Trim Challenge 2022 – Community and Announcement Thread

[Amy]

Just to state that if anyone was wondering about Trim 2023, I will take care of it shortly after the next years challenges are announced. No one worry. Trim is safely managed and ready to continue on.

[Sallys]

Theresa. I loved Migrations !!

[Sallys]

Thanks Amy. You are the best!

[Theresa]

Sallys wrote: "Theresa. I loved Migrations !!"

Good to know! It sounds really appealing.

[LibraryCin]

#24 (November's Trim)

The Ha-Ha / Dave King.
3.5 stars

Howie was in Vietnam for the war. He was injured and came home unable to talk. He has not been able to since, nor did he re-learn to read and write. His best friend (and former high-school girlfriend), Sylvia, calls on him to take care of her 9-year old son, Ryan, while she is off to rehab. Lucky for Howie, he has three other people living in his house. Laurel lives there without paying rent, but she helps Howie out. Two other rooms are rented out to young men, Harrison and Steve (he calls them Nit and Nat: he doesn’t like them much!).

This was good. There was a lot of “guy” stuff in the book, but with Howie and Ryan as main characters, becoming almost like father and son, one should expect that. It was nice how the household came together to help out with Ryan (though none were used to having a kid around the house!). I didn’t like Sylvia much, but then Howie did some stupid things, too.

[Sue]

My #17 is From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon

[Book Concierge]

November # 24 - Finished ✔ - 10Nov22


I Am the Messenger – Markus Zusak – 3***
I picked this up because I enjoyed Zusak’s The Book Thief and was hoping for … well, not more of the same, but something that would spark some of the same feelings I had reading that work. In the end, I wound up confused about what was actually going on and found the entire premise rather unbelievable. Zusak joins the likes of author John Boyne for me – an author I’ve enjoyed at least once, perhaps even loved, but who is just as likely to completely disappoint me in another work .
LINK to my full review

[Book Concierge]

May # 9 - Finished ✔ - 18Nov22


Enemy Women – Paulette Jiles – 4****
In the last months of 1864, the residents of Missouri are being pushed and pulled between warring factions. I found this work of historical fiction fascinating and engaging. Adair is a strong woman even though she is barely out of girlhood. She remains resolute despite hardship. No horse – no problem – she will walk. She never loses sight of her goal – to find her father, to get home, to reunite her family.
LINK to my full review

[LibraryCin]

October #5

David Copperfield / Charles Dickens
2 stars

I can’t give much of a summary. It’s pretty much David Copperfield growing up, getting married, etc.

I listened to the audio and most of it was not actually interesting enough to listen to. So, I missed most of it. I found many names caught my attention, though, for some reason. Uraiah Heap (sp? he’s the ‘umble one – I caught that!), Peggarty, Macawber, Agnes, and Dora. Funny, the other thing with names (at least for the main character) is that he seemed to have a few nicknames and I even think I caught them, or some, anyway! So, I seemed to notice when names were mentioned, but didn’t pay enough attention to what actually was happening. I did catch a bit more of what happened at the end. And I did read a wikipedia summary maybe 1/3 of the way through the book so I might have some kind of idea what was going on. Too bad the book itself didn’t engage me enough that I knew what was happening as I listened, though. It’s another of the classics in the “miss” category for me, though I keep trying them!

[Heather Reads Books]

It took me awhile because I really wasn't vibing with either of my options for #24, but I finally picked another book from my existing list and read it in their place!

The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors by Dan Jones - 3 stars

Review is here!

[Kelly]

The waitlist for my December #17 book 'The Dovekeepers' by Alice Hoffman is too long and I do not expect to get it in time. So I have changed my December book to another by Alice Hoffman. Now I am reading her book 'Skylight Confessions.'

[Kelly]

December #17

Skylight Confessions by Alice Hoffman



4 stars

In this book 17 year Arlyn Singer's father has just died and she is certain that John Moody is the person of her future. They marry and start a family, but she soon finds that he may not be right for her. She dies young and her children Sam and Blanca must deal with their father and their own loneliness. John starts to see the ghost of Arlyn and he can not shake her. John is a bad parent to his children, but they are able to form a close bond with each other. The kids have their struggles where Sam becomes a drug addict and Balance moves to London never wanting to return.

Growing up they live in a glass house. It is famous for its design, but it does not bring happiness. Hoffman does a good job of depicting how family members are alone. They feel misunderstood and are all looking for something, but they do not know how to achieve it without Arlyn. Elements of magical realism enhance the story. There are myths of flying men, birds show up repeatedly, stones are significant and the ghost of Arlyn is often present.

The family nanny, Meredith, has her own secrets, but she is the one who provides love and understanding, She also sees visions of Aryln. In my opinion Meredith is the most interesting character of the novel. Although she is flawed, she has the most growth and has a connection to the other characters even as family dynamics change. Fans of Alice Hoffman will like this book and how the author continues the story though several generations.

[Joanne]

Finished my December book Blood & Ivy: The 1849 Murder That Scandalized Harvard 4 stars

So I complete the year as follows

5 Read
5 DNF's (go ahead laugh, I did)
1 Book on the list I had already read🙄
1 Book not gotten to, which has gone on the 2023 list

So 10 books off the shelf🎉🎈💃 all in all a great year!

[Theresa]

Joanne wrote: "Finished my December book Blood & Ivy: The 1849 Murder That Scandalized Harvard 4 stars

So I complete the year as follows

5 Read
5 DNF's (go ahead laugh, I did)
1 Book on the list..."

ROFL - really? You had 5 trim books -- books hanging out in your next by author or next in series books in your TBR you DNF?

As you say they are gone off the TBR yay but I question why they were there in the first place!

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Joanne]

Theresa wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Finished my December book Blood & Ivy: The 1849 Murder That Scandalized Harvard 4 stars

You just never know until you start a book...😉 and none of these were next by anything, they are just random books off my shelf

[Theresa]

Joanne wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Finished my December book Blood & Ivy: The 1849 Murder That Scandalized Harvard 4 stars

You just never know until you start a book...😉 and none of th..."

Well definitely good to see them gone so worthier candidates can be slotted in.

[Book Concierge]

August # 15 - ✔ Finished 03Dec22


The Hindi-Bindi Club – Monica Pradhan – 3.5***
This was highly reminiscent of Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club . We have two generations of three immigrant families – mothers and daughters. The central plot revolves around Kiran, who, having married against her parents wishes and now divorced, has decided to ask for their help in finding a life partner. I enjoyed learning a bit more of the history of India, and of the disparate cultures within the subcontinent. Just as in real life, it’s not all drama and angst. There is plenty of humor, tenderness, laughter and tears of joy. Oh, and Prahan includes some wonderful recipes at the end of each chapter.
LINK to my full review

[Book Concierge]

Dec # 17 ✔ - 10Dec22


Icy Sparks – Gwyn Hyman Rubio – 5****
We know much more about Tourette’s Syndrome today than during the timeframe of this story (1950s), and I hope even the residents of rural Appalachia would be more compassionate about a young girl so afflicted. Icy Sparks jumps off the pages of this book straight into the reader’s heart. This is a child who is curious, intelligent, kind, loving, and who learns to stand up to bullies and fight for herself. She shows empathy and compassion in her dealings with others even when they ostracize and belittle her.
LINK to my full review


And I have completed my trim challenge for this year!

[Amy]

Congratulations Book Concierge! Nice Finish! (Me too.)

[Theresa]

#7 - JUNE! The Making of a Marchioness, Part I and II by Frances Hodgson Burnett

5 stars!

I had no idea that Frances Hodgson Burnett had written anything except children's books, wonderful as those are. Turns out she was far more admired and well-known during her lifetime for her adult novels and stories, sufficiently so that she supported herself and her family with her writing from the time she was in her early 20s. Pretty amazing for a late Victorian & Edwardian woman. In fact, her life was pretty unusual for a woman of her time, bringing to mind other 19th Century women writers like George Sand and George Eliot, but also helping one see how women were slowly and steadily moving away from the constrictions imposed on them in the earlier eras in some areas, if not others.

Here we meet Emily, born to the gentry but left to fend for herself at a young age. Not having a physical appearance that conforms with the concepts of beauty of the times (she's tall and large with big feet and round eyes) plus a truly innocent happy nature, filled with kindness and a complete lack of cynicism or instinct for duplicity. At the age of 34, Emily makes a meager living running errands for others. One of her clients, Lady Maria, a clever elderly aristocrat, invites her to join her at her summer home to assist her as needed. It is there that Emily meets the 52 year old Lord Walderhurst, Lady Maria's cousin, a man who is extremely wealthy, not very clever, quite stodgy in fact, and in need of a wife to provide an heir or a distant relative whom he dislikes intesnsely will inherit. Because of course this is the end of the Victorian era and men needed heirs for their estates, and women needed to marry for security.

This book is really a duology that the author once said should always have been one story, not two. Fortunately for all, both have long been published in one volume entitle The Making of a Marchioness, Part I and II with 2 parts. The first part is the fairytale Cinderella story introducing Emily, Lady Maria, Walderhurst, and the events at the country house where Emily is the only single woman not on the hunt for a husband. While a lighthearted romantic story ending with Lord Walderhurst and Emily engaged to marry, there is an underlying seriousness and darkness here. Burnett paints a sharp portrait of the necessity of marriage for security for women who otherwise often face every increasing poverty and loss of the comforts of their particularly class.

That darker edge comes to the forefront in Part 2, The Methods of Lady Walderhurst, which is rather gothic. I was frequently reminded of the musical Into the Woods which was once described by its composer Stephen Sondheim as what happens after the happy ever after. Part 2 starts off where the fairytale ends with Emily and Walderhurst's wedding and removal to one of his 3 homes in the country. It is now that we meet the Osborns, Walderhurst's presumptive heir (until he has a son), who has been working in India, and Hester his Anglo-Indian wife. Needless to say, the Osborns are not happy about the marriage or that Emily is still of child-bearing age. They arrive in England on a protracted leave and the plotting begins. Meanwhile, the too innocent Emily is on her own to deal with it all, including a pregnancy, while Walderhurst is off in India on a diplomatic mission. It is here that Burnett shows us that marriage can be dangerous and dark for a woman in many differing ways, even if you've married up into the aristocracy or find yourself in a marriage tied to an amoral brute. By the end, you have quite the picture of marriage at the turn of the 20th Century.

First published serially in 1901, it not only provides a protrait of marriages, but also reveals the settings of the time - the homes, gardens and estates, and fashions -- giving a rich visual background. It's extremely unusual in neither of its main characters are typically romantic, or clever, or astute, or beautiful, handsome, or dashing, and that adds to the appeal. It's very modern yet there are plenty of moments where contemporary readers might take offense: Emily being referred to as childlike in her innocence and demeanor, or Hester's dark skin and exotic background, and most of all Ameerah, Hester's black maid, of whom the other characters are fearful as much from her dark skin as her foreigness and knowledge of the occult. That's a very superficial reading as Emily's description is to be compared to most other characters who are cleverer, but also cynical, cunning, manipulative, even cruel, and even though she's managed successfully to create an independent life that does not include the limited companion, governess, or prostitute choices available, though that life is a precarious one. The reactions to Hester and Ameerah are those of the times, but Burnett also counters them with scenes where it is pointed out that such reactions and thinking are to be discouraged.

The tone of the book reminded me of that in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. It would not be amiss to include it alongside readings of Austen or Eliot or Sand. I loved it.

[Theresa]

I still have 2 to finish on Trim, but I've started both so should finish by year end.

Stay tuned...

[Amy]

I think it would be fun to celebrate that some of us have finished the year. I know some people have announced that already, but I didn’t go back to check. We should make a list because we did a great job. Tell us again if you finished..

Amy
Book Concierge
Theresa
Joanne
Olivermagnus
Diana
Cindy
Hannah
BooknBlues
Heather Reads Books
Sally
Jen K

[Joanne]

Amy wrote: "I think it would be fun to celebrate that some of us have finished the year. I know some people have announced that already, but I didn’t go back to check. We should make a list because we did a gr..."


I am finished Amy

[Olivermagnus]

2022 Unofficial Trim

12 of 12 Complete

🍁 5. October - Shadows Reel - C.J. Box - 4 Stars - 12/20/22
🍁 7. July - The Investigator - John Sandford - 4 Stars - 9/17/22
🍁 8. June - Singapore Sapphire - A.M. Stuart - 4 Stars - 6/17/2
🍁 9. May - Her Dark Lies - J.T. Ellison - 4 Stars - 6/20/22
🍁 10. January - Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir - 5 Stars 1/10/22
🍁 11. March - Meet Me in Monaco - Hazel Gaynor - 4 Stars - 3/15/22
🍁 15. August - Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro - 5 Stars - 9/6/22
🍁 17. December - Under Lock & Skeleton Key - Gigi Pandian - 4 Stars - 12/18/22
🍁 18. February - Centennial - James A. Michener - 4 Stars - 2/13/22
🍁 20. April - The Women in the Castle - Jessica Shattuck - 3 Stars - 4/20/22
🍁 22. September - Peril at the Exposition - Nev March - 4 Stars - 11/25/22
🍁 24. November - Once There Were Wolves - Charlotte McConaghy - 4 Stars - 11/20/22

An excellent year for me with my Unofficial Trim books.

5 Star - 2
4 Star - 9
3 Star - 1

[LibraryCin]

I am currently reading my last Trim book for the year. Hope to be able to post a review in the next couple of days!

[Diana]

I've read all of the chosen numbers this year too!

January - #10 - Anxious People - 5 Stars
February - #18 - The President Is Missing - 5 Stars
March - #11 - Autumn - 2 Stars
April - #20 - The Constant Princess - 5 Stars
May - #9 - People We Meet on Vacation - 3 Stars
June - #8 - Long Bright River - 3 Stars
July - #7 - Inheritance - 4 Stars
August - #15 - Klara and the Sun - 4 Stars
September - #22 - A Good Girl's Guide to Murder - 5 Stars
October - #5 - The Obsession - 2 Stars
November - #24 - Once There Were Wolves - 5 Stars
December - #17 - The Lathe of Heaven - 4 Stars

[Hannah]

#17 - December

Stanley and Elsie by Nicola Upson – 3 Stars (Rounded up)

Based on the painter Stanley Spencer and his wife Hilda, also a painter, this book is narrated by their housekeeper, Elsie, who quickly becomes a friend to both. I had high hopes for this book as I enjoy Upson’s Josephine Tey series, but the writing in this felt very heavy and Stanley Spencer was an incredibly unpleasant, selfish man. I’m happy to have at least got this one off my TBR!

[Sallys]

I'm done

[Booknblues]

I've finished but need to do my last review:

Jan. – Project Hail Mary – 5 stars*
Feb. – Hidden in Paris– 3 stars
March – Autumn – 4 stars*
April- The Paris Architect – 4 stars*
May – An American Marriage – 5 stars*
June – Mrs. Hemingway – 3 stars*
July – The Narrowboat Summer– 4.5 stars*
August – The Only Woman in the Room– 3 stars*
September – The Rose Garden – 3 stars
October= Nine Perfect Strangers – 4 stars
November- A Fierce Radiance – 4 Stars*
December – The Shining Girls -DNF & switched toMigrations* -4.5 stars

* Buddy Reads

[Booknblues]

My December read was The Shining Girls which I found distasteful at the moment and DNF, so I substituted Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy -4.5 stars
Review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Heather Reads Books]

I was so close, but December got busy and I had to throw in the towel on my #17, A Gentleman in Moscow... I've tried this book a few times now and I can never get into it!

Here's the rest, though...

1. January - Matrix by Lauren Groff - 4 stars
2. February - A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark - 3 stars
3. March - Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard - 4 stars
4. April - Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell - 5 stars
5. May - Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age by Annalee Newitz - 5 stars
6. June - Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb - 5 stars
7. July - In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado - 5 stars
8. August - Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro - 5 stars
9. September - The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - 4 stars
10. October - Madam by Phoebe Wynne - 4.5 stars
11. November - The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors by Dan Jones - 3 stars
12. December - A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles - DNF

Not bad, overall...

5 stars - 5
4.5 stars - 1
4 stars - 3
3 stars - 2
DNF - 1

[Joanne]

Heather, I am so glad there is someone besides me that threw in the towel with Towles

[Amy]

And here I thought he might win the whole thing!

[Joanne]

Amy wrote: "And here I thought he might win the whole thing!"

yes, I noticed it-it appears he will win, a perfect ending to this crummy year for me 🤣

[Theresa]

Joanne wrote: "Amy wrote: "And here I thought he might win the whole thing!"

yes, I noticed it-it appears he will win, a perfect ending to this crummy year for me 🤣"

Well, Amy was talking about WPF... which he lost. But I do think The Lincoln Highway might just be in the lead for Top Read of 2022.

[LibraryCin]

Joanne wrote: "Heather, I am so glad there is someone besides me that threw in the towel with Towles"

If I was one to DNF, I would have been there with you both!

[LibraryCin]

And I'm done for the year!

A Cabinet of Wonders / Renee Dodd
3.5 stars

Set primarily in 1927, Dugan is a dwarf who runs a “freak show”, which includes teenaged Siamese twins Molly and Faye, morphodite (hermaphrodite) Alex, giant Sean, Dugan’s “twin” dwarf Mario, “Wolf girl” Saffron, fat lady Beatrice, tattooed man Shadrach(?), and a black gay man (Finch) who travels with them as a photographer. Dugan is worried about profits as motion pictures are starting to become more popular as the others are each musing about what they might do next, away from “carnie” life when they are able to leave. Although the show is a protection of sorts – protection from doctors who want to study and/or sterilize them.

The book was slow-moving but interesting in that it looked at the private lives of those living in this time with various deformities: their personal relationships, and some of the abuses they dealt with. Included was a short afterword by the author.

[Joanne]

Theresa wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Amy wrote: "And here I thought he might win the whole thing!"

yes, I noticed it-it appears he will win, a perfect ending to this crummy year for me 🤣"

Well, Amy was talking about W..."

misunderstood ( or read too fast), and yes I was talking about the top 10

[Joanne]

Theresa wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Amy wrote: "And here I thought he might win the whole thing!"

yes, I noticed it-it appears he will win, a perfect ending to this crummy year for me 🤣"

Well, Amy was talking about W..."

misunderstood ( or read too fast), and yes I was talking about the top 10

[Theresa]

Joanne wrote: "Amy wrote: "And here I thought he might win the whole thing!"

yes, I noticed it-it appears he will win, a perfect ending to this crummy year for me 🤣"

It could be worse, JoAnne. It could be Wolf Hall .... 🤣

[Amy]

Thank you for interpreting me as I have been on airplanes and I’m still on the next. Yes I also see that Lincoln Highway is going to do very well in the top 10. There are a few other ones that continue to come up. Including island of missing trees, lessons in chemistry, and a couple more.

[Sallys]

I haven't read any books by Amor Towles. I've tried reading Rules of Civility but I don't know if I was ever even tempted to open it.
I was going to read the Lincoln Highway because it's on Obama's list of books he recommends. But I guess I won't bother. I am reading another of his recommendations Intimacies. It's phenomenal.

[Amy]

Sally, Theresa and I both loved the Lincoln Highway and it’s going to be PBT Top Ten! May even be number one!

[Joanne]

Theresa wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Amy wrote: "And here I thought he might win the whole thing!"

yes, I noticed it-it appears he will win, a perfect ending to this crummy year for me 🤣"

It could be worse, JoAnne. It..."

Oh that would really add to my Holiday Cheer 🤣

[Sallys]

Ok. Im compiling my list of 100 books for Subdue the Shelf and I'll add it.

[Jenni Elyse]

I've kind of sucked at Trim this year. I read January through April and October. I also read 16 which hasn't been selected yet. So, six books total. I'm starting December's tomorrow and hope I can get it done in the next 10 days.

Here are my books:

January - 10 - Anxious People
February - 18 - Broken (in the best possible way)
March - 11- Fangirl
April - 20 - Stalking Jack the Ripper
October - 5 - Nine Perfect Strangers
- 16 - To All the Boys I've Loved Before

January's, March's, and October's made my top ten.

[Kelly]

I have finished also!

January #10 - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - 4 stars
February #18 - The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles - 3 stars
March #11 - All Adults Here by Emma Straub - 3 1/2 stars
April #20 - The Booksellers Secret by Michelle Gable- 3 stars
May #9 - The Wish by Nicholas Sparks - 3 stars
June #8 - Mrs. Hemmingway by Naomi Wood - 3 stars
July # 7 - After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid - 3 stars
August #15 - Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid - 3 stars
September #22 - Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah - 4 stars
October #5 - Survival Lessons by by Alice Hoffman - 3 stars
November #24 - And Now She's Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall - 4 stars
December #17 - Skylight Confessions by Alice Hoffman - 3 stars

[Theresa]

Finished #17 - Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy

5 stars: My Review

I just also want to say that BooknBlues and I were a perfect match for a buddy read for this book in so many ways.

Just one more book to read to finish my year! And it is already started.

[Theresa]

Amy wrote: "Sally, Theresa and I both loved the Lincoln Highway and it’s going to be PBT Top Ten! May even be number one!"

There are a lot of us loving The Lincoln Highway. I actually think you will really enjoy it.

Each of Towles' books are different in so many ways - style, plot, inspiration - but all beautifully written. I happen to love all 3 of his works. Rules of Civility was his first and is the least engaging I personally think though I still loved it because for me it was telling the story of the Lost Generation here in NYC as opposed to that in Paris between the wars. It's a story you don't see written about except a bit in The Paris Wife about Hadley, Hemingway's first wife. I'd also just read the MacLain book when I finally read Rules for Civility.

[Shelly]

My Trim list had 24 books and I did manage to get to 12, with 1 DNF

Dawn
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Thick: And Other Essays DNF
The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel
Anxious People
Migrations
Cloud Cuckoo Land
Klara and the Sun
Project Hail Mary
The Lincoln Highway
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz
The Cold Millions