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Trim 2020 Continuation - Announcement, Community, and Chit Chat Thread
March - # 22 - ✔ 28Aug20
Next Year in Havana – Chanel Cleeton – 3***
Another work of historical fiction that relies on the bifurcated story line. Basically you have two romances each featuring a privileged young woman with a man who is not in her class, one in the 1950s and the other in 2017. It held my attention, and had some interesting historical elements.
My full review HERE
JUNE - # 19 - ✔ 04Sep20
Dumplin’ – Julie Murphy – 3.5***
I grew up in Texas and am very familiar with the small-town beauty pageant hysteria. I really liked the story arc about Will’s efforts regarding the pageant and how she inspires other girls who don’t fit the standard “beauty-queen” stereotype to step up as well. I also liked how Murphy explored the mother/daughter and friend relationships. I was a somewhat unhappy with the romance aspect; I was really disappointed in how Dumplin’ managed her conflict, but then she’s a teenager.
My full review HERE
Hoping to now be able to get to some of the books that got called and I have not had time to read...we will see. I am really just wanting to read whatever strikes my fancy
Never mind ... duplicate
I am so behind on my Unofficial Trim reads - because none picked had useful Poll Tally tags! - and since I had to read a book on the list that had not been drawn for my Feminerdy Book Club today and there is a buddy read happening, I swapped my #23 The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson with what was at #17. So #17 The Bird King. Enjoyed, gave it 3 stars and it led to a lively discussion today. My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I am switching up too, as I also have Bird King on my list.
I just finished my #16 on the weekend. I will get to 17 soon.
July #15 - Whiter Than Snow - Sandra Dallas4 stars
In the first chapter we read of all the possible things that might have touched off the avalanche above Swandyke, CO in April of 1920 sending a huge slide of snow down the mountain just as the children are being let out of school and walking home along the road in its path. Then the story backtracks to give us the life stories of the families whose children are walking that road. We read about two estranged sisters, mother to five of the children, the mine engineer and his wife, one boy, a Black sawmill worker, a daughter, a veteran of the Civil War, a granddaughter, and a prostitute, a daughter before circling back to the tragedy. The character studies were well done. Each family had some secret or scandal or hardship in their past but a love for the children. If I had to decide after reading their stories which would be the ones to lose their child I don't think I would want to make that decision. Very thought provoking, but with a hopeful note at the end.
November-substituted book The Bird King-I had such high hopes for this book. As I began reading, I rubbed my little hands together and said "YES! this is going to be good". By mid-book, I was inches away from throwing it into the DNF pile.
It was a great concept. Taking place in Granada, Spain in the twilight of the Moors occupation. Fatima, a young concubine to the Sultan and Hassan, a magical mapmaker, escape from the Palace when the Inquisitors come after Hassan. They go in search of refuge from their enslaved existence, looking for the island of The Bird King. As I mentioned above, by mid-book the excitement had diminished, reading it became a struggle. I started picturing Princess Jasmine and Abu as the protagonists.
I read a lot of fantasy. Good fantasy writers have the ability to make their worlds believable. In the beginning, I saw there was protentional here. Then, the author starting piling one fantastic character on top of another. One more "escape" that did not seem possible.
I knew nothing about this author before reading this book, I read no reviews. Now I find out she comes from a background of graphic novels. Like Theresa said in her reviews, I can see this, in that genre.
I did not hate it, but I can't give it 3 stars either. I rarely finish books that I know are going to come in at 2 stars, this was a fluke in my world
Joanne wrote: "November-substituted book The Bird King-I had such high hopes for this book. As I began reading, I rubbed my little hands together and said "YES! this is going to be good". By mid..."
Universally my Feminerdy Club and others I've talked to who have read it all say the same thing: it was disappointing. We expected more and better. Not hype per se.
Sorry I am a little late... I was binge-watching Cobra Kai basically all day yesterday 😂A recap of the year's numbers so far:
JAN - 12
FEB - 9
MAR - 22
APR - 6
MAY - 21
JUN - 19
JUL - 15
AUG - 4
SEP - 11
OCT - 16
NOV - 17
December's number, and final number of 2020 is....
#10
November - #17War and Remembrance - Herman Wouk - 5 Stars
War and Remembrance is the sequel to Wouk's The Winds of War, and covers the extended Henry and Jastrow families from the aftermath of Pearl Harbor through the end of the war in August 1945.
Commander Victor “Pug” Henry is serving in various capacities, first as the commander of a cruiser in the Pacific theater, and then as an aide to President Franklin Roosevelt. This allows our fictional Pug to carry out frequent special assignments, which put him in the middle of several historic moments. We also follow Byron Henry’s search for his Jewish wife and baby son, now trapped with her uncle inside Nazi-controlled Europe.
Interwoven throughout the novel are excerpts of writings from a fictitious book titled "World Empire Lost" written by a fictional German general that Pug meets in the prior book. These chapters explain the German viewpoint and add more understanding to the political situation.
Herman Wouk performed exceptional research on the time period. I found many of his descriptions very realistic. Even though it is a fictional narrative, it is filled with historical accuracy. He was able to create characters that I've remembered over forty two years as if they were people I once knew. In my opinion, the duology of The Winds of War and War and Remembrance comprise one of the most compelling novels of World War II. It's a wonderful, multi-layered story, with incisive commentary on the war and the geopolitical situation of the time.
War and Remembrance, along with the previous book, are two of the very few books I've read three times over the years. Published in 1978, it does feel a bit dated in 2020, but it's still eloquent, informative and a great way to learn more about that period of history through fictional characters. Now, off to get my DVD of the 1988 miniseries and settle in for a few hours with Robert Mitchum's Pug Henry.
Cats of the National Trust for me... I think this will be a nice one to end the year on!
My December #10 is In the Time of the Butterflies, but I've only read like 1 of my trims so far this year so we'll see. December looks like it will be a slower month of reading for me, so I should at least try! It also fits the tag!
I'm excited about my #10, which is The Reckoning by Sharon K. Penman. I read the first two last year and was hoping this would be called so I could finish the trilogy.
Meli wrote: "My December #10 is In the Time of the Butterflies, but I've only read like 1 of my trims so far this year so we'll see. December looks like it will be a slower month of reading for me,..."Meli, I really loved that book-I hope you get to it
Olivermagnus wrote: "I'm excited about my #10, which is The Reckoning by Sharon K. Penman. I read the first two last year and was hoping this would be called so I could finish the trilogy."Love Penman! Enjoy!
My #10 is Night Soldiers, which is awesome, because I have been on a binge reading HF and Thrillers lately and this fits both
My number 10 is The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
Joanne, if not this month definitely sometime. It is on my physical tbr and I am looking forward to it
My #10 is also The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared.Is there anyone else who wants to or will be joining this buddy read? Booknblues when in December do you think you will get to this one?
My #10 is the Devil in Jerusalem! I am truly excited for that!
Hayjay315 wrote: "My #10 is also The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared.Is there anyone else who wants to or will be joining this buddy read? Booknblues when in December do you thin..."
I'm open to anytime in December, I should warn you though that I have been seriously slow at reading the past 6 months or so. Pick a day and let me know when you are about to start and I will try to catch up.
The other thing is it does rate as international.
Booknblues wrote: "Hayjay315 wrote: "My #10 is also The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared.Is there anyone else who wants to or will be joining this buddy read? Booknblues when in De..."
Yes, I checked the International tag shelf and this book is on there.
I just placed my hold for this at the library and don't anticipate on getting it until the first week of December. I'll most likely start reading it that first weekend of the month.
Hayjay315 wrote: "I'll most likely start reading it that first weekend of the month. That sounds like it could work for me. Let me know.
BooknBlues wrote: The other thing is it does rate as international.Why not? I say anything outside my home country is international. LoL
Joanne wrote: "BooknBlues wrote: The other thing is it does rate as international.Why not? I say anything outside my home country is international. LoL"
The problem is what is my home country? Where I was born? Grew up? Live? have citizenship? Have lived?
My Number 10 is The Good People Which is in Ireland (Southern) Think it can count as I don't live in UK anymore and Southern Ireland has not been part of UK for almost exactly a century.
Jen wrote: "Joanne wrote: "BooknBlues wrote: The other thing is it does rate as international.Why not? I say anything outside my home country is international. LoL"
The problem is what is my home country? W..."
All of the above is usually my answer. Of course other than 6 months living in Paris, I have only lived in USA and only in New York State. And oddly...or maybe not...Paris is a home to me.
Now that we are voting on PBT 2021 challenges, I just wanted to announce my thinking about this unofficial continuation of the yearlong challenge from 2019. Which would if allowed, culminate in its last and final twelve in its last and final year. As long as the moderators do not mind, and feel we have been successful at it, I would like to see us finish our final twelve, and any left over buddy reads that folks were looking forward to. But.... I would like us first to get the ok from the moderators, and then not discuss it or plan for it, until after the 16th when the yearlong challenges are announced. Suddenly your list might change to non-fiction or cooking or remote places. If we (I) do this right, then it can be something that newer members join, or folks re-join, and any leftover buddy reads can be added in. Or planned separate from "Final Trim". For instance, I see a buddy read forming for The Exiles, and I have a buddy read planned for 2021 with Joanne and another with Sally, and I still have my eyes on Holly - who I was still supposed to pick a book with. So let's plan all this starting after the 17th or 18th - and let the new challenges breathe a little. That is our communities main focus. This was just a fun add on. And still pending continuation approval. So hang tight. I got you!
Jen K wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Jen K wrote: "Mine is Behold the Dreamers which I do look forward to reading."Jen, mine too. I have been way behind with this, but let me know when you will be ..."
Jen, I have just started it, were you able to get it?
Yep, I was wondering about the prospect of doing this unofficially again next year, which I am all for. (even though I did terrible in this unofficial challenge 🤣😂)I am ready to discuss later in December!
I definitely want to continue to finish off my final 12. Hmmm, I suppose if it turns out we don't do it as a group, I can always randomly choose the numbers myself.
Booknblues wrote: "Jen K wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Jen K wrote: "Mine is Behold the Dreamers which I do look forward to reading."Jen, mine too. I have been way behind with this, but let me know whe..."
Sadly no. My dad had a fall and I had to travel home to care for him the past couple of weeks and am still here. Between caretaking and my actual job, I'm completely behind in my reading. :( Family first though. Maybe I can manage in December.
Well I failed miserably this year keeping up -- and not just on this challenge. Proust and Poll Tally and Work kicked my butt! However, I hope to catch up on most of the missed Unofficial Trim by end of December, and I'm all for doing the final 12 - and sticking with the same 12 I have. I have a few buddy reads in there still - Circling the Sun for example.
I would like to continue with the final twelve too.
Jen K wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Jen K wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Jen K wrote: "Mine is Behold the Dreamers which I do look forward to reading."Jen, mine too. I have been way behind with this, ..."
I'm sorry to hear that. I've just started it and thought of you.
Another time, another book.
I plan to keep on plugging away and finish up those final twelve books. Actually as of right now I have only 10 left ... and one fits the recent BONUS BINGO call of 1970.
I think I will finish up with this year's 12 even if I go into the New Year to get them done and then I will call it quits. I'm ready to concentrate on some new challenges next year, here and on other groups.
I will make a new list of 12 and join in-like Meli though, this year was really not great-a lot of DNF's-but hey, they are gone off that shelf!
As long as we get the green light (I see no reason why not), I will help organize us for the final twelve, and in a way that either newcomers can join in, or that you can create new lists to match our exciting 2021 challenges. I plan to keep a lot of my list the same and am using Unofficial Trim to finish books I wanted to read as priority for 2017 and 2018. There are very few left. This leaves me with only a 2019 and 2020 priority list left, and that is exciting!
Maybe this is jumping the gun since we haven't been officially approved, but what do you think about keeping the list at 24? The reason I suggest that is part of the fun for me is not knowing which books I will get off the tbr.
If the list is only 12 we know they are all getting off the tbr one way or another... then again I guess that means the trim list goes on and on forever in perpetuity if you don't continue to trim it.
Play Book Tag
Books mentioned in this topic
Song of Susannah (other topics)The Reckoning (other topics)
Friends Like Us (other topics)
Women of the Silk (other topics)
Old Sparky: The Electric Chair and the History of the Death Penalty (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Stephen King (other topics)Sharon Kay Penman (other topics)
Imbolo Mbue (other topics)
Isla Dewar (other topics)
Annejet van der Zijl (other topics)
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The Winter of Frankie Machine – Don Winslow – 4****
Wow, what a ride! The action is fast and furious, and deadly. Retired Mob hit-man Frank Machianno (a/k/a/ Frankie Machine) is really on his own, with no one to trust. And the reader is pretty much on her own as well. There are more potential suspects than Carter has pills. The action is non-stop and there are surprises right up to the ending. This is the first book by Winslow that I’ve read. It won’t be the last.
My full review HERE