Play Book Tag discussion

Primary reading goal: 2025 - 200 books, 60,000 pages

Previous stats: (view spoiler)[
2013 goal - 169 books, 50,000 pages. Results - 163 books, 47,423 pages
(avg: pgs/bk - 291; bks/mon - 13.6)
2014 goal - 168 books, 50,000 pages. Results - 159 books, 47,543 pages
(avg: pgs/bk - 299; bks/mon - 13.25)
2015 goal - 150 books, 50,000 pages. Results - 150 books, 42,819 pages
(avg: pgs/bk - 285.5; bks/mon - 12.5)
2016 goal - 144 books, 50,000 pages. Results - 194 books, 57,309 pages
(avg: pgs/bk - 295.4; bks/mon - 16.2)
2017 goal - 175 books and 50,000 pages. Results - 209 books, 60,345 pages
(avg: pgs/bk - 288.7; bks/mon - 17.4)
2018 goal - 200 books and 60,000 pages. Results - 192 books, 56,751 pages
(avg: pgs/bk - 295.6; bks/mon - 16)
2019 goal - 200 books and 60,000 pages. Results - 170 books, 52,592 pages
(avg: pgs/bk - 309.4; bks/mon - 14)
2020 goal - 200 books and 60,000 pages. Results - 249 books, 71,712 pages
Way over goal due to COVID stay at home
(avg: pgs/bk - 288; bks/mon - 20.75 )
2021 goal - 250 books and 70,000 pages. Results - 256 books, 77,103 pages
Raised goal due to COVID stay at home expectations
(avg: pgs/bk - 301; bks/mon - 21.33 )
2022 goal - 210 books and 60,000 pages. Results - 209 books, 59,793 pages
Adjusted goal to that similar to pre-COVID stay at home period
(avg: pgs/bk - 286; bks/mon - 17.4)
2023 goal - 225 books, 60,000 pages. Results - 229 books, 63,018 pages
(avg: pgs/bk - 275; bks/mon - 19)
2024 goal - 200 books, 50,000 pages. Results - 163 books, 48,857 pages
(avg: pgs/bk - 299; bks/mon - 14) (hide spoiler)]

TBR Oldies - read some of the oldest books on TBR pile - added in 2012/14
(view spoiler)[ - 2020 read 25 books
- 2021 read 21 books
- 2022 read 25 books
- 2023 read 31 books
- 2024 read 10 (hide spoiler)]

PBT Challenges:
Monthly Tag
Read Harder
Compass
Unofficial Trim
TBR Oldies

Monthly Tag

January: Canada
Moon of the Turning Leaves (Moon, #2) – Waubgeshig Rice (4 stars) 1/16/25

February: Science
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void – Mary Roach (4 stars) 2/27/25

March: Thriller
Viviana Valentine Gets Her Man (Girl Friday Mystery, #1) - Emily J. Edwards (4 stars) 3/5/25
The Survivors – Dinah McCall (4 stars) 3/27/25

April: Fun
Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes, #1) – Travis Baldree (4 stars) 4/20/25
Beach Read – Emily Henry (3 stars) 4/25/25

May: Strong Women
Suddenly One Summer (FBI/US Attorney, #6) – Julie James (5 stars) 5/8/25
Kiss of Snow (Psy-Changeling, #10) – Nalini Singh (5 stars) 5/20/25

June Summer
People We Meet on Vacation – Emily Henry (3 stars) 6/3/25
James – Percival Everett (5 stars) 6/14/25
The Berry Pickers – Amanda Peters (4 stars) 6/22/25

July Speculative Fiction
Rogue Protocol (Murderbot Diaries, #3) – Martha Wells (4 stars) 7/7/25
Exit Strategy (Murderbot Diaries, #4) – Martha Wells (4 stars) 7/8/25
Sleeping Giants (Themis Files, #1) - Sylvain Neuvel (5 stars) 7/24/25

August Family Drama
Lady Luck's Map of Vegas – Barbara Samuel (4 stars) 8/6/25
Best Staged Plans – Claire Cook (3 stars) 8/8/25
The Collected Regrets of Clover – Mikki Brammer (5 stars) 8/13/25
One Plus One – Jojo Moyes (4 stars) 8/14/25
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox – Maggie O’Farrell (4 stars) 8/31/25

September Around the World
Nectar in a Sieve - Kamala Markandaya (4 stars) 9/3/25 - India
The Blind Contessa's New Machine – Carey Wallace (3 stars) 9/6/25 - Italy
The Sun Also Rises – Ernest Hemingway (2 stars) 9/12/25 - Paris & Spain
As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning (Autobiographical Trilogy, #2) – Laurie Lee (4 stars) 9/14/25 - England & Spain
A Moment of War (Autobiographical Trilogy, #3) – Laurie Lee (4 stars) 9/15/25 - Spain
The Penguin Lessons – Tom Michell (4 stars) 9/18/25 - Argentina
The Old Man Who Read Love Stories: A Novel – Luis Sepulveda, Peter Bush (translator) (5 stars) 9/21/25 - Ecuador

October Sci-Fi Fantasy
Blood Cross (Jane Yellowrock, #2) – Faith Hunter (4 stars) 10/1/25
The Buried Giant – Kazuo Ishiguro (4 stars) 10/11/25
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Emily Wilde, #1) – Heather Fawcett (4 stars) 10/13/25

November British Literature
A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute (5 stars) 11/11/25

December Recommended
When Books Went to War: The Stories That Helped Us Win World War II – Molly Guptill Manning (4 Stars) 12/3/25

Play Harder
Linda C's Play Harder Tracking

First List - January 1, 2025 - COMPLETED 6/8/25

(view spoiler)[✔1. Post three to five books choices in this thread and read the first one someone else picks for you - See msg 5 & 6 for choices and Olivermagnus' selection
Secrets of a Summer Night (Wallflowers, #1) - Lisa Kleypas (3 stars) 4/28/25 - My Review

✔2. A book involving archeology or an archeologist
The Maltese Goddess (Lara McClintoch Archeological Mystery, #2) – Lyn Hamilton (3 stars) 2/28/25 - My Review

✔3. Read a book with a title where all the words begin with the same letter (3 word minimum)
To Taste Temptation (Legend of the Four Soldiers, #1) – Elizabeth Hoyt (3 star) 3/31/25 - My Review

✔4. Listen to an audiobook - Swapped for : Read a book with a character who is an alien (or might be one)
Stolen by an Alien (Stolen by an Alien, #1) – Amanda Milo (3 stars) 3/11/25 - My Review

✔5. Read a book that was reviewed in 2024 and given 5 stars in PBT's Other Books Discussion
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store - James McBride - (5 stars) 2/13/25 - reviewed by John 5/3/24 - My Review

✔6. A book with the word “history” in the title
Brave Companions: Portraits in History - David McCullough - (3 stars) 6/7/25 - My Review

✔7. A book that someone else in the group put on their Top 10 Reads of 2024 list
The Personal Librarian - Marie Benedict - (5 stars) 1/9/25 - on Lyn's list- My Review

✔8. A book set in a castle
An English Bride in Scotland - Lynsay Sands (4 stars) 6/8/25 - My Review

✔9. A book with a geometric shape in title
Triangle of Hope - Mike Meyer (3 stars) 2/5/25 - My Review

✔10. Read a book set in a country you have never visited
Girl in Ice – Erica Ferencik (4 stars) 1/14/25 - Greenland (never been there) - My Review

✔11. Read a book by a debut author
Buster Midnight's Cafe - Sandra Dallas (4 stars) 5/16/25 - Debut novel published in 1990 - My Review

✔12. A book about forgery or a forgery or counterfeit
And Only to Deceive (Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries, #1) – Tasha Alexander (5 stars) 4/18/25 - Aldwin Attewater is a forger whose work is put in place of original antiquities in the British Museum - the thefts are the mystery of this novel - My Review (hide spoiler)]

Second List - 6/9/25 - COMPLETED 12/3/25

(view spoiler)[✔1. Read a book with a title that contains a fraction (quarter, half, third)
My Favorite Half-Night Stand - Christina Lauren - (3 stars) 11/9/25
My Review

✔2. Read a book set in Canada or written by a Canadian author
Sleeping Giants - Sylvain Neuvel - (5 stars) 7/24/25
My Review

✔3. A book with an anti-hero or anti-heroine - Jane Yellowrock is a vampire hunter mercenary
Blood Cross - Faith Hunter - (4 stars) 10/1/25
My Review

✔4. A book published in the year you joined PBT (or its predecessor on Shelfari) - joined GR is 2012 - published Jan 1, 2012
Words Get In the Way - Nan Rossiter - (3 stars) 9/6/25
My Review

✔5. A book involving evolution, revolution or change - suffrage in New Zealand
Fearless(Scarlet Suffragette, #1) – Nicola Claire (4 stars) 11/21/25
My Review

✔6. Read a book that primarily involves an archeological dig or expedition
The Moche Warrior (An Archaeological Mystery, #3) – Lyn Hamilton (3 stars) 8/3/25
My Review

✔7. Read a book that includes a graduation
Best Staged Plans - Claire Cook(3 stars) 8/8/25 - comments about their son who had not moved out of the house since graduation, p.8
My Review

✔8. Read a non-fiction book on a subject related to your work, job, past job, or job of a significant family member - I'm a retired librarian
When Books Went to War: The Stories That Helped Us Win World War II - Molly Guptill Manning (4 stars) 12/3/25
My Review

✔9. Read a book with a title that begins with U
Unraveled - C.J. Barry - (4 stars) 6/30/25
My Review

✔10. A book you consider light-hearted or fun
Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping On a Dead Man - Jesse Q. Sutanto - (5 stars) 6/13/25
My Review

✔11. Read a book that includes a protagonist with a physical disability - blind
The Blind Contessa's New Machine - Carey Wallace - (3 stars) 9/5/25
My Review

✔12. Read a book about one of your hobbies - puzzles
The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers – Samuel Burr (4 stars) 7/28/25
My Review (hide spoiler)]

Compass ends 11/30/25 - COMPLETED 11/7/25
Tracking thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
My Completion Summary: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Location: Webster, NY (suburb of Rochester)
Primary Goal:
Read books set in 12 different Countries/Territories - > 12/12
Secondary Goals:
Read books on TBR pile as of 1/1/25 -> 9/12
Read books by author from that country -> 5/12

Per BooknBlues: When requesting a spin, please post your review in Tag of the month or other books. (Please do not add Compass Spin to title.)
For the spin request: link the review, post points, & mileage if you are tracking that and your departure point with validation.

First 12 books
Country/Book: (1 pt @) = 12
Country tagged >5x: (2 pts @) = 20
Book Matched Monthly Tag (>5x): (3 pts @) = 3
Points (Cumulative): 35
Distance Traveled (Cumulative): = 48,699 miles
https://www.travelmath.com/
https://www.sunearthtools.com/tools/d...
https://www.airmilescalculator.com/
https://www.distance.to/

Books:
1. N - Greenland - Girl in Ice - Erica Ferencik - 4 stars - 1/14/25
2. SE - Oman - Celestial Bodies - Jokha Alharthi - 4 stars - 1/18/25
3. N - Chechnya - A Constellation of Vital Phenomena - Anthony Marra - 5 stars - 2/9/25
4. S - Kenya - A Spear of Summer Grass - Deanna Raybourn - 3 stars - 5/25/25
5. N - Russia - The Winter Queen - Boris Akunin - 3 stars - 7/5/25
6. E - Scotland - The Christmas Bookshop - Jenny Colgan - 3 stars - 7/20/25
7. SW - Peru - The Moche Warrior - Lyn Hamilton - 3 stars - 8/3/25
8. NE - Italy - The Blind Contessa's New Machine - Carey Wallace - 3 stars - 9/5/25
9. SW - Argentina - The Penguin Lessons - Tom Michell - 4 stars - 9/18/25
10. SW - Tierra del Fuego, Chile/Argentina - Over My Head: Journeys in Leaky Boats from the Strait of Magellan to Cape Horn and Beyond - Margaret Winslow - 4 stars - 10/9/25
11. N - Hallowell, ME, USA - The Frozen River - Ariel Lawhon - 5 stars - 10/16/25
12. NW - Frank, Alberta, Canada - The Outlander - Gil Adamson - 5 stars - 11/7/25

Linda C's Trim list COMPLETED - 12/15/25
😃 called w/month --- ✔ read & reviewed date & rating
I select # in February for March - after monthly tag announced

✔😃 April - 1. People We Meet on Vacation - Emily Henry - (3 stars) 6/3/25 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔😃October - 2. Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore – Matthew Sullivan - (4 stars) 10/23/25 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔😃 February - 3. The Garden of Small Beginnings – Abbi Waxman - (4 stars) 3/23/25 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔😃 November - 4. The Bar Harbor Retirement Home for Famous Writers– Terri-Lynne DeFino - (3 stars) 11/16/25
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...-
✔😃September 5. The Blind Contessa's New Machine – Carey Wallace - (3 stars) 9/5/25 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔😃 December - 6. The Patchwork Bride – Sandra Dallas - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔😃August - 7. The Outlander – Gil Adamson (5 stars 11/7/25
✔😃July - 8. The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted - Robert Hillman (5 stars) 7/12/25 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔😃June - 9. Lady Luck's Map of Vegas - Barbara Samuel - (4 stars) 8/6/25 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔😃 May - 10. Kitchens of the Great Midwest – J. Ryan Stradal (3 stars) 7/17/25 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔😃 March - 11. The Survivors – Dinah McCall (4 stars) 3/27/25 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
✔😃 January - 12. Truck: A Love Story – Michael Perry (4 stars) 2/28/25 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

B-book
K-kindle

TBR Oldies
Read some of the oldest books on TBR pile - added in 2012/15

1. Trust Me (The Last Stand, #1) – Brenda Novak (4 stars) 1/23/25 - added 7/3/12
2. Dylan (Montana Creeds, #2) – Linda Lael Miller (4 stars) 2/17/25 - added 7/3/12
3. Truck: A Love Story – Michael Perry (4 stars) 2/28/25 - added 4/16/13
4. The Survivors – Dinah McCall (4 stars) 3/27/25 - added 9/26/12
5. To Taste Temptation (Legend of the Four Soldiers, #1) – Elizabeth Hoyt (3 star) 3/31/25 - added 9/26/12
6. Midnight Jewels – Jayne Ann Krentz (5 stars) 4/11/25 - added 2/27/13
7. And Only to Deceive (Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries, #1) – Tasha Alexander (5 stars) 4/18/25
8. Secrets of a Summer Night (Wallflowers, #1) - Lisa Kleypas (3 stars) 4/28/25
9. Buster Midnight's Cafe – Sandra Dallas (4 stars) 5/16/25 - added 2/25/13
10. Kiss of Snow (Psy-Changeling, #10) – Nalini Singh (5 stars) 5/20/25 - added 7/3/12
11. Unraveled (UN-forgettable, #2) – C. J. Barry (4 stars) 6/30/25 - added 7/3/12
12. Summer Moon – Jill Marie Landis (4 stars) 7/26/25 - added 7/20/13
13. A Coral Kiss – Jayne Ann Krentz (5 stars) 7/30/25 - added 2/27/13
14. Lady Luck's Map of Vegas – Barbara Samuel (4 stars) 8/6/25 - added 9/26/12
15. The Outlander (The Boultons, #1) – Gil Adamson (5 stars) 11/7/25 - added 7/22/15
16. A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute (5 stars) 11/11/25 - added 1/17/15
17. A Good Yarn (Blossom Street, #2) – Debbie Macomber (3 stars) 12/20/25 - added 7/3/12
18.
19.
20.

see Play Harder Lists above