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Trim Challenge 2023 – Community Announcement and Discussion Thread
I'm also in for 2024, even though, this has been a really uneven year for me with challenges!
I'm in for 2024. Love clearing out my TBR and doing buddy reads.
I'm done this month's #2. A Book in Every Hand: Public Libraries in Saskatchewan Don Kerr.
3.5 stars
I'm in for 2024 as well, though I've read hardly any of my Trim books this year. I think I'll just remove some of them from my TBR, because even this challenge hasn't given me the push to pick them up.
Hannah wrote: "I'm in for 2024 as well, though I've read hardly any of my Trim books this year. I think I'll just remove some of them from my TBR, because even this challenge hasn't given me the push to pick them..."Funny, I was just thinking the same thing -- if I'm not picking up a book when I get to it on one of these Trim challenges, then I think it's time to toss the book aside and put something fresh in.
Looking like a nice group again for this!
Oh, I'll be joining in again next year, too.
Reading the Latecomer by Jean HaniffKorelutz. It’s ok
I've finished my #2 for October:The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen - 2 Stars
Originally published in 1935, this book now felt very dated. The book is told in three parts, with the first part taking up the majority of the novel. In part one meet two children: Henrietta has travelled to Paris to spend the summer with her grandmother, and Leopold has travelled from Italy to meet his mother for the first time. Both the children are complex characters, but the story is very melodramatic, and they are faced with decisions that children would not be expected to make. Part two takes us back to the past and tells how Leopold came to be born, and everything comes together in the third part. It took me quite a long time to get used to Bowen’s writing style, but I just didn’t particularly enjoy many of the stream of consciousness style thoughts. I also felt that some of the adult’s motivations were not believable, and the book often felt quite cold and detached.
Finished my #2 for October. I took my time since I was enjoying it so much! I am definitely in for Trim in 2024!Cold: Adventures in the World's Frozen Places by Bill Streever - 5* - My Review
A combination of memoir, travelogue, science, and history, this book examines just about every aspect of the cold. It is organized by month and covers the course of a year. The author had traveled to northern Alaska, and in each monthly chapter he provides an update on his journey. These updates are interspersed with specific cold-related topics, such as its effects on human and animal physiology, how species have adapted to living in the extreme cold, specific expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic, and the impact of global climate change.
Streever’s writing style is lively and engaging. He explains complex scientific concepts in terms easily understood by a non-scientist. I particularly appreciated the author’s accounts of wildlife that have adapted to survive in the cold, including hibernation, insulation, migration, heat exchange, freeze tolerance, and more. All are described in fascinating detail. I do not think I have read another book that mentions as many animals as this one!
The author combines scientific explanations with vivid storytelling, creating a balance between informative content and fascinating narratives. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the natural world and the capacity to endure and thrive in extreme cold. Recommended to science enthusiasts, cold climate adventurers, and fans of captivating non-fiction. It sheds light on the beauty and complexity of the world's coldest places. I loved it.
Sally, I have wondered if this one should leave my TBR. Feels like it’s a lot of mixed reviews. I have decided that it will be you who will tell me whether or not it deserves the spot it’s in, or whether or not, I should just either lower it to weigh down the list or to trash it entirely.Was gonna post this on the November thread, but I find myself in a fat book November!!! Like thank God for subdue the shelf I only picked books that were around 300 pages or under. But my plans for this month include a number of humongous Chunksters. Like my subdue book, my Israel book, three humongous chunksters which includes the Autumn Throne, and fourth wing, if it should show up, or whenever it shows up. I feel like an awful lot for me. I don’t really know how I’m supposed to manage it. But we shall see.
Amy, instead of Fat Book November, I have Nonfiction November. I have so many nonfiction books which I would like to read this month for the Fall Flurries.It is going to be a struggle, but I look forward to it.
#9 - November Forever Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid
4 stars
I really enjoyed this book. In it Elsie Porter has been married for a few days when her husband Ben Ross is killed by a truck. The author tells the story along two timelines. The first is the present and the second is from when Elsie and Ben meet. Their love story happened quickly and Elsie is broken when Ben dies. She is not close to her parents and initially meets Ben's mother, Susan, at the hospital after the accident. Susan did not know about Elsie and is grieving in her own way.
Elsie and Susan's relationship is as important to the story as Elsie and Ben's. How they react to each other and get to know one another is very meaningful to both of them. They are struggling individually and provide a support system for one another.
Some humor is included in the book to help break up the sadness. There are also additional characters such as her best friend and others who work with Elsie who add to the novel. Taylor Jenkins Reid has become one of my favorite authors in the last few years. She is good at explaining emotions and descriptions; in addition she includes interesting ways of telling her stories. Fans of other Taylor Jenkins Reid books should like this one.
Finished #9 for November:Good Enough to Dream by Roger Kahn - 4* - My Review
Roger Kahn takes the reader into the heart of small-town America in the days when baseball was still considered “America’s pastime.” He provides a glimpse into the workings of a minor league baseball team, the Utica Blue Sox, in upstate New York, which was in the “A” league and had no parent team. Kahn relates his experience as the owner-general manager, and the many challenges of working on the ownership side of a struggling team. He also delves into the lives of several players and the reception the team receives from residents of Utica. Themes include dreams, goals, community, resilience, and perseverance.
Kahn discusses baseball as a symbol of hope and opportunity, while not ignoring the obvious fact that most minor leaguers never make it to the major leagues, and it was even more difficult for anyone on an independent minor league team. Kahn is a great storyteller. His writing is a blend of anecdotes and astute observations. Published in 1985, it is a bit of a period piece, as there have been many changes to the way teams are run since this book was written. It is nostalgic, humorous, and a pleasure to read. I can see why this book is considered a classic of sports literature.
Amy wrote: "Sally, I have wondered if this one should leave my TBR. Feels like it’s a lot of mixed reviews. I have decided that it will be you who will tell me whether or not it deserves the spot it’s in, or w..."Hi Amy. Been thinking about you. What book do you mea
n?
Finished The Latecomer-3.5 stars rounded down to 3.Started The Celebrants.
The Latecomers!!!! I see you landed with a three. That doesn't quite help we the TBR. But its not a resounding vote yes.
Amy wrote: "The Latecomers!!!! I see you landed with a three. That doesn't quite help we the TBR. But its not a resounding vote yes."It's not horrible and that's only my personal opinion. It's worth reading.
I've read a string of mediocre books and I'm adding The Celebrants to the list. They call it a modern day Big Chill which should have been a tip off.
Sallys wrote: "I've read a string of mediocre books and I'm adding The Celebrants to the list. They call it a modern day Big Chill which should have been a tip off."Definitely should have been a tip off.
Still between jobs so I'm planning my year end reads. I'm finishing off the Celebrants. Next I think will be Mad Honey, by Jody Picoult. That should round out November. For December Looking for Jane, Our Missing Hearts and Demon Copperhead. Anyway, that's my plan.
Oct - # 2
Britt-Marie Was Here – Fredrick Backman – 3.5***
I thought this was a lovely little fairy tale. The scenarios were somewhat improbable, and Britt-Marie didn’t always behave the way I would have expected her to, but just as the residents of Borg grew on her, Britt-Marie grew on me. I found her insistence on structure exasperating at times, but I also loved how determined she was. While she kept her emotions in check, she still showed tenderness and genuine caring.
LINK to my full review
I've placed my #9 The Canterbury Tales into the DNF file and I will never read it and I don't care file.
Finished The Celebrants and started Mad Honey. I have mixed feelings about Jodi Picoult but one thing that I love is that she always incorporates an area of special interest into her story. In this novel it is beekeeping.
Stay tuned for when the Year Long Challenges get announced and I will get us organized for the next installment of Trim the TBR. Think 24 books, over 2024 and 2025.
Got my list finished up this morning. I did a reverse "by date added" and picked books that have been on the shelf the longest. They either get read, or off they go-a win win!
I fell off the wagon for all my challenges this year, ugh. But I am happy to try again for 2024!
You are not alone Heather. It was a rotten year for me all the way around
Amy wrote: "Stay tuned for when the Year Long Challenges get announced and I will get us organized for the next installment of Trim the TBR. Think 24 books, over 2024 and 2025."I have mine ready though some changes may occur before launch. This year I looked at nightstand print book TBR Towers and just made up a list. Although I avoided any really fat books!
Joanne wrote: "Got my list finished up this morning. I did a reverse "by date added" and picked books that have been on the shelf the longest. They either get read, or off they go-a win win!"Great way to do it, Joanne. I usually follow the same routine, only adding some buddy reads which I also have on my TBR.
I do think that we’re gonna have our lists but once we see each other’s list, they’re going to be some things that we might want to read together. Period. But then again, some of us have also doubled up on certain numbers. I do think it will be fun.
I took some books which have been on my list the longest, some books I added this year which I hope to read and some left on my subdue, randomized them to get 24.I am not finished because I will surely add and eliminate to have some buddy reads.
I’ll simply sling together the top 24 left over from my Subdue list - continuing the fun!
I'm in again in 2024. I did non-fiction this year for Trim and did terrible. What I don't finish by year-end, will be given a hard look. Some will definitely go out the door. I'll be back to a mostly fiction list. First look will be left over Subdue titles. But not ready to start that as I still have challenges to read for.
I'm excited Trim will be continuing for 2024 as the pace will be manageable with my grad school schedule! I'm drafting an initial list of possibilities that will most likely get revised as buddy reads emerge once all lists are posted.
HayJay! I have been missing you and looking out for you! Let’s see if we can make the buddy Reads happen in 2024. I’m also hoping to stay connected. I’ve been looking for you.
I finished my #9 for November: The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak 4 stars.Here's link to My Review
#9 - NovemberMr. Norris Changes Trains by Christopher Isherwood - 3 Stars
The book chronicles the relationship between Mr Norris and Mr Bradshaw following a chance meeting on a train in 1930s Berlin. The story takes place against the backdrop of the rise and increasing power of the Nazi Party. I’m not sure what I was expecting from this book, but this wasn’t it. The plot was quite thin, and the story seemed rather long-winded and not really going anywhere for large parts of the book. Isherwood’s other books are definitely better than this one.
I am putting together my 2024 Trim List. It will be a mix of fiction, non fiction and books I seem to never get to.
It will be exciting to compare and to be able to do somebody reads together. My plan is to drop the new trim announcement and planning thread as soon as we hear about the other two year-long challenges that in my mind always take higher priority. Plus, depending on what they are people might want to adjust their lists. And I post mine, there after people will be starting to make the arrangements and I promise to help.
100 Notable Books from The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...
ia a great resource.
I just updated my Trim List for 2024. Here's hoping this will help me get out of my reading slump!
I really fell off about mid year meeting my challenges, but I will plan to revise my 2024 trim list and try again! Maybe re-add those titles I missed this year.
I just finished my 2024 list, and decided to randomize it - so did. I'm ready to go. All are print books from the towers on my nightstand - which is actually a small dresser and has plenty of room for multiple book towers. It's a variety. Generally speaking the books in those towers are ones that I really want to get to sooner than later. I am so looking forward to a new list! Though I am 2 or 3 books behind, I fully expect to finish up the current one by December 31. I am halfway through one, 2 are short and one is long but a thriller so should read quickly. Just need to finish a couple of other year long challenges first - which only need a couple books read.
Finally started my November book last night. I might even be able to finish today, but we'll see. I'd like to read my 2nd last Subdue book after that, THEN I'll start on December's challenges.
I finished November's #9. All My Patients are Under the Bed: Memoirs of a Cat Doctor / Dr. Louis J. Camuti
3.5 stars
Dr. Louis Camuti was a veterinarian from the 1920s(?) and throughout much of the 20th century. This is a memoir of some of his clients and patients, as well as just a little bit of his own life. He was in New York City, specialized in cats and, unusual for the time, eventually did only house calls.
This was enjoyable. I’ve read many of these veterinarian memoirs, now, so it’s hard to keep all the anecdotes in my head, but I certainly enjoy the stories while I am reading them. Despite him practicing some decades ago, I feel like he might have been slightly ahead of his time on many things (his views on indoor/outdoor cats, declawing, cats shouldn’t really drink milk, adopting rather than buying from breeders, etc).
December #10We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz
4 stars
In this thriller by Andrea Bartz, Emily and Kristin are on their annual vacation. This year they are in Chile. Towards the end of the trip Emily comes back to their room and finds Kristin and a dead body. Kristin says she murdered the man in self defense. The women work to get to get rid of the body and evidence then leave the country to return to their homes.
Soon Kristin shows up at Emily’s door. Emily is trying to distance herself from Kristin. It is not working and Kirsten starts to turn up in unexpected places. Emily begins to question this murder and another one that happened in the past.
The author does a good job of keeping the reader guessing as to what the truth actually is. The backstories of the women play into the stories. It is an exciting book and the suspense element was well done.
I finished the 2023 TRIM challenge. I am in for 2024.
I finished my December book Olive, Again 4 stars.I love Strout's interwoven short story, and enjoyed my return to Crosby Maine.
I think I may have enjoyed Olive, Again even more than the original Olive Kitteridge.
Olive is much older in this book, and all the stories focus in on aging, being widowed, seeing who is still a friend and who was never a friend to begin with, adult children and grand children.
This is a very character-driven book, with many interwoven stories.
I still have one book that I missed from a prior month, and then I'll be finished with Trim 23.
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I have knocked off 22 from my list so far but some months did several and others 0.