Play Book Tag discussion

This is the announcement, reporting, and community building thread for the Unofficial Continuation of the Trim the TBR Challenge begun in 2019. This final year, finishes the challenge started way back then by many. But you can jump in at any time. If you are a new or newer member, or a long-standing member, it doesn’t matter. This is still welcome for everybody, and you can just jump in. The intent is to clear up to twelve books off your TBR that you have wanted to get to, and in the process, many old and new buddy reads have arisen, that you can join. Or not. It’s meant both to finish the challenge, and to continue creating community.

How does it work? You create a list of any 12 books, and you number them 1-12. If you so choose, you can make your book list align with others, and join onto buddy reads. Each month, a member will randomly choose the number for the month, just after the tag is announced, and folks will try to read the number called on their list. I will post below the current buddy reads. But if you really want to look at everyone’s list, for even more suggestions, you must return to the planning thread, in Footnotes that says Trim 2021 – The Fun Goes On, or something like that. If we need to add or switch things around or help arrange, as your unofficial “play one on TV” moderator for the challenge, I will help you. I will be a general cheerleader of spirit, and of warm welcoming setting of tone. Other than that, folks have fun with it, and after it launches, it runs itself.

The cool thing about this challenge is that it’s no pressure. You don’t have to do it. You don’t have to read the book you picked, and you don’t have to read it in the month that it is called. Plenty of folks are reading those early and substituting it with something else, or shifting things around. Some people put two books on a line for each number. There are no points. Although you should remember to put the book in the monthly tag folder or in the monthly other folder, or in challenges as they match up, to get your points. But there are no points for this. Just the pleasure of clearing your TBR, and reading together.

The number will be announced each month on the thread. I will select number pickers from our group, someone different each month to pick the number. Instead of our random format, I thought it was a nice prize for the folks who kicked ass on the challenge last year, and around 11 people did. Some folks read 12 for 12 and on time, others read 12, or 11 or 10, and/or are still working on them. But still hung in there. It was hard after awhile to figure out who to pick. Although there were ten standouts. JoyD is going to announce our first number and we are off and running. Before the Febraury tag is announced, I will invite another person randomly to be the next number selector. You can randomize, or just pick straight-out – up to you.

I think we shouldn’t leave reviews on this thread in general. Save it for announcements, reporting, community chit chat, and mentioning that you finished. Maybe even link to the review. I hope you/we all have fun, and continue getting to know one another even better. And get to some really good books.

Here are the 2021 Buddy Reads that have been started or suggested

#1 The Age of Innocence - Charlotte

#1 An American Marriage, AJ, Kate?, Diana


#1 White Tiger - BnB
#1 And Then There Were None - Jenny

#1 Eva Luna - BC, Amy, Sally

#1 Beartown, Kate, Hayjay, Diana, Charlotte

#2 The Ninth House - Amy, Meli, Charlotte, Shelley, Jenni , Kelly

#2 Stranger Beside Me - Oliver, AJ

#2 - Ghana Must Go - BnB, Jen


#3 Becoming - AJ, Heather

#3 12 Ways your phone is changing you - Shelley, Sue

#3 Aperigon, Shelley, Sally?

#4 The Hate U Give - Shelley

#4 News of the World by Paulette Jiles

#4 The Masterpiece - Theresa, HayJay

#5 Circling the Sun by Paula McLain - Theresa
, Kelly
#5 Nine Perfect Strangers - AJ, Charlotte, Diana?, Jenni

#5 - The Space Between Us- Joanne, JoyD

#5 - The Elegance of the Hedgehog - JenK, DianaH

#5 - Cold Sassy Tree - Amy, HayJay
#5 – The Virgin Suicides; BC, Heather

#6 Hot Milk  - BnB



#7 The Cellist of Sarajevo 
- Jenny

#7 Rebecca  
- Charlotte

#7 The Book Thief  - AJ

#7 Seabiscuit - BnB, HayJay

#7 - Cockroaches, JenK, BC
#7 The Vanishing Half - Shelly and Kelly



#8 Between the World and Me, - Meli?


#8 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, BnB

#8 - Water for Elephants - AJ and Jenni

#8 -Lions of Fifth Avenue - Hayjay, Amy, Kelly



#9 A Tale for the Time Being - BnB, JenK

#9 - Brothers K. Shelley, Charlotte



#10 Salt to the Sea - JenK, Jenni 


#10 The Lies of Locke Lamora - AJ

#10 The Dream Daughter - Amy, JoyD, Shelley

#10 Wild - BnB

#10 The Night Circus - Meli, Charlotte



#11 The Library Book - Charlotte, HayJay

#11 - Time After Time - Amy, Joanne, JoyD, Kelly

#11 - The Hired Man, BnB, JoyD, Heather



#12 Clockmaker’s Daughter - Charlotte, Kate?, HayJay, Kelly

#12 Notes on a Crocodile - Meli

#12 - The Time In Between - Amy, Joy D

#12 - The Most Fun I Ever Had - Sally, Amy

#12 - The Stationary Shop - Shelley, JenK

#12 - The Promised Land - Heather


Here are the folks who have signed up to play so far…..

Amy
LibraryCin
Joanne
Theresa
Sally
OliverMagnus
Kimber
BooknBlues
Sue
JoyD
Book Concierge
KateNZ
AJ
Miriam
Diana H
Charlotte
Jenny
Meli
Jenni Elyse
JenK
Shelley
Joi
Jen
Linda C
HayJay
Heather
Kelly


Here are the 10 number pickers, who really did incredibly well in this last year.
In no particular order

JoyD
Sue
Kelly
Linda C
BooknBlues
LibraryCin
OliverMagnus
JenK
Book Concierge
Heather

That’s 10. Surprise final pick between two? We could always throw in myself, Joanne, Meli, Theresa, Charlotte, HayJay, or AJ. Or anyone else.

So – Take it Away Joy. The first number for January is…….

The January # is..... 2.

My #2 is Ninth House. I just put it on hold at my library. I should get it this week. I’m excited.

My number 2 is Ghana Must Go and I think I have a buddy read for this.

My # 2 is A History of Loneliness by John Boyne.

My #2 is An Available Man / Hilma Wolitzer

Mine is Galápagos
loved Slaughterhouse-Five so fingers crossed for this one. Bonus that it is also quite short so shouldn't get behind on the first book.

My #2 is The Silkworm, plus a second, one of 2020 picks I did not get to: Last Train to Istanbul. Hopefully I can knock both off the TBR!

My #2 is Quichotte, by Salman Rushdie. Hoping it’s an easier read than it sounds!

I also put Ninth House for order at the library. I think we have quite the group. Plus I had a second #2, Jodi Piccoult's Spark of Light which is in my house.

Theresa wrote: "My #2 is The Silkworm, plus a second, one of 2020 picks I did not get to: Last Train to Istanbul. Hopefully I can knock both off the TBR!"

Theresa, The Silkworm is my #2 too!:))

My #2 is The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon

My # 2 The Tournament

I am so glad Ninth House came up for you guys! It is a page turner-I will be very interested to see what you think Amy-you are really stepping outside your box!

Booknblues wrote: "My number 2 is Ghana Must Go and I think I have a buddy read for this."

That's me! I requested the physical from the library (plenty available) and the audio is available so I'm ready to go to read in January. Excited to see how it compares with Behold the Dreamers.

My #2 is also The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy: The Shocking Inside Story.

Ninth House is one of the 75 books I randomized from my TBR that I plan to read in 2021, so I might check in on that group read during the month.

I know! It looks pretty dark to me! The Queen of Positivity is getting stretched with the Embers of Hell!

I will join with the Ninth House.

I'll be reading Olive Kitteridge in January! Excited to start the year off strong!

I'm in the Ninth House group, will check the library!

Diana H. wrote: "Theresa wrote: "My #2 is The Silkworm, plus a second, one of 2020 picks I did not get to: Last Train to Istanbul. Hopefully I can knock both off the TBR!"

Theresa, ..."

Excellent!

Yay!! Ninth House has been sitting on a pile of books forever just glaring at me to pick it up and finally read it! I'm so excited that it is the first book up!!

Jen K wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "My number 2 is Ghana Must Go and I think I have a buddy read for this."

That's me! I requested the physical from the library (plenty available) and the audio is ..."

When is a good time for you to start? I don't think the first wee will work for me, because I have a few books set up.

This is one of my DTBs and will work for my personal traveling the stacks. I found it in bookstack #8 yesterday. I have had it since it was first published and keep putting off reading it.

It could work for the fly the skies, but I have something else, I will be using for that.

And lastly, yes, I want to see how it compares with Behold the Dreamers.

Well, it wasn't actually lastly, I'm editing this in. If I can possibly fit time in to do the buddy read for Ninth House, I will, because I've been wanting to read it.

Booknblues wrote: "Jen K wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "My number 2 is Ghana Must Go and I think I have a buddy read for this."

That's me! I requested the physical from the library (plenty available) and..."

Not the first week of January would be great for me as well. Should we start the second week or is later better? I'm pretty open.

Currently I plan to read something else for Fly the Skies too but I also get overambitious with planned reads.

AJ wrote: "I got The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy: The Shocking Inside Story"

I read that in high school. I was just thinking last night (as I was reading a book about the electric chair - my #10 for this month!) that I should reread this one.

Jen K wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Jen K wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "My number 2 is Ghana Must Go and I think I have a buddy read for this."

That's me! I requested the physical from the library (pl..."
The second week sounds good to me.

My #2 is Men in the Sun & Other Palestinian Stories by Ghassan Kanafani. I have had this book on my shelf for at least 15 years. I'm happy I'll be reading it soon.

My #2 is Eva Luna. I think that there's a Buddy Read for that! I reserved it from the library and hope that it comes in on time.

I own The Ninth House and may join in with that as well, though it’s not on my list - would be another one off the TBR!

Just checked. My #2 is Anxious People. YAY!!

I may join in on the Ninth House buddy read too. I'm pretty close to the top of the waiting list at my library, and I should get my copy soon.

Booknblues wrote: "Jen K wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Jen K wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "My number 2 is Ghana Must Go and I think I have a buddy read for this."

That's me! I requested the physical from t..."

Perfect!

Interested to hear everyone's thoughts on Ninth House. I quite enjoyed it when I read it a few months agao.

Sallys wrote: "Just checked. My #2 is Anxious People. YAY!!"

Welcome to the large buddy read that will be occurring for this book! So fun you are joining us for this!

Just to get clear, (have been off Goodreads all day) there are two buddy reads happening in January - Ninth House and Anxious People. I will set up Buddy Reads for both early on January 1. I think January is going to be a lot of fun. By the way, there are a few people who put Eva Luna at #1, I think at least BC and myself.... I'm going to get Kelly's buddy reads updated on the list above. Anyone else who wants to join us can jump in at any time.

Update complete for Kelly! Heather has Barak Obama's Promised Land on her list, but you are already doing a buddy read at number 12. Maybe she will switch to match you. That is supposed to be a clunker. Meaning very good, but very long.

Someone else put the Vanishing Half on their list. I know this for sure. Maybe you can find it on the other thread, if you peer hard enough.

I have Vanishing Half at #7.

I just picked up Ninth House from the library. Woot woot!

Jenni Elyse wrote: "I just picked up Ninth House from the library. Woot woot!"

Can't wait to hear your thoughts Jenni-this book really took hold of me, So different from her YA books (though I do love those). Never in my wild imagination did I ever think I would 5 star a book that is tagged horror-

Going into now to Edit for Shelley and Kelley.

Ninth House is in at the library for me too. I'm very surprised I joined this! Stretching for sure!

I have Eva Luna fo #1 I think

My #2 is Fates and Furies

Holy shit, I've been on vacation for the past week or so for Christmas break and have been on break from Goodreads (only because the phone app sucks and I am not accessing a computer) so I have missed so much!

YAY NUMBER 2!! Holy crap, the moment I have been waiting for :)
I am also in the Buddy Read for Ninth House.

Meli - you were the first person I thought of! Well you and Joanne, who is so excited for this buddy read!!!! So we can all catch up with her with one of our favorites. I think I remember Nicole really was taken with it too, if I am not wrong. I will set up the buddy read for Ninth House and for Anxious People on January 1.

Amy wrote: "Meli - you were the first person I thought of! Well you and Joanne, who is so excited for this buddy read!!!! So we can all catch up with her with one of our favorites. I think I remember Nicole re..."

Excellent, I'll keep a look out for the buddy read thread!

My #2 is Rules of Civility
I loved Gentleman in Moscow but missed reading this when it was being discussed when it first came out.

Oops! I was looking at the wrong Trim list when I picked out my #2. That was from my "classic" Trim list. Sigh. I already have it from the library, so I'll read it, too, but my #2 for THIS trim is:

The Tattooed Witch / Susan McGregor

I have two for #2 as I am doing a catch-up from all those derailed last year. This is the first #2 - which was April 2020 pick when I was deep in the weeds with Proust

Last Train to Istanbul
Ayşe Kulin

4.5 stars - @Amy - add this to your TBR ASAP!

I am so glad to have read this finally! It's been on my TBR for some time.

WWII and Turkish diplomats work to rescue its Turkish citizens, especially Jews, stuck in German controlled areas, especially France where Turks have emigrated over the generations. Soon of course it expanded to rescuing any Jew. Their most dramatic and risky feat in this fictional account was rescuing nearly 200 by transporting in a train carriage from Paris to Edirne in Turkey, via Berlin. This is one of those different perspectives of WWII and thus is refreshing. Told mostly from perspective of two sisters: Sabiha the eldest is married to Macit, a minister in Inonu's cabinet, who provides tremendous insight it the delicate negotiations with Germany and the Allies that kept Turkey neutral...and why it had to be neutral. Sabiha herself is troubled, at an emotional crisis. Selva is the stubborn younger sister who marries a Jew against both families wishes, leading to starting her married life with Rafo in France, shortly before the war. It is from Selva we experience France under the Occupation and the train journey to safety.

Author is one of Turkey's most popular fiction writers, and the translation seems quite good, if a bit stilted at times. While a work of fiction, author relied heavily on historical accounts. This is an upper class and diplomatic world during the war that we experience, so there is far less of the terrible hardships exposed as in many other WWII fiction, but it is there.

AJ wrote: "If I want to read a book from a number not called. Can I just switch that book out and replace it on the number?"

Yep-this unofficial and no one minds one bit

My first #2 is The Silkworm and I am happy to start this year with such an incredible read. Here is my review:))

Finished my #2: The Tattooed Witch / Susan MacGregor. 3.75 stars