Having said that, there are other, more cultural or travel aspects to Vietnam that might be interesting.
Theresa wrote: "Anita wrote: "I am laughing because for the tag everyone wants, I technically have ONE book on my TBR that fits. One. Guess I know what to reserve from the library.And honestly, I'm not even sure..."
I usually try to find a book that has been tagged 5x as the tag . . .and I don't have anything there. Maybe if I stretch the definition I'd find more, but not sure how to even find it.
I guess I could re-read The Corrections.
Anita if Holiday does win I'm sure someone here could come up with a good suggestion for you like they did this month. I can only get to page 25 of the tag, in typical goodreads fashion, and those are still tagged 19 times so there's a lot to choose from.
Anita wrote: "I am laughing because for the tag everyone wants, I technically have ONE book on my TBR that fits. One. Guess I know what to reserve from the library.And honestly, I'm not even sure I want to rea..."
Booknblues wrote: "Oddly, holiday is the only one in which I don't have a "want to read" book on the first 5 pages."
Me too. I liked the first two books on the holiday list, but I didn’t find anything else on the list I really want to read. I have legend of sleepy hollow on my tbr, but that fits Halloween not December. I’ll keep looking,
There might be other good books that happened to be set during the Holidays farther down the list. If I don’t find any, I’ll have to vote for the tag that has at least 3 books on my Subdue list. There are a lot of feel good books on the bullying tag. Mockingbird is at the top of my list.
If I can read feel good books for the tag, and holiday books for Flurries, it will be a great month.
Sometimes the obvious choice might not be the best for everyone.
Can anyone think of great books that are set during the holidays that aren’t obvious?Does the Book Thief fit?
Anita, there appears to be a growing buddy read for the women in black! This one was a Theresa Tip that other people have enjoyed.
Anita wrote: "I am laughing because for the tag everyone wants, I technically have ONE book on my TBR that fits. One. Guess I know what to reserve from the library...."I haven't checked, but I'm going to guess I don't have many, either. It's always a struggle to find something that fits Christmas, for sure. I might have other holidays, though.
NancyJ wrote: "Can anyone think of great books that are set during the holidays that aren’t obvious?Does the Book Thief fit?"
I can't remember any holidays in that one. It is a WWII novel, and definitely not cheery, as I presume you know. I'm sure I have something. I'll have to think about it.
Amy wrote: "Anita, there appears to be a growing buddy read for the women in black! This one was a Theresa Tip that other people have enjoyed."Oh, I will look that one up.
If people like historical fiction based on a real person, there is Mr. Dickens and His Carol that is tagged holiday, but not too Christmasy.
Amy wrote: "Anita, there appears to be a growing buddy read for the women in black! This one was a Theresa Tip that other people have enjoyed."I just read that, it's fast and charming and takes place during Christmas season in Australia, which is of course summer.
You can search GR titles, so that I found the following, none of which I have read so I'm not recommending them, it's just an idea of a searchThanksgiving - Janet Evanovich
This Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving
The Thanksgiving Visitor
Hallowe'en Party
]The Halloween Tree
Daughters of the New Year - interestingly, it takes place in Vietnam
New Year, Same Trash: Resolutions I Absolutely Did Not Keep
Memorial Day
Fourth of July Creek
Born on the Fourth of July
Independence Day
Labor Day
Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour: Armistice Day, 1918
Plus international and religious holidays
Mothering Sunday
The Yom Kippur Murder
A Fake Girlfriend for Chinese New Year
Bastille Day: A Novel
etc.
NancyJ, I found one that is set at the winter holiday time, but is more literary fiction - lots of mentions of decorations and such, but set in a restaurant:Last Night at the Lobster
Robin P wrote: "Amy wrote: "Anita, there appears to be a growing buddy read for the women in black! This one was a Theresa Tip that other people have enjoyed."I just read that, it's fast and charming and takes p..."
To give credit where credit is due - I got it from Tien!
It is light without being typical light and fluffy holiday reading. Charming is an excellent word. I felt as if I'd uncovered treasure when I read it.
Lots of cozy and not cozy mysteries should fit. Personal faves I reread at holidays: Rest You Merry and The Twelve Deaths Of Christmas.
Some authors have seriesset at holidays. An exceptionally good one, more serious are the ones by Jane Haddam featuring retired FBI Agent Gregor Demarkian, set in and around Philadelphia and often the Armenian community. First is Not a Creature was Stirring.
Cora wrote: "If people like historical fiction based on a real person, there is Mr. Dickens and His Carol that is tagged holiday, but not too Christmasy."I really liked that book. I gave it 5 stars.
Theresa wrote: "Robin P wrote: "Amy wrote: "Anita, there appears to be a growing buddy read for the women in black! This one was a Theresa Tip that other people have enjoyed."I just read that, it's fast and char..."
I can't remember how it got on my want-to-read but I must have gotten it from one of you!
On my TBR is Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade and it is on page 12 ofthe Holidays tag list.I have spotted halloween and diwali bookson the list. Winter ones too and those are all in first 10 pages. It should be a pretty broad tag.
I also want to mention that Grumpy Monkey Oh, No! Christmas is a buddy read in December. All are invited to join Lyn and I.
KTloves2listen wrote: "A Very Scalzi Christmas is on sale for under $5 on Audibles. Looking forward to listening next month."
This looks good! The audio is also available on Hoopla - check with your library to see if they offer Hoopla, a great source for free audio books.
Anita wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Anita wrote: "I am laughing because for the tag everyone wants, I technically have ONE book on my TBR that fits. One. Guess I know what to reserve from the library.And honestly, I..."
While it isn't tagged Holiday, I have a book which I have been hoping to read all year and which might work for you, A Quiet Life
Booknblues wrote: "Anita wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Anita wrote: "I am laughing because for the tag everyone wants, I technically have ONE book on my TBR that fits. One. Guess I know what to reserve from the library.A..."
Thank you for the suggestion! I will check it out.
Another good holiday read that is short but not "fluffy" ...Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
And there's always Truman Capote's - A Christmas Memory ... or if you want something longer there is a collection: A Christmas Memory, One Christmas, & The Thanksgiving Visitor
I was just going to post about the Anne Tyler!
Easy vote for me! Duh, holiday 🎅🏻I know holiday can be anything, but I will read some Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories from my collection and a Christmas romance for sure. (regardless if the tag wins)
KTloves2listen wrote: "I just found out my library has Hoopla 🥳Thanks Sue for the suggestion. My library doesn’t have that Scalzi available. Wonder if each library is different on what they have on Hoopla. 🤷🏻♀️"
Very likely!
If you're interested, there's an extension you can add right in Good Reads to show what books your specific library carries, whether it's a hard copy, ebook, or audiobook through Libby or Hoopla.
If you click on your profile in the upper right, then Account Settings, and then look at Popular Links on the right. You can add your library (or multiple libraries).
Once you have it set up, you can open any book in Good Reads and see if your specific library carries it.
Wow! Thanks Sue, I did not know that, I usually have 2-3 windows open at a time
Where is Popular Settings? I see nothing on the right, or on the settings-are you on your phone or a desk top, that could make a difference
I tried to do this but, after adding the library and Hoopla, where do you see the links?
FYI Unlikely Animals begins with the MC going home for Thanksgiving. I was going to read it this month, but if the holiday tag wins, I’ll save it for December. Is anyone willing to reveal if they are voting for something other than holiday? Or should I just give in and search harder for holiday books that don’t sound like made- for-TV- movies?
I saw that the TOB longlist just came out. Did anyone notice any holiday books on the list. The book descriptions I read sounded rather dark.
I am positive some of us will vote for something else, Nancy.
Joy D wrote: "I tried to do this but, after adding the library and Hoopla, where do you see the links?"When you open a book description, it will be on the far right side of the screen. You should see the words "Library Extension" and then a little box divided into 4 squares. Click on the little box and your library should come up.
This is on the desktop. Not sure how it works on the app.
Joanne wrote: "Where is Popular Settings? I see nothing on the right, or on the settings-are you on your phone or a desk top, that could make a difference"Desktop.
1. Start with clicking on your picture on the upper right to get to your profile.
2. Then Account Settings is the third choice from the bottom.
3. Then Book Links in the horizontal list right below Account Settings.
4. Then Popular Links on the far right.
I think it is two different things. The popular links adds a link under the book image where you see the link to amazon (it is a drop down menu).The Library Extension box is a browser extension that I added to chrome. It not only works with goodreads, but also on other pages that show books (amazon, barnes and noble, etc.). It shows up in a box on the page in the upper right hand corner.
https://www.libraryextension.com/
I may be confused though. That is what I use and it works pretty well.
Cora wrote: "I think it is two different things. The popular links adds a link under the book image where you see the link to amazon (it is a drop down menu).The Library Extension box is a browser extension t..."
Got it! Thank you. This will be very helpful.
Play Book Tag
Books mentioned in this topic
Holidays on Ice (other topics)Holidays on Ice (other topics)
Small Things Like These (other topics)
Holidays on Ice (other topics)
Holidays on Ice (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Jane Haddam (other topics)Janet Evanovich (other topics)
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Here are the lists of books for each tag:
bullying: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
holiday: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Vietnam: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
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