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Trim 2021 – The Official Unofficial Challenge Thread
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I think I am going to have 3 picks for each number of different genres. Perhaps I'll just pick the one I'm most in the mood for from the 3 and some months I'll do all 3 depending on how busy life is at the time. Either way it will clear some books off my tbr so it will serve the purpose.
That’s a great thing about this unofficial challenge, Jen. That you can get creative and do it anyway you want. I am all set for us to go and get organized together, as soon as the final challenges have been announced. That way some folks are going to cater their trim less to match the challenges. It means it’s a shorter time to pull it together, but many of us have been thinking about it in advance anyway.
November #1The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
4 stars
A Pakistani man, Changez, finds an American man in the market of Lahore, invites him to tea and then dinner as he tells his story of America. Changez, his family of Lahore's elite of society but no longer with any wealth, is chosen to attend Princeton in the US. He does well and is chosen to join a small valuation firm. To many he has done quite well for himself while quite young and tapped as the best of the group recruited. In the meantime he has also fallen in love with an American (UES penthouse) girl named Erica. Erica is still grieving the loss of her first love and best friend but is intrigued by Changez. Then the events of 9/11 unfolded while Changez is on a business trip in Manila. Slowly his American dream unravels leading him to return back to Lahore.
His experiences are told as story to the unknown American, to whom he makes guesses about but they are not responded to by the American. It is a thoughtful perspective of being American and not American and especially when the US was so quick to turn their hatred on so many after the tragic attacks. I'm not sure if the story with Erica is an allegory for a greater political story or not. I didn't really love how much has assumed what would be best for Erica without actually listening and taking silence for consent. I need to think more on that relationship. It was an interesting story and will continue to be processed.
Amy wrote: "That’s a great thing about this unofficial challenge, Jen. That you can get creative and do it anyway you want. I am all set for us to go and get organized together, as soon as the final challenges..."I'm probably only going to do trim and basic PBT due to work. I seem to gain an extra job each year and at some points this year I have had 4 when the exam board has been short of markers/moderators for science subjects.
LoL-I made a list when we started talking about 2022, just random books. Then this week-end, completely forgetting that list existed I started another. This time I thought I would put the books on it that are pretty obscure but I still want to give a try. I might combine the two. I like the idea of having 2 books on a number that at least gives me a choice.
October # 10
Gorky Park – Martin Cruz Smith – 2.5**
As the snow begins to melt, three frozen bodies are found in Moscow’s Gorky Park. This is the first in a series, and Smith gives us an interesting cast of characters, including a dwarf who does reconstructive sculpture from bones to help identify crime victims, and a rich, ruthless and well-connected American mogul. Investigator Arkady Renko will have to battle the KGB, FBI and New York City police to solve this case. It started with a bang, but I began to lose interest with all the subplots and political intrigue. And I found the ending disatissfying.
My full review HERE
Booknblues wrote: "#4Lily and the Octopus
REVIEW: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Did you cry? I bawled!
I just wanted to say, because I never post my progress, that I have read 15 Trim books this year, 12 of them on time. With Eva Luna, I have completed this challenge. Plus, if we can pull it off, I will have read 15-16 books with HayJay this year! Possibly more! This year for Trim I have read about 5-6 or 4-5 books with JoyD., a few with Sally, and if fates be true, I will read the Masterpiece with Theresa and HayJay. I am indeed excited for next year, and of course I already have a list. I am ready to post our planning and organizational thread, right after the yearlong challenges are posted. It will be a quick turnaround, but you guys will be ready to meet the challenge. We will also know by the time the new tag for January is announced, the rotation of pickers, So January can give us a heads up once our lists feel somewhat complete. In other words, I am ready to go.
I personally picked a few literary or chonkers, but mostly easy stuff. My list for the next couple of years is new and noteworthy, mystery thriller, or easy peasy. All stuff that has been on my TBR for a while and needs to be cleaned out, but won't feel like a heavy extra. Many of my choices will be popular ones. And could change given your lists. I have the feeling many of us will choose similarly, which means a lot of fun and a lot of community.
May the holiday season be burning bright for everyone. With much love and blessings,
Amy
Wow, that's great, Amy! I read a whopping 2 titles from my trim 🤦♀️
Better luck in 2022 I guess.
I need to start planning for that, but I am thinking similarly to you - I wanna knock out some thrillers, or shorter books that have been on the TBR for a while.
Jen wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "#4Lily and the Octopus
REVIEW: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Did you cry? I bawled!"
Ugly sobs.
I finished all my books for the challenge. I'm working on my 2022 list right now and am looking forward to a next year's "Unofficial" ChallengeUnofficial Trim
💌 1. Where the Desert Meets the Sea - Werner Sonne - 3 Stars - 11/11/21
💌 2. The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy: The Shocking Inside Story - Ann Rule - 4.5 Stars - 1/5/21
💌 3. When Christ and His Saints Slept - Sharon Kay Penman - 5 Stars - 6/20/21
💌 4. The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes - Diane Chamberlain - 5 Stars - 12/5/21
💌 5. Small Sacrifices - Ann Rule - 4.5 Stars - 4/24/21
💌 6. Cashelmara - Susan Howatch - 4 Stars - 5/27/21
💌 7. Daughter of Sand and Stone - Libbie Hawker - 4 Stars - 3/16/21
💌 8. The Sunne in Splendour - Sharon Kay Penman - 5 Stars - 2/26/21
💌 9. The Memoirs of Cleopatra - Margaret George - 5 Stars - 9/16/21
💌 10. Every Vow You Break - Peter Swanson - 4.5 Stars - 10/14/21
💌 11. A Closed and Common Orbit - Becky Chambers - 3 Stars - 8/21/21
💌 12. The Sapphire Child - Janet MacLeod Trotter - 4 Stars - 7/3/21
We’re not quite there yet, and I promise I’ll post the planning thread as soon as we know the challenges. But I was actually anticipating 24 books over two years.
I still plan to get to my December book, but haven't yet. That's what happens when I start the month with the 1000+ page next-book-in-the-Outlander-series! Everything else waits a bit...
Finished my book for December: In the Days of Rain: A Daughter, a Father, a Cult by Rebecca Stott. 4 starsI read most of my Trim books this year - and the one's I didn't read, I DNF'd and took off my TBR, so I'm counting those as successes.
Review:
Such an interesting view into a cult. A group of people were are not living off in the wilderness on their own, or acting in a manner that would bring attention.
Instead, they seemed to blend into their surroundings, almost intentionally becoming invisible to English society around them. In their minds, they were "separate." But they shared a common theme with so many cults - power-hungry and unaccountable leaders.
The isolation, shame, and abuse described in this book are truly heartbreaking.
While I still have 7 books to read from my final Unofficial Trim List for this year, I did have a mostly double list. That means I started with 20 books on the final Trim, and read 13 of them. I expect to get at least one maybe 2 more read by year end. All hinges on finishing the last 2 Popsugar prompts - both very long books. @Amy and Hayjay - The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis is one of those I fully expect to read by year end but likely not until Christmas week.
Join us with Theresa and I think one other!!!!! It will be Christmas week for me too, because I own it and therefore can leave it either on the plane or at my parents home.
November - # 1 
The Upright Piano Player – David Abbot – 3.5***
This work of literary fiction is a striking debut. Abbott gives us the story of Henry Cage, a successful businessman who seems to have it all: a fine home, a successful career, and a reputation for being a principled and upstanding man. But his outward success hides personal failure. Although I liked it, the structure of the book left me feeling dissatisfied, and with more questions than answers.
My full review HERE
I'm missing only December's default "pick" ... though I still hope to get it done this month.But I've already read 16 books off my original list ... I read five of them before their numbers were called, and substituted other books.
Some of you know that I put together a "priority TBR" list each year and try to read off that. This year's I've managed to clear 29 books (so far) from that list. I should get two more done yet this month (including my final pick for THIS challenge).
I’m at 10 of 12 this year and am giving myself a dispensation since I’m not that jazzed to read the remaining 2. For next year, I think I currently have groups of three(!) tripled up hahaha, but the caveat to myself being I can pick my favorite and not feel pressured to read them all. We’ll see how that goes…
#4 - DecemberLeave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
4 stars
In this book Amanda and her family rent a vacation home for a week. While there the owners of the house, G.H. and Ruth, arrive saying a blackout has happened in New York and they felt safer to come stay at this home. Amanda and her husband, Clay, are surprised by their arrival. Amanda also personally questions who G.H. and Ruth really are.
Internet, phones and television services are knocked out, so none of the characters know what is going on. They are all scared. This makes it suspenseful for the reader who may keep expecting something bad to happen to the characters.
The author adds race, education and financial differences to the story. He raises issues of who you can trust and the bonds of family. This book is very well written and hard to put down.
Booknblues wrote: "Jen wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "#4Lily and the Octopus
REVIEW: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Did you cry? I bawled!"
Ugly sobs."
Mine were ugly too!!!!!
Heather Reads Books wrote: "I’m at 10 of 12 this year and am giving myself a dispensation since I’m not that jazzed to read the remaining 2. For next year, I think I currently have groups of three(!) tripled up hahaha, but ..."
That is what I have done. 3 for each number all of different genres so I have some flexibility for mood and how many jobs I have at the time. Just can't focus on reading when I have 298 exam papers to mark in just over a week plus 3 other jobs. If it is a quiet month then possibly I'll do all 3. Work first cos must pay for house and food.
TBH I could put 5 on each number and still not have completed my TBR.
I've just finished reading Sadie and it was the last book on my 2021 Trim!So here's a little update on my Trim challenge:
1 (November)
✔An American Marriage - Nov 11, 2021
✔All Your Perfects - Nov 07, 2021
2 (January)
✔The Silkworm - Jan 11, 2021
✔Beartown - Jan 26, 2021
3 (June)
✔The Great Alone - Jun 08, 2021
✔Vox - Jun 10, 2021
4 (December)
✔Манюня - Dec 19, 2021
✔Sadie - Dec 28, 2021
5 (April)
✔Someone I Loved - Apr 08, 2021
✔Nine Perfect Strangers - Apr 07, 2021
6 (May)
✔North and South - May 13, 2021
✔Delirium - May 06, 2021
7(March)
✔The Kiss Quotient - Mar 07, 2021
✔Loneliness on the Net - Mar 05, 2021
8 (February)
✔Into the Water - Feb 04, 2021
✔The Painted Veil - Feb 03, 2021
9 (September)
✔Come Sundown - Sep 10, 2021
✔The Girls - Sep 21, 2021
10 (October)
✔The Elegance of the Hedgehog - Oct 03, 2021
11 (August)
✔All the Ugly and Wonderful Things - Aug 22, 2021
✔Truly Madly Guilty - Aug 05, 2021
12 (July)
✔Five Quarters of the Orange - Jul 08, 2021
✔Breakfast at tiffanys - Jul 06, 2021
Wow - you did a lot! I read 15 books for Trim as well. Its been great to see how many people have liked this challenge, and how much its continuing to take off even in its newer version three years later.
Happy Birthday, Amy! Hope you have a great day ... and a great year to come.
Amy wrote: "Wow - you did a lot! I read 15 books for Trim as well. Its been great to see how many people have liked this challenge, and how much its continuing to take off even in its newer version three years..."I'm really grateful for making this challenge, Amy, cause it made me more organized and I really enjoyed reading this year with all of you:)
# 4 December - The Creation of Eve ✔ - 30Dec21
I finished it, but haven't gotten time to write the review yet.
Ready for 2022 ....
A few days late but just finished my #4 for December- Last Night in Nuuk. It was really interesting to learn more about life in Greenland. I'm not sure I could keep up with all the partying.
Jen K wrote: "A few days late but just finished my #4 for December- Last Night in Nuuk. It was really interesting to learn more about life in Greenland. I'm not sure I could keep up with all the ..."I have that book in the TBR Towers. Curious to read your review.
Theresa wrote: "Jen K wrote: "A few days late but just finished my #4 for December- Last Night in Nuuk. It was really interesting to learn more about life in Greenland. I'm not sure I could keep up..."It was a very quick but interesting book. Young people trying to find themselves but also a peek into the culture. Hope to get the review done tomorrow.
Finally finished my #4 for December, which completes the challenge for me. This one turned out to be more of a struggle than anticipated since I had enjoyed two others of McCann's books very much (Apeirogon and Dancer).Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann - 3* - My Review
Finally got my review done - December # 4 - ✔ 30Dec21
The Creation of Eve – Lynn Cullen – 4****
Based on the true, but little known, story of Sofonisba Anguisola, the first renowned female artist during the Renaissance period, this is a captivating work of historical fiction. I knew nothing about this extraordinary woman, and only a little about the court of King Felipe II. Cullen crafts a compelling story that includes intrigue, romance, mystery, politics and the frustration felt by a woman shackled by society’s conventions.
My full review HERE
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Sylvia / Bryce Courtenay
3.5 stars
It’s the 13th century in Germany. Sylvia was young when her mother died and her father abused her. When he died, she was driven from her mother’s home and land by the local people. As she travelled, she met up with Reinhardt, who played lovely music on his flute that often caused rats and other animals to follow him; he called himself the Pied Piper of Hamelin. They travelled together and with her angelic voice and his flute, they entertained people (and/or he drove rats away) to get food to eat and shelter. Sylvia had additional (to the singing) gifts of her own, that when combined with the fish birthmark on her back, people tended to believe she was an angel and miracles happened when she was around.
Eventually, Sylvia and Reinhardt met up with a child, Nicholas, who seemed to have a gift for preaching (at least, when he partook of the mushrooms Sylvia showed him how to consume). Nicholas drew other children to him with his preaching and he decided (well, he was told by Jesus) there would be a “Children’s Crusade” from Germany to Jerusalem.
This was good, but long. A lot of religion in this one, and it seems some of it (but what?) was historically accurate. Unfortunately, the author only included acknowledgments at the end, so the fact that some of this really happened was mentioned but not expanded on, as I was hoping. I assume what really happened was the Children’s Crusade, but I will have to look that up to find out. This is long – almost 500 pages of small font (in the physical book).