Play Book Tag discussion

Please vote for the tag you would most like to read for August at the following link:

https://forms.gle/n9wMPxyc6PHKQQfN8

Here are the lists of books for each tag:

literary fiction: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
twins: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
violence: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

Remember, you may cast up to a total of 10 participation points for your choice. Every PBT member gets one vote for free so please vote even if you don't have any participation points!

You can see how many participation points you currently have in the spreadsheet below.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Happy voting! Please cast your votes by 5 pm EST on 8/21.

We've had some strange choices in the past, but I have to say, this is one of the stranger ones.

Honestly-What the heck, this year has been worse than last year for me, anyway! I will find a hard time with these for sure

Joanne wrote: "Honestly-What the heck, this year has been worse than last year for me, anyway! I will find a hard time with these for sure"

Despite this, I still have want to read in all categories before I hit page 5. Of course, one choice overwhelms the other two.

So many people read mysteries, suspense and thrillers, that violence is an essential part of. Even historical fiction and nonfiction often contain violence.

Joanne wrote: "Honestly-What the heck, this year has been worse than last year for me, anyway! I will find a hard time with these for sure"

I feel your pain. I haven't read anything for the tag in at least 4 months.

Literary fiction is a vague category even for professionals to define. I'm sure on GR many thousands of books get this tag, even if a bookstore might not agree. Still, it's the one I will pick. Twins is way too specific and you often won't know ahead of time if there are twins in your story. Violence might be something a reader used to tag a book that they found upsetting or inappropriate, it might not mean the whole book is about war, murder, etc.

I have a list of unusual tax, but I thought I might she was from in case I was ever called upon again. I was only called upon once, and that was the time I did Queens, which I thought was clever, because we could be talking about actual queens, or the city, queens or drag, queens or women who consider themselves queen, even like Queen Bee. But it lost out to witches and how could it not? Anyway, twins was on my list of interesting possibilities to throw out there. I’m gonna look forward to doing the research and seeing if I have anything interesting that qualifies as twins. I certainly don’t think violence is going to be any fun. I tend not to like literary fiction except for things that I don’t know where literary fiction. That might just be easy. Anyway, I will research when I can get off the plane.

Wow, that turned out to be a lot of garble. I’m sorry for that. At least I’m back on my own home turf.

I'm going to have to think about this one.

I love horror, thrillers, action/adventure, urban fiction, dystopian - all pretty violent. But when I look at that list I've already read the entire first half of the first page and then quite a few after that.

I may still vote for violence, but I'll be happy with any of the choices.

Such a weird combo! I actually looked through each of the lists (I usually don't because I know immediately usually if I will have something in the TBR Towers or planned to read that fits the options), and it was interesting to see just how many are marked 'read' for me.

Twins - I had to laugh. I just had few reads recently with twins - including one of the Nantucket women's fictions I binged over the weekend had twins who were a key element of one of the sub-plots - but no way to know that until you read it. I don't see that as an easy to fit option. As someone said, until you get into the book, it's difficult to know most of the time if there are twins featured in it.

Literary Fiction - my only issue is whether I'm in the mood for it -- which I haven't been. But I have several books here and coming up in other challenges that I am sure will fit.

Violence - I found that list fascinating. Such a variety of books, so many different genres. For instance, a book I have in my TBR Towers, The Thirteenth Tale, is listed but it has never occurred to me that it would be tagged 'violence'. Thriller, suspense, crime fiction - sure. Heck, so many thrillers and mysteries that I've read or plant to read pop up on the first pages.

I'm probably going to vote for Violence - just for the diversity of genres on it as I think everyone can find a book that fits - whatever you read - even history and non-fiction readers, fantasy and scifi for sure, and those of us reading crime fiction, thrillers, espionage will be racking up the reads. It's kind of like 'Adventure' was.

I just looked and I have something for everything. I am sure if violence wins I will be able to easily come up with something. I already have something in mind that is soon to be up.

It turns out I have read a ton of twins and literary fiction, and it turns out that I have plenty on both lists. Here are some highlights to consider:

Literary Fiction: (Just to name three we have been talking about)

The Covenant of Water
Casual Vacancy
Deacon King Kong

For Twins, there is the 13th Tale, which I have already read. I have a bunch more, but there are all mystery type - and I have the fear the tags might ruin the twists. Vanishing Half is also on both lists.

I really don't know what order to put these two and how much to weight them.... I am fine with whatever wins.

I'm always interested if a book has twins, because Hubby's sister and brother are twins and his mom was an identical twin.

One of my favorite books was Firefly Summer during my Maeve Binchy era.

I also really enjoyed Her Fearful Symmetry.

I have a couple of old old favorite reads that center on twins.

Savannah Purchase by Jane Aiken Hodge - historical romance fiction set in early 19th Century Savanah - in fact if 'twins' wins, this is my re-read. It's an interesting and unusual setting for an historical fiction read involving identical twins that change places.

Deceptions by Judith Michael - contemporary (when published in 1982) fiction with a 'what if' theme - here 'what if identical twins switched places?" It was also made into a tv movie in 1985 with Stefanie Powers and Barry Bostwick - which I loved, featuring 80s music like Pointer SIsters 'I'm so Excited'.

Obviously with both these - which you can still find in ebook - all does not go well with the swaps, danger lurks.

Ha! I'm back to wanting the most narrow tag again. :-) After that, the middle one.

And am really hoping NOT for the one that is most likely to win in our group. LOL!

Amy wrote: "Wow, that turned out to be a lot of garble. I’m sorry for that. At least I’m back on my own home turf."

Lol. I have the same problem on this iPad. It comes up with the weirdest words to replace a wrong letter or a space. Editing is very tedious on this device.

I can type really fast on my lap top, but I’m basically using one figure on this thing.

Booknblues wrote: "I'm always interested if a book has twins, because Hubby's sister and brother are twins and his mom was an identical twin.

One of my favorite books was Firefly Summer during my Mae..."

I really loved Binchy. I don't remember this one, but I read nearly everything she wrote. It’s nice that you have that connection, and you can probably tell when an author is familiar with the kinds of issues that come up for twins in real life. (As opposed to the evil twin trope in old soap operas.)

NancyJ wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "I'm always interested if a book has twins, because Hubby's sister and brother are twins and his mom was an identical twin.

One of my favorite books was [book:Firefly Summer|4061..."

There are actually 2 books which I really want to read in the twins tag. I don't vote and I'm not sure this is likely to win, but it is fun to think about.

I read a lot of violence this year without meaning to, and I’ve had plenty. I don’t expect to avoid it, but I don’t want to consciously seek out more.

This has been a great reading year for me, with some really thought provoking topics. Some of it has been gritty and depressing, and I feel the need for something more positive. I still want something meaningful, and I’m really craving beautiful writing right now. So literary fiction is at the top of my list. Twins could be fun too, so I’ll check out the list.

Literary fiction + Twins

Hello Beautiful
The God of Small Things
East of Eden
The Secret History
Half of a Yellow Sun
Notes on an Execution: A Novel
The Thirteenth Tale
Nothing to See Here
Cutting for Stone

A couple of these might have violence tags too.

I have no desire to read "about" violence. There's enough violence in the real world without seeking it out in my reading life.

Joy D wrote: "I have no desire to read "about" violence. There's enough violence in the real world without seeking it out in my reading life."

Some of the books with this tag are really good despite the violence, and there are two fantasy books that I would read if it wins. But I’m with you, I don’t want to seek it out.

There is one nonfiction book on the list by Pinker that is about the historical reduction in violence. You might have liked it, but it’s very outdated now and I didn’t find the research very persuasive back then.

Agreed, Joy! Though so much fiction involves a core of physical or mental violence that the books I’d end up reading would no doubt fit by accident.

Twins is just weird!

Lit fic is the most attractive for me with some of the Booker longlist on the shelf.

Amy wrote: "I just looked and I have something for everything. I am sure if violence wins I will be able to easily come up with something. I already have something in mind that is soon to be up.

It turns out ..."

Amy, I want to read Deacon King Kong too, or something else by this author. I had to return my copy but I’ll get another by Sept.

I have a list of novellas that work for literary fiction too. They always give me a lift between other books.

I voted, for the one I already have several books lined up and on Subdue that will fit without having to add another book to that already busy list.

I really want to read the new book by Ann Patchett- Tom Lake . Has anyone read it yet?

My September possibilities include a lot of books I’ve been meaning to read for a long time.
The Snow Child - literary fiction
Tale of two cities- literary, violence
Half of a Yellow Sun- literary, twins, violence
Secret History - literary , twins
The Marriage Portrait - bookclub
Hello Beautiful - I loved her previous book
Deacon King Kong, or another McBride book
Foster (if not sooner)
God of Small things
Tsar of love and Techno
Tomorrow x 3
Elegance of the Hedgehog

Nancy,

I have "Tom Lake" in the house and plan to read it next. I've seen many rave reviews for it and also, like the author.

McBride is a favorite author of mine. I'm in the minority here, but I did not care for "Deacon King Kong". I'm currently reading his newest release.

"Foster" is excellent and fits this month's tag as well as Literary Fiction. It's a long short story and reads quickly.

"Tsar of Love and Techno" as a book of linked short stories. Some feature violence. It is a darker book and powerful.

"Tomorrow x 3" has garnered a lot of discussion here, both pro and con. I loved it and gave it 5 stars.

These are my opinions. ;0)

I also really liked Tomorrow x3. But its funny. I wouldn't have considered it for myself for top 100 or top 15. But I will vote for it, and give it my vote. I will support books I really liked that I wouldn't have necessarily given that extremely elite elevated status.

I have read Tom Lake and it is outstanding! I will be giving it 5 stars whenever I have a chance to write a review.

Joy D wrote: "I have read Tom Lake and it is outstanding! I will be giving it 5 stars whenever I have a chance to write a review."

Oooh, I have this one. Excited to get to it now.

I'm going for the audio read by Meryl Streep!

Thanks Holly! I appreciate the notes.

Tom Lake sounds credit-worthy, so I’ll get it from audible if the library holds don’t come through in time. Especially with Meryl Streep narrating!

I'm off to check on the audio for Tom Lake myself. I'm whipping through my audios lately with my new walking regime.

I was surprised at how many books I read in the Literary tag, I have a few Want to Reads in there too. Generally, I'm not impressed with "literary" but these are just tagged by readers rather than being labeled by academics.

Violence is in so many books and readers may have tagged it as violence even if it shows up briefly in a story. Plus what one person calls violence someone else might not (though that feels weak when I say it). Nevertheless, Sci-Fi and Mystery will often have violence tags. I do worry that Twins will be too limiting. I guess I'm off to do my vote.

I'm not impressed with "literary" but these are just tagged by readers rather than being labeled by academics.

Agree with you Barbara, GR tags are to be taken with a grain of sale-lol. Which means I have a few on my TBR that are tagged this, though I can't see why-lol. My personal rule here, for monthly tag, is I must have it on my TBR -if it is on the list, even better! Lit. is not a favorite of mine, but I will find something to read I think-chances of this being the take for Sept. look good because of what it is up against.

If "twins" wins I'd recommend:
Chang and Eng by Darin Strauss (would also fit literary fiction)
and
The Lives and Loves of Daisy and Violet Hilton: A True Story of Conjoined Twins by Dean Jensen

Has anyone yet suggested The Vanishing Half if "twins" is selected?

LibraryCin wrote: "Has anyone yet suggested The Vanishing Half if "twins" is selected?"

I missed it when I made my list. It's a fascinating book.

As I was looking at the list, I realized I've read a LOT of books with twins during my life. Oddly, I had no recollection of twins in most of the books. I read Atonement and saw the movie twice, but I have no memory of twins at all. Perhaps they were secondary or minor characters. Maybe cousins?

hehe! Has anyone yet suggested a "classic"? One of the Bobbsey Twins books? That might be fun!

LibraryCin wrote: "hehe! Has anyone yet suggested a "classic"? One of the Bobbsey Twins books? That might be fun!"

Omg, I loved the Bobbsey Twins when I was a young girl, lol.

The Bobbsey Twins was a favorite of mine too!

Mine too! I read a ton of them. In my case, I was fascinated by reading about "normal" kids - not that they were normal but they were a lot like the Dick & Jane books or TV shows where Father works in a suit and Mother stays home (although they had a maid who was described as "chocolate-colored" or something like that - at least around 1960 they still had her.) They live in a small town, walk to school, etc. I was like a sociologist studying them because I lived on a small farm, took a long bus ride to school, my mother worked in town, my parents were political and not religious, and so on.

Somehow "God of Small Things" is on all 3 lists...... Might finally give me the push to read it since I have attempted multiple times but always got distracted by new and shiny.

Robin P wrote: "Mine too! I read a ton of them. In my case, I was fascinated by reading about "normal" kids - not that they were normal but they were a lot like the Dick & Jane books or TV shows where Father works..."

The one where they went to Japan was my very favorite!

I'm awaiting my copy of Tom Lake. I love Ann Patchett so I am eagerly looking forward to it reading it.

As far as voting this month, I have to give my points to literary fiction not twins or violence. I'm adding points to my total to make a total of ten points for literary fiction. I hope that helps make it the winner.

Well, today is my Daddy's birthday (he would have been 102 years old). SO, Daddy, I'm relying on you to come through!