Play Book Tag discussion

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

https://forms.gle/Z3HdxRpLPZKYrXG26


Here are the lists of books for each tag:

fairy tales: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
medical: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
science: 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 noon EST on 1/22.

Already!? I say this every month, but every month time is shorter and shorter 🤪

Tough choices this month. Without looking at the tag results I think I'm leaning fairy tales.

Maybe, Goodreads is being wonky, but when I try accessing the links for "medical" and "science" books, they lead me to lists of books that are labeled different categories - "family" and "sweet". "Fairy Tales" seems to be working.

Holly R W wrote: "Maybe, Goodreads is being wonky, but when I try accessing the links for "medical" and "science" books, they lead me to lists of books that are labeled different categories - "family" and "sweet". "..."

No, your admin is a little wonky!!

I fixed it. So sorry.

Meli wrote: "Already!? I say this every month, but every month time is shorter and shorter 🤪

Tough choices this month. Without looking at the tag results I think I'm leaning fairy tales."

I swear that every day, week, and month is like FLYING by!!! It's kinda scary. Is it an age thing? Every day, I'm like where did that go?

An interesting trio of choices, none of which are directly in my wheelhouse, but all of which I have a want to read before I reach the 5th page.

I read a lot of fairy tale related books last year for the fantasy romance, steampunk and other tags. I really liked the Cinder series, and finished them all.

I want to read more science and science fiction this year. I have both fiction and NF books with biology or environment topics, plus the murderbot series, and a dolphin book. I need 2 romance/love story books for Play Harder, so I could pick a STEM romance. I think the Joe Picket mysteries fit too.

My book clubs are reading Project Hail Mary- which is fabulous - and The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women this winter.

I have some medical related books that I could read, and they probably fit science too.

Yes, there is a lot of overlapping of Science and Medicine. I wonder if the Mods ever considered not using a tag if it is too close to another one selected? It seems to me this has happened before, that two tags were similar.

Anita wrote: "I swear that every day, week, and month is like FLYING by!!! It's kinda scary. Is it an age thing? Every day, I'm like where did that go?"

Probably age 🤣
Makes sense... as we get older that one year is a smaller and smaller drop in the proverbial bucket. I wish we could slow things down sometimes.

Voted - all seemed to have about the same number on my TBR

Voted~ Not the way you thought I would....

I voted. Interesting choices

We've had SCIENCE twice before ... the last time Jan 2022.

Isn't a tag supposed to be "retired" for three years between uses?

I'd be happy with any of these!

Book Concierge wrote: "We've had SCIENCE twice before ... the last time Jan 2022.

Isn't a tag supposed to be "retired" for three years between uses?"

Jan 2022 would make it just past the 3 year mark. I'm assuming the three years doesn't include the entire calendar year, but that's Anita's decision.

I voted.

I feel as if Science shows up every single year - far too often for me. I've basically read any I have in my TBR at this point. You can guess what I am planning to read - I've got a great cozy mystery series that fits it too. And a fantasy/scifi last in a trilogy that fits.

Truth is since I'm making zero effort to match monthly tag in any challenge, I can find something around here to read for the monthly tag that will fit - mystery or scifi. I'm also not trying to read more than one book for the monthly tag - work is just too pressured and busy for me for first half of this year.

Book Concierge wrote: "We've had SCIENCE twice before ... the last time Jan 2022.

Isn't a tag supposed to be "retired" for three years between uses?"

Yes, it’s 2025 now. 😃

Fairy Tales. Oh, brother. Since defending my dissertation, I swore off those babies for at least a decade. Pretty please, anything but fairy tales. 😂

Saorse wrote: "Fairy Tales. Oh, brother. Since defending my dissertation, I swore off those babies for at least a decade. Pretty please, anything but fairy tales. 😂"

I feel exactly the same! Have loads for science and medical but fairy tales I will probably go to the kid's section and get it over with fast if I bother at all.

Book Concierge wrote: "We've had SCIENCE twice before ... the last time Jan 2022.

Isn't a tag supposed to be "retired" for three years between uses?"

The tags become eligible again after 3 years. It doesn't matter how many times we have read the tag before.

February, 2025 is three years after January 2022 (hard as that kinda is to fathom!).

I'd be open to increasing the term going forward. People can message me if that's of interest, and if it seems popular, I'll put it up for a vote. But science is a legitimate choice right now.

Robin P wrote: "Yes, there is a lot of overlapping of Science and Medicine. I wonder if the Mods ever considered not using a tag if it is too close to another one selected? It seems to me this has happened before,..."

We don't.

One tag is nominated by a member (in this case, science).

The other two tags are drawn at random, and I don't "jury rig" the choices in any way. The concept of Play Book Tag is really to stretch your horizons, and I don't think that is served by me trying to guess what is or isn't too adjacent. It's luck of the draw, and obviously reading for the tag is optional (though encouraged!)

Anita wrote: "Robin P wrote: "Yes, there is a lot of overlapping of Science and Medicine. I wonder if the Mods ever considered not using a tag if it is too close to another one selected? It seems to me this has ..."

That's fair, thanks for clarifying!

I usually vote for the tag that most closely fits my upcoming reading. For example, my book group is reading a book in February that exactly fits one of the tags we are voting on for February. Another of the tag options fits one of my Read Harder prompts. Those tags are the ones I voted for. It's surprising how often that works out for me. I like all the tag options, two just happen to fit with my planned reading better than the other.

voted

I usually am totally surprised to find something I'm reading for another purpose partway through the month fits the tag!

Robin P wrote: "I usually am totally surprised to find something I'm reading for another purpose partway through the month fits the tag!"
I love it when that happens. :-)

Anita wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "We've had SCIENCE twice before ... the last time Jan 2022.

Isn't a tag supposed to be "retired" for three years between uses?"

The tags become eligible again after 3 years...."

Thanks Anita!

I love the variety, and each month we all get to vote, so we’ll see what happens.

I think three years is more than long enough for a tag that encompasses so many different topics. Last year alone we had 3 mystery related tags (historical mystery, crime and mystery suspense), and we had two tags that included many fairytale books. But we haven’t had any science related tags at all since Jan 2022.

In defense of science, it can be found in nearly every genre, including mysteries, literary fiction, weather disasters, science fiction, etc. There are many different types of science including biology (medicine, animals, nature), psychology, astronomy, geography and climate.

People can still find plenty of mysteries that involve science - medical examiners, forensic science, DNA, etc. We aren’t restricted by the 5 tag requirement this year (except for a bonus point in compass), so it broadens our choices considerably.

Good points, Nancy! I always forget that I like reading about psychology, education, behavior, linguistics - that is, social science.

NancyJ wrote: "Anita wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "We've had SCIENCE twice before ... the last time Jan 2022.

Isn't a tag supposed to be "retired" for three years between uses?"

The tags become eligible again ..."

Well said. It is very rare that one, let alone 2, of the options fall in my comfort zone. There are 2 categories which have fallen in my comfort zone in recent years; science and adventure. At this point I accept I prefer different books to the majority and rarely get a tag I'm good with, so I don't waste time voting. I like the group and if my headspace is ok one month I try outside my comfort zone, if not I look to see if I can find anything that will sort of fit and if not, I miss the month. Just because it doesn't fit me doesn't mean others won't enjoy it and part of the good side of this group is the differences between us. We get to ask advice on all sorts of strange things because we are a varied group.
It is OK to miss a month, it is ok to ask others for suggestions and most importantly it is ok to have your own preferences so long as others can too.

I find that I have never not yet found something for the monthly tag. I always find a read - even most recently for Steampunk. But its okay to miss. Wait till something like Manga or graphic novels wins. No one should read something they don't want to.

I am with you, Amy. I had a book but it was a slog for me and I threw it back. I am not even looking for another one. If something pops up, great, if not, well we move on and don't stress about it

I never read graphic novels, but a challenge in another group got me to read Heartstopper: Volume One and I loved it and read the whole series. I think you would like it, too, Amy, if you do get that prompt.

Last year I didn't like the Fantasy Romance tag, but because of the Books With Friends game, I ended up reading 2 books that I gave 5 stars to. Since we don't have a game like that this year, I'm not making a special effort but I imagine I'll find some book that works.

Lyn wrote: "I usually vote for the tag that most closely fits my upcoming reading. For example, my book group is reading a book in February that exactly fits one of the tags we are voting on for February. Anot..."

Thanks for reminding me that I have a science prompt for play harder. I may go change my vote.

Fairytale would be more of a settle for me, but I have plenty I could read for it. I have several on my TBR for medical and science.

Oh, this a a hard decision for me! How to decide between medical and science?!! I’d love either one.

I’ll probably go with science, since it covers more territory. So many different kinds of science, something for everybody . . .

I’m reading a science book right now that I am greatly enjoying. It’s another book chosen to accompany the virtual 500-mile Scottish trek that I’m doing. (It’s an app that syncs with the real walking and other exercise that I do. I’ve completed 1/3 of it so far, over 165 miles! I see every step of the way just as if I were actually walking in Scotland. I only wish I could tour the museums and castles, eat in the restaurants, and stay at the hotels and B&Bs! I google all of them that I pass to see more than just the outside.)

The book is The Scots: A Genetic Journey It’s a history of the Scottish people, but not the kings, queens, and battles we already know about. Instead, it’s a deep history as told by DNA studies, archaeology, geology, linguistics, and other sciences. And it’s absolutely fascinating. I highly recommend it.

Ghost of a Rose wrote: "Oh, this a a hard decision for me! How to decide between medical and science?!! I’d love either one.

I’ll probably go with science, since it covers more territory. So many different kinds of scie..."

That sounds really interesting, What is the app that shows you the scenery? I could use something to get me moving again.

It’s called The Conqueror. It isn’t free, but the price (I think it was around $33 USD for mine, shorter ones are probably less) seemed quite reasonable to me. It includes donations to an environmental charity of my choice for every 100 miles I walk, as well as a medal when I complete the trek in the generously-allotted time (2 years for the 500-mile trek.) Both of which help to provide extra motivation, although for me it is enough to see Scotland! You also periodically earn virtual postcards, each of which includes an article with interesting information about the specific area where you are on the map.

They also have a great many other choices of challenges, including fictional ones as well as real treks. And there’s a wide range of difficulty from 30-something miles to over 1000.

I’m not sure how the fictional ones, or a swimming challenge or Everest climb, etc., would work, because they can’t have Google street-view. But since they do such a great job with mine, I suspect that the others would also be worthwhile. I might try a Lord of the Rings one after I finish this one.

Any kind of exercise counts for your miles. The app can be synched with a Fitbit-type of device, or you can manually log in your miles if you don’t have a fitness device. (I’ve been told that there’s an iPhone app that can also do it, but I haven’t tried it.) But you don’t need one. There are tables on the app to tell you how many miles are equivalent to whatever type of exercise you did for however long you did it.

And FWIW, you can also purchase tee-shirts and hats to commemorate your treks.

The app is at
https://www.theconqueror.events/multi...

The one I’m doing is called North Coast 500. I haven’t done any others yet. I started with one of the more challenging ones, just because it happened to pop up in an internet ad. (Talk about personalized advertising, right?) I didn’t realize there were much easier ones! But I’m glad I got this one. I’m enjoying it so much and it is really helping me to keep up the exercising!

One thing good to know - it does take some extra time. To look at the section you’ve “walked.” Theoretically I suppose you could watch it while walking, especially on a treadmill, but that doesn’t work for me. It slows me down too much.

But it’s up to you how much time you want to spend looking at the street view. I want to see everything just as if I’d actually walked the whole route, so I spend a lot of time on it, looking all around and behind me too. They (both the app designers and the developers of the real route) do a great job choosing routes that are really interesting and stunningly beautiful! But just as in real life, some sections of the trek are inevitably going to be more boring than others. You could just look at the start and end after each exercise session, or view random scenes along the way. (But you’d be missing some cool stuff!) . . . However you want to do it and however much time you have available.

You can also do the challenge as part of a team, which would be faster, if that is important.

And you can see where other people doing the app are from and where they are on the trek, if you wish. It’s fun to see who is catching up to you, lagging behind you, going at your pace, or passing you. Of course you can keep your own information and position private, seen only by you, if you prefer. Some people use their real name and photo, others go with a username and an avatar, pet photo, cartoon, artwork, etc.

Sorry this is so long, it’s like an advertisement! You can tell I’m excited to discover and do this app. I should copy this and post it on the app as a review!

Ghost of a Rose wrote: "It’s called The Conqueror. It isn’t free, but the price (I think it was around $33 USD for mine, shorter ones are probably less) seemed quite reasonable to me. It includes donations to an environme..."

I spent a ton of time on the NC500 while researching my dissertation! Two of my most memorable places were Lochcarron, where I spent some time learning all about tartans (not for my research, just for fun), and Thurso, where I came within a hare’s breath of buying a bed and breakfast. The NC500 is a fairly new road (10ish years?). For many, I think it has been economic salvation, but many worry about the environmental impact of so many new explorers. My dad just hates all the people, but he’s an old-timer (he was partly raised in the Highlands, spending summers on the Isle of Skye and returning as an adult to research). I was so blessed to have him along on my trips; his Gaelic and scholarship opened so many doors for me, and the time we got to spend together, so late in both our lives was wonderful. My dad and I went off the 500, into the Western Isles, too. Beautiful country if you can find a walk there! The app you use sound like a great way to „see“ the world, especially if, as you do, you make use of Google. There is, especially along the North Coast, around Thurso, a huge amount of Neolithic and Norse history. Great stuff. I have to look it up that app!

Ghost of a Rose wrote: "It’s called The Conqueror. It isn’t free, but the price (I think it was around $33 USD for mine, shorter ones are probably less) seemed quite reasonable to me. It includes donations to an environme..."

This sounds so fun! I run a ton between March and November, so definitely will check it out. Thanks for sharing all that!