Christmas Swap 2017

Welcome to the Christmas Swap for the 75 Books Challenge Group 2017. Yes, believe it or not, its that time again. I am Jeff (mahsdad) and this is my 3rd year running the 75 Group Swap. I'm looking forward to a great book picking season, always one of my favorite times of the year.

As in years past, we keep this simple: Let me know if you are playing, PM me your address, I will draw names randomly and everyone will get a 75er to buy gift book(s) for.

We keep it to a $25 limit, so it can be affordable for everyone. This can be new books or carefully preserved “used” books. This will be open to everyone, everywhere, since there are free shipping options available, like Book Depository.

The cut off will be about the 24th of November (Day after US Thanksgiving, or until I actually pick the names which will be probably closer to Sunday). I will pick the names and get the addresses out in PM messages as soon as I can after that.

Once that is done, you can select from that Lter's wishlist or pick something on your own. The former is a safer bet. We do our best to get the gift books to the recipients, by Christmas, so ship accordingly. International shipping can sometimes take up to 3 weeks or more.

Make sure you have Christmas Swap or LibraryThing printed somewhere on the shipping label, so your giftee "knows" and can save it for a Christmas opening. Another suggestion was, if the shipper didn’t allow for personal messages, put “LT” in as part of your giftee’s name.

Please feel free to use this thread to ask questions, make suggestions, or explicitly state that you do NOT want the latest YA Werewolf/Vampire Romantic-comedy series even though everyone says you must read it.

Also, last year there were a couple people who wanted to sponser someone less fortunate in the group, to make sure they could participate in the fun. Let me know if there are any Secret Secret Santas out there and I'll put the word out.

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! Merry Festivus for the rest of us.

Wheeeee! I'm in.

>2 laytonwoman3rd: I got you down, Linda. And unless you moved since last year, I've got your address too.

And me. Looking forward to it.

I am in!

Yup, I am too.

>3 mahsdad: I'm right where you left me, Jeff!

I am in, Jeff! Thanks for running it again this year. You have been doing a fine job hosting.

I’m in as well! Will PM my address. Thanks for running it again!

>4 charl08: >5 Berly: Two new players. Yeah! Kim, I got your PM. Charlotte, PM me your address when you get a chance.

>6 PaulCranswick: >8 msf59: >9 drneutron: Wouldn't be the same without you guys. I've got your addresses

Count me in. I still live in the same old place.

Thanks for organizing this.

I'm in!

I'm in, and I think my LT wishlist is up-to-date!

Oooh...I better check my LT WL. Good reminder.

For whoever gets my name:

I've put together a Christmas Swap List collection in my library to help out. I'm not locked in to this list - would be happy with most anything!

Good idea with the WL, I have my full Wishlist, don't know how I would ever further break it down. :) But like Jim, I'd be happy with just about anything. This group has rarely steered me wrong.

Last year we had 28 people who joined in the fun. 1 day in and we have 10. Hopefully we'll be able to get a larger group this year. I'll post reminders every couple of days, here and on the message thread.

I have a "Christmas Wishlist" on my LT profile which has a list of 100 or so books that I'd like to get. In the next day or two, I will make sure that I haven't otherwise obtained a copy of any of these.

I have a crazy wishlist so I've created a 'Xmas wishlist' which is a bit more manageable. I've gone with ones recommended by other 75ers (bless the person who suggested tagging books by the recommender), and of course now want to read All the Books!

All of that said, will happily accept what you think I might like, do love an unexpected discovery.

I'm in! First timer!

Now I need to get my LT wishlist going :)

>19 seasonsoflove: Hi Becca, welcome to the fun.

>18 charl08: I've started tagging my books by the recommender as well. It definitely helps when you are looking at a book on your list and wondering why/how it got on the list in the first place. :)

I see that SantaThing is now active as well. But we beat'm by a day. :) I'm going to do both, but I think I enjoy ours more than ST.

>21 mahsdad: I think so, too, mainly because I know most, or at least many, of the Swap people but not all that many of the Santa Thing people.

Trying to remember but, last year for the Swap, I think I asked for Kindle books.

>22 lindapanzo: Linda, you did ask for Kindle books last year in our swap. Do you want to do so again? I still have your email address.

>23 mahsdad: Yes, I would prefer that. Same email address as last year.

Day 2 - 11 lovely people signed up.

(I'm posting just to pop it up to the top of the message list, I'm going to do a daily update to make sure people see it)

Nevertheless, I'm in. You've got my address. I'll put together a "Christmas Wish List."

Well played, well played. And I don't necessarily disagree with you.

And if we were all smart, we'd do all our shopping in July and we'd all be done and could concentrate on giving Thanks. ;)

Question to those who've participated in the last 2 years. Do you want me to try to pair you with someone different, or do you care if you get to pick for the same person again?

I use a random number listing to make the pairs, but I think Ican tweak it, a bit, to avoid past pairings.

Right now we're at 12. Mid-day on Day 3. More to join, I hope.

I'm fine either way, but mildly prefer someone new, as it gives me a chance to poke into a new person's reading preferences! 😁

>28 mahsdad: Either way is fine with me. I actually like looking at what's changed from my person last year.

>29 drneutron: Same here.

Add me in.

I'll go with the random. It doesn't **have** to be someone new, but if it is, well then :)

Since I haven't done this the last two years, I think I will get random no matter what. : )

I'm of both minds like the rest of yinz, but I thought it would be an interesting question. Plus it keeps the thread at the top of the most recent posts list. :)

>32 streamsong: Welcome back in Janet. I got you marked down.

I like mixing it up. Go random.

Count me in - my first Christmas Swap. The person I get may also get something crafty with their book.

>36 Deedledee: welcome Dee

>35 msf59: I'll still randomize the picks. I need to figure out a way to forget who gets my name after I tell them ;) Tho I don't mind not being surprised

I have updated my Tags and sorted a Christmas Hitlist 2018 which includes 25 titles and none of them too obscure, I think. Under my wishlist.

none of them too obscure, I think

Yeah, I had to do a scrub for this too. :)

Ah, but who defines obscure?
(Amazon?)

I suppose availability in print is a decent guide, Charlotte.

Random works for me...I've only done the Swap once before, so I'll take my chances.

>41 PaulCranswick: Ah, I see. Will double check.

I'm in, Jeff. I'm thinking you might still have my address.

Yep Roni, I do.

Welcome!

I'm In - do you still have my address details ....

Will update a Xmas wishlist soonish

>46 roundballnz: Hey Alex. I do indeed have your address. Welcome.

Hello Jeff and everyone!

I'd like to swap again.
Same address.

Hey, Nancy

Welcome back!

I'd like to join in! I did it in years past, but if you need my address again I'd be happy to send it to you.

>50 LibraryLover23: Hi Martha. I have you from 2 years ago. Unless you moved since then, you are good to go. Welcome!

I will be joining again this year. You should have my address - with the correct zip code.

>51 mahsdad: Thanks! I'll get a wishlist up on my profile soon.

I've made sure my wishlist is up-to-date. Just a teeny caveat for Santa--if there is a JCK tag on any book there, it means it's my husband who wants it. He's a good egg, but he's not in the group, so he doesn't deserve a gift from anyone here!

Okay, I'm in! Now to setup an X-mas wishlist...

I got your PM, Amanda. You're in. Welcome!

Hi Jeff, it was my 1st year in the 75ers, but happy to join in the Christmas fun. I’ll PM my address.

I don’t keep a wish list, but it’s nice to get something by an author I don’t know: fiction or non-fiction, I read both equally. Also happy with used books.

I got your PM, Caroline. Welcome to the group.

I'm in. Just sent Jeff a message. I'll update my Christmas wish list collection on LibraryThing.

>59 thornton37814: Got it Lori,

We are now 21 strong.

If anyone is going to be doing Santathing as well as our little shindig, post a comment here.

When I make the selections, I'll tell your Santa to post a comment on your Santathing page with what they are getting you. It will be hidden from you, until after Christmas, but it will help inform the Santathing Santa as to what not to get, and hopefully avoid duplicates.

I will also be doing SantaThing.

I won't be doing the santathing ( dates don't work too well for those down-under)

I'm just doing "our" thing this year. And I don't read e-books; tried it, but it just doesn't work well for me.

I'm already involved in some other Secret Santas, so for Librarything I will just be doing this Christmas Swap here!

I am doing only this here LT75 Christmas Swap. Getting a victim recipient assigned at random is fine with me. I've posted a list under the heading Christmas Swap Wish List in my "collections". Used books are fine.

I'll only be doing this swap. I've created a X-mas wishlist collection, but feel free to use it as more of a guide to choosing. I have no problem with used books.

Only Santa-ing here. No special Christmas list, just my WL collection. Also open to unread books not on the list that someone thinks I might enjoy.

I fixed up my Christmas wishlist and I think I have about 150 titles in it. For once Paul has made me look like a book glutton and he comes across as Ebeneezer Scrouge. I have some just released titles on the list that won't be available in paperback or as used copies, and I have plenty that are available as paperbacks. I would rather get used copies of books as I am not distracted by highlights and notes in books.

#66
I think you will make a fine victim in this company.

Yes, I am signed up, as usual, for Santa Thing. Even so, plenty of books in my LT Christmas Wishlist.

>71 lindapanzo: Thanks Linda. I'll mark you down.

I'm in, hopefully I'm not too late. I'll be doing SantaThing too.

>69 benitastrnad: Hahaha I am a Scrooge who doesn't know what year it is as my Christmas Hitlist is Tagged as 2018. Please don't send the book to me next Christmas!

Cool, Kriti. Unless you've moved, I still have your address.

>75 mahsdad: I have not moved, thanks! Here's the link to my SantaThing profile: https://www.librarything.com/santathing_thing.php?id=242, whoever is picking for me for the Christmas Swap may find it useful too.

Its after Thanksgiving. Hope all had a good time (if you celebrate US Thanksgiving), stuffing your faces. We went to a steak house where I had a glorious dry aged T-bone.

Picks have been made, but I'll hold of sending the PMs until tomorrow, in case there are any last minute additions.

The following people are also participating in Santathing. Here are their profiles. If you are their Santa, please drop a comment to let the SantaThing gifter know what you are getting (or at least some general advice), to avoid any duplication.

Mahsdad : http://www.librarything.com/santathing_thing.php?id=111
lindapanzo : http://www.librarything.com/santathing_thing.php?id=201
thornton37814 : http://www.librarything.com/santathing_thing.php?id=140
kgodey : http://www.librarything.com/santathing_thing.php?id=242

For me, I am open to anything, wishlist or otherwise. This is a great group and you'e rarely steered me wrong. (Paper only please, used is fine)

I have also signed up for SantaThing: http://www.librarything.com/santathing_thing.php?id=258

I'm fine with used books and books not on my wishlist.

Books not on my WL are fine, as long as I haven't read them!

I only have an Amazon wishlist (you can find the link in my SantaThing profile) and books not on it would be welcome as long as they're not in my LT catalog already. Used books are fine, e-books are not fine.

I have a small wishlist of suggestions on my profile, and I'm fine with used or new. (I'm not doing SantaThing, just this one.) Thanks in advance!

I'm starting to send out the PMs now. Final score - 22 lovely participants.

Happy Shopping!

Some housekeeping suggestions....

If you can't put a message on the box, put LT (or 75) in the person's delivery name, that way they'll know not to open the box when they get it. (or maybe they will open it because they know what it is)

If you get a tracking number when you ship, PM it to me and I'll put it in my spreadsheet. That way if there is a delivery problem, will be easier for the giftee and me.

Thanks for sending out the names, Jeff. I love poking around in other people's wishlists.

>83 lindapanzo: Ditto! AND, I think I know exactly what my giftee is getting from me! (Thirty-three minutes from seeing the message to selecting the gift. Now that's gotta be a record, right?)

Updating my wishlist! And l like surprises.
I’m quite happy with used books

Thanks for sending out the names & organising this again Jim

whoever giftee is - go wild am mainly a SF/Fantasy reader with a few other spices ( autocorrect tried to add species hahaha) added in - my wishlist has somehow got a historical bent but bit late to change that now - so go wild & surprise me

>82 mahsdad: Thanks for organizing us!!

Yup, just made my order for my giftee. Should have it in time to post Monday.

Whoever is my gifter: you may notice that I have a bajillion* wishlists on LT. Feel free to use them if you find them useful/interesting, but the one called simply "Wishlist" is a master list. Everything on the more specific lists is on the Wishlist too. Books not on my wishlist are great too, if I don't already have them. My catalogue and my wishlist are both up to date. Previously loved books are always welcome!

*not accurate

My LT wishlist is up to date. I have no problem with used. Just sayin'...

Thanks again, Jeff.

I have no problem with used either :)

Thanks Jeff! And I just saw the message you sent me about my zip code, I wrote you back, sorry for any confusion I caused!

Now that the 2018 American Author challenge is up, I may need to add some AAC-authored books to my wishlist.

Thanks, Jeff, for setting this up. Used is fine by me, and my Santa can use my regular wishlist as well if you rule out the ones with a tag of "library", meaning my library had a copy when I get around to it.

I've already received a package! I'm going to try and not open it until Christmas although there is no guarantee that my resolve will hold...

WOWZA!! I received an LT package yesterday! Someone is not messing around. I am impressed. I am also not opening it until Christmas morning. It is a tradition.

Wooohooo, two packages have come in to land (someone’s speedy). I will probably open them on the 23rd, as I go away over Christmas.

Mine to my giftee go in flight Tues/weds and should arrive in 7 days.

I got a book today-very excited! I need a lift this season, so I'm opening secret santa gifts as they come. This one came at a much-needed time and I'm very excited to read it.

If someone gets an unexpected package from Better World Books - DO NOT OPEN TILL CHRISTMAS.
I’m a mutt; l forgot to put LT in the address.

Interesting SantaThing connection for me this year. I have to buy $30 worth of books for a 1 yr old. The Mom posted that her son has claimed all the books for his own, and they want some new ones for the daughter.

I haven't bought a kid's book for about 15 years. :) Bring on the Shel Silverstein and Dr. Suess.

#99
Those are both good choices for that age. You could also do Flora and the Flamingo. These are mostly wordless so they promote interaction between child and reader. Also the books by Margret Wise Brown like Quiet Noisy Book, Important Book, and Noisy Book are good for that age. If you want to go with more modern stuff you can look at the books by Herve Tullet. Tullet did Press Here. Eric Carle and Lois Ehlert are also good choices. The do big bright shapes that are easy for very young children to look at.

I sent one Kindle book to my swapee. I sent it with a delivery date of 12/22/17. I figured that is close enough to make it a Christmas surprise and yet far enough in advance that if something happens I will have a day or two to try to get it fixed.

I did put LT in the senders name, so I hope that works to indicate it is the LT book. Since I hadn't done this before I am unsure how it works, but it seemed easy enough.

>100 benitastrnad: Thanks for the suggestions Benita. I'm sure it will all come back to me when I go look thru some of the books that he (my son) still has on his selves.

My gifts have been ordered. We'll see how many deliveries the elves at Amazon decide to make. Plus there'll be a little something extra that I'll be sending directly/eventually.

I went a little overboard this year. Oh well, that's what Christmas is all about, right? Spoiling friends and family when you can. Even friends you've never met.

I may have gone a little overboard too. Only a little, though.

I could use some suggestions for my SantaThing recipient as well, I'm supposed to be buying books for kids under 12 (K-8) for a school library. So far the only things I can think of are the Chronicles of Prydain and the Lockwood and Co books, but they're both aimed at the older ages of the spectrum. The request is for "up and coming" books but I have no idea what the most recent popular books for kids are.

Like others, I spent a tad more than $25, but not too much. I put LT in the sender's name also. The sender will receive multiple packages.

>104 kgodey: Anne (AMQS) works as a school librarian and has some wonderful reviews on her thread if you haven't checked it out. I read George and thought it was very good. Although not the target market! I also really liked El Deafo and The Journey

Another package came into land. Exciting.

I forgot to put LT in the address line f the parcel I sent, but my giftee will know it is from me as it has my address label on.

#104
I would suggest that books by Katherine Applegate. She was a Newbery medal winner and writes for the Middle Grades. Her newest book is Wishtree - released in September. You can't go wrong with Crenshaw or the One and Only Ivan. Adam Gidwitz is another up and coming popular author for middle grades. You can check out the list of Newbery Medal and Honor winners at this URL as these authors will be good books for any school library.

http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberyhonors/newber...

>106 charl08: >108 benitastrnad: Thank you for the suggestions, much appreciated!

I received TWO!!! packages today. I plan to wait until the first day of my vacation to open them.

Got two packages today! Not gonna lie, I opened them and am so happy with both books!

>104 kgodey: I don't know about "up and coming" books for that age group, but I highly recommend Kathi Appelt and Clara Gillow Clark. If you check my catalog for those authors, I think I've reviewed several of their works.

#112
Those would be good choices. I liked Underneath by Kathy Appelt. It would make a great read aloud and the recorded version is outstanding.

I am pleased that my swappee got some of her books already.

Hey, a box arrived from my "secret" Santa, I mean weird_o, no I mean I don't have any idea who my Santa was even though I'm the one who did the picks. But if I did, and perhaps if he might be weird_o, I might ask him if the things inside the box are wrapped, or if I want to be surprised for Christmas, I should just put the box under the tree as is. LOL ;)

And I received a THIRD box today!!! I haven't opened any of them yet but I'm amazed. This should cover my reading needs for my whole holiday.

Since I've been in the hospital all week with double pneumonia (and had a minute attention span before that), my swapee will start hearing from me, in terms of book orders, in a few days.

Hope you are fully recovered Linda.

>117 lindapanzo: Goodness! I hope you can coast along for a while (after you get the Christmas swap sorted, of course!); pneumonia takes it out of you for weeks.

I'm getting a parcel ready for mailing today. It may look as though I exceeded the project limit, but I am very clever indeed, and actually shelled out slightly less than suggested (it's merely a suggestion, surely?).

>115 mahsdad: Geez, Jeff. Hmmm. If I had...I say, if I HAD mailed you a package as your Sekrit Santa, I'd a surely wrapped each and every item within said package. But you know, that's only saying what would be if I had sent you something. And THAT I ain't sayin'.

I sent my package out last night. Hopefully it arrives soon.

>114 PaulCranswick: ditto ... great to see the excitement already ...waiting for someone to rip into the package when it arrives 😜

I ordered my second title for my Swapee and the delivery date on this one is December 24th. With that new-fangled Kindle thing you can really make it into the 12 days of Christmas! Kindle even delivers up to a year after the order date, so you can even keep on surprising your Swapee at intermittent intervals through out the year. Who would have thought it?

I received a package yesterday from Amazon with LTThornton37814 in the address. I'll probably open it before I leave town to spend Christmas with my brother's family. That way if I want to read something while I'm visiting I can do so. Otherwise I'd either need to take the box with me or wait until I return.

OK, feeling a bit stronger and up to concentrating on something. (I read for a half hour straight yesterday for the first time this month!!). Hoping to pick out the books for my Swapee today.

ETA: OK, so that went well. I picked out a combo of books I've enjoyed from his/her wishlist and books I would like to read from his/her wishlist. There may be four shipments on their way.

I love reading this thread! Book post is the best post.

Another wonderful book arrived today!

I received 2 packages from Amazon. I always wait till Christmas . . But not this year. I tore into them and already finished the man who bridged the mist and then shared it with my nephew.
Thanks, Secret Santa, l’m well pleased with my books!

You’re welcome! There’s one more on the way...

I received two packages from Better World Books in Mishewauka, Wisconsin over the weekend. Since I haven't ordered anything from them lately, I am guessing that they are my Swap books from this group. I have a box waiting for them and will wrap them an take them home with me for Christmas.

My book package is in the mail. My swappee, should be pleased...grins, quite contentedly.

Books in the mail to my swappee. What a great wish list they had! Lots of book bullets there!

Have received a mysterious package I was not expecting and thus assume it is from my swapper. Have squirreled it away for the day.

Also put the package for my swappee in the mail on Monday, so they should have it soon-like. *rubs hands gleefully*

Three (count 'em, three!) packages arrived safely on my doorstep today. It's taking every ounce of willpower but I'm going to wait until closer to Christmas to open them. Thank you Secret Santa!

Package received!! It's under the tree, tempting me as I walk by, but I am going to be strong and wait! Thanks my SS! : )

Two parcels arrived today from Amazon, with LT Christmas Swap in the address. I assume the contents are not wrapped so I am resolutely NOT opening the mailers. We'll see how long I can hold out. I did suggest to my husband that he might open them, do some wrapping and put them under the tree, but he hasn't shown much enthusiasm for that idea.

Postman tied a large plastic bag with an amazon shipping box in it to the mailbox flag. From Clark's Summit. >136 laytonwoman3rd: Is dat you, Ms Santa Claus?

>137 weird_O: Clever lad. Everything inside is wrapped, if you wish to unbox it.

>138 laytonwoman3rd: Thanx for the tip. I just might open the box. * smile *

>136 laytonwoman3rd: No, the contents are not wrapped. However, your mail carrier might get tired of lugging the packages.

>140 lindapanzo: Aha! I assume you have reason to know, then. Our mail carrier is an absolute gem...although there is extra help on and we sometimes get packages delivered by an unknown carrier these busy days.

>141 laytonwoman3rd: Or so I've heard.

I came home for lunch and found an Amazon package outside my door that says it has a gift inside! I'll wait to open it before I leave for Christmas.

The postman delivered a well-stuffed envelope of what feels like three books this morning! But I am mortified to say that even with the last name and the location on the return address, I don't know which 75er sent it. I haven't opened it because I don't know if they are wrapped inside.

I'll probably have to reveal my name to my Swapee on Christmas day. I did not see an option to enclose a gift note.

>144 ronincats: The goodies are not wrapped. Do not open. Grins...

Still waiting to hear goodies despatched have landed, Xing everything they will soon.

>146 msf59: Mark! Of course! Illinois. I should have looked up the town on the map and seen it was in the Chicago area and thought of our postman. Books are still safely in their package until Christmas, thank you.

>148 ronincats: I hope you will be pleased. Enjoy your weekend.

>140 lindapanzo: Two more packages arrived yesterday! My husband has kindly opened all the mailers and put the contents into a festive gift bag with tissue paper and everything. He's a good elf.

Oooh, like your elf Linda.

>150 laytonwoman3rd: Linda, rumor on the street has it that there could be two more packages.

ETA: Just goes to show that you shouldn't believe rumors on the street. Actually, the latest rumor is one more package. Someone can't count very well.

Goodness! I'll have to bake extra cookies for the mail carrier AND the elf!

Hahaha.

Since I'm leaving in the morning and have a lot of stuff already packed in the car, I decided to open my SantaSwap books tonight. My friend cbl_tn who lives down the road (and with whom I'd already exchanged Christmas gifts) was my Santa this year. She chose a couple of items from my wish list:

Mill by David Macaulay
Hiding the Past by Nathan Dylan Goodwin

The first is a children's book. The second is a genealogical mystery. I'm looking forward to reading both of them soon!

Well I decided I’d open my gifts from my Secret Santa today. Thank you so much (would love to know who you are).

I received The Princess Bride (William Goldman) - many friends have told me how much they loved this book.

And two books and authors off my radar Wine of Violence A Medieval Mystery (Priscilla Royal) and Babel-17 (Samuel R Delany).

Lovely reading treats for the New Year. Thank you again.

***

I’m sorry it looks like my giftee is not going to receive my gifts before Christmas, I’ll email you directly if you haven’t declared receipt by tomorrow.

>101 benitastrnad: Thank you!! Yes, I received it yesterday but didn't look until today. If I'd been paying more attention, I would've guessed I was your swappee.

>152 lindapanzo: OK..just saw your edit. That's good. One more HAS arrived.

Have received another package and set it aside for Monday!

https://www.librarything.com/pic/6147951

I opened my Christmas Swap books and look forward to starting them when I go on vacation tomorrow. I'm not sure who my swaper is but I'm one happy swapee! Thank you!
Merry Christmas everyone.

I'm being well restrained so far. Three wrapped books from laytonwoman3rd, posing on a table in the LR, and I haven't opened a single one. So far. Ok, I did sample the treats. Excellent!

Happy happy joy joy.

>156 Caroline_McElwee: I was your Santa. Picking books for you was a bit of a challenge as you already own so many of the books I thought you might like!

Thank you Amanda, I really enjoyed having books bought for me, few of my friends and family try to do so, as I tend to be ahead of the curve.

Nothing here yet, but will be delighted whenever they do, something to look forward to after Xmas (unless there is a Xmas miracle tomorrow!)

The package to my swappee was supposed to get delivered today but the tracking does not say "Out for Delivery" yet so I'm afraid it might be delivered after Christmas, unfortunately.

It sounds like my swappee has received all of her books!!

>166 lindapanzo: Indeed!

>161 weird_O: " I did sample the treats." Well, good! Because, you know...chocolate has healing properties.

>164 charl08: I just sent you a private message. According to Book Depository, your items were shipped November 28, November 30, and December 1. I've contacted them. I wondered why you had never posted you had received a package. Now I know. It's strange three separate packages were not delivered. I wonder if they shipped them to the US first since I'm from the US? I hope not. Things I order from them usually ship from New York.

>168 thornton37814: I have no idea! Hope they make it eventually, but please don't worry too much. I am unlikely to run out of books any time soon (much as I love receiving them!)

Unfortunately it looks like my swappee will receive their books after Christmas. I too used Book Depository and it's taking forever. I'm disappointed, but hopefully it'll be a nice after-Christmas treat for them!

Xmas eve down under , so big question anyone tempted to open early ? surely Xmas eve is book opening day .... just saying :)

To my Santa, my books have not arrived, so it will vie a post xmas surprise :)

I love the fact that I'm getting Christmas Swap books sent to my Kindle at varying times. I've gotten Kate Atkinson's Behind the Scenes at the Museum and also Bruce Springsteen's autobiography Born to Run. Great choices!!

Also just got my Santa Thing Kindle books. The new The Great Halifax Explosion, A Square Meal which is a culinary history of the Great Depression, What Angels Fear which is a C.S. Harris mystery, Nothing to Envy which is about ordinary life in North Korea, and No Graves as Yet which is the first WW1 mystery from Anne Perry.

Great choices all.

^Merry Christmas! I LOVE my Swap books- Birding Without Borders, (Why would anyone think I would like this one is baffling. Grins...) and CivilWarland in Bad Decline, a story collection by the great George Saunders. Yah!

Thanks, Kimmers! You da best!

>172 lindapanzo: Nice choices, Linda. The Great Halifax Explosion, A Square Meal sounds like just your cuppa. Smiles...And Nothing to Envy is excellent NNF. Enjoy!

What a wonderful collection of books I received from my Secret Santa this year - The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip, The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry, In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden, Clabbered Dirt, Sweet Grass by Gary Paulsen, and The Raven and the Nightingale: A Modern Mystery of Edgar Allen Poe by Joanne Dobson. Pretty much everything off my wishlist, an embarrassment of riches! Thank you Santa, would you care to reveal yourself?

My Santa (lindapanzo) mined my wishlist with a silver shovel, and came up with this most excellent trove:



The slender one you can't read is On the Art of Reading by Arthur Quiller-Couch. I will have such a fine time with these, so thank you very very much, Linda! (And I wanted you to see the stack, since they didn't pass through your hands, so you would know they are all in excellent condition.)

Much thanks to Deedledee for my swap presents!



(Doggo not so sure how she feels about being a prop in this endeavour.)

Merry Christmas everyone.

My Santa Bill (weird_o) out did himself, by sending me 7 choice selections that look like a mix of new and and used.

Tenth of December - George Saunders : Short story collection
The Path Between the Seas - David McCullough : History of the Panama Canal. I forgot that I had this one on my list (sin of riches)
The Hours - Michael Cunningham : one for the Pulitzer list
Beloved - Toni Morrison : another for the Pulitzer list
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
Some Luck - Jane Smiley
All the King's Men - Robert Penn Warren : Such a lovely old school 1963 edition from Time-Life books. Love it.

Also got 3 from Santathing (snigl3t) - None of which I had ever heard of, the books anyway
Stone Spring - Stephen Baxter
Revelation Space - Alastair Reynolds
Consider Phlebas - Iain M Banks

My MIL also got me a copy of Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point

All in all a wonderful booky Christmas

Nice book gifts Jeff, and thank you for coordinating the Swap.

Mark sent me three great choices, which are in the middle of the pile that was my Christmas haul!



They are:
The Emperor of all Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Plainsong by Kent Haruf
The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway

Thank you so much, Mark.

>177 lycomayflower: And my Santa sent me three awesome books!!

Why was the Partridge in the Pear Tree?: The History of Christmas Carols

Redshirts by John Scalzi, a Hugo Award winner for Best Novel, which is perfect because I want to read more SciFi this year! and

Unlocking Harry Potter by John Granger, another awesome one because I am just about ready for a re-read of that series.

Thank you Lycomayflower!! You rock! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

(and they were wrapped very prettily, too!)

>177 lycomayflower: Thank you Secret Santa!! Awesome job. : )

I am very excited to read Why was the Partridge in the Pear Tree?: The History of Christmas Carols; very appropriate timing!

Redshirts by John Scalzi and winner of the Hugo Award for best novel, which is awesome because I want to read more SciFi this year! and

Unlocking Harry Potter -- perfect because I want to reread that series soon!

And there was an awesome bookmark and they were all wrapped up so nicely. Thank you, thank you!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

>173 msf59: Merry Christmas, Mark!! A little birdie told me those would be good for you. I think Bree agrees!! LOL

>176 laytonwoman3rd: Enjoy!! Thanks for the photo of the stack.

I think two are new and three are like new.

I'm thrilled with my Santa seasonsoflove's picks! I got:
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
- Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
- Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine



These are all books I've been wanting to read for a long time and I'm very excited to have them. Thanks Becca!

And Kriti’s selections for me were perfect!



The Thief
The Bear and the Nightingale
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August
The Traitor Baru Cormorant
The Way of Kings

Book Depository erroneously sent the books I ordered to my swapee to the United States instead of the UK. They tell me there is nothing they can do until the books make their way back to them, so I ordered a different set of books for my swapee. I hope they reach her and that the original books do too.

Yay I received a book package today ..... nothing like patience

I'm so glad you liked the books! Those are three books on your list I had read and absolutely loved.

Thank you so much to my Santa, I loved all my books!

I received:
The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle
Return to the Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Malice: A Mystery by Keigo Higashino

>190 seasonsoflove: You're very welcome! I had fun choosing from your list.

>180 ronincats: I am so glad you liked the gift choices, Rhonda. Enjoy!

>181 Berly: You're very welcome!

>191 charl08: charl08 Thank you again!

>160 Deedledee: That was me - excellent to see I got the book choices right .....

I got 5 books from my Swapee, but have no idea who the person was. I opened them on Christmas Day evening with my family. They never give me books. I am dong this from a Starbucks on my way back to work so will post a more detailed list when I ge back to my computer. Thanks Book Buddies! It was GREAT!

The Burgess Boys A Journal of a Plague Year and I am Hutterite all arrived today. Brilliant! Thank you Santa! >187 thornton37814:

>175 LibraryLover23: My apologies--did I ever reveal myself? I thought I did but don't see any evidence. Anyhow, I'm delighted you like the books; it just worked out perfectly to fit them all into the limit!

I got six great titles from my swap partner Nrmay. They are as flows:
Strangler Vine by M. J. Carter
Whispers Beyond the Veil by Jessica Estevao
All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews
Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
Never Open Desert Cafe by
Under the Same Blue Sky by Pamela Schoenewaldt

I am sure that they will be full of reading fun when I get to them. Thanks to the Christmas Swap I got books for Christmas.