Play Book Tag discussion
2025 Activities and Challenges
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Play Harder General Discussion
Robin P wrote: "I see I have read 99 books this year and yet I am still on my first list. I am missing 3, of which I submitted one for the next swap. I need a book with a family tree and I don't know of a good way..."There are genres and some authors who generally have family trees in them. Also books that center of family relationships in some say probably do. For example. missing heirs and inheritance mysteries tend to have them. Also quite a few of Stephanie Laurens Cynster books, especially the early ones directly involving the primary Cynster family. As the series grew, the family trees is so large, it's not accessible only on her website. I have read several books in last year that have had them - let me see what I can identify.
Have you done a GR search of genres and listopias? I'm pretty sure this has come up as a prompt in one of the Popsugar challenges so there will be a listopia on GR.
Robin P wrote: "I see I have read 99 books this year and yet I am still on my first list. I am missing 3, of which I submitted one for the next swap. I need a book with a family tree and I don't know of a good way..."I haven't read it yet but this has a family tree in it: The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare
also if you like gothic or slightly creepy: Starling House features a family tree
does the family tree have to explicitly appear on a page? beacuse if so I haven't held those book in my hands so I don't know
another one that sort of features a family tree ( without the image in the book) is Weyward
MelanieJoy wrote: "Thank you Pam, Joy and Theresa! These are all super helpful!"After reading your preferences, I can also recommend:
Travel: Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World - and it's short!
Food: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life
MelanieJoy, I can second the recommendation for Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World. I am not a travel reader, but I really enjoyed this book!
Joy I’ll probably pick those two books, thank you!
Melanie, JUST finished watching Next Level Chef. I really love that concept. I enjoy it so much.So non-fiction food culture is on my prompt list as well, so I have three books out of the library. Sweet Bean Paste, Salt, and A year in Provence. Perhaps we do a Buddy Read for this prompt as well.
Family Tree - I was correct and the 2021 Popsugar challenge had that prompt. Those who are members of the Ultimate Popsugar group on GR can access the suggestion thread. Similar to what is on ATY each year.For those not in the group, the books with family tree listopia.
Some suggestions that have family trees or where you can find them:
Pretty much any historical romance series featuring related family members in each book, including:
Stephanie Laurens Cynster Family historical romances - which usually have some suspense or mystery element - especially the older ones.
Julia Quinn - the Bridgertons of course - I read The Duke and I for PS prompt
Black Family Tree mentioned in one or more HP books - best description is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Hilary Mantel's Cromwell series
Historical fiction about royalty
After the Funeral by Agattha Christie
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Any family saga involving multiple generations, any book involving a disputed inheritance or missing heir.
Robin P wrote: "I see I have read 99 books this year and yet I am still on my first list. I am missing 3, of which I submitted one for the next swap. I need a book with a family tree and I don't know of a good way..."Have you considered Unruly: The Ridiculous History of England's Kings and Queens by David Mitchell? It has several family trees in it, and it's a lot of fun, too.
I'm pretty sure Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold by Stephen Fry also include the family trees of the Greek Pantheon.
Theresa wrote: "Family Tree - For those not in the group, the books with family tree listopia.
Some suggestions that have..."
I'd be careful with that listopia. Not all the books listed have an actual family tree diagram in them. The House of Broken Angels, for example does NOT.
This one definitely DOES have a family tree:
On Gold Mountain: The One-Hundred-Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family by Lisa See.
Book Concierge wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Family Tree - For those not in the group, the books with family tree listopia.
Some suggestions that have..."
I'd be careful with that listopia. Not all the books listed have an..."
That's always the case I find with Listopias.
I didn't spot the Lisa See - but I read it and yes, it does. It's excellent read too!
At Jamestown historic site, of course I looked at books in the gift shop. I found Dark Enough to See the Stars in a Jamestown Sky. It’s historical fiction about the women and children in the early settlement (not the first ship, which was all men, but soon after. )The topic appealed to me and - there is a family tree at the back! So I had to get it.The author is local and worked hard to stick to the historical record, since it is based on her own ancestors. We had extra time to look around but I was tired so I sat down and started reading. The prologue mentioned the ancestor at the center of the book, and I recognized the name. On the way to the site, I sat next to a woman from California who had traced her ancestry back and was certified by the Jamestown Society, which means she had an original settler in her family. She was especially interested in his daughter, who was widowed several times and thus became a large landholder. This family is the subject of the book, the author’s 12th and 13th great grandmothers. So I had find my new friend and show her, and of course she bought it right away and hopes to contact the author about their shared ancestry.
It will definitely fit under Strong Women if I get it read this month.
Robin P wrote: "I see I have read 99 books this year and yet I am still on my first list. I am missing 3, of which I submitted one for the next swap. I need a book with a family tree and I don't know of a good way..."Robin - I found this listopia searching for "books with a family tree": https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Looks like it was a Pop Sugar prompt at some point.
Theresa wrote: "Anita wrote: "Update on the swap. I am hoping to start this on May 13th, so please don't forget to make your submissions by clicking on the link below:
https://forms.gle/BLDzkoFma6gkkitC8"
I am..."
Yes, you did!
Amy wrote: "Melanie, JUST finished watching Next Level Chef. I really love that concept. I enjoy it so much.So non-fiction food culture is on my prompt list as well, so I have three books out of the library...."
Oh, I need to try this show. I love Top Chef.
LAST CHANCE:Please submit your prompts for the swap by May 11th. Swap will begin on May 13th.
https://forms.gle/BLDzkoFma6gkkitC8
Anita wrote: "Amy wrote: "Melanie, JUST finished watching Next Level Chef. I really love that concept. I enjoy it so much.So non-fiction food culture is on my prompt list as well, so I have three books out of ..."
I love Next Level Chef. Top Chef will always remain my favorite, but this is quite fun even though I'm not a huge Gordon Ramsey fan.
Booknblues wrote: "Anita wrote: "Amy wrote: "Melanie, JUST finished watching Next Level Chef. I really love that concept. I enjoy it so much.So non-fiction food culture is on my prompt list as well, so I have three..."
I second the 'lots of fun'. Plus it's got Richard Blais and Nyesha Arrington to counter Gordon - I love them.
And it's on tonight!
Amy wrote: "Melanie, JUST finished watching Next Level Chef. I really love that concept. I enjoy it so much.So non-fiction food culture is on my prompt list as well, so I have three books out of the library...."
I've been wanting to read Sweet Bean Paste and would absolutely join a Buddy Read!
HayJay, you've popped back in! How was the rest of the semester?I turned that one and the Book of Salt back in. I have a Year in Provence. But I am a month away from the food option prompt. So lets see where that goes. But Hay friend, maybe a Buddy Read this summer? Maybe you pick something we both want...
Opinions on this one, folks?I have the prompt - A book that includes a disease, epidemic, or pandemic
I'm currently reading a fantasy mystery in which the town where it takes place is cursed and causes some of the fae to be born with or develop disabilities (a too small wing on one fairy, a distorted tail for a mermaid, etc.)--- does it fit the prompt, do you think?
I have others in my TBR stack I can do instead if not, but figured since I was already reading this one...
Let me know what you think!
Jen wrote: "Opinions on this one, folks?I have the prompt - A book that includes a disease, epidemic, or pandemic
I'm currently reading a fantasy mystery in which the town where it takes place is cursed and..."
Personally I don't see that as a good fit for any of the three. Though an argument could be made that a curse is a virus.
Perhaps the person who submitted it can chime in.
Jen wrote: "Opinions on this one, folks?I have the prompt - A book that includes a disease, epidemic, or pandemic..."
I believe I submitted this one, and it fits the spirit of the prompt.
I believe I submitted this one, and it fits the spirit of the prompt."
Awesome, thank you!
Jen wrote: "Opinions on this one, folks?I have the prompt - A book that includes a disease, epidemic, or pandemic
I'm currently reading a fantasy mystery in which the town where it takes place is cursed and..."
Does it matter if the pandemic takes place in the first chapters and the rest of the novel is dealing with the aftermath? Because this is what most post-apocalyptic stories do, starting with The Stand by steven king.
Personally, I think Blindness by jose saramago is the better choice, as it explores in more detail the spread and the impact and the social implications of the event.
Algernon (Darth Anyan) wrote: "Does it matter if the pandemic takes place in the first chapters and the rest of the novel is dealing with the aftermath? Because this is what most post-apocalyptic stories do, starting with The Stand by steven king.Personally, I think Blindness by jose saramago is the better choice, as it explores in more detail the spread and the impact and the social implications of the event."
No, it does not matter if majority deals with the aftermath. Both of your examples would fit the spirit of the prompt.
Is there a thread for the prompt swap? Want to make sure I don’t miss it
MelanieJoy wrote: "Is there a thread for the prompt swap? Want to make sure I don’t miss it"Same here. I wasn’t participating last time, but it seemed to go very fast.
NancyJ wrote: "MelanieJoy wrote: "Is there a thread for the prompt swap? Want to make sure I don’t miss it"Same here. I wasn’t participating last time, but it seemed to go very fast."
I'd forgotten about it, so much is going on. I think Anita runs it in the Rules thread. I'll see I can find where it was last time. I've of course forgotten at this point when she was starting it - today or tomorrow maybe.
OK I just checked and she did set up a separate thread for the swap Called Play Harder First Quarter Prompt Swap. I assume she will open a new thread with similar title. Also her last post said she was hoping to start it on May 13th. Now I'm all excited! It's still 13 May so I will keep my eyes out!
Whoever signed up for the prompt swap - Anita got the second quarter thread going and we just started! I’m on my phone so I can’t post the link but you should be able to find the thread under 2025 activities and challenges.
If anyone is in touch with Lyn, she's up next!
Joy D wrote: "If anyone is in touch with Lyn, she's up next!"I made my choice, waiting to see what I drew!
Yay! I think once everyone realizes the game is in play, we will go much more quickly.
Sorry I was slow responding. I have very busy work days right now and was out at meetings. Now that I know it is open, and my day has slowed, I can monitor it all better. I'm sure others have the same issue.
I'm sure that is true. Lyn, I stole your prompt after Theresa stole mine, so you're up again if you're around.
Is the order listed anywhere? I need to go out for awhile.
@Nancy - randomizer pick per Anita's 1st instruction message. Go out, do what you have to do. We all will have blocks of time we can't monitor.
Nancy, I don't think the full order is listed,
for my prompt: A Book about a Sport, would a sports romance fit?
MelanieJoy wrote: "for my prompt: A Book about a Sport, would a sports romance fit?"That's what I would use - in fact that was what I used when I needed to read a book about baseball. It actually had a lot about baseball in it but it was pure romance.
Great. That means my list is over halfway done!
So...question. Am I allowed to count something for a prompt on my list if I decide to DNF it? I am 2/3 of the way through a book for one of my prompts, and while I can force myself to finish it if only completed books count, I really hate it. LOL.Let me know your opinions on this.
I would have to say no, it would not count. But that call would be Anita's. The book needs to be reviewed, and IMO, you need to finish a book to review it properly. Sorry.
Joanne wrote: "I would have to say no, it would not count. But that call would be Anita's. The book needs to be reviewed, and IMO, you need to finish a book to review it properly. Sorry."Well I did post a review of it, but I see your point. I'll see what Anita thinks on this one before looking for an alternative.
I find myself in various places of like five books…. That is so rare for me and I’m not sure I like it. Usually, I’ve just two going. One audio, and one print. But I find that one is on my phone, and I rarely get to it. Another is a Moore tolls table for two which is a collection of short stories. I feel behind on challenges and like I sort of need to get a little more going on both compass and play harder. So I find myself having gotten through the first short story and the first two months of the year in Provence. I was reminded of this sort of because of Jen‘s comment. This is one that I’m finding it incredibly hard to get through, because I really just don’t like non-fiction unless it captivates me. I find myself dissociating and rather quick reading it. And I’m sure it’s a wonderful book. So many people have loved it. But I see that I’m going to finish it and just yet not necessarily read it with a whole lot of depth. And then the short stories, which I can enjoy in a sitting each untill the long one at the end, plus this nonfiction food are gonna be number eight and nine on my play harder list, which I have not paid a lot of attention to recently. Same with compass. And this fifth book on my list I haven’t even started. It feels hard to when I’m holding into so many places. Sometimes the challenges force us to read things we wouldn’t necessarily pick up it with Moore quickly. DNF.
@Amy - I suggest part of your issue is being pressured to move forward on all and a sense that you are not making progress on any, not finishing. My suggestion is scheduling: let the short stories be read one or two at a time after you finish each of the others then just finish it last at the end. Besides those are usually better read one or two at a time. Pick one book to finish now - for me that is the one I am farthest in. Then move on the the rest one at a time. I often alternate an ebook and a print book because print books need good light and I don't always want to carry them around. At some point though I end up concentrating on one or the other.
Play Book Tag
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I too like Next Level Chef. There are a lot of excellent writings out there - some by chefs and I too really liked Yes, Chef. A short one I read several years ago - I think I even have an autographed copy - was written by the first female Iron Chef Cat Cora - Cooking as Fast as I Can: A Chef's Story of Family, Food, and Forgiveness. It was a really interesting book about her life.
I also highly recommend any of Ruth Reichl's memoirs.