Trim 2021 – The Official Unofficial Challenge Thread

[Amy]

Tell you what. At a certain point either Cindy or I will just let Anita and Nicole know we are talking about it, and then One or both of them could either share their thoughts off-line or just jump in on the thread and hear what people are thinking. I say we keep talking about it. Glad to hear there is such an interest. I agree it’s been fun. I think my one caveat, other than how many 24, what have you, is that it Hass to be something that new members feel like they can just jump in at any time. And that worked the last two years. To me, as long as it’s not exclusionary, I feel much better about it.

[Heather Reads Books]

I like that idea myself, Amy. It sounds like people might be more comfortable with lists of varying sizes anyway, so perhaps to make it more inclusive we could switch it to your own lists of whatever length and do the random number generation ourselves? Then we could still check in every month to let everyone know what we got and what we're reading as a result? That would allow anyone to participate at any time if it's "bring your own list."

Whatever way we do it, I'm happy to wait for input from the mods before setting anything in stone. Glad to hear there's interest in continuing! I've enjoyed this little challenge.

[Theresa]

It could also just be a 10 or 11 month out of 12 months challenge which gives everyone a month at end of year to 'catch up' with that one or two they didn't quite get to when the # drawn. That also gives those who join during the course of the year a chance to 'catch up' if they want.

[LibraryCin]

Amy wrote: "At a certain point either Cindy or I will just let Anita and Nicole know we are talking about it, and then One or both of them could either share their thoughts off-line or just jump in on the thread and hear what people are thinking. ..."

As you've guessed, it's really Nicole and Anita who we would check with.

I would continue, as well, if that's what's decided. I might, however, just use the other list I have going so I don't have both it and this one to work from (in different ways, so far, but going forward, I would just go with the randomizing we do here, instead).

[Booknblues]

Can we possibly get a show of hands on how many would like to continue this next year on the condition that it works for the .

If the moderators are ok with the idea..

I'll go first - I'm interested.

[Sue]

I'd be interested in continuing next year.

[Heather Reads Books]

*raises hand* I'm interested in continuing!

[Amy]

Not to get ahead of ourselves, but one idea I really like, is that if there’s 24 books and we agree to do it over a two year., Maybe we pick the 24 people who have been really invested, and we randomize them just once in the beginning of the two-year cycle, for whom the trim pick her shall be. So it’s less work for me when the 15th of the month rolls around, and it gets to be a try random draw of who the next picker is. Because the massive amount of work is going to be in the Decembers, when we are organizing our lists, and when my executive functioning powers are going to need to be at their highest capacities. And this time around, we are starting from scratch, that is assuming it happens again. It is a task I am fully capable of taking on, but it will require a massive coordination effort. So I like the idea of taking care of the rotating picker issue upfront. And having between 12 and 24 people to choose from.

[Theresa]

🙋‍♀️

[Book Concierge]

Amy wrote: "Not to get ahead of ourselves, but one idea I really like, is that if there’s 24 books and we agree to do it over a two year., Maybe we pick the 24 people who have been really invested, and we rand..."

No matter the time frame (12 months or 24 months) ... I think the total # of books on our "list" needs to be greater than the number of months. Otherwise, the persons "picking" the # for the last couple of months in the challenge really haven't got much choice.

I'd suggest a "rolling" list of 24 titles (or maybe 15 titles) .... In 2022, you have 12 people each of which picks a number, but even the person picking for December still has 4 slots from which to pick (because only 11 will have been picked to that point. Then those participating, who want to continue for another year, need to fill out their card with new titles to replace the ones they've already read in 2022. So everyone starts 2023, with 15 titles (or whatever # we originaly started with), that will be chosen at random.

Hope that made sense.

[Booknblues]

Book Concierge wrote: "No matter the time frame (12 months or 24 months) ... I think the total # of books on our "list" needs to be greater than the number of months. Otherwise, the persons "picking" the # for the last couple of months in the challenge really haven't got much choice. ,..."

I like that idea.

[Diana]

I am in for the next year!

[Joanne]

I am in-and I am fine with "pickers" being chosen ahead of time, Amy. I vote, also, for Theresa's idea of 15 numbers.

[Jen K]

I would join in again! and also agree with choosing pickers ahead of time and having 15 titles.

[LibraryCin]

Book Concierge wrote: "No matter the time frame (12 months or 24 months) ... I think the total # of books on our "list" needs to be greater than the number of months. ,..."

I was just about to suggest maybe 13 or 25 books on the list.

ETA: 15 is a good number. I also think that however is easiest for Amy to choose who is the monthly picker is how should should do it.

[Joy D]

I have no strong preferences on the methods, but if the group decides to do this again, I will participate.

[Amy]

I see that there is already incredible support for this idea of 15 books and 12 pickers. I love the enthusiasm!

First, we don't yet have permission to proceed, so this conversation is great preamble, but its probably time for Cindy or I to alert Nicole and Anita that folks are talking about this.

Second, I am in the minority, but I am not a fan of this generally well loved (so far) idea, but as an extremely flexible leader, I could be convinced. The reason I am not a fan of more books than pickers, is that we are putting more emphasis on the last people who get to pick having a greater selection, than A) actually making sure that the 12 books, or 12 out of the 24 actually do get cleared off the TBR. Second, its just so much less streamlined, and I wonder why we are making it more complicated.

If we were approved to proceed, I would suggest 24 books over two years, and maybe we would have less than 24 pickers. Maybe there are some wild card spaces. Maybe someone feels so strongly about the choices of tag, or even a possible monthly tag, that they agree to switch for another month. Maybe for the wild card spaces, we quickly randomize the list of the players left, and let one of them get a surprise early pick, and they get twice, because of their low number, I don't know. Maybe the wild spaces are at the end for new members to join. I particularly get the point about making sure the last people to go don't feel slighted by the random draw, but I do like the idea of streamline, easy, and being able to count on it, that 12 of the 24 will be cleared, and that the next time around, those final 12 are a done deal.

I like 24 because if we got to do it again, that was manageable and will be easier as people are signing on to books together for buddy reads. I also think people who have really committed to this but didn't get to pick this year would have a chance. Theresa, Sally, Hayjay, AJ, Meli, Joi, Joanne..... To name a few.....

So onto making this conversation public to our mods. I will write to Nicole and Anita later tonight or tomorrow, unless, A) Cindy happens to talk to them first, or B) one of them happens upon the thread and they are already seeing everyone's great input and enthusiasm.

[Theresa]

You can use a randomizer at the beginning of the year to pick the 12 names from all participants and the order they pick : first name gets January, 2nd february, etc.

As for my suggestion of having a few books on the list over what need for the year by going with 15 or more, in addition to providing more choice for the pickers in last few months (not just in last 2), it provides each of us with a small pool to pick from if we need because we read one on the list earlier, or DNF the selection after a couple chapters, or can't find our copy, or it fits monthly tag, or any reason. It is your trim list after all.

The goal is to trim our TBR of 12 books, chosen randomly, right? If you also really want to finish a specific list of books, you can do what I did this year: double up some months by adding a book from the list to the one you are reading. I doubled up to pick up the trims I missed last year while reading Proust in first 6 months. It's been good though I am a couple in the doubles behind.

It is not like reading 12 specific books is going to make that much of a dent in my TBR Towers. I do like having an impetus though to chip at specific books on my TBR but I don't need that to be super rigid.

[Booknblues]

I like the idea of 24 books, but that is just a personal preference and I'm good with 15 or 16.

I really have no input on who chooses.

[LibraryCin]

Amy wrote: "than A) actually making sure that the 12 books, or 12 out of the 24 actually do get cleared off the TBR...."

This is the drawback for me. I am happy that - as of December - all of the 36 I originally put on my list 3 years ago will be cleared. '

(I have only made a couple of switches and that was only this year because I "accidentally" read one earlier because it fit a monthly challenge and I forgot it was on my list!)

I really did want to eventually clear them all.

How about, then, 13 or 25 choices. So, there is still a selection (granted not a big one, obviously) between two for the last picker of the year (13) or two years (25).

[LibraryCin]

Amy wrote: " I will write to Nicole and Anita later tonight or tomorrow, unless, A) Cindy happens to talk to them first, ..."

I'd like to let you chat with them, Amy, since you've taken a lead on this. However, feel free to let them know that I'm still involved, if you'd like.

[Book Concierge]

@ Amy ... I'm sorry, Amy, but I think you are making this more complicated than it needs to be.

If you really only want 12 books, then random order them at the beginning, and just wait to announce the month's # until about a week before the month begins. (That's what Nicole did when we did the original Trim the TBR ... which, by the way had us list 36 books and only 12 of the number would be called.) YOU would be the only person who would have the full list of #s.

There's nothing to stop people for organizing buddy reads if the list is 12 or 120.

Having 3 books MORE than the # of months, allows for some "surprise" factor to reader, as well in the last couple of months.

Just my thoughts.

[Theresa]

Book Concierge wrote: "@ Amy ... I'm sorry, Amy, but I think you are making this more complicated than it needs to be.

If you really only want 12 books, then random order them at the beginning, and just wait to announc..."

I'd even volunteer to be the number randomizer picker for all 12 at the beginning of the year and announcer, if you Amy want to experience it as a surprise every month.

[Amy]

No, I do not feel overwhelmed in the least. I do think that if we have a list of 24 books, then people are going to feel free to have either extra possible substitution lists, or do as they did this past year, have more than one on a number to choose from, or to opt into the buddy reads. I think 24 is good because we will likely have less than 24 pickers, which will solve the problem of feeling like the later pickers have less choices. I'm sorry if I was unclear about that. And yes, we would randomize the pickers just once at the start of the challenge. I think 12 book choice numbers would be too few. Don't forget, I am the one to be organizing all of this clearly, so its going to be a lot of work, especially if people pick more than one book for a number as they have. But I am up to the challenge.

But... All this is predicated on Anita and Nicole saying yes we can move forward. So I will get on that tomorrow. Meanwhile, had such an interesting book club tonight and I want to post on that at this moment.

[Kelly]

#9 - September

The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis



4 stars

This book revolves around a girl, Beth, who lost her parents. In an orphanage she leaned the game of chess from a janitor. She is a natural at this and becomes a prodigy in the game. Before she is an adult she faces drug and alcohol addiction, stress, and loneliness.

The book mentions many of the moves in a game of chess, and if I played it I would have understood those sections of the book better. However, the drama and suspense related around a game came through as did the high level of skill. Beth’s preparations and how she played out games in her head were fascinating. Her struggles are evident as is her talent. It was a well written book.

[Jen K]

#11 August

Small Country by Gaël Faye

4 stars

Coming of age story of a young boy, Gaby, growing up in a somewhat sheltered life in Burundi with a French father and a Rwandan mother. As the politics in both Burundi and Rwanda in the 90's, so does his parents relationship. His father is great example of the complexity of expats, despite a local wife and living in Africa, his attitude is summed up when he names a racist Belgian in Zaire as his greatest source of knowledge of Africa, not his Rwandan wife. As the politics even infiltrate his group of 10 year old friends, Gaby, tries to cling the idea that it has nothing to do with his own life until the genocide in Rwanda affect his family and conflict in Burundi finally hits his cul de sac no matter how much he hides.

This is a lovely story of a boy trying to stay a boy while reconciling the atrocities of politics around him, especially in the face of the horrific genocide of one group against another only divided after the colonists interfered and insisted on the division. It was a quick and powerful read.

[Meli]

Even though this year's trim was an epic fail for me (only read one of the books picked), I am in for next year!

I think updating my list might help.

I also like having more books than months because then you never know what you will "get" to read and what might be left behind for that year, so it's more a mystery.
But I am not so married to the idea I will fight too hard for it.
The purpose is to "trim" the tbr, so the necessity is with getting the books OFF the shelf rather than the mystery.

[Jen K]

Now I'm caught up through September! I'm good with any choice made on numbers for next year if Trim continues.

[Amy]

We have the admin blessing to continue! Yay! Meanwhile, I think we should not worry about how it’s going to work what is going to look like, until after the 2022 challenges are already announced in December. Because many of us are going to organize our lists to reflect aspects of the challenges anyway, and that allows us to support what the moderators are creating for us. So it will be a lot of work to pull it off, especially for me (lol), but I am up to the task. But I think it’s smart for us to not worry about it until then. It will definitely happen, but right now we can focus on fall flurries, and either feminism or paranormal. Although if graphic novels win I will be surprised off my tush!

Meanwhile, Heather reads books is going to announce the trim number after Anita announces the tag. Linda C, Will be the November and December by default final pick of the year. Somehow I will contact her to let her know unless she reads the thread, and let’s us know that she knows. All is well, and everyone have a great week!

[Book Concierge]

Goodreads has automatically changed EVERYONE's settings so that you can only receive PMs from friends.

So if you are not already friends with Linda C, Amy you won't be able to PM her.

[Amy]

I see that. I'd have to call in the the troops - lol! Find someone who was connected to her. Or she would lose the honor. I thought I was friends already with everyone, but I had to make one or two new ones to get this picker situation sorted out. All the rest of you I'm all set with now I think.

[Book Concierge]

I am friends with Linda C .... and with you. So send me a PM for Linda C and I'll relay it if you can't connect with her to friend her directly.

[Amy]

Team effort! We will figure it out during Time to Vote for the November Tag! Maybe she and I are already friends.... Who knows?

[Heather Reads Books]

I know the tag for next month is a bit delayed since Anita is on vacation... should I wait to pick a number? Just wanted to report I am ready and willing to do so... ;)

[Joanne]

We always wait for the Tag to be posted, Heather

[Heather Reads Books]

Got it! Well, the official tag is up, so the pick is...

#10!

Mine is The Underground Girls of Kabul: in Search of a Hidden Resistance in Afghanistan, which has been on my TBR for ages and ages.

[Amy]

I have the dream daughter, which I think may be a buddy read, and its already in my audio library, which is a help on a very full month. I am listening to the Paper Palace on audio, and its going very slowly. Maybe my drive to Hofstra next weekend, and trip to Georgia the following will help me get through more audio.

[Meli]

My # 10 is The Night Circus and while I really want to read that one I don't think it will be possible since I am doing a #31SpookyStories challenge also in October which will be 1 short story per day!

[Booknblues]

Yay! My number 10 is Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, which is also on the Feminist list.

[Olivermagnus]

My #10 is Every Vow You Break. It's a nice change from the door stoppers I've had most of the year.

[Kelly]

My #10 is The Silent Patient

[Book Concierge]

My # 10 is Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith ... haven't even looked yet, but I doubt it has a "feminist" tag ... LOL

[Jen K]

This is my random book slot. Originally I put No Be From Hia which I got at a book reading on my last international trip in January 2020. I miss using my passport.

Then I also half added my friend's brother's book as I promised to read it a while ago, On the Enemy's Side. I hope to read both.

[Theresa]

Book Concierge wrote: "My # 10 is Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith ... haven't even looked yet, but I doubt it has a "feminist" tag ... LOL"

No it won't. But it is really good. Unexpected even.

[Theresa]

My #10 is another double header - Startup, which I need to dig through my TBR Towers to find the print copy, and The Wedding Girl, which is actually in one of the nightstand TBR Towers that I need to go through soon to find the copy I have of Becoming George Sand for this month's pick.

Both are light and fast reads.

[Joanne]

My # 10 is Castle in the Air will be a quick read, if I can get to it--

[LibraryCin]

Oh no! My #10 is pretty long! And I have another long one that I'm planning to read this month, as well... so my #10 may not happen in October... but I'll try!

Sylvia by Bryce Courtenay

[Sue]

My #10 is Shalimar the Clown. Mixed reviews on this book and may be way to heavy to work through right now.

I'm going to see if I can get on audio. I've been finding some really difficult books are easier in that format.

[Jen]

Book Concierge wrote: "Amy wrote: "Not to get ahead of ourselves, but one idea I really like, is that if there’s 24 books and we agree to do it over a two year., Maybe we pick the 24 people who have been really invested,..."

I love the idea of continuing. I haven't posted much but I have managed to finish the books most months which I probably would not have done without the challenge. I know I haven't been much fun but with 3 jobs (1 full time and 2 part time) and people to see, a house and yard to maintain and reading to do there hasn't been time to come up posts.

[Amy]

Meli, and yet the Night Circus is perfect for October Fall Flurries!!! I think you'd love it!