Play Book Tag discussion
2025 Activities and Challenges
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Conversations at The Compass
NancyJ wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "There has been much talk about eggs recently and as April seems to be the perfect time to bring them to the forefront we will offer a chance to..."The challenge is very specific to an animal that lays eggs, not specifically the word or image 'egg'. An egg is not an animal - yet.
There are certainly plenty of titles, author names, and even more images that work. I happen to have on my TBR to read for a challenge or three this year The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest which has both 'hornet' in title and images of hornets. I did check - hornets absolutely lay eggs. While I wasn't able to read a strong women tagged book for The Compass in March, I'm hopeful that I'll get a spin April that sends me towards the hornets.
If it doesn't, it's fine. I have not had any trouble finding crime fiction in whatever direction I need which means I still have my 3 detour tickets.
NancyJ wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "There has been much talk about eggs recently and as April seems to be the perfect time to bring them to the forefront we will offer a chance to..."Oddly when starting the challenge I was thinking of eggs on the cover, title or author's name, but I thought about the variety of animals that laid eggs and that an author's name is more likely to be one of those animals and I also thought that there were so many egg laying animals on covers, that I switched it to those.
Sorry.
I'm not playing the compass game, so this is just a question out of curiosity .... Would an author named ANThony work? (Ant is within the author name, but doesn't stand alone. And ants, do lay eggs.)
Book Concierge wrote: "I'm not playing the compass game, so this is just a question out of curiosity .... Would an author named ANThony work? (Ant is within the author name, but doesn't stand alone. And ants, do lay eggs.)"I think that there are enough choices without finding them within the title or the authors name.
That is an interesting concept though for a challenge
@Joy, I just saw this and thought of youThe Catch Me if You Can: One Woman's Journey to Every Country in the World
I just noticed that the animal that lays eggs could be in the author’s name. I’ve been focusing on covers and obvious titles. I wonder what books I overlooked because I don’t know enough animal names. I can’t wait to hear what the bonus topic will be for May! I have a few ideas, but Fran always comes up with better ones.
I haven't been able to read books with animals that lay eggs on their covers this month, but thought about our Compass Challenge yesterday on my nature walk. I saw snakes, tadpoles and a frog! ;0)
Holly R W wrote: "I haven't been able to read books with animals that lay eggs on their covers this month, but thought about our Compass Challenge yesterday on my nature walk. I saw snakes, tadpoles and a frog! ;0)"Holly, even if you haven't read anything, I'm glad that I prompted the thinking about animals which lay eggs. They really do enrich our lives. I hope May's will evoke similar feelings.
May's Prompt for a Free TicketI took a look at May and found so much happening! May Day, Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, Memorial Day!
Even May in history has much to offer: U2 shot down, Machiavelli's birthday, Columbus "discovered" Jamaica, Karl Marx's birthday and that is just up to May 5.
As far as Month's go it is AAPI Heritage, Jewish Heritage,Mental Health Awareness.
And Days- World Turtle Day, Geek Pride Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Parrot Day.
As you can see it is wide open, so I am leaving it wide open. From what you can find out about May choose one book by cover, title, tag or author which represents something in May, but just be sure that you let me know what it is.
Maybe we will all learn something about May.
How fun! The book I've just started for my last compass spin is a WW2 book but I don't think it has any Jewish connections other than it being during this war so I'm thinking that's probably not quite enough of a fit, but let me know if I'm wrong.And I may find out that there is a connection as the story develops after all so we'll see...
Very fun, BnB! I will have to see what comes up for me. I also want to chime in that the animals which lay eggs had ne really noticing book covers and titles in a different way, and looking some up.
Does may the 4th be with you count? Or does it need to be something…deeper?
Jason wrote: "Does may the 4th be with you count? Or does it need to be something…deeper?"May 4: Star Wars Day/May the Fourth. May the Fourth has its origin in UK. On May 4th, 1979, a day after Margaret Thatcher won the election for Prime Minister of UK, her party (the Tories) placed an ad in the Evening News saying "May the Fourth be With You, Maggie. Congratulations".
There's a May Scavenger Challenge over on the Crazy Challenge Connection. Here's a few of the most interesting ones.May 1: National Mother Goose Day.
May 2: International Harry Potter Day. This was Battle of Hogwarts day when Voldemort was finally defeated. In 2012, the then UK Prime Minister David Cameron officially dubbed the day International Harry Potter day.
May 9: National Lost Sock Memorial Day.
May 11: National Twilight Zone Day.
May 12: National Limerick Day.
May 14: National Dance Like a Chicken Day.
May 21: Talk Like Yoda Day.
May 25: Towel Day. This one is a tribute to Douglas Adams, who in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy extols the humble towel's extraordinary virtues. On this day, fans openly carry a towel with them, because as they know, a person who struggles against terrible odds and still knows where their towel is, is a person to be reckoned with.
I love Towel Day! And as far as Lost socks, send those spares to Miss Lola. She now must wear a sock daily. Does she hate it, yes she does and chews them up, so we need all the lost socks we can get!
My post with ideas disappeared yesterday before I could finish it. GrrrI love all the options. It’s going to be hard to pick just one for the month!
For mother goose day I suggest
. For geek pride day Geekerella
I’m pretty sure I saw books with turtles and parrots when I was looking for this month’s bonus.
There are books on the Strong Women tag list with mother in the title, otherwise there might be some mother related tags. I found at least one book with both strong women and mental health tags.
We’re planning a buddy read for The Women. It’s set during a war, so it might have tags related to Memorial Day, or mental health. Would a war tag count?
For Cinco de mayo, I have a few books set in Mexico, and there might be a book with a cover showing the celebration.
Jen wrote: "How fun! The book I've just started for my last compass spin is a WW2 book but I don't think it has any Jewish connections other than it being during this war so I'm thinking that's probably not qu..."Jen, check the tags, there might be something relevant to Jewish or AAPI heritage, mental health . I think of any war book as relevant to Memorial Day, but I’m not sure what tags would count.
I see someone is looking for parrot recommendations. Sorry, I didn't look at the other replies, but I'd like to suggest Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process by Irene Pepperberg
Here are some links for May:https://www.historyplace.com/specials...
https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-kn...
https://www.internationaldays.org/
https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/m...
https://nationaltoday.com/animal-holi...
https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/p...
I am in Tokyo Japan, and I need to go North. Any suggestions for books in northern Japan, or elsewhere? I already read Disappearing Earth in Kamchatsky Russia.Otherwise I will use a free ticket to go to Maine - The Frozen River
Or Southwest to Vietnam - The Women
If you fly over the Arctic Ocean in a northern direction you might arrive at the Svalbard Archipelago, location of the Bear Island thriller by Alistair MacLean. The author was one of my favorites in childhood, but he might feel a little dated today.
NancyJ wrote: "I am in Tokyo Japan, and I need to go North. Any suggestions for books in northern Japan, or elsewhere? Otherwise I will use a free ticket to go to Maine - The Frozen River
Or So..."
I was thinking you might be in a difficult position.
Books I've read which may work are The Tiger by John Vaillant or The Ice Master.
Algernon (Darth Anyan) wrote: "If you fly over the Arctic Ocean in a northern direction you might arrive at the Svalbard Archipelago, location of the Bear Island thriller by Alistair MacLean. The author was one of..."There is also potentially his Ice Station Zebra set in a research station on the arctic ice at North Pole.
I too loved and read all of Alistair MacLean in my teens. I had forgotten about Bear Island. I will need to keep that in mind should the need arise.
Booknblues wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "I am in Tokyo Japan, and I need to go North. Any suggestions for books in northern Japan, or elsewhere?"Thanks for the ideas everyone. I’ll take a look at those.
Fran,
Would anything within the arctic circle work, even if it was part of Nunavut Canada or north of Norway? Even Siberia is coming up as Northwest. On a flat map all these locations appear to be far east or west, but on a globe they’d look closer.
Interestingly, the (magnetic) North Pole has been moving around. It was in Canada now it’s closer to Siberia. But that’s another issue. I’ve spent a lot of time this year near both poles, and at least two of my books were set in the arctic circle.
There is a lot of area in Japan north of the Jimbucho neighborhood of Tokyo, so I might still find something in Japan. Part of A Tale for the Time Being is set north, and I always planned to reread it some day.
NancyJ wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "I am in Tokyo Japan, and I need to go North. Any suggestions for books in northern Japan, or elsewhere?"Thanks for the ideas everyone. I’ll take a look at those...."
I checked on the map, and the town of Yuzawa in the Niigata prefecture is directly north from Tokyo. It is the setting of one the three novels that were mentioned in the Nobel Prize nomination for Yasunari Kawabata. Snow Country also happens to be one of my personal favorites
Nancy, I just had the same!!! Tokyo Japan and needed to go North!!! and I had a 5 star read.!I went North to Alaska (I used Anchorage, but anywhere will do.)
I read the Hundred Loves of Julliet and I absolutely adored it.
Algernon (Darth Anyan) wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "I am in Tokyo Japan, and I need to go North. Any suggestions for books in northern Japan, or elsewhere?"Thanks for the ideas everyone. I’ll take a..."
Thanks Algernon, I wouldn’t have found this one! I found some lists, but didn’t spot many in the right locations.
Amy wrote: "Nancy, I just had the same!!! Tokyo Japan and needed to go North!!! and I had a 5 star read.!I went North to Alaska (I used Anchorage, but anywhere will do.)
I read the Hundred Loves of Julliet ..."
Thanks Amy, I replied to your dm
FYI May 5 is international Day of the Midwife. Lyn and I are planning to read The Frozen River which features a midwife. We also have a buddy read this month for The Women, which is a good fit for Memorial Day. I plan to start it by the 15th.
NancyJ wrote: "FYI May 5 is international Day of the Midwife. Lyn and I are planning to read The Frozen River which features a midwife. We also have a buddy read this month for The Women .
I read a good story about a nurse in rural England in the 1960s earlier this year. I consider Graham Joyce a seriously underrated author who left us too soon.
my review here
I am getting over a cold and have so many meds in me that I can’t think straight.
I am struggling with the distance calculator and how to use it. Should be easy but…meds! I have read the directions for the game and my head is still fuzzy.
Going from Utah west.
I am struggling with the distance calculator and how to use it. Should be easy but…meds! I have read the directions for the game and my head is still fuzzy.
Going from Utah west.
I guess it depends on how far west you want to go and where you are in Utah. In the US, of course, we have Nevada and California, then the Pacific Ocean where there may be islands depending on your latitude, but there aren't many until you get to Japan, then South Korea, then China. You can go up to half-way around the world to the west, so there are lots of options.If you give me your latitude, I can do some searching for you.
Looks like I will finally finish my latest The Compass read tonight or tomorrow night -- it's been almost a full month! Not that I really have a problem with that pace except this book has taken me nearly 2 weeks to read because I've had little time or energy to read. Last week was so bad that by the time I finished work, coping with something else I will discuss tomorrow in Kaffeeklatsch, eaten dinner, watched some food competition show to relax, I manage to read maybe 10 pages before crashing. But I made great progress this weekend and now am on the downward path to the grand finale.
I am actually really grateful for the slower pace this year - and still thankful to no longer be dealing with tracking a team's reading every month!
I'm also close enough to the end to start wondering what direction I would like to get ... and whether I'm willing to use a Free Pass to go in it if the spinner doesn't like me on Wednesday. It's become rather necessary as work and life will continue to dominate my time for the next 2 or 3 months at least which means more limited reading time.
I really just like to let things happen....which is fine when I can read at my normal pace!
Sorry Joy, I just saw your post.
I live in Syracuse, Utah heading west. I tried to figure out inputting directions however, I am directionally challenged and will use this to my full advantage while playing!
I live in Syracuse, Utah heading west. I tried to figure out inputting directions however, I am directionally challenged and will use this to my full advantage while playing!
Another question about the game, if the location of the book is made up, do we pick the closest real place?
Books and gardens wrote: "Sorry Joy, I just saw your post. I live in Syracuse, Utah heading west. I tried to figure out inputting directions however, I am directionally challenged and will use this to my full advantage wh..."
Eureka, California is almost directly west and is 632 miles. Hokkaido, Japan is almost directly west and is 4973 miles. Sapporo is a city you could use, or Hokkaido, the island, in general.
Tokyo would also work: 5452 miles.
Many Japanese authors have written books set in Hokkaido or Tokyo.
Here are a few that come to mind immediately but I know there are many more:
- Haruki Murakami (Norwegian Wood and South of the Border West of the Sun)
- Banana Yoshimoto (Kitchen)
- The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama is set in Tarumi, Japan, which would work and is 5693 miles.
- The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa involves journeys around Japan, and I'm pretty sure it included Hokkaido.
- A Pale View of Hills is at least partially set in Nagasaki and is 5976 miles.
According to some web research, the most prominent fictional works associated with the Eureka area are Robyn Carr's Virgin River series, which is set in Northern California's redwood country near Eureka, though the town, Virginia River, is fictional.
ETA - Seoul, South Korea (5848 miles) and Beijing, China (6050 miles) are also options (as an afterthought).
Let me know if you would like other book or city options and I'll see what I can find.
Further to Joy's excellent response to you, BnG ...The Robin Carr series may be set in a fictional town called Virgin River, but it references a number of real places. Another option is her Sullivan's Crossing series which is set at a mountain crossroads at a fictional roadside cafe and campgrounds but mentions nearby real locations like Leadville, CO and an even closer town. I love her works and have read them all. Sullivan's Crossing series is independent of the Virgin River series.
There are a number of Japanese golden age detective stories (Japan had 2 Golden Ages of detective stories - one in the 30s and another in the 60s) now available in English and most are published by Soho Crime. I'm quite fond of them personally should you want a couple of those recommendations. Most are set in or near Tokyo though not all. But as I recall they are all close enough to count for a West direction.
Books and gardens wrote: "I am getting over a cold and have so many meds in me that I can’t think straight. I am struggling with the distance calculator and how to use it. Should be easy but…meds! I have read the directio..."
For distance calculators, my favorite is Distance.to
It calculates the direction for you as well as the distance.
https://www.distance.to/Syracuse,UT,U...
I plugged in Syracuse Utah, and checked popular locations in Asia.
Going West from Utah, you can go anywhere in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. You can go to most of China (I checked Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong, and all work). You can go to the upper half of India, including Mumbai/Bombay). Most of Pakistan should work.
Most of Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia are too far south.
If you have a couple locations or books you’re not sure about, I’d be glad to check them out.
====
Examples: l
The Island of Sea Women, set on Jesu Island , Korea
https://www.distance.to/Syracuse,UT,U...
Bearing: 265.43° (W)
The initial bearing on the course from Syracuse, UT, USA to Jeju-Island, KOR is 265.43° and the compass direction is W.
The shortest distance (air line) between Syracuse, UT, USA and Jeju-Island, KOR is 6,084.46 mi (9,791.99 km
Thank you all for your recommendations and help!
I plan on reading Virgin River by Robyn Carr.
Nancy, the distance.to helps so much!
I plan on reading Virgin River by Robyn Carr.
Nancy, the distance.to helps so much!
Books and gardens wrote: "Thank you all for your recommendations and help! I plan on reading Virgin River by Robyn Carr.
Nancy, the distance.to helps so much!"
Virgin River can’t be mapped in the program since it’s a fictional location. But if you can estimate a close real location, you could use that. San Francisco is WSW, but other CA towns north of SF should work .
=====
I found this in an article:
“You won’t find "Virgin River" on any map. The town is the fictional setting for Robyn Carr’s series of 20 romance novels that have sold more than 13 million copies since 2007. While Carr’s geography is vague, "Virgin River" appears to be in Trinity County (pop. 13,000), one of only four California counties still considered fully rural.”
The largest town in Trinity County is Weaverville, so you can use the info in this link:
https://www.distance.to/Syracuse,UT,U...
Its bearing is 267 degrees which is practically perfect. (West is 270 degrees).
I just did a switcheroo! I knew I needed to be in France, and I was feeling overhelmed with kind of an end of the month book crisis. Too many books, not enough attention to any of the challenges... I had already just started my new Compass book, the Queen's Fortune, meant to be my France and May Compass Challenge Free Trip Pick, when it hit me. I am already in France for my Play Harder Challenge book. This is crazy. There has to be a way in which THIS book can get me out of France and still earn me the free trip ticket.Now the funny thing about the free trip ticket, is that I haven't used any of them. Not a one. So what on earth do I need an extra for? And how many more will I "go" for? Given how pressured I have been feeling, it made me think. Maybe its time I extricate myself from this particular crunch (already down from five books to three) and choose more wisely for June. Yes I already have a list of 15 books. But maybe I see what I can do to get back in the swing of things and maybe the Free Tickets will help.
So: Here is my carefully crafted argument for why I have now earned the extra May Ticket. I'm just going to say it anyway that Perhaps the Queen's Fortune was a bit of a stretch anyway. But here is my argument for A Year in Provence. For one, it has an entire chapter devoted to May. That alone makes it relate to May. But as an addition, I am going with Cinqo De Mayo. Stay with me here for this stretch, but it makes perfect sense to me. This May 5th is a Mexican/Hispanic holiday, but it also celebrates Women. My image of Cinqo De Mayo is women drinking wine and celebrating each other. To me, this book had a lot of Theresa and I drinking wine together and celebrating experience throughout this book. I think this is the perfect Cinqo de Mayo book, to celebrate my relationship with her as everything about this book for me was about her. Her prompt. Her suggestion for the prompt, and I carried her with me through the whole thing. To me, it makes perfect sense. Even better if she was born in May, although I somehow think not.
So who is buying that as having earned me the May Free Trip? Does that argument make sense to anyone else the way I have conceptualized it? Not to mention an entire chapter on the Month of May.....
Well, I am honored to have accompanied you on this jaunt in Southern France - and it is a favorite food memoir of mine. But you did miss a May connection ... one that might just nail it for you ... the author's name embraces 'May'. Peter MayleUltimately, BooknBlues decides if it fits the mini for an extra pass. But hanging with you drinking the wines of Provence in this A Year in Provence is a lovely way to spend time!
Amy, I think Cinqo de mayo celebrates a military victory for Mexico.Is there a connection in one of your books to one of the French holidays in May, related to (WWII) Victory Day or the French Revolution?
I think an entire chapter on May should work just fine. Just an opinion.
Well hrm. South wasn't really what I was hoping for since that's basically Antarctica for me at this point. I'm sure I could find something from my library, just need to decide if I want to, or if I want to use one of my freebies since I haven't yet (we get 3 just for playing, right?)...or do I want to just sit on it for the week and try for a new spin next week?So many choices to ponder...
Jen wrote: "Well hrm. South wasn't really what I was hoping for since that's basically Antarctica for me at this point. I'm sure I could find something from my library, just need to decide if I want to, or if ..."Don’t give up yet. There are some really good books set - or partly set - in Antarctic.
How the Penguins Saved Veronica and Where'd You Go, Bernadette are popular and entertaining. Migrations is one of my favorites. It’s set in multiple locations, and def fits Antarctica too.
I resisted reading Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage for a long time, but it really draws you in. This year I read The Last Cold Place: A Field Season Studying Penguins in Antarctica, which is not quite as nerdy as it sounds.
There are also other adventures, thrillers, mysteries and even a couple romance books.
https://www.goodreads.com/genres/anta...
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Dinosaurs is based in Phoenix, Ar..."
Dinosaurs was a great read, but I agree that it could use more passion. The Bird Hotel sounds great to me.
I’ll add recommendations for
The Ardent Swarm - Tunisia, Africa - short, charming surprising details.
The Book of Goose - France and England, twisty friendship, Tob favorite
The Rain Heron - Tasmania I think - cool, unusual
Migrations - environmental, works for Ireland, Greenland, Antarctica, and maybe Canada (there was an important stop on the coast - maybe NewFoundland).
Vesper Flights - England - low key nature writing for short bedtime reading
The Astonishing Color of After -Taiwan - magic, grief