Play Book Tag discussion

In honor of BABEL idea, I thought I would start a thread promoting further book acquisition with a new list:

https://offtheshelf.com/2023/05/most-...

🤣🤣🤣🤣

It could become a permanent topic!

Could you remind me what BABEL stands for?

Book Acquisition Beyond Expected Lifetime...

What's funny is we have this "reading planning for life" thread on one side, all about reducing and reading intentionally, and this BABEL thread now 😂

Bookworms are gonna do what we are gonna do!

Theresa wrote: "🤣🤣🤣🤣

It could become a permanent topic!"

I think it should. I love discovering books and thinking about reading them.

Meli wrote: "Book Acquisition Beyond Expected Lifetime...

What's funny is we have this "reading planning for life" thread on one side, all about reducing and reading intentionally, and this BABEL thread now 😂
..."

Yes, we will. 😄😄

Booknblues wrote: "In honor of BABEL idea, I thought I would start a thread promoting further book acquisition with a new list:

https://offtheshelf.com/2023/05/most-......"

This is actually a really good list. I see there is a new Ruth Ware .... love love love!

Once upon a time before reading challenges and when my reading had slid into a very narrow rut, I'd mark summer reading with a couple or 3 recently published thrillers or romances plus at least one fat classic either new or reread - Anna Karenina was one, Gone with the Wind another. It was a throwback to being out of school and able to read what I wanted when I wanted, one I carried over into my work life for years. I don't generally do summer vacations, no country or beach house weekends - in fact summer was always peak work season in my law practice - so that concept of summer reading just disappeared, replaced by Christmas reading in December. Except I kept the idea of reading some big fat busty classic. This year that looks like Les Miz will finally get read in its entirety - I have a different translation than most have read (no I am not attempting it in French).

But there are some tempting books here - though likely not to get read but for now added to my TBR.

Bookriot lists always get my tbr topplin'.
They have new / diverse lists everyday, spanning all kinds of genres.

Nice list!

Narrator voice-over: She had just landed on the list like a lion pouncing on a gazelle.

Me: I really need to get rid of some books.
Narrator: she would never be getting rid of any books.

Sue and Meli, I'm enjoying your narrator voices! ;0)

Holly R W wrote: "Sue and Meli, I'm enjoying your narrator voices! ;0)"

Me too!

@Theresa
Maybe we should start a thread for Fat Summer Classics (FSC)

Holly R W wrote: "Sue and Meli, I'm enjoying your narrator voices! ;0)"

😊

@Shelly - what is Fat Summer Classic?
I was wondering if it is related to chonk reads because summer has me in the mood for a chonky book!

Meli wrote: "Holly R W wrote: "Sue and Meli, I'm enjoying your narrator voices! ;0)"

😊

@Shelly - what is Fat Summer Classic?
I was wondering if it is related to chonk reads because summer has me in the mood ..."
Meli, see Theresa's post #7 above. Yes, she tries to read at least one big fat classic during the summer.

Shelly wrote: "Meli, see Theresa's post #7 above. Yes, she tries to read at least one big fat classic during the summer."

Oh, yes, I love this :)

Shelly wrote: "@Theresa
Maybe we should start a thread for Fat Summer Classics (FSC)"

What a great idea! Book has to be a significant minimum page length like that of your Dickens, Trollope etc. If you dropped it on your foot you would do serious damage 🤣

I know that the chunkster read has been an option in past for a PBT year long challenge, but never gets enough votes. Maybe this is the way to do it! Whover does one just reports in on what they are reading. Bound to be some overlap.

Fat Summer Reads can also be modern and contemporary books though I still lean toward classics or likely to become classics - I counted or would count A Suitable Boy, Hunger’s Brides: A Novel of the Baroque, and A Brief History of Seven Killings. Those all took me about 3 or so weeks to read.

I will start a thread in Footnotes to discuss and will actually set a kickoff date as I am reading Les Miz this summer.

Theresa wrote: "Fat Summer Reads can also be modern and contemporary books though I still lean toward classics or likely to become classics - I counted or would count A Suitable Boy, [book:Hunger’s Br..."

Awesome! Is 500 pages fat enough?

Shelly wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Fat Summer Reads can also be modern and contemporary books though I still lean toward classics or likely to become classics - I counted or would count A Suitable Boy, [..."

To me 500 pages is not a chunkster but what is a chunkster for one is not for another. Certainly 500 and ocer or 600 and over seems where I land. Let me get my head around setting up the discussion thread. We can work it out.

I'm literally afraid to start reading this thread.

I'm going to save it for a reward after I finish reorganizing my TBR here.

I'm up for a big fat fantasy read for the summer! I have so many that need to get read.

And another list from Washington Post

https://wapo.st/3IL4zKV

A couple there which I'm interested in.

I add this one, also gifted from Washington Post:

https://wapo.st/3MZ8SEH

Anita wrote: "I'm literally afraid to start reading this thread.

I'm going to save it for a reward after I finish reorganizing my TBR here."

😂

Jen K wrote: "I'm up for a big fat fantasy read for the summer! I have so many that need to get read."

I would be in Jen-let me know what you have! I love a "busty" fantasy!

I am #1 on the library wait list for The Covenant of Water, should be any day now. I also have The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder on my TBR

Covenant of water feels like a good one to do with my local park club. We are thinking fall.

I loved Covenant of Water and it would be a good one for a discussion.

I may join you depending on what is selected. Like Theresa, I tend to gravitate toward the classics or those I have been meaning to get to for a while.

To tempt you all: NPR's summer book list

https://www.npr.org/2023/05/26/117682...

Joanne wrote: "I am #1 on the library wait list for The Covenant of Water, should be any day now. I also have The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder on my TBR"

@Joanne - We saw the author on 60 minutes and got really interested in The Wager. I requested it on my husband's card (he loves shipwrecks) and it's ready to pick up. He'll get it first, and I might have to wait for the audio.

@ Joy - I really want to read Covenant of Water. My library bought many e-audios. I should find out why, so I don't wait too long. I'm not in the headspace for it just yet. Is there an immigration theme in it? I think you read The Hungry Tide, didn't you? Is the location anything like that?

The Covenant of Water is set in India. It is a family saga and is not an immigration story. Yes, I read The Hungry Tide and it is set in the same approximate area of the world and has themes pertaining to water. I gave both of these books 5 stars so I highly recommend them.

ETA - The reason your library has lots of copies of The Covenant of Water is likely because it was recently selected for Oprah's Book Recommendations List.

Joanne wrote: "To tempt you all: NPR's summer book list

..."

Fabulous list!

I just have to get A Quitter's Paradise - sounds like such fun.

But the one that will absolutely go to the top of my TBR - read as soon as possible - is All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby. I absolutely loved and count as a top 10 read of the decade Razorblade Tears. Sean Crosby immediately became an author for me to watch for and read within first year of publication of each work. These are NOT light frothy reads but dark, deep explorations while still being entertaining thrillers.

Joanne wrote: "Jen K wrote: "I'm up for a big fat fantasy read for the summer! I have so many that need to get read."

I would be in Jen-let me know what you have! I love a "busty" fantasy!"

@Joanne, I would love to BR a "busty" fantasy!! I was more thinking of all the series I need to finally finish off but I'm up to try a new one too. Will have a look at possibilities!

I can't wait for The Covenant of Water either but also waiting for the right time. Thinking end of July when I actually spend an entire week at home which maybe hasn't happened since February.

Jen K wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Jen K wrote: "I'm up for a big fat fantasy read for the summer! I have so many that need to get read."

I would be in Jen-let me know what you have! I love a "busty" fantasy!"

@Joan..."

Jen I will look your shelf and see what we have in common

@JenK - HA, that did not work for me, so maybe we do this instead-you take a look at my fantasy shelf and see if you see anything of interest to you-

@Joanne, here are the ones I have on my list that match yours and are over 600 pages.

A Day of Fallen Night
The Grace of Kings

So many others are new to me and I will have to dig into them when it isn't so late. Let me know if you are interested in either of those.

My library has A day of fallen night, The grace of Kings I would have to get through inter lnter library-either on is good for me.

Would A Day of Fallen Night be easier? I'm equally excited for both. Would July work to start?

Either would work for me. Fallen Night is not available just yet. It could get to me in 2 days or 3 weeks- I can put a hold on it now, or wait. Now means I must take it as soon as it comes and return in 3 weeks. How about we wait a few days see what happens when it goes live at the library-that way I can see how many others requested it. It does not seem that popular here. The other will take approx 3 weeks so I can order in the beginning of june and be sure to have a copy for July. Either way we will read one of them!

And Jen, you are more than welcome to join me with Jade City if it suits you-I will be picking it up to today and starting June 1st

Joanne wrote: "And Jen, you are more than welcome to join me with Jade City if it suits you-I will be picking it up to today and starting June 1st"

Wish I had time to read Jade City with you in June! It is on my TBR as a book my Feminerdy Book Club read before I joined and I want to catch up. But I have Nona the Ninth to read as our June discussion pick which is just under 500 pages, plus challenges to catch up on.

Though you are tempting me.

@Joanne, um... I might just join for Jade City but that definitely confirms that I cannot start an official Fat Summer Read until after June. I already overcommitted a bunch of buddy reads for a challenge in another group and have crazy work travel.

For Fallen Night, I'm #1 for my library hold but really have no concerns on timing other than after June. No problem at all, possibly better, if your wait goes past the start of July.

For Grace of Kings, I own it so also not a concern.

PS I just sent a friend request.

Theresa wrote: "Joanne wrote: "And Jen, you are more than welcome to join me with Jade City if it suits you-I will be picking it up to today and starting June 1st"

Wish I had time to read [book:Ja..."

@Theresa, really interested to hear your thoughts on Nona!! It is not quite like the others. I think you will do better than I did in understanding since you just read Harrow.

Jen K wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Joanne wrote: "And Jen, you are more than welcome to join me with Jade City if it suits you-I will be picking it up to today and starting June 1st"

Wish I had time ..."

Thanks - I will share! Also, did your edition of Harrow have the short story As Yet Unsent? 25 pages. From what I hear from Feminerdy, the first printings ebook and hardcover did not have it but later did (at least my ebook) and of course I read it. It screams to me a necessary link between events in Harrow and what Nona is. You can probably find it free on Tor.com.

Also, someone somewhere mentioned how Harrow reminded them a bit of Dune, and I've thought all along that the cover screams of Dune - so I'm assuming a more Dune-esque experience - which isn't a plus for me since I didn't really like Dune.

We'll see. And I'm really glad I read both Gideon and Harrow in last 8 months or less.

Jen K wrote: "@Joanne, um... I might just join for Jade City but that definitely confirms that I cannot start an official Fat Summer Read until after June. I already overcommitted a bunch of budd..."

OK - I'm out for a June buddy read of Jade City. I have a 9 week wait at BPL for the ebook. Longer at NYPL and QPL. Joys of big city living.

I have added myself the the queue. I'll just be the caboose trailing way behind as I usually am in these buddy reads. Which of course is how I came up with the Subdue Caboose -- I spend lots of time there. 🤣

Jen K wrote: "@Joanne, um... I might just join for Jade City but that definitely confirms that I cannot start an official Fat Summer Read until after June. I already overcommitted a bunch of budd..."

Ok. I put a request in for Fallen, I should have it sometime after June 16th

Joy D wrote: "The Covenant of Water is set in India. It is a family saga and is not an immigration story. Yes, I read The Hungry Tide and it is set in the same approximate area of the world and has themes pertai..."

Thanks, it sounds wonderful.

I guess they're smart to load up on Oprah recs. It's just really unusual for them to have 50 audios available, while there is a long waitlist for print books. Maybe they would do it more often, but many publishers limit the availability of audios for new books. I'm working on other challenges, so I haven't started it yet.

Theresa wrote: "Joanne wrote: "And Jen, you are more than welcome to join me with Jade City if it suits you-I will be picking it up to today and starting June 1st"

Wish I had time to read [book:Ja..."

There seem to be a lot of really great fantasy books out now. I don't typically read much fantasy, but I'll be adding more to my new 2023 TBR and challenge lists.