Trim 2020 Continuation - Announcement, Community, and Chit Chat Thread

[Joanne]

Johanne wrote: "In a couple of days I think, I guess it's okay to start in january since it's unofficial trim. But I can wait for you if you want to buddy read :)"

I can get it from my Library tomorrow-when is your book due?

[Sue]

My #9 is Into the Water

[Johanne]

@Joanne it's due february 3rd

[Johanne]

..and I have another book to finish first, so monday would work as a starting point for me.

[Joanne]

Johanne wrote: "..and I have another book to finish first, so monday would work as a starting point for me."

OK-I am nearly finished with Ship of Magic so Monday would be great. I was also able to find a spot for the book in the Polls Challenge and a different group challenge I am involved with! So glad it got called for you and I can tag along for the ride!

[LibraryCin]

Well, I have no idea where this book came from to end up on my tbr, nor do I recall anything about it! I guess I'll soon find out.

My #9 is Never Too Late by Jo Barney.

[Miriam]

I finished my #12 Convenience Store Woman and my #9 is Half of the Yellow Sun. That is so much longer and I have a few netgalley books to finish first so I am not sure I'll finish it in February.
Since the other books I've read by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie are so good, though, I hope I'll get around to reading it.

[Johanne]

@Great Joanne!

[Heather Reads Books]

My #9 is The Dead Mountaineer’s Inn by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky. I'm excited. I need more Russian literature in my diet. AND it's only 256 pages... I'm going to need a break from the long epics I've been tackling lately.

[Jen]

Olivermagnus wrote: "Jen wrote: "I will finish my number 12 by the end of the month. Still plenty of time. I think my poor buddy read partner is probably wishing they hadn't changed from the original.....we have both b..."

Thanks (and to Jenny). I do like SK so am not worried about the length, they are always quick reads and pure entertainment. I've got behind in my SK reading since I started doing PS challenge because it had made me read so much I would not have usually read (with mixed results) so this will be a return to what I used to always read.

[Amy]

Heather, did you get through the last chunkster?

[Theresa]

#12 January - Last Night in Montreal by Emily St. John Mandel - 2.5 stars

This is Mandel's debut novel, one exhibiting the promise and inventiveness that became Station Eleven years later, but this one was for me unsatisfactory and ultimately disappointing. I actually give it 2.5 stars, rounding down here because I just could not go to 3 stars.

Lilia (and I do not believe that my constantly reading this as Lilith is accidental) has been on the move since she was kidnapped by her father when she was 7 years old from her mother's house in the Quebec province. Lilia spends the next 15 years wandering the US, initially with her father then alone, never staying long anywhere. In her own words, Lilia does not know how to stay, rather than needing to leave. Relationships are transient, and she has partial amnesia of her childhood prior to being taken by her father.

The book shifts between the young man she left behind when she left N.Y. for Montreal, the Canadian detective hired by her mother to find her, and Michaela the detective's daughter who is the same age as Lilia, all three of whom can be best described as lost, more lost than Lilia. Lilia's childhood and her lack of memories creates a loose mystery to the story that teases the reader with clues and hints dropped from time to time. All of course reaches a climax in the cold of a winter's night in Montreal, where memory is fully restored, stories completed, and those lost are found.

Were there any real surprises when all revealed? No, as it wasn't solving mysteries that was the story. It was how each of the main character found the true beginning and end of their story, and accepted it.

At times the writing is inspired, too often it is repetitive, even removed as if the author is just an observer reporting what is seen (an analogy used by Mandel in the plot via the story of Icarus), never engaged. I grew impatient often, yet the book is a very fast read, a credit to Mandel's ability to propel you along. My advice to others...skip this one.

[Joanne]

The Library copy of my book The Lost Vintage is checked out-and not due back until the 14th. Of course, a buddy read for me-sorry guys looks like I will be lagging again

[Linda C]

#12 - January - Darkship Renegades by Sarah A. Hoyt - 3 stars

I really liked the first book in this series, but this one had too much philosophizing on moral issues related to cloning. It stopped the action at rather critical points while Thena thought about all the background and potential outcomes of every option. Lots of good plot points but bogged down. Kit was lost mentally through much of this. Hope the next installment is better.

[Amy]

Joanne - I’m not reading it until the week of the 15th....

[Meli]

Theresa wrote: "My advice to others...skip this one."

Yikes! Noted...

This is always my fear going back into the archives of a writer. I really loved Station Eleven so I was considering this one.

[Joanne]

Amy wrote: "Joanne - I’m not reading it until the week of the 15th...."

Great! hopefully the other patron will return it on time!

[Amy]

Or I will send you my copy when I get back! Otherwise it stays on the carousel at the resort!

[Theresa]

Joanne wrote: "The Library copy of my book The Lost Vintage is checked out-and not due back until the 14th. Of course, a buddy read for me-sorry guys looks like I will be lagging again"

I'm involved with Proust which means I likely won't read it until the last half of the month myself. So it will be a late February buddy read, LOL.

[Hayjay315]

My #9 is The Court Dancer and I had added it last year when I was attempting to complete the Horizons challenge but never actually read it so am excited to dive in! I have been wanting to do a Buddy Read for awhile now so in addition to Court Dancer will be joining The Lost Vintage group and reading it for fun! The storyline is so intriguing that I could not resist.

[Amy]

So glad you are joining us HayJay! Also, I put the Court Dancer on my TBR along with the Plotters during our South Korea month, although I read two others that month. So its on my TBR too. I also am joining the Buddy Read for the Lost Vintage, although my number 12 is technically Captain Correlii's Mandolin.

[Theresa]

Welcome to the buddy read for The Lost Vintage! All are welcome and it should make it a fun discussion.

[Joanne]

Glad we are firm on mid-month-I hate it when I cannot read the discussion, because i haven't been able to start it yet!

[Johanne]

Finished my #12 January - The Goldfish Boy, 4 starts.
Shortish review here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Joi]

#12 is done, just need to review.

#9 is A Stolen Life, which perfectly fits the survival tag.

[Meli]

Lucky you, Joi!! I love when that happens.

[Amy]

Just finished my #12 today, the Secret Keeper and am writing the Review!

[Joi]

#12 done, and reviewed!

Here's my review on PBT

Onto #9

[Joy D]

Finished my #9 for February:

I realize I am in the minority opinion on this one, so please read the many other glowing reviews posted on GR before deciding. This had too much of a "romance" or "soap opera" feeling for my personal taste:

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom - completed 2/4/20 - 2 stars - My Review

[Amy]

Hey wait Joy! I have the kitchen house in my Trim list! I must have missed it that you had it too. It will be interesting to see if I agree. We are often twinning in interest.

[Joy D]

Amy wrote: "Hey wait Joy! I have the kitchen house in my Trim list! I must have missed it that you had it too. It will be interesting to see if I agree. We are often twinning in interest."

Amy, you probably saw my list before I swapped it out. I look forward to hearing what you think of it. I hope you like it more than I did.

[Amy]

Joy - I actually took it off my TBR, where it has lived forever. That's how it made it on my Trim list both years, plus the House Girl, its sequel. I even own it. But I just felt life is too short for sad, and there is so many things that are just wonderful. I went with my gut and trusted you and the others. Now I need to know - what are you reading for number 18 - lol? I will surely find something else.

[Sue]

Finished my #9 Into the Water by Paula Hawkins.

Link to my review: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Kelly]

# 9 - February

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell - 4 1/2 stars



Link to review: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Amy]

Kitchen House just went back on my TBR. I got convinced by a reader in Starbucks.

[Booknblues]

#9 February

Mischling - Affinity Konar 4 stars

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Book Concierge]

UNOFFICIALLY playing this unofficial challenge ....

My # 9 is Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict .. not sure I'll get to it this month, though

[Meli]

You know, I love that there is no pressure with the unofficial trim, so much so that I may DNF my #9 as well 🤣
It's not bad I am just not in the mood and have so much other fun stuff to read.

[Joy D]

Amy wrote: "Joy - I actually took it off my TBR, where it has lived forever. That's how it made it on my Trim list both years, plus the House Girl, its sequel. I even own it. But I just felt life is too short ..."

Amy, My #18 is The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson, but if you're looking to stay away from sad, I would not think you'd want to read this one.

[Johanne]

Finished my #9 The Library at Mount Char. I'm going to miss those crazy characters... Review to come,I'm currently in a summer house/ holiday cabin (not sure of the right phrasing) and on the app. It's a short midwinter break for my kids. It's windy here and the beach and sea in windy winter is awesome :)

[Amy]

Good point Joy!

Hi BC! We’re all winging it here!

[Theresa]

Meli wrote: "You know, I love that there is no pressure with the unofficial trim, so much so that I may DNF my #9 as well 🤣
It's not bad I am just not in the mood and have so much other fun stuff to read."

Isn't the whole point of Trim to get books off the TBR? That includes drop-kicking them across the room and DNF.

[Johanne]

Nice image Theresa :)

[Joanne]

Theresa wrote: "Meli wrote: "You know, I love that there is no pressure with the unofficial trim, so much so that I may DNF my #9 as well 🤣
It's not bad I am just not in the mood and have so much other fun stuff t..."

Absolutely~

[Theresa]

Johanne wrote: "Nice image Theresa :)"

I think I got that image originally from Joanne, ROFL!

Definitely someone on PBT came up with it first.

You all do know that lawyers are the biggest plagiarists...

[Johanne]

It's called being inspired Theresa ;)

[Joanne]

Theresa wrote: "Johanne wrote: "Nice image Theresa :)"

I think I got that image originally from Joanne, ROFL!

Definitely someone on PBT came up with it first.

You all do know that lawyers are the biggest plagia..."

Ah-you remembered🤗

[Johanne]

well you should have the credit Joanne :)

[Theresa]

Johanne wrote: "It's called being inspired Theresa ;)"

Paying tribute ....

[Meli]

Theresa wrote: "Isn't the whole point of Trim to get books off the TBR? That includes drop-kicking them across the room and DNF."

100% agree! 😊😇