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Trim Challenge 2023 – Community Announcement and Discussion Thread
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Joanne
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Apr 21, 2023 01:46PM
#12 is finally a 3 year old buddy read with Theresa! The Summer Before the War
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Heather Reads Books wrote: "@Theresa - I put the Marlon James on hold at the library and it should be available shortly, so we’ll see if I can get to it in May!I’m supposed to be (finally) finishing up A Clash of Kings for ..."
I fell off the wagon on ACOK too. I figure sometime this summer I'll get back on it. By then the current intense work period should be in a more relaxed stage, a few other things off my plate, and I can give it some love.
I accidentally read my #12 a couple months ago. But...I'm way behind in getting to my book for April, so this is my chance to get back on track.
I have a choice of 12) Shift/Nemesis/The Secret HistoryMAY23Probably I'll go with Shift since I remember enjoying Wool a year or 2 ago when my life was just starting to go to hell.
The 3 options was definitely the way to go as I have managed to keep with trim despite my crappy mood and lack of focus over the last year. Amazing the effect other people have on our ability to focus when we actually care about them.
For my #12 I'm going to read Monkey Beach as it has been on my TBR for 2 years and clogging my kindle unlimited and fits the tag of the month.
Amy wrote: "That’s right up your alley Cindy!"Absolutely! Looking forward to it!
For my #12 I'm going to read I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai. I'm more than halfway done with If We Had Known. Its a good, quick read.
March # 7
The Opposite House – Helen Oyeyemi – 1*
I appreciated many of the passages of Oyeyemi’s writing, but the book as a whole didn’t really work for me. The story meandered too much for me to keep track of what was happening; I found myself re-reading sections to get a grasp on it. I am usually a fan of magical realism, but in this case the other-worldly aspect of much of the magical realism simply confused me.
LINK to my full review
Book Concierge wrote: "March # 7 The Opposite House
– Helen Oyeyemi – 1*
I appreciated many of the passages of Oyeyemi’s writing, but the book as a whole didn’t really work for..."
Seems to be a problem with this writer.
I caught up in March and then got behind again in April but should be able to catch up again in May. I have my April book The Immortalists coming up soon and my May book The Art of Hearing Heartbeats on the bedside table.
Jen K wrote: "I caught up in March and then got behind again in April but should be able to catch up again in May. I have my April book The Immortalists coming up soon and my May book [book:The A..."I got a copy of The Immortalists on my first visit to my local indie back in 2018 and STILL haven't read it 😅
Meli wrote: "Jen K wrote: "I caught up in March and then got behind again in April but should be able to catch up again in May. I have my April book The Immortalists coming up soon and my May bo..."I had a hard copy in my book shelf but then decided the font was too small, borrowed a hard cover from the library and then had to return before I left on work travel. I even dragged the hard cover to California and didn't open once. I now have the audio borrowed and hope it sticks!!! I'm sure I will enjoy, but starting sometimes is such a big step....
I am pretty sure I have a paperback copy of The Immortalists deeply buried in a TBR Tower in my livingroom. It can stay hidden as I have enough on my plate right now. Clearly it has not matured enough to command my attention.
Finished May #12:Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts by Julian Rubinstein - 3* - My Review
Attila Ambrus escaped from Romania to Hungary during the Ceaușescu regime by clinging to the undercarriage of a train. He asked for political asylum and applied for Hungarian citizenship. In Hungary, he became a janitor for the Hungarian National Hockey team, and eventually a goalie, though he was not actually a hockey player. During the 1990s in Hungarian history, a great upheaval was occurring after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the break-up of the Soviet Union. Capitalism started taking root when many American companies expanded into Hungary. It was a chaotic time as former Soviet satellites adjusted to a new economy.
Attila’s life took several downturns (much of it due to his gambling and drinking habits) and he found himself in debt. He tried pelt smuggling for a while. In disguise, he perpetrated a string of robberies, wielding a gun but committing no violent acts, and managed to evade the police for years before being caught. This is a book of true crime, and Attila comes off as a folk hero, admired by the general public for fooling the authorities for so long. The book was reasonably entertaining as this “charming rogue” gets away with his crimes (for a while), but I am not a big fan of romanticizing criminals. The writing is rather uninspired. The author attempts to be humorous, and sometimes succeeds, but it also seems like he is exaggerating for effect. The best part for me was the history of Hungary and Romania.
Finished my #12, it fits for Indigenous, Monkey BeachReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished my #12 I Have Some Questions For You- dissapointing
Finished The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal 4 starsA delightful story of three sisters. Born and raised in Britain, they were raised very aware of their Indian heritage. Their dying mother's final wish is for them to take a pilgrimage back to India - with an itinerary fully spelled out by the mother in advance.
None of the sisters want to take this trip - and certainly not together. They inevitably bring a lifetime of sibling relationship baggage along with current disputes and private, undisclosed problems.
Parts of the book are really funny, other parts very emotional. The ending is very satisfying, not a neat and tidy ending, but definitely a greater empathy and smoother relationships between the sisters.
Cindy (LibraryCin) is our Trim Picker for June? The Five Numbers that have already been picked? We have already had 1, 4, 6, 7, and 12. The other five numbers are up for grabs
Amy wrote: "Cindy (LibraryCin) is our Trim Picker for June? The Five Numbers that have already been picked? We have already had 1, 4, 6, 7, and 12. The other five numbers are up for grabs"Thank you for the reminder! :-)
I've finished my first #12 for May:A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal by Ben Macintyre - 4 Stars
I really like Ben Macintyre as an author, and have enjoyed all of his books that I have read so far. This book was a bit different to most of his other books, in that this one was not based on an aspect of British history during WW2, but rather it tells the story of Kim Philby and how he was able to spy for the Soviet Union for so long during the Cold War undetected, and how he was able to throw suspicion off himself when he was initially suspected. Macintyre used Philby’s own words, as well of those of a number of other key figures and then newly-released intelligence files to write his book. Whilst I was already familiar with this episode in history, the book still managed to bring a level of suspense that, already knowing the outcome, I didn’t expect to feel. Despite being a book of non-fiction, there were lots of times that this did read like a novel.
Oh ... I forgot to post this ... April # 6 - Completed - ✔ 28Apr23
Finding Nouf – Zoë Ferraris – 4****
This was a wonderful debut psychological thriller. I particularly appreciated the setting in Saudi Arabia, and the use of a female lab technician who has some decidedly “modern” sensibilities. While the central murder bears investigation, the push-pull partnership between Katya and devoutly Muslim desert guide, Nayir, is what really keeps the book interesting.
LINK to my full review
May # 12 Completed - ✔ – 10May23
Rilla Of Ingleside – L M Montgomery – 4****
Book eight in the “Anne of Green Gables” series focuses on Anne’s youngest child. Rilla is fifteen, starting to get interested in boys and dances, but needing to worry about her brothers and friends now that World War I has started. There are young women today, going through many of the issues that Rilla experiences: first love, worry about a brother sent to fight overseas, grief over friends or relatives who’ve died too young. I love how Rilla rises to the challenges imposed by the war; I see a lot of the young Anne in Rilla.
LINK to my full review
Finished by April and May picks this month just in time for the June pick.The Immortalists and The Art of Hearing Heartbeats. Both were 3 stars for me. Glad I finally read them.
Hi, everyone. I usually do a random pick when I'm choosing, but it looks like my #5
might fit our monthly tag, so that's what I'm choosing for June!
Enjoy!
My #5 is: The Second Life of Samuel Tyne / Esi Edugyan (sp?)
It doesn't actually have the tag, but it has a couple of similar tags ("immigrant experience", etc.)
My #5 is Beloved by Toni Morrison which I have wanted to get to for SO LONG... gotta finish May's In a Lonely Place first 😬
I think my #5 is The Magic Circle by Katherine Neville. It has been on my nightstand for years. Is it there now? Of course not.It is an ancient mass market paperback likely with tiny print I can't read so easily anymore. I will gove a look around but let's see if I can source an ebook.
Want me to look for it? I can send it to you. I loved that book so much!
Amy wrote: "Want me to look for it? I can send it to you. I loved that book so much!"Let me see if it surfaces. I might just not be 'seeing' it in the stacks on the bedside table. I have 2 other books to pull as well for June. Need to do a sweep of the TBR Towers.
Amy wrote: "Want me to look for it? I can send it to you. I loved that book so much!"Found it - and my 2 other June reads. No way am I reading that tiny mass market paperback print. I would love to read your copy if it is at hand. I will PM you.
May #12 Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand
4 stars
In this book, bestselling author Vivian Howe is killed in a hit and run accident. She leaves behind three children, an ex-husband and her best friend. As the Nantucket police are trying to find out what happened to Vivian and who hit her while driving a car, Vivian’s final book titled ‘Golden Girl’ is being released.
Hillenbrand shows the grief of the children, but also the individual struggles that they each have been going through as well. The family has differences and secrets, however in the end they are loyal to their mother and each other.
A friend from Vivian’s past contacts the the family after her death. His stories of Vivian growing up contribute to her character development. He provides information and a song that is also relevant to her new book.
Descriptions of Nantucket are beautiful throughout the book. The story is told from different points of view; while minor characters add to the story and everyone has some flaws. Golden Girl is my favorite Elin Hillenbrand novel that I have read so far.
I find it hard remembering what book is what # and constantly change my list since I'm a mood reader. Anyway I just finished Station 11 which wasn't even on my list but I absolutely LOVED IT. I feel the immense pleasure one feels when discovering a new autbor ( actually I also read Sea of tranquility so not completely new). I also have The Grand Hotel out of the library. But I'm reading Piuneapple Street next.
I'd like to read Pineapple Street soon, so curious if you will like it.A group of us is reading the Many Daughters of Afong Moy in June if you would like to join us......
Sallys wrote: "I find it hard remembering what book is what # and constantly change my list since I'm a mood reader. Anyway I just finished Station 11 which wasn't even on my list but I absolutely LOVED IT. I fee..."That's a personal favorite. She is such a great writer!
Is that Vicki Baum's classic The Grand Hotel? If so I read it a few months ago and enjoyed it immensrly. Quick read. I then had to rewatch the movie. I had also seen a stage play version and a musical version. Some differences but Baum herself blessed the stage play version.
Sallys wrote: "Oh. I think I met the Glass Hotel!"hah! Of course. I keep forgetting that's one of Mandel's.
FYI - for The Many Daughters of Afong Moy NYPL and Brooklyn PL have multiple available ebooks of it. I assume print copies equally available should you want to join the buddy read.
Theresa wrote: "Sallys wrote: "Oh. I think I met the Glass Hotel!"hah! Of course. I keep forgetting that's one of Mandel's.
FYI - for The Many Daughters of Afong Moy NYPL and Brooklyn PL have m..."
OK. Will look for it. Right now i have like 8 boughts out of the library. For the first time ever I actually have all my trim books in my house.
I'm kinda shocked and impressed with myself for finishing my #12! I've hit every trim this year so far 😊In a Lonely Place ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review here.
Meli wrote: "I'm kinda shocked and impressed with myself for finishing my #12! I've hit every trim this year so far 😊In a Lonely Place ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review here."
Excellent, Meli! Way to go!
I'm still 2 behind - had too much going in the first quarter of the year. They should be easy to knock off before I dig into my Fat Summer Read.
I'm woefully behind on my trim reads at the moment, but my #5 will probably be Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny. Once I finally get to it, at least 😅
Sallys wrote: "I find it hard remembering what book is what # and constantly change my list since I'm a mood reader. Anyway I just finished Station 11 which wasn't even on my list but I absolutely LOVED IT. I fee..."Totally get that. I'm a mood reader too. When life sucks I always go for zombies because it reminds me it could be worse, if the mood is salvageable I go for dogs, If I'm happy then it is other stuff (but never romance). Hence I put 3 books on for each TRIM so that I had choice. The last few years have been totally horrid so this is the only way I have been able to complete any challenges. All the other challenges, with stricter prompts, I used to do when life was better have been impossible the last few years. If I find one I get into and have another by the same author I read it too.
Jen wrote: "The last few years have been totally horrid so this is the only way I have been able to complete any challenges. All the other challenges, with stricter prompts, I used to do when life was better have been impossible ..."That's why I like "spell it out" challenges. No specific genre or author or location or (any other prompt you can think of) ... except for spelling out the target word / phrase using either book title or author initials (and some groups let you use the main character initials also).
Of course ... now I need about 13 'U' books for one of my spelling challenges ... it's always something ...
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