Play Harder General Discussion

[NancyJ]

I was planning to pick one from my new list for the swap, but I couldn’t decide which one to give up. I thought I had one, but then I remembered I wanted to read a book by Patricia Highsmith.

[Jason]

Looking for suggestions for these prompts.

2. A book with a plot including a circus or carnival
9. A book about leaving a loved home
11. Read a book related to heat.

[Joy D]

For circus, I recommend:
- The Night Circus
- Water for Elephants
- Something Wicked This Way Comes (also fits the thriller tag for March)

[Joy D]

For heat:
- Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival
- Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World
- Fire and Brimstone: The North Butte Mining Disaster of 1917
- The Dry - may also fit thriller tag
- The Devil's Highway: A True Story
- Only Killers and Thieves

[Joy D]

On leaving home, I'll have to think on it a bit, but one that jumps immediately to mind is:
- The Hobbit, or There and Back Again

Another I just thought of is a book in a series that can easily stand alone:
- Daughter of Fortune

[Theresa]

Agree 100% with Joy's list for Circus.

I have in my TBR:
Caraval
Geek Love
Circus of Wonders

[Theresa]

For Heat I recommend the Jazz Jasper series set in Africa by Karin McQuillan - first is Deadly Safari

Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell: Adventurer, Adviser to Kings, Ally of Lawrence of Arabia

Bluebird, Bluebird

[KateNZ]

West with Giraffes also has a major plot point with a circus.

[Lyn]

A couple more heat suggestions that you might find interesting Jason:

The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America and Young Men and Fire

[Joanne]

I can 2nd (for heat) Skeletons on the Zahara:

[Anita]

The prompt swap is going to start tomorrow. Here are the details:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[LibraryCin]

Joy D wrote: "For circus, I recommend:
- The Night Circus
- Water for Elephants
- Something Wicked This Way Comes (also fits the thriller tag for March)"

I have this prompt, as well, and have already read all of these!

Another one I've already read and can recommend:
The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy by Stewart O'Nan.

[LibraryCin]

Theresa wrote: "Agree 100% with Joy's list for Circus.

I have in my TBR:
Caraval
Geek Love
Circus of Wonders"

Thank you for these additional suggestions!

[Joy D]

A few others for Circus:
The Circus Train
The Life She Was Given
The Museum of Extraordinary Things
Nights at the Circus
The Orphan's Tale

I have not read this one but I'm sure it will have some circus-related content:
Inseparable: The Original Siamese Twins and Their Rendezvous with American History

[Theresa]

There are no doubt cozy mysteries featuring a carnival. I am quite sure I have read more than one but of course can't remember title or author. I also am sure there are plenty of horror - not that I would read those. Stephen King likely has some.

One of the problems is I keep remembering movies featuring a carnival but the book I know does not. Example: Strangers on a Train.

[NancyJ]

Jason wrote: "Looking for suggestions for these prompts.

2. A book with a plot including a circus or carnival
9. A book about leaving a loved home
11. Read a book related to heat."

For #11 heat - you could read a book involving a fire, global warming, a thriller with “heat” in the title, a book about firefighters, or a book with a hot looking sun or fire on the cover.

The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert. I highly recommend this popular science book for anyone. It contains interesting stories about global warming and related topics. Try one or two stories to see if it hooks you.

I also liked
The Lost Man by Jane Harper
Greenwood by Michael Christie
The Year of the Flood
Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid: The Fraught and Fascinating Biology of Climate Change - I found this surprisingly entertaining, and good on audio. Science tag.

For a similar prompt in another group, I’m considering
Miracle Creek - a thriller with a fire in the plot
The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet - which I’ve been told is more optimistic than it sounds.

[Robin P]

The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb would work for circus/carnival

[Joy D]

For heat, a relatively new book that includes fire in both title and content is: Fire Exit.

It also works for indigenous author - Morgan Talty is a member of the Penobscot Indian Nation.

[Ellen]

If you like Stephen King, Joyland is set in a carnival. I don't recall it being particularly horror-centric.

[Sue]

Ellen wrote: "If you like Stephen King, Joyland is set in a carnival. I don't recall it being particularly horror-centric."

Joyland is very closely based on Something Wicked This Way Comes from Ray Bradbury - also set in a carnival.

King has noted that Bradbury's work is one of the significant influences in his writing, and I thought Joyland was a wonderful homage to Bradbury.

[LibraryCin]

I loved "Joyland"!

[Amy]

How about the Dutch house for the home prompt?

[Jason]

NancyJ wrote: "Jason wrote: "Looking for suggestions for these prompts.

2. A book with a plot including a circus or carnival
9. A book about leaving a loved home
11. Read a book related to heat."

For #11 heat ..."

I loved The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History. I reference it frequently in conversation.

[Jason]

Thank everyone for the recommendations.

[Olivermagnus]

Does anyone have a suggestion for this prompt? I'm not picky since I'll read just about anything. Thanks.

Read a book written before 1990 that takes place in the 21st century.

[Book Concierge]

Olivermagnus wrote: "Does anyone have a suggestion for this prompt? I'm not picky since I'll read just about anything. Thanks.

Read a book written before 1990 that takes place in the 21st century."

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury immediately comes to mind.

[Olivermagnus]

Book Concierge wrote: " The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury immediately comes to mind..."

Thanks, Tessa. I was drawing a complete blank on that one.

[Pam]

Olivermagnus wrote: "Does anyone have a suggestion for this prompt? I'm not picky since I'll read just about anything. Thanks.

Read a book written before 1990 that takes place in the 21st century."

I haven’t read it yet, but this one sounds interesting: The Sea and Summer

[Jen K]

Olivermagnus wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: " The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury immediately comes to mind..."

Thanks, Tessa. I was drawing a complete blank on that one."

It is also so good!

[Olivermagnus]

Pam wrote: "I haven’t read it yet, but this one sounds interesting: The Sea and Summer..."

Thanks, Pam. I'm going to take a look at that one too.

[SouthWestZippy]

This is one of my prompts
8. A book featuring a detective story from any Golden Age of Detective Fiction

I am not sure about this book. Just want to make sure it's a fits.

Murder on the Orient Express

[Amy]

Finally reviewed my Oliver "Dog on the Cover" Book. That was incredibly moving! And well needed.

[Robin P]

SouthWestZippy wrote: "This is one of my prompts
8. A book featuring a detective story from any Golden Age of Detective Fiction

I am not sure about this book. Just want to make sure it's a fits.

[book:Murder on the O..."

Yes, 20's and 30's are definitely the Golden Age. I was just at a mystery book group yesterday that talked about that!

[SouthWestZippy]

Robin P wrote: "SouthWestZippy wrote: "This is one of my prompts
8. A book featuring a detective story from any Golden Age of Detective Fiction

I am not sure about this book. Just want to make sure it's a fits. ..."

Thank you very much for the information! I am looking forward to reading this book.

[Joanne]

Has anyone read Three Men in a Boat? Do you think I would like it? It was a big part of To Say Nothing of the Dog, and so it has been on my mind to read it. I may be stuck in England with my new direction so I was thinking about getting it.

[Theresa]

SouthWestZippy wrote: "This is one of my prompts
8. A book featuring a detective story from any Golden Age of Detective Fiction

I am not sure about this book. Just want to make sure it's a fits.

[book:Murder on the O..."

Absolutely - one of the classics of the genre!

[Theresa]

Joanne wrote: "Has anyone read Three Men in a Boat? Do you think I would like it? It was a big part of To Say Nothing of the Dog, and so it has been on my mind to read it. I may be stuck ..."

I have it as a possible book to read for the Popsugar challenge - it's mentioned in and inspired so many books - even a Miss Marple I read recently! But I can't get to it for a couple weeks at least.

@Karin has read it - reread it recently I think.

[Book Concierge]

Joanne wrote: "Has anyone read Three Men in a Boat? Do you think I would like it? It was a big part of To Say Nothing of the Dog, and so it has been on my mind to read it. I may be stuck ..."

My somewhat terse review is HERE 3 stars. Okay but not special.

[NancyJ]

Joanne wrote: "Has anyone read Three Men in a Boat? Do you think I would like it? It was a big part of To Say Nothing of the Dog, and so it has been on my mind to read it. I may be stuck ..."

I thought parts of it were pretty good, but I got tired of it before the end. I might have enjoyed it more at a different time.

I didn’t read it as a travelogue. If you know the river, you might appreciate sections that I didn’t.

[NancyJ]

Bookbub alert. Several books were on sale Thursday on bookbub.com for 1.99-2.99 that are PBT favorites or Circus related for Play Harder.

The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore. ⭐️🌟🌟🌟🌟
The Night Circus
Dreamland
The Housekeeper and the Professor

[Shelly]

I need help finding a book that has a cover with gold or silver lettering in the title.

I started Death Comes to Pemberley but I am not crazy about it.

This is tough because I often cannot tell if the title has gold or silver lettering if I am not holding the book. Plus different editions have different covers.

[Joy D]

Here are two that I know of:

[NancyJ]

Shelly wrote: "I need help finding a book that has a cover with gold or silver lettering in the title.

I started Death Comes to Pemberley but I am not crazy about it.
This is tough because I of..."

I always find it hard to tell online too. I have hard copies in front of me, and I asked my husband for a second opinion. These two books def have gold letters.

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling


Other possibilities
- see message #390 above.
- in person the letters gleam silvery gold.
Track of the Cat - my audio has a gold title


Wild Dark Shore might be orange, but it looks gold to me.

[Theresa]

Coincidentally a book I am reading has both gold and silver lettetrs: - the Emily Wilson translationof The Odyssey. It is like reading an adventure story and is very easy reading. Clare Danaes I think reads the audio.

Also has gold letters. I have the hardcover sitting her to read.

[Theresa]

A few more i have on hand - all shiny letters:
- gold

- silver

- gold

-gold

[Robin P]

I agree on Three Men and a Boat being just ok. The first part is quite funny but the later part is basically a travelogue. Still it's fun if you enjoyed To Say Nothing of the Dog.

[MelanieJoy]

Holly R W wrote: "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 to..."

this helps me too because this is a book on my TBR and I think I have this prompt in my play harder list! I'll have to go check

[Amy]

Melanie Joy, both Holly and Joanne gave me book suggestions and they are both sitting in my stair banister as my "next" read. Holly suggested the Wolf Boy but Joanne suggested Just One Damn Thing After Another. Truth is, Joanne's book sounds more fun, but Holly's book is shorter..... And I am plenty behind.... So I promise to keep you posted.

[Joanne]

Choose fun! If you wait until April and Fun wins you have a two-bagger.

[Shelly]

Thx for the gold and silver lettering suggestions! Now I have many to consider.