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Trim Challenge 2022 – Community and Announcement Thread
Diana H. wrote: "My #11 is Autumn too. So I guess we are having a buddy read in March! .."Great, Diana, I hadn't noticed that you had added that as well.
Do you have any idea of when you will be reading it?
I completed my February pick, after replacing the original to do a BR with Meli on Idaho. My #11 is The Shadow King which I have on my bookshelf at home.
Booknblues wrote: "Diana H. wrote: "My #11 is Autumn too. So I guess we are having a buddy read in March! .."Great, Diana, I hadn't noticed that you had added that as well.
Do you have any idea of when you will be..."
I planned to read another book before it, so I think I'll be able by the 5th or 6th of March to start.
My number 11 is The Strain/Desert Places/Plague Ship probably start wit Desert Places since it is short and I seem to have landed with a lot of marking next month. At least it will knock 1 off the list and I'll see how the marking goes.
Good choice, Theresa! :) My #11 is Food Fright by Nico Bell and it should be a short and sweet little horror novella that I will have no trouble finishing.
Diana H. wrote: "I planned to read another book before it, so I think I'll be able by the 5th or 6th of March to start...."I will try to align my reading to that time so we can have some discussion.
Kate NZ will love your voice in this conversation as well.
Should we start a thread around that time?
Joanne wrote: "Theresa wrote: "My #11 is: 
Our Spoons Came from Woolworths by Barbara Comyns
..."
I also am intrigued. The title alone captures my attention.
Book Concierge wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Theresa wrote: "My #11 is: Our Spoons Came from Woolworths by Barbara Comyns
..."
I also am in..."
This is a book that caught my attention in one of my local my indie bookstores, on a rack by the elevator. Grab it on impulse. Excited to finally read it.
Joanne wrote: "I had Realm Breaker out last month, but I never got to it, and 5 others were waiting for it-so back it went unread. I am looking forward to your review. I loved Her Red Queen series"I actually had the same experience late last year, Joanne. I had it from the library and got a few pages in but things got too crazy with the holidays. I have been wanting to get back to it.
Also, I am having a hell of a time finding a copy of the other book I put at #11, so chances are good it's gonna be Realm Breaker!
Diana H. wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Diana H. wrote: "My #11 is Autumn too. So I guess we are having a buddy read in March! .."Great, Diana, I hadn't noticed that you had added that as well.
Do you have any idea ..."
Diana, how are you doing? I've been thinking about you and hoping everything is ok with you. Please keep us apprised.
Booknblues wrote: "Diana H. wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Diana H. wrote: "My #11 is Autumn too. So I guess we are having a buddy read in March! .."Great, Diana, I hadn't noticed that you had added that as well.
Do y..."
Thank you for your concern. We live in the West, but our airport was bombed too yesterday morning. We are afraid but try to stay calm. Actually, I'm so shocked that can't even explain all this.
We're just trying to stick to the routine to the possible extent. And that helps to calm down a bit. And I'm very grateful for your support
Diana H. wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Diana H. wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Diana H. wrote: "My #11 is Autumn too. So I guess we are having a buddy read in March! .."Great, Diana, I hadn't noticed that you had added ..."
Diana, we are all thinking of you and praying for you.
May you and your family get through this.
And may your country remain free and strong.
I'm not holding you to the buddy read. We will talk about it whenever you can.
I'm sending you whatever strength and courage, I can.
Sunflower seeds to sprout all over your country.
Ukraine!
I’m so sorry you’re going through this, Diana. That must be so scary! I hope you and your loved ones can stay safe during this ordeal.
Diana, I have also had you on my mind. My husband grew up in communist Poland, his mom was Ukrainian. He stays glued to the TV all day. I absolutely abhor what is happening and send my thoughts and love to you, your family and your country
We are all standing behind Ukraine, for loved ones, loved ones of our friends and family, and for those who we don't even know. We are standing right behind you. Please keep us posted and know we are all praying for you.
@Diana - I was thinking about you this morning and am so glad that you are ok and posted recently. Please do keep us updated and I hope you and your family are able to stay safe.The family of a dear friend of mine is where a lot of the violence is happening and I don't even know what to say. I'm scared.
#11 All Adults Here by Emma Straub
Diana - I hope you and your family will be safe in the coming weeks. I will think of you every time I turn on the news and send prayers to the brave Ukrainians in this terrible invasion.
Diana - Thinking of you and your family and hope you all stay safe. We are here in support, a virtual shoulder for you.
Oh Diana - Thinking of you and your family and praying for your safety!
Oh, Diana. I hope this is over soon and all will be ok with you. I can't even imagine how scary this must be...
Diana ... we, too, are praying for you, your family and all the citizens of Ukraine. I cannot imagine how terrifying it must be for you. I hope you get these messages and know that there are many people the world over on your side.
Diana - We are all thinking of you. Please stay safe.
February #18The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Diana H. wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Diana H. wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Diana H. wrote: "My #11 is Autumn too. So I guess we are having a buddy read in March! .."Great, Diana, I hadn't noticed that you had added ..."
Also sending my thoughts for you, yours and all in Ukraine. Such tragic events. I hope that it will be ended promptly and the strength to come back.
I can't even imagine whet you're going through. Sending thoughts and prayers.
Thank you all guys for sharing your love and support with me. I am very grateful for that. Right now I and my family are safe, there are no military operations in our part of the country. Sorry for not answering you before, I'm trying to spend less time reading the news and more time with my family. We are doing our best so our daughter won't feel all the stress and fear we feel. Thank you all very much!
I finished my February book: Vintage Munro by Alice Munro. 5 starsI love short story collections but often find them hard to review.
As the title suggests, these are some of Alice Munro's best short stories, and (in my opinion) Munro is one of the world's best short story authors.
Her common theme is always, always family, obligation. love, loneliness, casual betrayals and chance meetings, and the unintended consequences of life choices.
February #18Piranesi-5 Stars
Definitely an early contender for favorite book of the year.
My #11 for March is These Violent Delights
Diana H. wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Diana H. wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Diana H. wrote: "My #11 is Autumn too. So I guess we are having a buddy read in March! .."Great, Diana, I hadn't noticed that you had added ..."
Much love and hopes for a safe and happy future from Aus too. Even the kids at school (teenagers who are often self-obsessed) are worried and care! Stay safe!
Whew, finally made it through my February trim read! A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark - 3 stars. Review is here.
A lot of ups and downs in this one, but I am glad I muddled through.
I'm behind. My February #18 was Tourist Season by Carl Hiaasen. Last night I decided at page 120 that I really wasn't enjoying the book. So out it goes unfinished. Now on to my March #11 which is Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall.
punxsygal wrote: "I'm behind. My February #18 was Tourist Season by Carl Hiaasen. Last night I decided at page 120 that I really wasn't enjoying the book. So out it goes unfinished. Now on to my March #11 which is B..."Good for you Punxsygal! That is about how far I get when I deicide to chuck it! Too many good books awaiting you to waste time on something that you are not enjoying
I'm working on my #18 now. Hope to finish today, but it is a 2nd (2nd in Feb) nonfiction that takes a bit longer to read.ETA: It's good, it's just taking longer!
#18 (Feb)The Greatest Traitor: The Life of Sir Roger Mortimer, Ruler of England 1327-1330 / Ian Mortimer
3.5 stars
My #11:Autumn by Ali Smith 4 stars
It was the worst of times, it was the worst of times. Again. That’s the thing about things. They fall apart, always have, always will, it’s in their nature.
The first lines of Autumn infused with its literary references, forces me to assess these times and wonder, "Are things falling apart? Are war and destruction, the worst of times?"
But then Smith transports me to the dreamworld of the dead or near dead and I struggle to keep my balance.
Smith continues to shift perspectives of Elisabeth, with an "s", like my middle name so I find a connection with her, the aging Daniel Gluck and others.
From a personal point of view, I don't love the style, but it is moving fluid, with unsure footing. However looking back through my highlights so many that I love, so many that give me pause and make me think.
The lifelong friends, he said. We sometimes wait a lifetime for them. He held his hand out. She got up, crossed the distance and held her own hand out. He shook her hand. See you later, unexpected queen of the world.
Or if he is, Elisabeth said, then he’s not just gay. He’s not just one thing or another. Nobody is. Not even you.
And then what happened next, well, it happened next, and history, that other word for irony, went its own foul witty way, sang its own foul witty ditty, and the girl was the one who died young in this story.
What I’m suggesting, Daniel said, is, if you’re telling a story, always give your characters the same benefit of the doubt you’d welcome when it comes to yourself.
It’s the only responsibility memory has, he said. But, of course, memory and responsibility are strangers. They’re foreign to each other. Memory always goes its own way quite regardless.
And then I am struck by messages of family and friends in the book and just what each of these means.
Finished my march trim (the first at least...may get another done or may not since I gave myself a choice of 3 each month) Desert Places by Blake Crouch. I gave it 4 stars because it was thoroughly creepy and disturbing.
I just wanted to announce that HayJay is our Trim Picker for April. Really fun to see people enjoying the body reads and enjoying clearing some of these off their TBR, whether they liked them or not.
I finished my book for March - Perdido Street Station by China Miéville 5 stars.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
This was a door-stop at 710 pages, and I think it would have just continued to sit on my TBR without the Trim challenge. Glad to have read it!
Thats great Sue! I think this challenge appeals to all of us for that very reason. Finally getting to some things we might not have.
Well, my March book got sent back....too many books, too little time to read them. Anything I am not enjoying is going into the DNF graveyard. So far this year, I have replaced 1 and thrown 2 out. Looks like my list for this year is not so great!
Joanne - Ever since discovering I could borrow e-books and audio books from my library, I've been ruthless with marking as DNF.I
Good for you Sue!! Like I said, too many good books out there to waste time on crappy-😁
Joanne, I hope you have better luck with your Trim List. In the meantime, I applaud your tossing what's not fulfilling!
Well would you believe it - I finally finished my January Trim book (Priestdaddy, by Patricia Lockwood). In many ways it was really good and had me laughing aloud in some places. So quirky and sharp and she has such an original voice. And it was deeply sad in places. And other bits made me angry. In other words, it was everything it should be. But it took me ages to read because I absolutely had to be in the groove to pick it up and then have dedicated time to stay in that groove. Which didn’t happen often.
#11 - Our Spoons Came from Woolworths by Barbara Comyns5 stars
The only things that are true in this story are the wedding and Chapters 10, 11 and 12 and the poverty.
Had I not been a reader who actually glances at all the pages before the text of the story starts, I would have missed this note in italics at the very top of the copyright notice. It caught my eye, as being odd, and had me intrigued, before I even read the first line of the story, wondering who put that there and if the author, why there? why not as a Dedication? Once I read the first line - I told Helen my story and she went home and cried. - I completely forgot about that mysterious post on the copyright page. That is I forgot until I read Emily Gould's Introduction AFTER I finished the book. (Never ever read the intro before reading the book because of spoilers. Gould even says she doesn't read them until after either.)
Superficially this is the story of naive young artists marrying too young and living the bohemian life in London during the Great Depression. It's written in an light artless tone that reminded me in many ways of that of Lorelei in Anita Loos' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes written 30 years earlier. The reality is a searing portrait of poverty and its impact on women and children. That amusing breeziness, the innocence of the first person narrator Sophia, soon serves to throw into stark relief the conditions imposed on women and children by unrelieved poverty. Parts of the story -- specifically those chapters 10, 11, 12 -- were enough to give a woman nightmares. I found myself completely engrossed in this story, able to trust that all ends well for Sophia as in the opening paragraph she tells us she's ..so happy that when I wake in the morning I can't belive it's true."
This is a tragic story in so many ways, yet does not read like a tragedy, instead reading lightly with a certain breezy acceptance. In fact, it is clear from reading more about Barbara Comyns herself, the root of the novel is her own life. Here, at last, is the puzzle piece that explains that odd note on the copyright page.
NYRB is the current publisher of this gem, long OOP. I remember the moment I purchased it - from a rack next to the elevator at the 112th Street branch of Book Culture. The cover
caught my eye first, then the title proved to be irresistable. I didn't even read the summary.
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My #11 is Autumn too. So I guess we are having a buddy read in March!