Play Book Tag discussion

I am headed out of town (7/14-7/20), so am posting this early!

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

https://forms.gle/wRVUm92nWMYdW8jj6

family drama: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
scifi-fantasy: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
slice of life: 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 12:00 pm EST on 7/22.

Interesting. The first two are very broad (not usually the ones I want to see win), but the last one... I'm not even sure what that might mean!

LibraryCin wrote: "Interesting. The first two are very broad (not usually the ones I want to see win), but the last one... I'm not even sure what that might mean!"

Looking up the meaning, since I didn't know either, it is books that show everyday events or mundane experiences as one website put it. The list Anita linked too has a lot of manga on it for some reason. I'm not sure what I'm voting for yet.

Have a good trip Anita.

Have fun, Anita!

I do have something for each one. The slice of life is a bit puzzling. It might have come up in the steeplechase.

Fingers crossed for one, but that wouldn't be a stretch for me.

Ordinarily, I would pick sci fi fantasy, but we just had speculative fiction!

I thought of slice of life as cozy, but some very serious books are on the list.

These all look good to me - and I have great choices for all three. It's going to be hard to pick!

I agree that SciFi Fantasy and Speculative Fiction have a great deal of overlap, which might be too much of a good thing to have it 2 months in a row.

I looked up the definition for "Slice of Life" and here's what I found:

"Slice of life" refers to a narrative style that depicts ordinary, everyday experiences in a realistic, unembellished way. Rather than focusing on dramatic plot twists or extraordinary events, these stories capture the mundane details and quiet moments of daily existence.

Slice of life stories typically feature:
- Ordinary people dealing with common situations - work, family, relationships, daily routines
- Minimal dramatic conflict or "big" events
- Focus on character development through small interactions and observations
- Realistic dialogue and settings
- Often episodic structure, like snapshots of different moments
- Emphasis on mood and atmosphere over plot

The "slice" metaphor suggests you're getting just a piece of someone's life, not their entire dramatic arc.

The term originated in theater and has been adopted across various media, but in literature it represents a commitment to portraying life as it's actually lived, rather than as heightened drama.

Booknblues wrote: "Have fun, Anita!

I do have something for each one. The slice of life is a bit puzzling. It might have come up in the steeplechase.

Fingers crossed for one, but that wouldn't be a stretch for me."

Yes I remember when we had this in Steeplechase. The concept is fine, but the list itself is dominated by Japanese books. Loneliness seems to be a dominant theme, and I’m finding them sad, especially after seeing news shows that suggest they are very true to life. There are several books on the list I really liked though.

At the rate I’m going this month, I might not get to many speculative books, so sci-fi fantasy would be ok with me.

I have several books on my priority lists this year that haven’t fit any tags yet. I think at least a few will involve family drama.

Joy D wrote: "I agree that SciFi Fantasy and Speculative Fiction have a great deal of overlap, which might be too much of a good thing to have it 2 months in a row.

I looked up the definition for "Slice of Lif..."

I’m reading Olive Again and it fits perfectly. Later in the list I spotted many modern and classic favorites. I saw books by Elizabeth Strout, Ann Patchett, Anne Tyler, Fredrick Backman, Kingsolver, Kevin Wilson….

@Anita - have a marvelous time!

Well - interesting selection.

Slice of Life - I was/am quite puzzled by Slice of Life and I thank those who looked it up though when I look at the link Anita provided, it still strikes me as odd. I looked through the first 7 or so pages of tags and found while I had 7 or 8 'read' books on each page, I only had at most 1 book in my "want to read" shelf, and essentially none of them are books I will want or likely make any effort to read in August! Too dark, long, serious or just wrong mood. Also none of the books, not even those I read, were going to fit in with The Compass, though that's only a very minor consideration and relates not to points but to combining reads to check as many challenge boxes as I can since my time to read is so limited.

Family Drama - initially I thought this woudl be a 'hell, no' but....I took a look at the linked list and I have quite a few 'want to read' books in the first several pages and also most fit into other challenges I have so 1 read equals more than one. Yay. Also, I noticed a lot of the same books as showed up in the Slice of Life list - at least among those I've 'read.'

SFF = Since I read one of these a month for Feminerdy, it's an easy yes. BUT, those don't fit with my various challenges, unless my 3rd PH lists when I get one obliges.

I'm not at all sure which way to jump. Basically I will without a doubt read at least one book in August that will fit the tag. I can thus go with any.

Interesting, I thought of Slice of Life as lighter books, that is the case for sci-fi where you get Becky Chambers, Nathan Lowell and Travis Baldree. They are writing about space without wars, or monsters who retired to run a coffee shop. But someone like Ann Tyler definitely works - which means there is a lot of overlap with Family Drama!

I could never be a Mod who had to post these, I would be so tempted to cheat and not take the random ones. Sometimes we have too much overlap, or 3 unpopular tags, or 3 very popular tags.

Rachel N. wrote: "Looking up the meaning, since I didn't know either, it is books that show everyday events or mundane experiences as one website put it. ..."

Thanks so much, Rachel!

ETA: And thank you to others who also took a minute to look up what it meant.

Voted.

Thank you for all the good vacation wishes.

Off to a rip roaring start - - flight cancelled (and it was very early so I got up at like 3:30 am). No alternatives. We are re-booked to fly out tomorrow . . .

LOL. So typical for us, I swear. Lucky in love. Unlucky on flying.

Robin P wrote: "Interesting, I thought of Slice of Life as lighter books, that is the case for sci-fi where you get Becky Chambers, Nathan Lowell and [author:Travis Baldree|22182..."

There is one member submitted tag every month, so I feel like there should never be 3 unpopular ones, lol. But I do agree that sometimes the randomizer is not cooperative.

But I also am not interested in assuming that my view of the situation (in terms of what is desirable and what isn't) is the same as the view of the membership, so RANDOM it is!! Lol. In good times and in bad.

Interesting. I'm a fan or short stories. When asked for a definition of short stories (other than the obvious page number definitions), I usually say the provide a glimpse into a life or a "slice of life" because an author simply doesn't have the story length to provide deep character or story development.

I got curious and googled "slice of life" and manga together. It appears that Slice of Life is a category of manga, which is why it is turning up so often on the list. Although, I've only read one or two graphic novels in my entire life, and no actual manga, so I could be entirely wrong.

This is what Google provided: Slice of Life manga focus on the experiences of everyday existence, offering readers a chance to see the beauty in what might seem mundane. These stories typically eschew fantastical elements, focusing instead on character development and emotional depth.

Doughgirl5562 wrote: "I got curious and googled "slice of life" and manga together. It appears that Slice of Life is a category of manga, which is why it is turning up so often on the list. Although, I've only read one ..."

Thanks for sharing this - I was really surprised to see so much Manga on the list.

That was very interesting to know Doughgirl! Thanks for sharing

Very interesting and sheds light on who the primary users are for a Slice of Life shelf - manga readers.

I was leaning toward Family drama, and it will most likely still get my vote.

But I do feel as if I've had quite a bit of it in the past 48 hours. I don't think I've posted it here, but my daughter is in NYC for some summer acting study. A big adventure for her that involved arranging to sublet on the west coast while she found a sublet in the city.
After only one week into her stay, she called me late Sat. night from the ER to say that she had acute appendicitis. LOTS of long distance family drama while my son arranged an emergency leave and drove from Maryland to be with her.

After a full 24 hours in the ER they finally did the surgery around 1 am this morning. I'm already scheduled for a weeks vacation in the big apple at the end of this week, but I may move up my arrival date.

That's my current Slice of Life. I think I'd be happy with any of these tags.

JGrace, that's too much drama! Best wishes for your daughter's healing and recovery.

Jgrace wrote: "I was leaning toward Family drama, and it will most likely still get my vote.

But I do feel as if I've had quite a bit of it in the past 48 hours. I don't think I've posted it here, but my daught..."

JGrace - I am in NYC - in Manhattan. PM me if I can do anything for any of you. I'd also love to see you when here if that works. I'll pm you my cell number so you can text/call if need be.

This sort of emergency happens, unfortunately. Glad the surgery is over and she's in recovery.

Theresa wrote: "Jgrace wrote: "I was leaning toward Family drama, and it will most likely still get my vote.

But I do feel as if I've had quite a bit of it in the past 48 hours. I don't think I've posted it here..."

Thank you! Sent you a message.

Anita wrote: "But I also am not interested in assuming that my view of the situation (in terms of what is desirable and what isn't) is the same as the view of the membership, so RANDOM it is!! Lol. In good times and in bad.

Of course, that is the only fair way to do it.

Jgrace wrote: "I was leaning toward Family drama, and it will most likely still get my vote.

But I do feel as if I've had quite a bit of it in the past 48 hours. I don't think I've posted it here, but my daught..."

Wow! sorry to hear this, it must have been very scary for you and her.

Robin P wrote: "Jgrace wrote: "I was leaning toward Family drama, and it will most likely still get my vote.

But I do feel as if I've had quite a bit of it in the past 48 hours. I don't think I've posted it here..."

Thank you, Robin. It was more logistically stressful than scary. As uncomfortable as she was (and is, at the moment tucked up in a hotel with her brother) we were all aware that a bad appendix wasn't life threatening.

I'm just bemused at the appropriate tag choices that popped up today.

Doughgirl5562 wrote: "Interesting. I'm a fan or short stories. When asked for a definition of short stories (other than the obvious page number definitions), I usually say the provide a glimpse into a life or a "slice o..."

Oh, that's a good way to think of it!

Jgrace wrote: "Robin P wrote: "Jgrace wrote: "I was leaning toward Family drama, and it will most likely still get my vote.

But I do feel as if I've had quite a bit of it in the past 48 hours. I don't think I'v..."

I’m glad it all worked out and she’s out of the hospital already. An Appendectomy is fairly routine now, but it’s still surgery. It’s great her brother was able to drop everything to be with her.

Jgrace ... so glad your daughter got the quick medical attention needed for this emergency. May her recovery be speedy and uneventful.

But ... while it's rare these days ... appendicitis CAN be life-threatening. My grandfather died of the peritonitis that settled in after a burst appendix (before the era of antibiotics). And recently a priest at one of our local churches died of complications following appendectomy.

She was both smart and lucky,BC. She went to the ER thinking she had food poisoning so the diagnosis was early and they started her on antibiotics right away. The downside of not being in any immediate danger was that she spent over 24 hours in the ER waiting for surgery.

But, all is well. She's already feeling better.

Jgrace wrote: "I was leaning toward Family drama, and it will most likely still get my vote.

But I do feel as if I've had quite a bit of it in the past 48 hours. I don't think I've posted it here, but my daught..."

Wow, that's a lot of drama. I'm glad she went to the ER, but this is the first time I've heard of appendicitis being treated as not in immediate danger. This might be partly because of the story of the time my dad didn't want to wake the doctor on call in the middle of the night when he had to have his taken out--it nearly ruptured.

Good thoughts for you and your family JGrace!

This is becoming book club drama. Is that a tag?

I spent the hours that she was waiting trying to forget every story I'd ever heard about a ruptured appendix. She and her brother kept assuring me that the nurses and PA's were assuring them that she was in no immediate danger. And apparently the OR's were full of people who were in greater danger.

I'm sorry that I hijacked this thread. I'm going to place my vote now.

Jgrace wrote: "She was both smart and lucky,BC. She went to the ER thinking she had food poisoning so the diagnosis was early and they started her on antibiotics right away. The downside of not being in any immed..."

Will she now miss out on her program?

Jgrace wrote: "I'm sorry that I hijacked this thread. I'm going to place my vote now."

Judith, thank you for informing us and keeping us posted.

I'm so glad she has gotten through it successfully.

Jgrace wrote: "This is becoming book club drama. Is that a tag?

I spent the hours that she was waiting trying to forget every story I'd ever heard about a ruptured appendix. She and her brother kept assuring me..."

Wow, that's crazy! I hope that night was an exception! With today's scanning equipment they are probably able to get a better picture of just how close to rupturing an appendix is. There was a time when you were diagnosed by symptoms only. That meant that 99 percent of the time they meant appendicitis, but there was always that 1 percent that they had no way of knowing. Those were acceptable odds because they were the best ones there were--the only ones.

I'm glad all worked out for the best!

Hmm I dont remember if I voted. Anita, I’m going to vote now. I’m sorry if it’s a duplicate.

NancyJ wrote: "Hmm I dont remember if I voted. Anita, I’m going to vote now. I’m sorry if it’s a duplicate."

DItto ... I thought I had voted but now that I see Nancy's remark, I went through and did NOT see a remark from me that I voted. So I'm going to vote now. Hope it's not a duplicate. If it IS, take the first one and ignore this one.

Robin P wrote: "Ordinarily, I would pick sci fi fantasy, but we just had speculative fiction!

I thought of slice of life as cozy, but some very serious books are on the list."

Ditto re the sci-fi. But I do have options for all 3 even after speculative fiction, so I'll leave it to chance.