Christmas Swap 2020

Welcome to the Christmas Swap for the 75 Books Challenge Group 2020. Yes, believe it or not, it’s that time again. I am Jeff (mahsdad) and this is my 6th year running the 75 Group Swap. I'm looking forward to another great book picking season. Given the year that we all have had, being able to do a good turn for others will be a welcome respite. It’s always one of my favorite times of the year.

For those that are new, or those who’ve forgotten, this is our own version of SantaThing, where we get to bring some literary joy to our friends here in the group. It’s a secret Santa, where you will be buying and shipping books to one person that you get assigned. Remember, we are not affiliated with LibraryThing, so don’t bug them with questions or issues about shipping, that’s my job.

As in years past, we keep this simple: Let me know if you are playing, PM me your address and email address. (If you played last year and haven't moved, I still have your physical address, but not your email). I am exploring online Secret Santa sites to facilitate the drawing, that’s why I want your emails. If I find a decent one, I’ll use it for the selection, otherwise, I’ll use a randomizer to make the selections. Everyone will get a 75er to buy book(s) for. (Selfishly, it would be nice to not know who’s picking for me)

We keep it to a $25 limit, so it can be affordable for everyone. This can be new books, carefully preserved “used” books or eBooks (if you specifically want ebooks, please let me know). This will be open to everyone, everywhere, since there are free shipping options available, like Book Depository.

In these trying times for small business, if you can utilize any of your local bookstores, that would be an added benefit. Totally understand if Amazon is your only option, but we all need the locals.

The cut off will be about the 24th of November, this gives you two weeks to decide if you want to play. I will pick names after that date (I'll let you all know here). I am very forgiving, so just let me know if you want in, even after the "cut-off". After I randomly sort the names and make the selections, I will send out the addresses in PM messages as soon as I can.

Once that is done, you can select from that Lter's wishlist or pick something on your own. The former is a safer bet. Plan accordingly so that your gifts will arrive by Christmas, given shipping time, especially to any non-US friends. 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 is, 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, let us know if you’re going to participate in LT’s SantaThing tradition. We’ll be able to make comments there to let your other Santa know what you’re getting from us.

Also, in years past, there have been a couple people who wanted to sponsor someone less fortunate in the group, to make sure they could participate in the fun. Let me know if there are any Secret Secret Santa’s out there and I'll put the word out.

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

Oh, I am sooo in!

And the list begins. :)

Moi also.

But of course, mon ami!

Please include me!

Yes me too

I am in, Jeff. Thanks for continuing this tradition.

I'm in. I'll send you my info shortly.

In an effort to make sure as many people can see this and have an opportunity to join, I'm going to be an every couple days pest and post a message to put the thread back to the top of the Topics list on the group page.

So still looking for more people to come join the fun.

Right now we have 8 people in the group. It would be great if we could have a bunch more.

Count me in!

I'm in, too!

>11 nrmay: Great got you, Nancy.

>12 streamsong: Janet, glad you could join us too. The latest address I could find in my PMs from you was in 2016, are you still in the same place? Foley? :)

Hey Jeff. Yup, that's right.

I'm where I was last year, as far as mailing address...

I'm in again! Same address as last year.

Yeah Carrie! I got you down.

For all, I've looked a several online options and all of them require you to create an account when you participate in the swap. I know we all live on a spectrum of how much we're willing to give out to the world, privacy-wise, I'm probably more open than my wife is, for instance. For a single use type of thing, I think I'll ere on the side of caution, and not make you create a new account and give your information to some 3rd party.

I'm going to continue to use my old tried and true method of selection and I'll PM you your Santee when the time comes.

No need to send me your email addresses, unless you want to get ebooks for Christmas.

Happy weekend, yinz!

Hey Jeff. Yup, that's right. I stay put.

Count me in, Jeff. Same address as in past years (I can re-send to you if need be).

I have a Christmas Wishlist but it's in sad shape. Sounds like I have some time to get it together, though, thankfully.

I'm in!

I'm in! Thanks for running this again, Jeff!

>20 lindapanzo: >21 EBT1002: >22 amanda4242: Linda, Ellen, Amanda - You're on the list.

We're currently at 14 festive book swappers. :) Plenty of time and room for more.

Please add me, Jeff. You should have my info.

>24 ronincats: Great Roni. Got ya on the list.

Anyone doing Santathing? I haven't done it for a couple years, but I'm contemplating doing it again.

>26 mahsdad: I did SantaThing a few times, but I prefer the Swap.

>27 fuzzi: Oh I do too. I think our little group provides a more personal touch. We're "around" each other all the time, we know each other, we're friends. At least as much as anyone can just be reading our thoughts and ramblings on line. :).

For several years I did both. I was just considering joining back up with ST again. I was just curious if anyone else was.

I am doing SantaThing too. Just signed up.

>28 mahsdad: what I like about the Swap is the personal touch.

I like getting feedback when I give a present, even a simple thank you note (old fashioned?).

With SantaThing I had to nag for a response, and even then wasn't getting an acknowledgment from my Santee of the books I'd chosen. To me it's common courtesy to say "Yes, I got the books, thanks!"

Mini-rant over...

>28 mahsdad: I'm thinking about doing ST again this year. One nice aspect for me is that I do usually get matched very well. I also enjoy the option of being able to suggest books and "relay" messages from friends to their Santas.

I do like the fact that we here know each other better.

Please remember to update your Christmas wishlist or wishlist to make Swap purchases either.

>26 mahsdad: I like the Swap better, but I'm doing SantaThing as usual (although I came close to opting out).

Just a reminder that if you purchase something for someone participating in SantaThing that it is good to place that in the comments so the person does not get the same books (especially since they are likely to be working from the same wish list).

I've had a few very good experiences with SantaThing, but I've had some real duds too. With this group, we know each other's tastes a little better so I think we do better overall.

I have 30 things on my Christmas 2020 wishlist. I chose Book Depository for my SantaThing, and I need to make sure most of those are available there. I set it up thinking Amazon would be an option.

>30 fuzzi: I agree, I didn't get much feedback from my ST givers in the past

>31 lindapanzo: That's a good reminder to do some WL cleanup. I'm bad at that. I should create a Christmas one, rather than the full, overwhelming WL that I have. :)

>32 thornton37814: Yeah, I've had some good experiences with SantaThing as well. My first year was the Santa Depocalypse, where they had all the shipping problems from the Book Depository. It was too funny watching everybody lose their S*#%. :)

I'll probably do it, cause I'm addicted to books. :)

>33 mahsdad: oh, I remember the shipping issues year!

>34 fuzzi: Yeah it was a pretty trippy experience. It cemented my love of the LT folks that they laughed at the situation and made a specific badge to commemorate the participants. :)

The tally of swappers for our group so far is 15. Any more takers?

Yes, Jeff...I'm in. This event is a bright spot in the year. My address is the same as last year. I don't do e-books, and am not participating in SantaThing. My wishlists here and on Amazon are up to date, but I always advise my Santa to check choices with lycomayflower.

I've created a Christmas 2020 wishlist but I also have a loooooooong plain ol' wishlist. 😀

>36 laytonwoman3rd: Linda, you're in.

>37 EBT1002: Excellent. For me personally, while I too have a LOOOOOONG WL, I trust you all, and as long as I haven't read it already (in any collection with a tag of READ), I'm down to receive and try it.

I will participate again this year. I think you have my address and my correct zip code!

I am not sure if I will participate in SantaThing this year. I have in the past, but was thinking that I would buy another boxed set of books for the "Toys For Tots" campaign this year instead. I am sure that there is a kid out there who needs a boxed set of the Black Stallion books more than I need more books. But I sure do like getting books in the mail! And this year I have been getting lots of books in the mail. At least until our public library reopened. That was a lifesaver.

>39 benitastrnad: I could have sworn I replied to you over the weekend.

I got you Benita, and I'm pretty sure I've got your correct zip code. :)

This puts us at 17, hopefully a couple more will join us this week. Technically, I put the cut off of tomorrow (11/24), but I'll keep looking until after Thursday (US Thanksgiving) and then make the selections on Friday.

Just in time...I'm in!! : ) I'll send you my info again just to be sure you have it. Off to update my WL!

>41 Berly: Excellent. I got you down.

18 and counting...

Okay, I have updated my wishlist and labeled it "2020 Christmas List":

https://www.librarything.com/catalog/fuzzi

I don't read ebooks, prefer a paperback if it's available. Hardcovers are okay if paperbacks are not available.

And new isn't necessary, good used books are welcome as long as they don't have a musty/moldy odor.

Thank you.

One last signal boost to the top of the threads.

I'll make the selections tomorrow, if you still want to join, come on in.

:)

Were we supposed to message you with our e-mail addresses?

>45 laytonwoman3rd:. Not necessary. I was going to use a website to do the picks but all that I looked at required everyone to create an account. Not worth it for me to have my Santa be anonymous. No worries.

Ah....very good then.

Making the selections now, PMs will come out later today, or tomorrow.

I’ve made a Christmas Swap Wish List category to give some hintx to my Secret Santa. These are just some suggestions to give an idea of what kinds of things I like. Feel free to to pick other things! Gently used is fine with me.

I've set up a Christmas wishlist collection, but I love bookish surprises so feel free to use it as more of a guide. My tastes are broad, and I'm as happy reading a fat Russian classic as I am a fantasy novella. All of the books I own are in my Your Library collection, so I don't have anything that isn't there.

I am more than happy to receive used books. Anything not falling apart or smelling like an ashtray is fine by me!

I have also set up a Christmas wishlist entitled CHRISTMAS SWAP 2020. There are 20 books on the list so that should provide plenty to select from. Again I am more than open to surprises and don't care if the book is used or not. Book Depo does free delivery to Malaysia.

Thanks for sending out the swap names, Jeff. Excitedly looking to see what my person would like.

Also thanks, Jeff. To my Santa, I only have one book in my Xmas Wishlist (it IS one I would like!) but have an extensive regular wishlist you can use with one caveat. If one of the tags says "library", that means that it is available through my library and is on the wishlist simply to remind me to check it out at some point rather than own it. I am a Kindle reader also, and so Kindle books are fine as well as new or gently used books.

I have a Xmas Wishlist 2020 with hundred's of books in it. Plenty to choose from. I don't mind used books as long as they are not falling apart. I even read underlined books.

PM's are out. If you have any questions, please let me know.

For my books, I can do Kindle. New or used is fine, as long as the used books are in good shape.

I did one last look through on my Christmas wishlist and pulled a couple of books I actually already own but there are still something like 85 books on it.

Thanks for naming the names, Jeff.

FWIW, whatever poor soul has been afflicted with my name, be assured that I'm quite happy with used books, hardcover or paperback. Not a listener nor an ebook reader. I've picked 20 titles from various lists, collecting them in "2020 Christmas Swap Wish List". There's also a "Wish List" in my books.

Happy Chritmas, as my oldest used to say, many years ago. 

Thanks for getting the swap names out in prompt fashion, Jeff. My LT WISHLIST is up to date. Mostly story-collections. I am also up for a nifty surprise and I have no issues with used books. Happy book hunting everyone!

My wishlist is good, but do note that if there is a tag that says "JCK" on a given title, that's one I think my husband would like, not one for me. I'm fine with used books, as long as they are not marked up and not stinky or soiled. I don't do e-books (did I say that already?). I'm off to play Santa with someone else's wishlist now!

My wishlist is up to date, but I like surprises, too. Gently used books are fine with me.

Question: can each of us post here when a "swap" package arrives? If there are delivery issues I'd like to know asap.

Just a thought.

We’ve done that in the past, and was helpful to me one year when a box didn’t arrive at my Santee when it was supposed to.

Wow! I already received my gift! And I just ordered for my recipient.

Way to start off the holiday mood. Yay!

>32 thornton37814:. I don't know how to access someone else's list to make a comment so they don't get a duplicate....

>64 Berly: You go to https://www.librarything.com/santathing.php and search for their LT handle. If it shows up, you can make a comment.

>65 thornton37814: That will only work if the giftee is participating in that exchange as well.

I’m also signed up for Santa Thing but didn’t refer to my Christmas wishlist.

>66 laytonwoman3rd: Yes, it's only helpful for those who are participating in both the 75ers swap and SantaThing. I know that thornton37814, lindapanzo and I are all doing SantaThing.

My profile: https://www.librarything.com/santathing_thing.php?id=34
Lori's profile (thornton37814): https://www.librarything.com/santathing_thing.php?id=27
Linda's profile (lindapanzo): https://www.librarything.com/santathing_thing.php?id=75

>68 cbl_tn: Thanks for posting this, Carrie. I don't know about you but my Santa Thing santee was a good match for me this year. I've been lucky again.

>69 lindapanzo: Mine is as well! Maybe too good, because they already have a lot of the books I'm thinking of for them!

Thanks you guys!! Got it. : )

I'm fine with used books!

>68 cbl_tn: Soo....having never participated in SantaThing (or not for several years, at least) I'm not sure how this works. If you leave a comment, doesn't the giftee see it?

I have received a delivery from Amazon today which is marked "LT Christmas Swap". I am going to assume the contents are not wrapped, so won't open the mailer until the day comes 'round.

>73 laytonwoman3rd: Tim has it set so that the giftee can't view comments on their own SantaThing profile. The SantaThing comments are opened to giftees sometime on Christmas day.

>74 cbl_tn: True. I can see that my Santa Thing Santa, and Lori's too, have made their picks but Carrie, yours has not. Unpicked Santee day, tomorrow, is one of my favorite LT days of the year. I need to check which mystery-loving Santees have not had picks made tomorrow. Or sports-loving Santees.

>75 lindapanzo: Linda, making comments will help the SantaThing elves if Carrie's Santa doesn't meet the deadline, so we should make suggestions.

>74 cbl_tn:, >75 lindapanzo:, >76 thornton37814: Interesting! Thanks everybody!

I got a box today with Christmas Swap on the label, thank you!

Shall I open it now? 😁

>76 thornton37814: Looks like Carrie's Santa came through for her.

>79 lindapanzo: Whew!

I got a box today with LT Swap on it!!

>81 ronincats: ooh! Me too. Are you going to open yours early or wait until Christmas? :D

I wait until Christmas--it's not like I get all that many gifts any more! And also not like I'm going to be going anywhere.

>83 ronincats: well...okay...

A parcel is on its way to my giftee. Contents are wrapped, so the shipping box (which isn't from CHEWY at all) may be opened any time. The packing may amuse...

My giftee will receive 2 packages from Better World Books.
They're on the way!
LT in the address.

I just received a box, apparently of books, addressed to lindapanzo. Thank you to my Christmas Swap Santa. I won't open til Christmas Eve (doesn't Iceland do it that way?)

This year presents challenges when ordering books. One local indie has shut down completely for a day or two to handle all the orders. Two other local indies (though one would be a local bookstore only if I were going downtown to Chicago's Loop, which I haven't done since early March), have COVID outbreaks and are temporarily shut down. One of them said something about books being in short supply and perhaps not deliverable until AFTER Christmas.

>87 lindapanzo: I want to go to the local bookstore downtown before Christmas, but I'll wait until I'm off next week and can find a "down time" during a week day to shop.

>88 thornton37814: If it's Union Avenue Books, I believe they're open by appointment.

>89 cbl_tn: No, it's a small bookstore in Morristown.

>87 lindapanzo: How exciting! Once my brother and I were adults, my family started opening presents on Christmas Eve so we could sleep later on Christmas morning. I'm not sure what I'll do this year. I might be able to Zoom with my family so we can open our presents together.

I have noticed on Amazon in just the last couple of days that some books are labeled "Arrives after Christmas" and others are labeled "Arrives before Christmas". I don't remember that from past years.

>90 thornton37814: I didn't realize that Morristown had a bookstore! Neat!

Package arrived for me from my Santa ( ;) I wonder who that could be. LOL Downside of being the organizer, its a not-so Secret Santa). I tentatively checked and it was wrapped so I opened the outer package, but not the wrapped gift. That will have to wait.

Thanks!

I just received a second box of book(s) addressed to lindapanzo. Since I never use that name for my own books ordered and since no one outside of LT would use that, I'm assuming it's another book from my Christmas Swap Santa. Thanks!!

Just received two wonderful books, which I opened last night in celebration of Hanukah! Not sure of protocol and whether I reveal my secret santa's name.....but I'll send a PM.

Thanks for organizing Jeff - it was a real treat!

I received my book package today! Thank you to my Secret Santa.

I was going to tear right into it but found the books nicely wrapped and I put them under the tree instead! I'll try to wait till Christmas to open . .

>95 vivians: There really isn't a protocol. Sometimes, depending on how the Santa sent their gifts, the giftee doesn't know who it was and in that case I generally suggest waiting until after Christmas for the Santa's to reveal themselves. But since you know, and if you want to publicly thank them, go for it.

Also, for you and everyone, let us all know what you got here. I'm sure there'll be plenty of WL additions for all. :)

Happy Hanukah!

Thanks to my Secret Santa! A package arrived yesterday, which was promptly confiscated by mrsdrneutron to keep me from diving right in!

Just a note: I finally started reading my book from last year's Swap Canoeing with the Cree and I had a hard time putting it down even though I was past my bedtime. Thanks laytonwoman3rd!

>99 fuzzi: I almost kept it for myself, I have to tell you! I'm glad you're enjoying it.

>100 laytonwoman3rd: I am. It's well-written and interesting.

Found a package from Discover Books of Toledo, Ohio, jammed in our mailbox yesterday. I'd put it under the tree, but we haven't gotten one yet. Yow.

>102 weird_O: We're finding ourselves behind the Christmas tree curve as well. Maybe we'll celebrate Eastern Orthodox Christmas this year.

The package from my Santa arrived in the midst of a big order of stuff for family members. I opened the box today to wrap, and discovered wrapped presents. I'm glad they were wrapped because otherwise I might not have known they'd arrived. So -- my apologies to my giftee for not reporting its arrival sooner. I've set them aside to open later. I think Carrie Beth and I will be opening our gifts together via Zoom sometime. We may not make it to Christmas Day if I decide to go to Mississippi. It's a little up in the air because of how bad cases are at the moment.

Santa's tracking info suggests my recipient's package may arrive today.

oops

I have received a SECOND LT bundle from my Secret Santa.

Very delighted to have received Pietr the Latvian and The home-maker by D. Canfield. Eager to dive into them!

Many thanks to my Secret Santa

Wow. Yet another package. That's—I think—three bookies from whomever is mein own Sanity Claus. Thankee thankee.

I am loving the post's from all those who have received their packages. I made a hasty trip to Kansas so will NOT be in Tuscaloosa until January 1 when I will receive my package. Whoever has my name will have to wait until then for me to acknowledge the books.

My mother contracted Covid and spent 3 days in the local hospital. She is 85 but apparently has a mild case of Covid. The hospital kicked her out on the condition that somebody be around to check on her. Since my sister works most days I hurriedly packed my car and left Alabama to be in Kansas. I will leave on December 29 to start the trip back to Tuscaloosa. In the meantime, I am dealing with my mother. She came home from the hospital after taking a dose of steroids that put her over the moon enough to say that she didn't understand what all the fuss was about with this "Covis thing." Then the effect of the steroids wore off and now she is sliding down into the "Covid fog." The county health nurse warned me about that, and she was so right. I fear that this is going to take a long time. I take her to the doctor tomorrow for a post hospitalization check. I will not be allowed in with her and it will be interesting to hear what she says now.

I will be looking forward to my books when I get back.

I think my swap books may be stuck in USPS purgatory, along with a package from my brother and SIL. I've signed up for Informed Delivery and I can see that a package from PA arrived at the Knoxville distribution center a couple of days ago. Both packages say "delivery date unknown." I do know that the Knoxville center is dealing with a Covid outbreak and is likely understaffed at their busiest time of the year. It will get here when it gets here.

>110 cbl_tn: I've had a package of Aunt Sally's pralines in that same purgatory. They were supposed to have shipped 10 days ago but USPS tracking is saying that they haven't even been picked up yet. Last week, I had an Etsy order of masks that was sitting in a USPS warehouse near my sister's house for several days. The only thing getting through is Amazon packages because there's a warehouse not far away and a distribution center a couple of blocks from where I went to high school.

I received two books yesterday and they are perfect! SO grateful for this group. ❤️❤️❤️

>110 cbl_tn: >111 lindapanzo: I had a package (not the Swap one) that made a very circuitous route in getting to me. As you followed it, it started out heading in the correct direction and was in the western part of our state (TN). I had a notice to expect it the next day. All of a sudden it was in Pennsylvania. Needless to say, they changed it to a rescheduled delivery but did not provide a date. Then instead of following the expected route from that location along I-81, it went to a couple of places along the Eastern seaboard like Dover, Delaware and New Bern, North Carolina before finally coming to East Tennessee. Talk about strange delivery routes.

>113 thornton37814: The PO is seriously challenged at the moment, apparently. I'm surprised you could get that much detail about your package's peregrinations. My tracking on certain items seems to revert to "in transit" a lot...not from where to where...just...maybe it's moving...a little...?

>114 laytonwoman3rd: I think this was a UPS shipment rather than USPS.

>115 thornton37814: Ah.

The package that I think may be my swap books says it arrived at my local post office this morning and is out for delivery. Except today's mail has already been delivered and I didn't get a package. Maybe tomorrow. I can see that it's had quite a journey. After shipping on the 7th, it went to Philadelphia, then it hung out for a couple of days in Oxford, MS, then it spent 4-5 days in Knoxville.

The other package from my brother and SIL is still in purgatory. It arrived in Knoxville on the 12th, and the latest update says it departed for the next facility about an hour and a half ago. I assume the next facility is my local post office. Maybe I'll get it tomorrow.

P.S. The package from my brother & SIL looks like it had a short outing on the 16th and then returned to the Knoxville facility.

>117 cbl_tn: I keep feeling that my packages are travelling more than I am. I haven't been outside of Chicagoland all year but my packages seem to go to places besides where they were shipped from and where they're supposed to arrive, as others have mentioned.

Oddly, my office, 25 miles away, sent me a large package on December 4th, something I need for work. That one is way overdue.

Even first class mail is slow...

FedEx left a package on my porch a couple of days ago that wasn't addressed to me. The address was outside my subdivision but not very far away, and there was a telephone number on the packing label so I called it and got the intended recipient. I left it on my porch for her to come and pick up. I hated to send it back into the delivery system. Who knows where it would have gone and when it would have reached its destination!

My swap books have arrived! I walked Adrian on my lunch break, and as we were headed back towards our neighborhood the substitute mail carrier passed us with what looked like a load of packages. It looks like our regular carrier delivered letters today and the substitute carrier delivered packages.

Opening day will depend on Lori's schedule. We thought it would be more fun to open our boxes together on Zoom.

>121 cbl_tn: We can discuss that on Zoom tonight. I'm not sure whether I'm leaving Tuesday or Wednesday for my brother's, but I've determined it's safer there than here. Here 1 in every 56 people had a case in last 2 week; there it's 1 in 88. I already know that I'll spend lots of time alone anyway. They tend to watch TV in the dark, and I prefer to read, so I'll be in another room. I also go out to the shop to spend time with my cats in their room. I left the cot for their beds and my chair for visits out there. I didn't think I'd need them between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Lori thornton37814 and I were already meeting on Zoom tonight so we decided to go ahead and open our swap gifts together as well as our gifts for each other. A big thank you to Linda/laytonwoman3rd for Understanding Cemetery Symbols, Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver, and some delicious looking chocolates from a local chocolatier! I will enjoy dipping into all of these! It was a genealogy Zoom chat, and there were still a couple of participants still on the chat at the end when we opened our books. There was lots of interest in Understanding Cemetery Symbols! I also read a couple of the poems for the group and they enjoyed those, too.

I also received a book from Lori. A Trace of Deceit is a historical mystery set in the art world of Victorian London. It checks all the boxes of things I love in a mystery. I'll look forward to reading it!

As Carrie (cbl_tn) said in message 123, we were Zooming with some genealogy friends last night. As we were discussing when we'd Zoom to open the gifts, they encouraged us to open them. We did. We would have needed to schedule another Zoom within the next 3 days otherwise anyway.

Thanks to Kim (Berly) for Midwest Made by Shauna Sever and The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries edited by Otto Penzler. I'm looking forward to exploring the recipes in one and reading the other leading up to Christmas next year. I may begin it with a mystery per day (or at least most days) for "Christmas in July" and continue it through the fall with more being read in November and December. I haven't counted how many mysteries or seen how long each is, but I'll come up with a plan.

In Carrie's package to me was Delivering the Truth by Edith Maxwell. It's a historical mystery featuring a Quaker midwife. It looked really interesting when I added it to my Amazon wish list. I'm not sure if I got the book bullet here, if it was mentioned in our book club, or if it was on a list I saw. She also got a book of family tree Mad Libs for me. We filled out one with those of us still in the Zoom call and laughed so hard at the resulting story. I think I'd added that book to my Amazon wish list because it was on a list of books for getting young people interested in genealogy. I'm on the board of a state society and am acting chair of the committee considering creating a program for youth that can be taken to schools, scout troups, or be done as a stand-alone event (inviting those groups).

>123 cbl_tn: Santa is happy you're happy! I have to thank you for Understanding Cemetery Symbols too, because when I saw it on your wishlist I said "I NEED that", and ordered a copy for myself as well. So I think it's going to be very interesting when I can next get into a cemetery...avaunt, Winter! And now I'm intrigued by A Trace of Deceit...

>123 cbl_tn: Hi Carrie, I rarely read poetry but I do occasionally dip into my copy of that Mary Oliver book. A Trace of Deceit sounds wonderful and I'll add it to my Christmas wishlist and maybe see if my library has it.

I had a genealogy question emergency and was going to ask you and Lori but I figured it out myself. I complicated the issue by being confused as to what Mom was asking.

I've been remiss. My package arrived last week from my Santa, but I won't open it until Christmas eve. I strongly believe in the tradition of getting a new book to read on Christmas eve. Hooray! Can't wait!

Since the mother-in-law needs so much attention, we plan to do our Christmas celebration at her apartment. So mrsdrneutron and I opened most of the gifts last night with just a few left over for Christmas Day.

My Secret Santa was awesome!

Magpie Murders, which I’ve been itching to read
Velocity Weapon, a fun-looking science fiction
Secret Service, a UK/MI-6 spy thriller I’ve had my eye on.

Thanks so much!

>128 drneutron:
Oh -- I suffer from envy. I have wanted to read Velocity Weapon for some time. I bought it soon after it came out but haven't read it yet. Have fun reading!

I just opened my Christmas Swap books and I was so pleased to see that they're from Carrie. Great choices all.

I received:

--Death in the Air by Kate Winkler. Subtitled The True Story of a Serial Killer, the Great London Smog, and the Strangling of a City
--Christmas Bells: A Novel by Jennifer Chiaverini
--Me by Elton John

I don't know who my Santa is but I love my books!

Network Effect by Martha Wells

Winterdance by Gary Paulsen

Thank you!

>131 fuzzi: This was me!!! Takes a bow. I have not read the Murderbot novel yet but I LOVED Winterdance.

^I opened the first of two packages. The other has not arrived yet but I have wanted to get my mitts on this story collection, since I read Houston's wonderful memoir. Thank you, Ellen!

I opened my package this morning and received a copy of Intellectuals and Race along with a little Dover book of butterfly bookmarks, ordered through Premier Books in Oregon. Is it one of our Portland members? Thank you so much.

And Jim (drneutron), that was me. Glad you approve my choices!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I didn't get mine yet but it is hardly surprising with the lockdowns affecting world postage.

I had trouble getting my package to place last year so I put trackers with USPS this year and I understand that two of the five books I sent to my good friend have already reached California. I hope all of them will be in place very soon.

Many thanks to my Santa, lindapanzo, for brilliant choices:



My husband gift-bagged them for me so they could go under the tree. Lots of good reading there, Linda. Well done!

>134 ronincats: Roni, thanks! These are excellent ones!

>135 PaulCranswick: Paul - since it’s Christmas Day, I’ll reveal. I’m your Secret Santa! There are four books in three packages coming from Book Depository that were dispatched from the UK on December 3. They should be there sometime next week, but I don’t have tracking info for them.

>136 laytonwoman3rd: Glad you liked them, Linda. I loved the Candice Millard book and added the Philbrick book to my wishlist.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Vivian was my Santa and she picked out 2 excellent choices.

Ready Player Two - I suspected that I was getting this, as I caught a glimpse of it in the wrapping (it was a little torn). Maybe that's why I chose to re-read RP1 the other day. I'm almost done. Its only the 4th time I've read it. :)

A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. I forget why I added it to the WL, but it looks really fun.

Thanks!

>108 weird_O:
Since it is late afternoon on Christmas Day I will let you know that I am your Book Santa. You should have received 2 seperate packages. They are used books, but I hope you find them acceptable.

Thank you, Jeff for my amazing books:

2 that were on the wish list: (So cool these two came from Powell!)
On the Trail of Genghis Khan
Lost in Translation

and two great surprises:
Homesick for Another World
The Bridge of San Luis Rey

Hooray for Christmas books!

>132 msf59: thanks! Both are on my nightstand. I have one more Murderbot to read before I can start the one you got me.

>134 ronincats: that was me. I got a good price on the Sowell book, decided to add bookmarks. 😁

>138 drneutron: I'm excited, Jim. I check the mail every day! Thank you so much in advance.

>142 streamsong: You're most welcome Janet. It was fortuitous that Powell's had both of these on used status. Were they decent copies?

The 2 "bonus" books were in my "I've read them, liked them, and don't necessarily want to keep them" book pile. I thought you'd enjoy them.

>146 mahsdad: The books look new, Jeff. Thank you again! and thanks for putting this together again this year!

>96 nrmay: >107 nrmay: Hi Nancy, this Weird_O is your previously undisclosed Santa. I wanted to get books from a local new/used book store, but of those on your list, they had only two. The others came to you from on-line sources. I want to read Pietr the Latvian (and wanted to get a copy for you) because I sampled a Maigret story and want to read more, but maybe more because my wife's very best friends during and since high school are Latvians. Nutty reason to get a book for you, I guess, but there it is.

Hope you enjoy them.

>141 benitastrnad: Oh excellent, Benita. Thank you. You picked wisely, my friend.

Blackout by Connie Willis
All Clear by Connie Willis
Warhol Was a Hoarder by Claudia Kalb
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

I confess that I opened the packages as soon as they arrived. My wife immediately picked up and read Warhol Was.... Was it by coincidence that Blackout arrived first, with Warhol? It's the first in the two-part third book in the Oxford Time Travel trilogy (as I'm sure you know). The second part, All Clear arrived on the 22nd. Surprise! Wowie zowie.

Bit of trivia. Trevor Noah's book arrived from a dealer in Georgia. The book itself was published by the UK publisher and is labeled as being "For sale only in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan." Nevertheless, it made its way into the US used-book market. I'm so pleased.

Thanks again, Benita.

I love this Xmas Swap.

Janet, aka Streamsong, was my Secret Santa and she sent me two books that I am so excited to have: The End of the Wasp Season by Denise Mina and Red Clocks by Leni Zumas. I plan to read both of them in January of the new year.

Thank you, Janet!

>136 laytonwoman3rd: Destiny For the Republic is excellent, Linda. Enjoy!

>142 streamsong: I loved Homesick for Another World. Enjoy, Janet.

>150 EBT1002:
I agree with you. I love reading these posts and finding out who gifted what to who! Great fun.

>149 weird_O:
Glad you like them. Happy reading! and seems that one of them was already read by the Mrs., so totally worth sending them to you. I also have the Connie Willis books on my TBR pile. Now that I have knocked Bruce Springsteen's memoir off my celebrity TBR list the Trevor Noah book is also moving up the line.

>149 weird_O:, >153 benitastrnad: Connie Willis is the August 2021 selection for the American Authors Challenge...

>146 mahsdad: The books look new, Jeff. Thank you again! and thanks for putting this together again this year!

Jeff, thanks again for putting this all together! Totally the fun we needed this year. : )

And my Secret Santa (Lori T) did a great job! I received;

Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart and
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien

Both high on my list and completely different--yay!

Happy holidays everyone.

A lovely Boxing Day gift arrived in my mailbox today from PaulCranswick: Italo Calvino's Our Ancestors. Thanks!

>157 amanda4242: Plenty more where that came from, Amanda. I'm guessing at least one more Monday or Tuesday and then another three later in the week.

>149 weird_O:
I usually give used books so that the person getting the books can get more than one book. I try to pick used books that are in excellent or good condition. The descriptions of several of the Trevor Noah Born a Crime books looked sketchy, so I kept moving down the list of used book dealers who had the book in stock. The description did not say that this was a UK version of the book. If I had known it was, I would have selected a different copy. I suspect that the only difference in the book from the US version will be that you will have to put up with all those colours and odd weights that are used in those countries. But I expect that you will preserver.

>159 benitastrnad: "you will have to put up with all those colours and odd weights that are used in those countries."???

Remember your US Customary Units comes directly from our Imperial Standards; we gave them to you. I may be biased as I suppose most of us can be but I prefer the British made books to the American ones. Normally better made, of a more uniform size and internationally less expensive.

>156 Berly: Thanks. My Secret Santa did a great job too. I'm anxious to try the Graeter's Ice Cream recipe in Midwest Made. That's my favorite variety, and even though a local store does sell that variety, I never know how long they'll continue to do so. I also love the short story collection and will begin it for "Christmas in July."

>159 benitastrnad: >160 PaulCranswick: I often prefer the cover illustrations on UK books.

>161 thornton37814: Yes, Lori and I each got the other as our Secret Santas!! : )

I like your reading plans, let me know how the recipe works out. And I just made my 100 books for this year so now I can start Girl Waits With Gun without fear of having to finish it in 2 days! (It is 400 pages after all...)

>138 drneutron: Good news, Jim! Two of my packages have arrived.
I received :

Three Poems by Hannah Sullivan
and
Peterloo: Witnesses to a Massacre by Polyp, Schlunke and Poole

I'm pleased as punch. Thanks so much dear fellow.

Great! Two more books should be showing up soon!

Nikolai Gogol's Dead Souls arrived today! Thank you, Paul!

>165 amanda4242: Another three still to come.

>165 amanda4242: That actually sounds a little scary! ;-)

>167 cbl_tn: The descriptions call it a "comic masterpiece," but it's Russian so it very well might be both comic and scary!

>168 amanda4242: It was more the whole sentence - Dead Souls arrived today. Not sure I would have wanted to be in your place! Sounds like the zombie apocalypse. ;-)

>169 cbl_tn: Never fear! I have read The Zombie Survival Guide and am fully prepared to protect my library from ravening hordes of the undead!

>170 amanda4242: Whew! Feeling relieved now! :-)

I hadn't thought it through sending Dead Souls to take up occupation at your place.

Jim, you are a superstar!

Great! they came!

Book number three arrived today!

Thomas Hardy?

>176 PaulCranswick: Yep.

I got back to Tuscaloosa late last night after driving behind the snow storm that hit Kansas City and the center part of Missouri. Even though I delayed my trip back by one day I still drove through rain, sleet, and snow. But it is winter and it is supposed to snow.

This morning I went to Starbucks and got a cappuccino and then sat down and opened my LT Christmas Swap packages. There were 2. One of the packages came partially torn open and the books were obviously not treated gently during the shipping, but they are readable and very much appreciated. I am not sure who the Secret Santa was, but I got a total of 4 books off of my wishlist.

1. Secrets of A Charmed Life by Susan Meissner
2. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Ownes
3. Month in the Country by J. L. Carr - perfect for the novella reading I have been doing in the last year.
4. Larissa's Breadbook by Lorraine Johnson-Coleman

In a separate package came book 5
5. Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

All of these are welcome additions to my TBR pile. Thanks to my Secret Santa.