Play Book Tag discussion
2025 Activities and Challenges
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Play Harder General Discussion
You do have good options! If I get that prompt, I would have to go to Sacramento or San Francisco. I doubt there are too many books about the Reno Aces, but you never know.
One of my other groups has a KISS option, which allows people to stretch the definition of prompt they find too difficult. If you could read about a sport rather than one particular team, it’s still a challenge (compared to a wild card option). I would talk to Anita. She could make a case by case decision based on the particular circumstances. I think it’s worthwhile searching for options because you never know what you might find. I might not be interested in a team’s history, but I might want to read a book with a good medical angle. (E.g. Damar Hamlin was brought back to life on the football field).
NancyJ wrote: "One of my other groups has a KISS option, which allows people to stretch the definition of prompt they find too difficult. If you could read about a sport rather than one particular team, it’s stil..."That's kind of a neat idea, especially if there are some where people could interpret things a different way even if it wasn't the original intent of the prompt.
Interesting for me to read all the discussion of the interpretation of:Read a book about the closest sports franchise to where you live. Sport of your choice.
Honestly, I think this only works easily if you live in a locale where there's a lot of popular sports i.e. soccer, football (US), baseball. And there are famous teams.
So if you live in the U.S. or Europe, I think this is feasible. Other places, I'm not sure. We also don't know where everyone lives and that's not a requirement to share. So if you read a book about an existing sports franchise, I think that's really good/close enough.
For a sports fan, this is a pretty clear directive. The book needs to be about a franchise (team) in your vicinity. Ideally. I view this as a non-fiction prompt and not a book simply about a sport.
"But when I re-read the prompt, I realized that maybe I'm supposed to read a book actually about the Sharks team."
YES.
KateNZ wrote: "It’s the franchise aspect of that prompt which would be hard for me. Easy enough to read about sport or about national sports teams (and in a country of 5 million people pretty much everything coul..."A national sports team book is fine in this instance. Not every sports franchise is going to have a book written about it - - that's for sure!
Just get as close as you reasonably can with a book that won't be torturous.
Joy D wrote: "It's definitely going to be harder to find something for the sports prompt, "closest sports franchise to where you live" for people who don't live in big cities. Once you get your answer, Jen, I ..."
Your response seems on the money to me!
Saorse wrote: "Joy D wrote: "Just wanted to mention a book I just read that qualifies as- A book related to science or technology
- Read a book by an author who is also a scientist
[book:The Blue Machine: How t..."
We so need a laugh button. I think we are all guilty of buying more books, or having too many on hold at the library, than we possibly should. I really should stop reading these threads.
I just ordered 11 new books from this thread.....oops.
KateNZ wrote: "It’s the franchise aspect of that prompt which would be hard for me. Easy enough to read about sport or about national sports teams (and in a country of 5 million people pretty much everything coul..."If I were in NZ I'd for sure want a rugby book with lots of pictures.....your rugby team is usually filled with very gorgeous men, most rugby teams look like their faces got mushed in the back end of a bus.
Great discussion and thanks for the steer, Anita. So if I end up with this prompt I might follow your advice Jen! There are some beautiful men in that team for sure especially the Māori and Pacific Island boys. But rugby … (makes vague gagging noises). I have never understood why that game is our national religion, sigh
I need help-- A book with a family tree. I don't even know where to start looking.
Any Tudor or European Royal Court will have a family tree in the front covers
Does We Were the Lucky Ones contain a family tree in the front covers?
Linda wrote: "I need help-- A book with a family tree. I don't even know where to start looking."This was a popsugar prompt a few years ago and they made a listopia list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Linda wrote: "I need help-- A book with a family tree. I don't even know where to start looking."Lots of books of all genres have them in it, especially if they feature multiple generations of a family. The mystery I just read Ten Lords A-Leaping has one it it for the fforde-Beckett family which features prominently and is quite the 'unusual' one. Books where an interitance is involved will have family trees.
Cora wrote: "Linda wrote: "I need help-- A book with a family tree. I don't even know where to start looking."This was a popsugar prompt a few years agoand they made a listopia list: https://www.goodreads.co..."
Lots of good stuff on that list. I happened upon and read The Heirs by Susan Rieger for that particular prompt - set in modern day NYC and I gave it 4 stars I think. Also on that list is A Rather Lovely Inheritance by C.A. Belmond which I highly highly recommend - delightful charming, wonderful likeable characters. Whole series is wonderful and this is the first.
Theresa wrote: "Cora wrote: "Linda wrote: "I need help-- A book with a family tree. I don't even know where to start looking."This was a popsugar prompt a few years agoand they made a listopia list: https://www...."
Thank you for the link to the list and for your recommendation.
I finished my dreaded sports prompt - and ended up really enjoying my book.
I just finished my 2nd Prompt - a book with a bird on the cover. It wasn't the one I thought I'd read. I discovered that the mystery I just read for The Compass - set in Singapore - had a black bird on top of the tree pictured on the cover:
. And birds are mentioned here and there in the book, too. I do love when a book serves more than one challenge.
I need to take a closer look at my prompt list and start weaving into my reading some of the other prompts. I keep reminding myself that we are still in January ... there's no pressure.
Well except for my IRL Feminerdy Book Club read every month. I've just started the one for February (we meet the 2nd Sunday each month), and I expect it will be a compelling exciting action packed read.
I just did my Bird on the Cover Book!!!! But I didn't love it.I am now on Prompt Six, a book published in 2025. I just started the Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis. published like Jan 7th or something.
Sue wrote: "I finished my dreaded sports prompt - and ended up really enjoying my book."Oh YAY! I need to swing by your thread to see what you read.
Play Harder Swap Sign UpMy tentative plan is to start the swap the week of February 24th. This is your chance of offload one prompt for a different prompt via a "white elephant" style swap.
Please, please DO NOT POST THE PROMPT here, or anywhere on PBT.
Here's where you can sign up and give me the ONE prompt you don't want to read:
https://forms.gle/rp5kLJRcVKQvVEQz8
How it will generally work is each person will be assigned a number. Higher numbers are better.
The first person will select a number depending on how many participants we have i.e 1-20. I will have a spreadsheet of the prompts with each one being assigned a number. I will announce the prompt that was opened.
The second person can then "steal" the opened prompt away from the first person, OR open a new prompt. If the second person steals the opened prompt from the first person, the first person will then get to open another prompt.
The third person can still a prompt from either of the first two people, OR open a new prompt. It continues until the final prompt is selected.
You will only be able to hang onto a prompt two times. The third time it is stolen away, you will no longer be able to choose that one.
This process requires pretty regular access so if you are away or busy when we start, you can assign someone to proxy for you.
If you don’t get the one you wanted, do you get your own back, or might you get something you didn’t bid on? I’m good with my current prompts, but maybe there will be one that scares me on my next list.
@Anita - this sounds great! I have one I'm putting in - nearly impossible for me to do it. The rules sound just like the book swap we did a couple years ago --- which would answer Nancy's question - if you swap, whatever you pick or end up with because someone stole from you is the one you end up with. The last person to pick obviously is in the best position to get exactly what they want.
Couple of questions for you Anita (and there is a typo in your instructions - you don't mean 'still' but 'steal'):
Does the randomizer assign our individual place numbers?
How long before you lose your turn - i.e 24 hours? Some work days are brutal....and there will be no opportunity to monitor. Plus there are various time zones and even hemispheres at play here.
Swap ends when last person picks the last unclaimed prompt, right?
P.S. I just submitted the one I want to swap. Really hope a few folks have prompts they would like to unload....
Anita, is there a deadline for the swap signup?
OK friends, I could use some advice..... One of my prompts is to read a book that is prehistoric. I had absolutely nothing for this one.... Except that I thought I would go with the Land of Painted Caves. In my youth (way way back) I had read the first five of the Jean M Auel series, and loved them. When the 6th came out like 20 years later, I felt like maybe I would have to re-read the five to appreciate the 6th, and I kind of wasn't into that. But for this challenge, maybe I would just do it.... So here I am at the library, and it came in. Only its 700 pages, and to be honest, I am just not into that. Like really not wanting to pick this thing up. So I suppose I have two choices.... One of you could recommend something palatable to me, or.... I could submit this for the swap challenge. But I might get something worse. Could anything be worse? Am I not supposed to say what I am considering submitting? Maybe I should just ask... Does anyone have a pre-historic suggestion?
I also had a thought about swapping out the book I was going to use for a book that challenges you. I was going to use Notorious RBG because I envisioned it as a thick dry chunky non-fiction monster. But its not that. Its under 200 pages, and its engaging and has photos and stories, and it really doesn't challenge me at all. It interests and inspires me. And i am also reading Dinners With Ruth by Nina Tottenberg. I suppose Ruth is my remarkable person of the year.... What does make sense to me for that prompt is that I just finished All the Colors of the Dark, and reading that book really was a challenge. All you need is to take one look at my review and you can see why. It is really hard to hold that level of darkness, and as I wrote, the beauty and redemption in it, may not have been worth the price of having had to endure it. Its still hanging over me, and it was 600 pages of darkness. I think that is going to suffice as my challenge book..... That said, I am whipping through the prompts. I am reading number 6 now, a book published in 2025 (The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis; January 7th). I have been less good with Compass, and I am awaiting my 3rd direction tomorrow. Anyway, I am open to pre-historic ideas.... Maybe a time travel book will suffice? I don't know - I offer myself up to our "hive mind." Thoughts?
I don't recommend the last Cave Bear book.I loved the first book of The Clan of the Cave Bear back when it came out - it was so original. The next books became a bit predictable when she invents everything and discovers good sex. The next to last one dragged on because the author wanted to put all her research in, and the characters literally had a long journey because the man refused to ask directions! By the time I got to the last one and started reading it, I couldn't believe how terrible it was. The bad person was 100% bad, it was obvious what would happen, and everything was overwritten. I don't know if she slacked off on her writing, had assistants helping, or my tastes had changed over the years, but I couldn't even get through it.
That confirms for me further that I am not leaving this library with this doorstop in hand....
Here's the GR list for Prehistoric - a lot of them are sagas, i.e. long.https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Amy - I'll put my thinking cap on - but I'm pretty sure that what I vaguely remember are Sci/Fi and fantasy books -- I think HG Wells wrote a couple of classics that fit. But to encourage you in the swap - the prompt I'm putting in is perfect for you. I'm one of the rare people for whom it is a problem.
Amy, I have a great book for you that fits "prehistoric." It's set in the present time, but it's about a woolly mammoth and the scientists who find it. It's written beautifully and is playful in tone (some parts are madcap comedy). The book is The Last Animal by Ramona Ausubel. It also fits the science tag for February. Here is my review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm not playing this challenge and wouldn't normally comment, but the book might fit for you.
I used to read quite a bit of prehistoric fiction, only one of those made it to my prehistoric tag here. Song of the River set in prehistoric Alaska which I really liked at the time. Also there is She Who Remembers which I also remember liking, but this was a long time ago and I'm not sure how they would translate to present day.
@Amy - I just checked the actual wording of that prehistoric prompt of yours and it is far more flexible than it sounded. It says: Read a book featuring something (or someone) prehistoric. That could simply be a book with someone working a dig or in a museum that features dinosaurs or artifacts from prehistory or visits locations. A wonderful mystery I read recently set in Africa would fit perfectly - Fossil: An African Wildlife Mystery by Karin McQuillan.
Theresa wrote: "@Amy - I just checked the actual wording of that prehistoric prompt of yours and it is far more flexible than it sounded. It says: Read a book featuring something (or someone) prehistoric. That c..."
Im also thiking of some of the Bruno books which feature the caves and the archeologists who work there.
Joanne just posted in the Compass thread about Just One Damned Thing After Another, first in the St. Mary's time travel series. Part of it takes place when the historians travel to the Cretaceous period. It's a fun and fast read.
Interesting.... First, I found a few things on Robin's list (thank you)... but I just might also look into Holly's book... I am now unlikely to submit this for the swap, and if I did, I wouldn't tell...Thank you for all the suggestions! I think i might just pull this one off. Off to look more closely at Holly's book.
Robin P wrote: "Joanne just posted in the Compass thread about Just One Damned Thing After Another, first in the St. Mary's time travel series. Part of it takes place when the historians travel to ..."Thanks Robin-I will move it over here. Long day at the book sale was not paying much attention-
Book one in the Chronicles of St. Mary's Just One Damned Thing After Another (can't get it to link right now) features time travel, and in part of it includes the Cretaceous Period. A fun read
Joanne, that one sounds curious as well! I think I just might take a look at that one too! These are all fabulous suggestions guys thank you so much
Amy ...Isaac Asimov wrote a book featuring a Neanderthal boy who is transported to present day ... The Ugly Little Boy
My review HERE
AMy ... for your "book that challenges you" .... I HIGHLY recommend Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse.The book is written in verse, is VERY accessible (even for those who claim to hate poetry), and is a quick read. It's a middle-school book, so the poetry is pretty straightforward story-telling. No hidden meanings or symbolism.
I'd even buddy read it with you. (I've read it three times or more already, but ...)
This is absolutely hilarious. Of course, Verse!!! You have me guffawing with laughter! It’s really great when your friends know you so well. If verse ever becomes the monthly tag, I’m gonna know who suggested it. You are spot on that that would be the most challenging thing. That I most surely would toss back to Anita, and everyone would know it was me. But first, I might even allow you to make the one suggestion of the one verse book you think that would get me changing my mind.
NancyJ wrote: "If you don’t get the one you wanted, do you get your own back, or might you get something you didn’t bid on? I’m good with my current prompts, but maybe there will be one that scares me on my nex..."
No, you could definitely get stuck with a potentially worse one than the prompt you gave up . . .so that's something to bear in mind! There's most definitely a risk.
However, at the end of the swap, if anyone want to TRADE the prompt they have "won" with another player, I'll allow a mutually agreed upon trade.
Theresa wrote: "@Anita - this sounds great! I have one I'm putting in - nearly impossible for me to do it. The rules sound just like the book swap we did a couple years ago --- which would answer Nancy's questio..."
@ Theresa, It's exactly like the book swap!
I don't know if I am losing my mind, but I can't seem to find the typo you mentioned. Can you please tell me which paragraph? I don't know why I can't find it :(
Yes, people's assignment will be done with the randomizer and the prompt number will also be assigned by the randomizer.
I think 24 hours to take your turn, but you can give me instructions in advance if you know what you want to do next.
Yes, when the final prompt is opened, the swap will end.
Pam wrote: "Anita, is there a deadline for the swap signup?"Great question.
I think February 20th would work just to give me a couple of days for set up.
Question: How often do you plan to do these types of swaps, Anita? I have no prompts that I want to trade in for my current list, but I might for future lists.
I’m wondering the same thing. I’m good with this list too. It might make sense to finish my first list sooner, so I can see my second list before the swap.
Play Book Tag
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Jen, I think the term "franchise"..."
Thanks Joy! I think seeing all the discussions here on it have definitely helped me brain this better! Clarification is still appreciated, of course, if the prompt submitter doesn't mind, but I think from everyone's weigh in, I understand it better.
I'm fortunate that I'm pretty much a stone's throw away from SJ Sharks, SJ Earthquakes soccer, and Levi Stadium (49ers) so I have some options! Might look into a biography of Bill Walsh, always liked that guy...