Play Book Tag discussion

I actually don't usually do book challenges. The closest I've come has been here in PBT, challenging myself to read the monthly theme, when I've had the time.

This year has been a dismal reading year for me, but I'm trying to catch up and I'm determined to make next year better. So I've decided I'm finally going to do some challenges and see if that helps.

So far, I'm thinking about doing a Reading Around the World challenge, but I'm curious to hear about what others are doing, as I might try and do a couple different ones. I'm sure some lists would have a bit of overlap.

So what challenges are you doing? Is this a new challenge for you, or one you like to repeat? What attracted you to that particular challenge?

PBT is always first priority. But I’m going to try to finish the Popsugar Challenge next year - the list of prompts is slightly meh at first sight but there’s a lot of flexibility so I’m sure I can make it work to be fun (and to cross over with my PBT reads as much as possible 😉)

As for the rest, I’m going to see what the PBT challenges are before I decide whether I’m taking anything else on.

I will be doing Pop Sugar, as I have every year since 2016 when a friend found it and suggested it as a fun thing to do. I love it! It pushed me to both diversify my reading and read those mountains of unread books in my personal library, which is massive and eclectic.

It has really been a joy and a great success. Since most of my reading are books I acquired at some point the % that disappoint is quite low. I also like the flexibility of choosing what to read for each prompt and in what order.

I had fallen into a real rut before doing that first challenge, reading mostly cozy mysteries, historical romances, and contemporay fiction with an occasional classic. I kept track on Good Reads which ultimately led me to the Ultimately Pop Sugar Challenge Group which further broadened my reading. Many books like The Hate U Give would never have come to my attention if not for weekly discussion in the GR group.

And I love researching the prompts, even stretching them tk breaking point.

Once I finish PS, I go through my read books list for the year and check off as many of the Around The Year prompts as possible. Usually after doing that, I find I only need a couple more to finish that challenge too. So backe to my bookshelves I go!

Stay tuned for an announcement about the 2019 PBT Challenges!! It is coming in the next several days!!

KateNZ wrote: "PBT is always first priority. But I’m going to try to finish the Popsugar Challenge next year - the list of prompts is slightly meh at first sight but there’s a lot of flexibility so I’m sure I can..."

Oh yeah, I'm definitely waiting to see what the 2019 PBT challenges are before making a final decision. I'm just not usually very organized in the winter, so I haven't participated before, as it's usually Spring before I think of it.

I haven't really been aware of the Popsugar Challenge. You're right, there is quite a bit of flexibility. I'll have to consider it. Thanks!

Theresa wrote: "I will be doing Pop Sugar, as I have every year since 2016 when a friend found it and suggested it as a fun thing to do. I love it! It pushed me to both diversify my reading and read those mountain..."

Another nomination for Popsugar! It certainly looks broad enough to break my own reading rut. I'm happy to hear that challenges have worked so well for you, I'm hoping for the same result. I do generally like to read a bit of almost everything, but I have noticed there are a few genres I completely avoid and some favorites I default to. PBT has helped me branch out a little bit more (I also, wouldn't have been aware of The Hate U Give without it) and I'm definitely looking forward to broadening my reading further!

I'll have to look into Reading Around the Year. That one hasn't been on my radar either. Thanks!

Nicole R wrote: "Stay tuned for an announcement about the 2019 PBT Challenges!! It is coming in the next several days!!"

Wonderful! I figured it wouldn't be too long, but I couldn't wait, I wanted to get a jump start on the conversation. :)

I like the group Stress-Free Reading Challenges. They don't have deadlines!

I plan to wrap up a challenge from 2016 by January. I had two goong at the same time with 250 tasks. Oy. What eas o thinking??

Kim wrote: "I like the group Stress-Free Reading Challenges. They don't have deadlines!

I plan to wrap up a challenge from 2016 by January. I had two goong at the same time with 250 tasks. Oy. What eas o thi..."

Goodness, 250 tasks? Ooof! I'm going to have to avoid getting over zealous and doing the same... I'm quite prone to such behavior. I'll check out Stress - Free Reading Challenges as that definitely sounds more my speed. I'm not looking for lots of deadlines, flexibility is key, so that sounds perfect. Thanks!

PBT hits the sweet spot for me with deadlines - a month to read something that fits the tag/ties in with Decathlon/firs Flurries is fine. It makes me be a little disciplined without pressuring me. And if I don’t make it, nobody is going to get grumpy at me.

For additional challenges that I take on though, maximum flexibility is the name of the game. As in ‘give me a whole year and get out of my face’, lol 😂 That’s why PopSugar works well for me.

Fab that we find out the 2019 challenges soon, Nicole! Woot! It’s a huge amount of work for y’all and we seriously appreciate it - I am always in awe of how much effort and thought and care our lovely admins expend on coming up with fun stuff.

LiteraryMania wrote: "I actually don't usually do book challenges. The closest I've come has been here in PBT, challenging myself to read the monthly theme, when I've had the time.

This year has been a dismal reading ..."

Besides this group I participate in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. I am more organized about reading in that group. I have monthly and yearly reading goals for that group. Good luck with your reading!

KateNZ wrote: "PBT hits the sweet spot for me with deadlines - a month to read something that fits the tag/ties in with Decathlon/firs Flurries is fine. It makes me be a little disciplined without pressuring me. ..."

Oh definitely, I think the flexibility of PBT is what has made this group work for me. No one is upset if I disappear for a while, or don't participate in a particular group read. There isn't a competitive focus when it comes to deadlines, it's just friendly and relaxed. I don't participate as often as I'd like, but I do keep coming back and none of my other GR groups have really inspired me to participate.

Thanks for responding! PopSugar seems to be a popular choice and I'll have to check out the Decathlon and Flurries. Thanks!

Diane wrote: "LiteraryMania wrote: "I actually don't usually do book challenges. The closest I've come has been here in PBT, challenging myself to read the monthly theme, when I've had the time.

This year has ..."

Thanks for the suggestion I'll have to check that out. Sounds like one I might have to add to the list.

What is the Pop Sugar Challenge?

https://www.popsugar.co.uk/entertainm...

Here’s the challenge for next year.

Popsugar is some kind of entertainment website, but they do a reading challenge every year. It’s the only thing I know about it. There are 40 ordinary prompts (things like ‘book with love in the title’) and 10 advanced prompts. It lasts all year. There’s a group on GR for people doing the challenge - really useful for fun suggestions about what to read. They have weekly checkins and buddy reads, and they’re pretty sociable (though there are huge numbers) if you want to join in but no pressure - you can just do things on your own if you prefer. Details of next year’s challenge at https://www.popsugar.com/entertainmen...

PBT has my heart too. I might try Pop Sugar as well. It looks like a lot of fun. I’ve joined another group too but it’s not the same as you fabulous people. I’ll try to fit in their reads where I can, but I’ll be prioritising PBT.

Ooh another one! Go,Susie!

I think it’s biting off more than I want to chew though Kate!

Honestly, Susie, this year (which was my first attempt) I got nearly 30 of the standard prompts simply through what I was reading anyway. There were very few books that I deliberately chose to fit a prompt (and I only read those when I was in the mood anyhow). I just kept a bit of an eye on the list and made sure I knew what would fit what.

I’m not going to finish the challenge this year - not trying to - but it’s made me think that it should be manageable next year with very little more thought, mostly using my existing owned TBR books.

Awww, thank you for all of the lovely comments about PBT! We genuinely love this group and all of you so doing the “work” barely seems like work at all!

And, I agree that laid back is key! I wouldn’t have lasted this long either if it were too rigorous. Lol.

I really like PBT - the perfect combo of lovely people and relaxed but interesting challenges

My mane focus for next year: I am continuing to read my 118 books (one for each year since 1900-2018). I’m almost halfway. So yay.
Any other challenge I did in 2018 and will do next year first fit this challenge.

So PBT is going to happen again and I did Classic Bingo (from a group called Catching up on classics) - it was fun so I will most likely do again

Then there’s making sure 25 books at least are by women

Beyond that - who knows. I think I will write down both pop sugar & ‘book riot read harder’ challenges and slowly mark them off as I read my 118 and PBT.

Its a fun challenge in itself to cross many different things with one book

Oh, did I mention I just join a RL book club? (Made of year 6 mums that want to stay in touch now that our kids are starting high school in 2.5 months 😵

This year is the first year I have done any sort of challenge. I've read books from every category that has been chosen in PBT, but this is it. I am hoping to add to that next year. I'm waiting to see what challenges this group will have for next year.

Given that I help come up with and run the PBT Challenges, it almost seems blasphemous that I do not actually do them. Lol.

I am HORRIBLE at challenges other than the most loose, flexible guidelines you can imagine. The only one I typically complete is to read for PBT each month.

But, that is a good one to do 😉

Nicole R wrote: "Given that I help come up with and run the PBT Challenges, it almost seems blasphemous that I do not actually do them. Lol.

I am HORRIBLE at challenges other than the most loose, flexible guideli..."

Ha!! That is pretty funny that you don't do the challenges!! Well, I can't wait to see what you have come up with for this next year.

Gosh I do love challenges! I am excitedly awaiting the PBT challenges for 2019; they are always so much fun. I am sure I will pick up a few others along the way.

I have never done a challenge in my life.
I do love the PBT prompts, which I just started in May (I think).

But for 2019 I have a stack of Shakespeare inspired modern adaptations I would like to read. I was thinking to read the original play first then the modern adaptation so that it sort of a challenge.

I would like to see what the PBT challenges have to offer as well, so my original idea could change.

This year I started tracking demographics of the authors I read in an excel spreadsheet. Mainly gender and race / nationality. I read a lot of women, but they are predominately white so I would like that to look a lot more diverse when next year ends, so I need to incorporate that into my reading in 2019, which shouldn't be too hard. I feel like Book Riot is a great resource for diverse reads, especially the podcasts.

And of course, I always set a goal to read what is on my actual TBR and stop buying new stuff!

For those doing an Around the World challenge, you may be interested in this....
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/10/bo...

I started doing challenges in March of this year by joining the Seasonal Reading Challenge-I have stuck with it since then, even though I have never finished-I don't even try anymore, I just enjoy the researching of books to read. What I do not like about that group is that it is not very social-so I went looking for something else and found you "peeps" Now Kate has talked up Pop Sugar, so I am going to do that too next year-my goal is to find books that will fill all 3 challenges.

Meli wrote: "I have never done a challenge in my life.
I do love the PBT prompts, which I just started in May (I think).

But for 2019 I have a stack of Shakespeare inspired modern adaptations I would like to..."

Thanks for that link Meli! Always looking for Author's I have never read and this is a gold mine!

I try not to plan as much as possible. Yet I end up participating in more challenges than I should! Maybe this year the challenge should be to erode Mt. TBR...

PBT challenges and reading the monthly tag always comes first for me. I found the group Crazy Challenge Connection thanks to a PBT member, sorry I can't remember who, and have become somewhat addicted to joining challenges there, especially ridiculously long spell challenges.

Idit wrote: "I really like PBT - the perfect combo of lovely people and relaxed but interesting challenges

My mane focus for next year: I am continuing to read my 118 books (one for each year since 1900-2018)...."

Wow! You have your eye on a lot of challenges. Thanks for the ideas. That classics challenge sounds right up my alley and incorporating more female authors seems like an easily achievable goal combined with other challenges. Thank you for the ideas!

Meli wrote: "I have never done a challenge in my life.
I do love the PBT prompts, which I just started in May (I think).

But for 2019 I have a stack of Shakespeare inspired modern adaptations I would like to..."

Thanks for all the ideas Meli! I also am making an effort to make my reading more diverse.

Since you're reading Shakespeare plays and adaptions, you might also be interested in picking up a copy of Isaac Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare. I have a copy sitting on my shelf and though I haven't read the entire thing, I have read part of it and found it absolutely fascinating. He goes into the mythology and history that influenced Shakespeare's plays.

AJ wrote: "I made for myself to read a book published in every year that I have been alive (1997-2019, so 22 books)..."

That's a really cool idea, AJ! For me that would mean reading at least 63 books, LOL. Actually doable as I read about 175 books a year.

I only found PBT in August this year, so I really have not done much more than post in the monthly genre and whatever other books I'm reading. I never did figure out Decathlon or Listopia.

But I did join 2 buddy reads of books I had in my ebook library waiting for me - The Weight of Ink and Circe which had really terrific discussions.

And I just adore that there are others who unabashedly love and review Christmas romances and cozy mysteries! December Flurries here I come!

In addition to talking books in GR groups like Ultimate Pop Sugar and PBT, I have a group of friends who are also doing Pop Sugar each year. We meet at least quarterly over a meal to discuss challenge progress and books we've liked, didn't like, etc. We've set up a private group on FB to discuss when we don't meet over a meal. One of our members participates in the meals virtually via FB Chat as she lives in Alaska while the rest of us are in NYC. I prop my smartphone on a stand on the table, attach speakers and make sure we are sitting in a quiet corner of the restaurant. She even joined us that way from Botswana when she was house and pet sitting for a friend!

I really am looking forward to the PBT 2019 challenges. Between those and monthly tags and fall Flurries, I wouldn’t have time for much more. But Decathalon and other PBT members have given me some other personal challenges that I have since taken on. For example:

I count how many “owned” books I am reading and am shooting for like 10, 12, 15 a year. I also count the non-fiction, as well as different countries covered.

I like the Decathalon idea about longest books on TBR. In 2019, I will read one from my first ten, 1 from my first 25, one from first 50, and two from my oldest/first 100.

I am also shooting for all the books of an author or series each year. As of now. 2019 will be the read and the re-read of the Forgotten Cemetery Series. I have few ideas for a couple of authors to read all their works. And plenty that I read everything new as it comes out.

Lastly, I have my own shorter TBR lists from the Goodreads 450. So I have been charting my shortlist too. Whether a book was on my 2017 to read list, or 2018. Moving forward, I think I will have three lists. 2017 (two years and before) 2018 (last year) and the 2019 to read. There are like 10 books on 2017, maybe 20/25 on 2018, and one on 2019 (the Huntress). I’m hoping my challenge is to clear these off too. Maybe five from the first list and 15 from 2018. But that’s just my own daughter of accountant stuff.

I list my 100 books a year, and I try to designate owned, non fiction, giveaway, book club or buddy read. Just so I know.

But my answer to the question is that other than these meaningless personal challenges of accounting, I am a PBT girl through and through. I’m proud that I have never missed a month or a challenge. I’d like to think that I can keep this up.

I agree with the general consensus above that I LOVE PBT because of how easy and laid back it was. It was super stress free. I started with another group that had yearly, quarterly, and monthly challenges and only completed a couple because it was just too much pressure. It made reading some books no fun. I almost started avoiding some books because I had planned to read them because I felt like I had to read them.

I am going to try the pop sugar challenge because I feel like through doing PBT and my own reading I might be able to complete the majority of it. I figure I would just read and periodically check to see if what I've been reading fits various pop sugar prompts.

This year my main goal that kept me motivated was to read 100 books this year, I've already done that so I'm trying to decide what I want to set my goal to be for 2019. I'm thinking maybe 120 but I haven't decided yet.

This is my first year doing challenges and it's finding the sweet spot between it being too much and just enough to have fun.

I've tried the PopSugar challenge once or twice. I am not a great fan.

However ... I am addicted to challenges in several groups here on Goodreads.
Seasonal Reading Challenge - I'll never finish but it's fun to get stuff off the tbr list.
Crazy Challenge Connection - Some are just a month long, some are years long.
Wanderlust - focuses on travel around the world and all the challenges encourage reading from a wide range of genres / countries / authors.

Charlotte wrote: "This year my main goal that kept me motivated was to read 100 books this year, I've already done that so I'm trying to decide what I want to set my goal to be for 2019. I'm thinking maybe 120 but I haven't decided yet. "

One of the personal challenges that I do each year is a kind of modified long book challenge. I attempt one book in each of the following categories:

500-599 pages
600-749 pages
750-999 pages
1000-1399 pages
1400+ pages

I didn't hit all of the categories this year, but I am going to try again next year. This year I didn't really plan the reads, I just kind of plugged them in after-the-fact if they fit. I think I am going to plan a bit more next year.

And, let's be honest, the only book that will realistically fit the 1400+ category is the next Outlander book! lol.

Just an option if you want a challenge that doesn't necessarily add more books to your total.

Nicole R wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "This year my main goal that kept me motivated was to read 100 books this year, I've already done that so I'm trying to decide what I want to set my goal to be for 2019. I'm thinki..."


Oooooo... interesting... that one kind of intimidates me. I have this weird fear of really long books. I don't know how to get over that. Maybe it's doing this challenge and learning to love long books and being immersed in a world for so long.

When do they usually post the annual PBT challenges?

Meli wrote: "When do they usually post the annual PBT challenges?"

We open voting around December 1st, voting is open for a couple of weeks, and then we announce the official challenges a few days before Christmas so people can start planning!

Stay tuned...

Definitely waiting on the 2019 PBT challenges first.
I'm normally lucky to get all 12 tags, and pretty much never finish the challenges- but it's fun to try!! I did all the decathlon, but didn't do great on listopia this year.

Pop sugar seems like a good back-up. As Jolene had said and done- it's always fun trying to find one book that will fit multiple challenges too.

Meli-my guess is they'll be announced around the 2nd or 3rd week of December. Last year was fun because they gave us options to vote on which challenge we like too. (ADMINS-BRING BACK THE NON FICTION LINK CHALLENGE!- Lol)

EDIT- Also just joined the popsugar goodreads group. I didn't realize the categories were collective, user suggested, and voted on!

I can’t wait to find out the 2019 challenges! Just quietly, does anyone else think that 2019 sounds like it’s in some distant future, and not NEXT YEAR!

Um did you mean to say next month? Like five weeks away? Like three days after I turn 50, and Joi stays young? Trust me, it’s sooner than you think. Spent the day yesterday in the DMV renewing my license.

Nicole R wrote: "Given that I help come up with and run the PBT Challenges, it almost seems blasphemous that I do not actually do them. Lol.

I am HORRIBLE at challenges other than the most loose, flexible guideli..."

LOL, Nicole!

Theresa wrote: "I only found PBT in August this year, so I really have not done much more than post in the monthly genre and whatever other books I'm reading. I never did figure out Decathlon or Listopia...."

That's ok! It might be easier to figure out and join in the challenges when you're here from the start with explanations and getting to vote on which ones. :-)

Amy wrote: "Um did you mean to say next month? Like five weeks away? Like three days after I turn 50, and Joi stays young? Trust me, it’s sooner than you think. Spent the day yesterday in the DMV renewing my l..."

LOL! Happy early birthday to you, Amy! A big one this year!

I don't generally plan my reading, but since I don't look like I going to make my goal this year, maybe I need to starting planning more.

I make the PBT challenges my number one priority. They have broadened my reading in such a good way. Very much liked Nicole’s culture challenge this year.

I like challenges that allow my the flexibility of choices. I don’t do well if the choices are too narrow, particularly if I have to read from a short list. I use other challenges to help me decide what to pick up next from the available choices, but don’t really aim for completion. I’ve done the popsugar before and enjoyed it.