Mark's Christmas Swap 2012

Okay, everyone ready? I drew names this morning, with the assistance of my lovely DW. I'll be sending everyone a name and an address. There are 26 of us this year. And I'm the only guy? What? This should be a lot of fun.
Here are the initial rules: "Okay, for the Christmas Swap, I compile a list with everyone interested and randomly match them up with someone else on the list. You buy 1 or 2 books for that person using their wishlist or your own razor-sharp intuition. 25 bucks, including shipping."
If you are happy with your current WL, that's fine, if you want to make a separate Swap WL, you can do that too! Just make sure everything is updated.

Ordering from Amazon, Book Depository or wherever, try to get free shipping (more toward books!) and have it sent directly to "Your" person. Make sure you have them put Christmas Swap on the label, so you know where's it's from.

I would like everyone to wait until Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning to open their packages but if you can't control yourself...go for it!

If you are sending to Canada or sending from Canada, make sure you watch the shipping. I'd like this to stay as close to 25 bucks as we can.

**BTW- Let's keep this as secret as we can! Let it be a surprise.

I would make the deadline for shipping, Dec 10th. Preferably the 1st week of the month, just to make sure. My Book Depository order took over 3 weeks to be delivered last year.

Thanks for all the time and energy you spend in pulling this together. I appreciate your efforts!

I'm sending a book to you Mark for your hard work in making this happen! Heading off now to check your wishlist.

Hugs!

Linda- You don't have to that! Sure, it's a little work but sharing books and receiving books, is what we are all about. Thank you.

Thanks to Mark!!!!!

And may I suggest we all update our wish lists! Be sure to remove books you've just read, or just received, or bought... so sad on Christmas morning to open your swap package and see a book you've read, or is on your shelf!

I'll just make a comment here. My wish list is at Amazon.com. If the person who got me wishes to look at the list, LT member cbl_tn can help you find it (and she won't tell me).

Mark, is there a deadline to update our Christmas Swap WLs? I kind of fell off the wagon this year with keeping my lists up to date.

Thanks so much for organizing this!

Pat- I would make the deadline for shipping, Dec 10th. Preferably the 1st week of the month, just to make sure. My Book Depository order took over 3 weeks to be delivered last year. I posted this up above too.

Thanks Mark. I didn't see the shipping deadline before. But should we also set a deadline for updating our wishlists? Maybe a week from now--November 25th? It's a purely selfish deadline so I have time to update my lists and library.

I forgot to include the deadline. I just added it. I've been mentioning the WL update since this started but the 25th will be fine. I know you just found out recently. No problem.

Thanks, Mark! You're the best.

hooray! sounds fun.
Good luck everyone, on getting that one you really wanted :)

My first time participating and I'm very excited.
Mark, if I'm tracking this right, we don't tell "our" person who we are - they will just receive a package with "Christmas Swap" on it and know it's from someone in the group of 26. Yes?

Megan- I know you guys are having your own "Swap". I wish we could all join in together.

Ellen- Another good point. If you have Amazon send it to you directly, how do you put a note in it, telling who it's from? I don't remember how we did that. Maybe, if you are sending it like that, you could let the person know beforehand, without mentioning what books you gave?

Thanks so much for doing this, Mark! Am off to poke around in my person's WL....

Oh, I'm excited about this. I have already done some poking around and it's going to be fun choosing which ones to buy.

I will probably order the books on-line and then follow that up by sending my person a Christmas Card so they know who the books come from.

I'm equally excited, Mark! There's nothing better than starting the season off with some book shopping. I've poked around as well and may add some of my recipients books to my own
wishlist :0}

Thanks for taking the time to organize this wonderfull swap!

Everything on my LT WL is something I'd want. Note that I'm also participating in LT's Santa Thing so whoever has me might want to look at my Santa there, just so there's no overlap.

I'm adding to it almost every day.

Of course, I'm also having fun browsing through my Swapee's WL here, too.

Thanks for doing this for us, Mark!
I'm psyched - it's fun looking through another WL and making the big decision :)
And since this will no doubt be the only book I get for Christmas, I'm highly anticipating! My family still doesn't get it LOL!

*jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!*

#14 - I think if you send it to someone as a gift through Amazon, you can send a note with it. So maybe just make sure you mark it as a gift and Amazon will give you the option to send a note. (I think.)

Last year, I had Mark himself and put Mark F and on the second line, above his address, I put Mark's Christmas Swap.

I like that idea, Judy, of sending the books via Amazon or whatever, and following them up with a card.

Mark, thanks so much for setting this all up. Oh what fun...

Shipping is FREE if you are sending to Canada with Book Depository. SCORE for more books! :)

I think - but I'm not positive that a Canadian can send to the US with amazon com and to Canada via Amazon ca, without incurring shipping costs if you spend $25.00. I'm quite sure I sent a gift to someone in the US that was via amazon com from here in Canada. And yes Amazon will add a note or card letting the person know who sent the gift. I've done it once before.

Mark, thanks for setting up the Christmas Swap!

You are welcome everyone! I sent a name and an address to each person yesterday. If you did not receive anything, let me know.

The Book Depository is great but give plenty of time for shipping!!

So excited for this!

Thanks for setting this up Mark! You rock!

And I think Deb is correct, if you shop amazon.ca or amazon.com you can send to usa or canada with free shipping. I think you can get it wrapped if you want too.

Thanks for doing this Mark! Finally catching up with my threads & found this link on your individual thread. Ignore my earlier message! :)

@ Chelle - being a bit of an early bird ( either that or very late! :) I sent a package to my secret Christmas swap mate this evening via Amazon com. I am in Canada, and I used amazon com and yes, I spent something like$25.04 and shipping by UPS is free to my swap mate in the US.

So yes, if you are cross border shopping and use Amazon ca or Amazon com - use com if you are shipping to the US from Canada and use Amazon ca if you are shipping from the US to Canada.

Gift wrapping costs $2.99 per book, I think it was - less books -but a gift card is free if you just indicate that you are sending a gift -and you are able to put in your own wording.

Can you tell I'm excited? :)

Thank you, vancourverdeb, for being a trail blazer!

I sent my Secret Santa at the beginning of this week as well! Hope it gets there in time. :)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! It sounds like everyone is busy making their selections. I think that might be more fun than receiving books...well, close anyway.

I agree with you Mark. It was quite fun making my selections. Thank you for putting this together.

I just selected and ordered books for my person. Amazon.com estimates arrival by Dec 5.
This was fun!

Hope everyone had a great holiday. I made my selections this morning and placed my order. It 's a little earlier than I intended but last year, using Book Depository, it took over 3 weeks.
I think the Christmas/Swap WL was a fantastic idea.

How is everyone else doing?

I did mine on Friday, through Amazon, and I think it should arrive tomorrow. Due to sales and a Dover edition I managed to fit in three books!

I did mine, too, Mark.

I went to Small Business Saturday and bought the books in a RL bookstore! They wrapped them for me, now I need to make them post office approved, and put them in the mail. What fun!

I ordered mine on Friday. I was able to fit 3 books in as well. I'm in the Christmas spirit!

I know what I am getting for my swapee, just need to purchase! Really excited. Thanks Mark!

Karen, I love that you made your purchases at a RL bookstore!
Mark, I went to a RL bookstore yesterday and didn't buy one single book for myself because I knew I had some coming in the next few weeks from my secret santa. This may be a first.

I've ordered my books and I have received notification that they are on their way.

I plan to order mine for my swapee tomorrow, probably. I think I'm going to be able to get 3 books. Hope she likes them.

I managed to get two books for mine. I heard on the radio that the over all sales for small businesses seems to be down this last weekend. It seems that the public opted to spend their dollars first at the big box chain stores. My biggest purchase will be from my local auto parts shop. My nephew needs a very expensive set of Crescent wrenches and Love's can get them! I also will place my order for my local newspaper for the coming year. I did place a big order with Amazon and to my surprise the package was delivered by my local postman! This is just like ordering out of the old Sear's catalog was back when Uncle Dewey delivered the mail.

I will be getting my gift at an independent bookshop. I am sure it will be more than $25 since my local shop doesn't discount. But if I add the price of the two books up as if I got them at Amazon, it meets the $25. I really want to get the little extra book. Am I cheating Mark? I don't care!

You sound like you have made up your mind! LOL. It's no problem, I just want to encourage everyone to stay as close to $25 as possible. I want it to be fun and reasonably priced.

Well, I could get it cheaper, but I want to support my local, independent bookshop with this special gift.

After changing my selections several times, I finally placed my order through Amazon and it should arrive by Wednesday. Fun, fun, fun!

*waiting by the mailbox*

I don't mean it, really, but it's SO FUN to know there is a surprise package on the way!

Haven't done mine yet, but I will plan to order today or tomorrow!

I'm very excited! :)

I purchased mine from a bookshop and will be mailing it today or tomorrow.

Whoo Hoo!! Done! Got my person 3 books for $25. Score~~!!

Oh I missed out on joining in, I really wanted to join too :( ah well, I guess I will just have to wait for next year's swap.

How did I miss out on joining this for the third year running??????

Yeah, I missed it too. I was on travel and not keeping up with LT at the time.

I'm working from home today and just received my lovely package! However, since I'm not supposed to open it until Christmas Eve, I have no idea who it is from, but I wanted them to know that I received it and thank them!

Would it be a good idea for people to announce on here when they receive their packages? I'm slightly neurotic and have a somewhat irrational fear of Amazon box porch theft. Therefore, I would like to know if my person received their package. Please let me know if I'm sucking the fun out of this : )

>57 DorsVenabili: What a great idea! I think it adds to the fun to see who has received their swap packages.

#58 - Thanks! I think it would be nice to hear.

Thanks to Mark for letting me jump in at the last moment! I have migrated my Amazon list to LT here (and starred the books I'm most interested in reading imminently...) and will not touch it or share it with others ahead of Xmas! I'll be putting in my order for the person Mark has allocated to me on the weekend...

How does one migrate a book list from Amazon to here?

#61 - The directions are here, towards the middle of the page:
http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Adding_and_importing_books

I know it works, because I did it a long, long time ago, but I have very little memory of the experience. The process is a little goofy. I hope that helps.

ETA: Oops! I just realized that maggie1944 was asking Chatterbox a specific question, based on her post #60. I had not made that connection when I posted this.

In my case, one simply retypes it.. I am much less sophisticated!!!

I got hung up on trying to get into Amazon in a disguise of non-me. Amazon must put an entire truck load of cookies on my Mac cuz it knows me, it knows me, too well. evidently.

I thought someone mentioned that you could put a note inside your Amazon order? If you can't include a note with your order, maybe you could just PM that person and let them know, you are the "one". I could not include my name with my Book Depository order but I hope the Christmas Swap info is on the packaging.
I just got an e-mail that my BD shipped today, but it looks like it will be 2 separate deliveries. WTH? They must ship from different locations.

Remember, to TRY and hold out until Christmas Eve or Day. Can you imagine the anticipation?

I was able to get 3 items for my Secret Santa, but like Mark the entire order is being shipped separately as well. It's not such a big deal (as long as all items go to the right place) because then I just think of it as three surprises! Who wouldn't want that?? I've never had an issue with missing items when I've purchased through BD so it should be all good. :)

I was able to get two books for my person. Probably could have gotten more but I got one from a local bookstore so paid full price for it. I shipped them today and the United States Post Office says that they can expect delivery by Monday. I shipped them as media mail and don't expect it to get there by Monday, but we will see.

My person will know who sent it because it has my name on the return address. And it says Librarything Christmas Swap on the upper left hand corner as well. For good measure I included a card inside the box. I hope that even knowing all that they will wait until the designated time to open it.

I will be at home on Christmas Eve and Day and won't have internet access out in the wild prairie so my person will have to wait to hear from me. Unless I get it before I leave on December 17.

I hoped that Mark would be a good guy and let in those who were latecomers. Especially since it isn't even the first of December. Thanks Mark for keeping track and being kindhearted.

Yah for United States Post Office! Yah, for Mark!

Good reminder to hold out on opening the package but it does mean I'll open mine after Christmas. I don't want to carry my secret santa treats to NC with me. :-|
But I'll let y'all know when it arrives.
(oh boy)

Yay Mark!!! More kudos for doing all of this! :)

So I have messed up on several fronts. First, I didn't know about this thread - not sure how I missed it. Second, I was expecting a package from Amazon with gifts for my hubs so tore into the package, only to realize it was my Secret Santa gift. It was a total delight after a crummy day at work, but I was supposed to wait until Christmas. Third, I can't even pretend to y'all that I didn't mess up because I went and PM'd my Santa to thank her.

Oy.

But a gift is a gift and a surprise is a surprise no matter when you open it, so THANK YOU, Ellen, for my three (!) wonderful books. It made my day :)

My gift is being shipped in two separate packages as well. I couldn't resist ordering one of the books for myself as well and it's already arrived, so I think my giftee should be getting at least one of their packages soon.

Well, my secret Santa gift was ordered via Amazon com and yes, I could put gift tags with my books. I was able to find two books from my swapees Christmas list! :) My amazon order is supposed to get to " Christmas Person " as of Dec 4th - both books at once.

Yah for Mark! :)

72 - Isn't that the hard part of about Christamas shopping , Judy - one for you, one for me! ;)

Katie, Katie, Katie! Shuffles away....shaking head....with a hidden grin.

I'm not sure how I set this up but whenever an Amazon purchase is delivered, whether to me or to someone I sent to, I receive a text message on my cellphone notifying me that it has been delivered. Stuff like that makes me giddy.

oh, I still have not mailed my books to my Recipient Santee; need to get some packing tape. Should accomplish this simple task before the end of the week.

*shaking head, mumbling about how incapable she is somedays*

I got my package! I think it is my swapee gift, as I didn't order anything from Amazon...

Hope my person is not wandering from window to window looking for his/her package to arrive. I will, will, will, WILL, order this weekend. It's just that the choosing is such a responsibility. Needless to say, I am a mega-procrastinator and very sorry about it.

I get almost daily shipments from Amazon, it seems, so I'll have to pay close attention to the label (if my person sends via Amazon, that is).

Yesterday, I forgot to do that but the huge box that arrived could be nothing but a toy for my nephew (his older sister suddenly wants only clothes and music, for the first time, which is kind of sad).

I'm like Fourpawz2 and haven't ordered my gifts yet. Part of the problem is my giftee has such an amazing wishlist that I'm getting distracted checking out all the books on it. But I commit to ordering my Swap gifts this weekend too!

I received a FedEx box yesterday late, dog barking at dinner time, and I grabbed the box, and Darn! it was from Crazy Shirts in Hawaii! Some of the goods I bought while on vacation! Nice, but not books.

Haven't shipped my gift out yet - I plan on wrapping them in Christmas paper first, and for that I need to locate my super-organized wrapping station. :/ At least I have some time at home this weekend to find it!

I think I received my package today! I got a box from Book Depository.......
It's going to be really difficult to wait until I return from my Christmas travels to open it..... *looks around, hoping someone will chime in and say "open it now!"*

huh, no one did.

Katie, I'm glad you opened your package -- it sounds like it was a partial antidote to a tough day. ENJOY!

>83 EBT1002: - Thanks, Ellen. And I second Laura - *whispers*open it.... you know you want to...

No, No Ellen! Don't do it! Don't let those temptresses entice you. You're strong! you can hold out a mere 1,2 .................. ok 26 days. You can do it!

I rec'd two Amazon smiley face packages today! Dilemma! I ordered videos for my son, which box holds the videos, which the possible Santa Swap? OK, I had to think this out. I opened the first package from the back, curses! A piece of cardboard reveals nothing! Ack! So, I stick my hand in the box and feel around and discover the feel of a smooth cover and ripple my fingers over......mmm, what is this? Pages! They've arrived! Sealed up package and placed it under my unfinished tree. Thank you unknown Santa!

Carmenere! You are too clever by half. Wow, such fortitude. Huge Patience. Great Character.

*wispering* I could never have done it. I would have ripped that pkg to shreds and been reading the book already, already!

I got an Amazon package today and because I've been ordering books recently wasn't sure whether it was safe to open or not. I ended up asking my husband to open it and was glad I did because he told me it was two books and then handed me the gift notes from vancouverdeb. So thank you Deb for being my Santa! And Mark, so far I have followed your instructions not to peek. I think I'll be able to keep that promise since I get so few gifts that are surprises I want something to look forward to opening on Christmas.

My recipient will get their books on Dec 3, and I was able to insert on the second line LT CHRISTMAS SWAP. Hope that doesn't confuse UPS too much! Oh, and the two books added up to precisely the limit, which was very cool. Free shipping thanks to Amazon prime... :-)

Lots of giggling and bubbling anticipation over here. I love it. Just Remember! We have a long wait. LOL.

Lynda- You really cracked me up! Very visual.

Pat- Your discipline is awe-inspiring.

Funny, I received a package today, in an Amazon box, with an E-bay sticker and thought this was my Swap gift, but I did not recognize the name on the return label and it turned out to be a book from BM. Whew!

BTW- We had nearly 30 people on the Swap this year. Sweet!

Oh Pat! I would never have your discipline!! I'm the sort that would rip the package to shreds ASAP and start reading! :)

I AM STRONG!!

I am making progress so slowly. My package is wrapped and ready to take to the post office, My buddy will receive her/his books sometime in December!

#93

Well. I messed up a little. Sorry. But it will all turn out ok in the end, I promise :-)

I ordered books from Amazon.ca and found out part of the order would not be shipped until AFTER Christmas! I made note of the lateness of the balance of the order on the gift card.

Then I thought about it and knew it was NOT acceptable. I decided to order from Amazon.com, have it delivered here, and ship it out myself. So 10 minutes later, I tried cancelling the entire order, but one book had already gone through.
The second part of the order hasn't arrived here yet, but I will get it right out when it comes. It's on it's way!

When my giftee gets the first book and note (books to arrive after Christmas) please ignore. You'll get everything in time ;-)

That's my story, it's complicated but true... and I'm sticking to it!

Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells!

Hmm... not sure if my Secret Santa's already sent me my books? But I received a box from Amazon today with no note attached inside, and I found 3 lovely books that I know I didn't order.

Soo happy for my surprise, but am now puzzling over the sender so I can thank the person. If it is my Secret Santa who sent it, can you PM me? then I'll wrap it back up again and open it again later on Christmas Eve. Trust me .. i've got so much going on now, that I will be surprised all over again when I unwrap it. :-)

I received two books from Benita today. After opening the package, which I thought was from Rue Morgue Press which also arrived today, I realized it wasn't the number of books I was expecting so I took a closer look at the return address and put them away without looking.

Will open them (actually look at them, that is) on Christmas Eve.

Thanks Benita!!

#92 Deb, I must admit that the main reason I'm able to resist opening your package is that I've started 4 books recently and am just about to start a fifth for a group read. If I didn't have so many books I was currently reading, I would never be able to be so strong. As it is, I've been thinking about closing my eyes and feeling inside the package to see if the books are paperback or hardcover and then reviewing my relatively short WL to see if I can guess what they are. So it is a slippery slope and I'm already thinking way too much about it. We'll see what happens!

I'm also here to report that I picked my gifts for my Swapee today and they should arrive by December 5th. One of the things I like best about the Swap is seeing another person's wishlist and checking out all the interesting books they've put on it.

But how will I know what books to buy for myself if I don't open my package? Lynda, I'm trying to hold firm here but you can see that I am capable of thinking of all kinds of reasons to cave!

Cee, your story is wonderful!

Just ordered books for my person - quite the adventure.

Also, I, too, received a smiley box from Amazon on Friday. I am assuming it is from some kind semi-stranger because I just don't remember ordering anything to be sent to my house of late. Hardly ever have things sent from amazon to the house, preferring things to come to me at work. Ergo - this much be a Christmas present. Will be absolutely good until the proper day.

Now, back to the Patriots game which I have been ignoring for more than half an hour in order to get this task accomplished.

I am applauding the efficiency of the United States Post Office. I purchased my book from a local book shop then packed it up and mailed it in a recycled Amazon book package that I saved to use during Christmas. I mailed it last Wednesday from my local USPS office to my Swapee. I sent it media rate. It cost me $2.89 to send it that way and they USPS said that they would deliver it Monday, December 3. They were even better as she got it on Saturday. I marked it in the upper left hand corner with the words Librarything Christmas Swap. But I used a blue ink pen, so she must have missed that. Next time I will do it bigger, but one of the postal employees doesn't like it when I use recycled boxes so I try to keep writing on them to a minimum. The only drawback to mailing it with the USPS was that I did have to stand in line for quite some time. They had an employee call in sick and the replacement had not arrived yet. While I was waiting in line I sold another guy one stamp so he didn't have to stand in line. (I keep plenty of stamps in my purse and at work anybody who needs a stamp buys them from me.) I have to admit that I did not think that they package would arrive by Monday, December 3 because media mail is not first class so it doesn't have to be delivered with a high priority. Maybe they are making an extra effort at Christmas? Whatever the reason they proved, once again, that neither rain, nor snow, nor dark of night, etc.etc. ...

#102 I'm eager to see what books are in there. Thanks!!

Part of my confusion came because a family member pointed out that "the Rue Morgue books you've been waiting for arrived today." When I saw a package on the kitchen table with my mail, I jumped in and started opening it without looking. Then they said "oh, I put the Rue Morgue box on your dresser." Oops, it was almost too late when I realized that the box didn't have the number of books I was expecting from Rue Morgue.

Rue Morgue is probably my favorite book source. They reprint old, out of print mysteries and also do a mail order business. It's always a red letter day when I get a box from Rue Morgue. With my Christmas Swap package arriving at the same, this was doubly true on Saturday.

I also noticed that whoever is picking for me for Santa Thing has made his or her choices so I have even more book receiving excitement in my future.

I finally put my package in the mail for my recipient; and I sent it Media Mail which the guy said is grinding to slower than slow. He made no guarantee it would arrive before Christmas for which I am very sorry! Dang. I really thought twenty days before Christmas would be good enough for domestic mail, but I guess I'm living in a gone long ago day in my heard.

I hope they arrive before New Years and can be called a New Years Gift!

Um, I have now received two packages from BookDepository in the UK. Are shipments from BookDepository always from the UK or is this a hint about who my Secret Santa might be?

I received a mysterious package from Amazon today. I was out shopping and my husband came home for lunch and found the parcel at the door. He kept it with him and showed it to me tonight, he won't let me handle it, or shake it! :(

Ellen, all book depository books ship from the UK so no clue there. ;)

I think I accidentally posted on Mark's thread instead of this one yesterday. I also had a package from Amazon on my doorstep yesterday. I managed to resist the urge to open it and instead put it with my suitcase so it gets packed for my Christmas trip. I may not have access to the Internet on Christmas Day except via my iPhone unless I can come up with a mobile wifi plan that doesn't require a long-term contract.

For whoever got my name, a package from Amazon arrived yesterday!

>96 -Cee-: Part 2
The second half of my swapee's bundle is in the mail.
All is calm, all is right ;-)
Now I can breathe a sigh of sweet relief. yay

My swapee's gifts are wrapped and ready to go. Now to find time to get to the PO.....

Whoops. I blew it. I blame it on a lack of sleep and the fact that I get a lot of book shipments from all kinds of folks. I should have twigged that the B&N box was non-standard and thus likely to be THE book box -- but I worked straight through last night, with zero sleep, and I had blearily opened it before I got indoors -- only to see Jim's name on it (drneutron), so I resisted temptation to lift the invoice sheet and look at the book, although I saw the color & thus think I know what it is. Maybe I'll wrap it up and reopen it on Xmas??

112> I think that's a great idea.

No harm done. I barely escaped opening my own box! :)

Ohhh! Just now I went to my post box and I received a package from the Book Depository! That sure has put a smile on my face! Did I open it? Well, maybe yes, and maybe no - I'm weak, so take a hint! :) But I was so delighted with the particular book! Wow! Thanks! No message as to who it came from but I'm sure in time I'll find out!

Thank you my Secret Santa! I've always been the type to peek, even as a child. By the time I was 4 or 5 I would root through my parents closet for my loot. My mom told me later that she left there on purpose because she knew I couldn't stand to wait.

And when I got engaged, eons ago , I told my husband tell me if there is a shower so I can be prepared - and he did! Otherwise I couldn't have coped. I will admit that there was shower 2 weeks after my first son was born. My husband did not know - so he could not tell me. I was so tired and feeling quite unwell, I nearly cancelled the outing to a friends. Then I told myself - well , it 's just Jeanette, she won't care if I look a mess and the baby has spit up on his outfit... so I went - and she had to tell after a few minutes - Deborah, we have a few extra people here - I was so tired and out of it I did not notice right away. She had to help me realize it was a shower. Oh yeah, did I tell you that I had a post partum depression after my 1st child...

Anyway, the flesh is weak here. :)

Thanks so much Secret Santa! :) I'm sure a card will arrive later to let me know who my secret Santa is. I might have a suspicion.. it's all those mysteries that I read that have given me hint...I think... :)

What is up with all the weak flesh? Come on, folks! Show some discipline! LOL! We still have over 2 weeks left!
Do you think we are shipping to early? Or is this fine?

Personally, I will wait.
Of course, I can say that cuz I haven't received anything yet - LOL
But I kinda like having Christmas every day or any day ;-)
Does it really matter which day we are happy?
This is fun!

This is fine. Mark, did you get yours yet?

Of course, you know who had your name.

I haven't received mine yet either but I am swearing off opening! I peeked at Christmas once at age 12 and my whole holiday was ruined! I will anxiously await the surprise!

Claudia- "Does it really matter which day we are happy?" Good point, my friend! But rules are rules. LOL!

Linda- Nope! Not yet!

Go Tina! Go Tina!

Mark, rules are made to be broken -at least at Christmas time! :) LOL!

Hey I thought you were the only man in the swap but now I see that Dr Neutron is in on it! Twenty lashes, Mark, for failing to tell the truth! ;) LOL! Hahahahahhaha! :)

We are shipping at just the right time I think. Sometimes the Book Depository can take quite a while - especially at Christmas. Maybe the postal people are working extra hard for December?

Mark, My books are sent and are rec'd. by the person whose name you assigned to me. Since I know Stasia ever so well, selecting books for her was "easy, breezy, peezy" as my eight year old grand daughter would say.

#122: I am obviously going to have to refine my wish list :) 10000 books in the BlackHole are not enough!

I have the books for my sendee, but have not managed to get them shipped yet. It is a good thing that I have until the 10th is all I can say.

Deb- Actually, Jim was a last minute add on, so you are correct. There were 2 guys in a sea of women. Not a bad image! Do I still get 20 lashes?

Hmmm.... sounds like you are looking forward to those 20 lashes, Mark! lol

I'm too much of a rule follower, Mark. Perhaps I need to break out of that box???
Don't worry. Ron will make sure I don't "cheat".
BUT - I DO like the idea of reaching in the box w/o looking and feeling what's inside! That's pretty funny ;-)
Oh, the anticipation is wonderful....

I got my package yesterday! Woo! I'll be good and I won't open it. Thank you Karen! I can't wait to see what you picked.

Still holding out for THE day and being strong. I hardly even notice the box on my desk now. If I knew it was wrapped, I would take it out, but I can't tell anything by shaking it.

I haven't received a package yet so the waiting is getting harder, but waiting to open it is easy. At least for me.

OOOOh..I got a special parcel in the mail today from book depository and I KNOW I haven't ordered anything this month... :) Will put it away so I'm not tempted to rip into the package NOW!

Package was mailed today! I was going to use UPS but thought my swapee might be offended ;-) So Priority Mail USPS it is (because I'm paranoid about it being late!)....

I've finally located my special Christmas wrapping paper, the presents are festively adorned inside, and everything is all packaged up! I'll be heading out to my local, awesome, P.O. tomorrow morning. Katie, I may follow your lead and do a priority mailing, depending on the $$ - this box is pretty heavy!

#130 If your swapee is the same as my swapee from last year, I don't think he was offended when Amazon did not deliver via USPS. At least he was too polite to say so.

For me, lately, UPS has been delivering the Amazon packages. Sometimes, they send it to a local delivery org whose employee drives it over in an old, beat-up car.

Linda, I think we are talking about the same person :) I was half-joking about UPS vs the postal service but I figured since I was sending them myself, I should go ahead and use the USPS. I like to wrap the presents so I don't send them directly from Amazon or BD or B&N, but then I get myself in trouble timing-wise. I should be okay this year, I think...

Ohh I got another package from the Book Depository! Woot! I didn't open it for fear of a talking to from Mark!!! :) How long will I hold out!

Mark, I'll let the 20 lashes go this time :p . I really glad that Jim signed on! :)

I had Amazon send mine, but I think I would have used UPS over USPS anyway. I really like the people who work at the UPS store. Besides, I just received a completely mutilated package (containing a periodical) from USPS.

Mark-Mark, I had a pint of Flying Dog in Heat beer today. Have you had that before? I liked it. Very interesting wheat beer.

Lori- Stop picking on the poor USPS! LOL.

Caro- I have tried several Flying Dog beers, but not that one. My favorite is Doggie Style Pale Ale.

*waving at Mark*

I either got a second package via the Swap or my SantaThing books arrived on the same day they were ordered by Jeremy & Tim. I'm guessing I had a second package here.

Okay, my pressie is winging its' way towards my Giftee as we speak! The post office said it would be there in about a week. Fingers crossed it gets there sooner!

And, Giftee, you can certainly unwrap the box - the present is individually wrapped. :)

Okay, I held out and held out and held out....
Today I received a Christmas card from my dear sweet Secret Santa and, for some reason, that (and maybe the Pinot Noir) sent me over the edge. I had to know what was in those two boxes from Book Depository.

By the way, these are my first two shipments from BookDepository and I adore the enclosed bookmarks!

My Secret Santa sent me The Gift of Rain and The Tenderness of Wolves. She did an excellent job of picking the perfect two books. I am so excited!

Sorry, Mark, I just couldn't wait. I'm usually pretty good at waiting. Unlike Deb, I have never been one to peek at the packages under the tree.

If we had a tree this year (travels put the kabosh on that), maybe I would have waited......

STILL, I LOVE THE CHRISTMAS SWAP!!!!

Tsk, Tsk, Tsk! No matter, those are 2 terrific titles, bad girl!

big smile on my face for you, Ellen! Happy reading!

Christmas joy spilling over :-)
Those look like great books, Ellen. Enjoy!


My WL is facing a potential tsunami of new ideas once everyone reports on their gifts. :}

I know what my Christmas Swap books are only because I accidentally opened them (REALLY it was an accident) but I've re boxed them and will put them under the tree - when we buy one later this evening or tomorrow, and I'll post the titles on Christmas Eve....and disclose who my wonderful Secret Santa is.

I want to know who Ellen's Santa was!

My swapee, LauraBrook, knows who she is, so I am not sharing a secret there. But happy to say that I purchased her gift at the Buy Local Gift Fair today from a local bookseller - Bowswell Books. The owner, Daniel, and I worked together for 20 years at the Schwartz Bookshops in Milwaukee.

And since Laura and I both live in the Milwaukee area, we are meeting for coffee at a local cafe on the 17th so I can give her her gift.

I know we are breaking the "wait until Christmas to open the gift" rule Mark, but I think it is worth it!

146> My Santa was Judy (DeltaQueen50). I'm proud to say it out loud: THANK YOU, Judy!!

#147: What a great way to break the rule! I hope you both enjoy your meet up.

The meet-up at the coffee shop sounds lovely. Wish I had a LT buddy close to that with. However, I am going to propose that when I come to Chicago in June that I get to meet-up with all those Chi-town LT'ers. I will get my swap buddy coffee then.

I would consider coming down for Milwaukee...

Well I know my books have been sent off a little later than most but my excuse is I was on vacation! ;0
I ordered from amazon.com today to send to my giftee in the USA and I got a notice that they should be there by the 17th! That amazes me :)

Thanks to my gifter for having my books here when I arrived home!! I am excited to put the smiley face box under the tree this weekend!!

My goodness what a bunch of naughties, opening your gifts early! My husband is hanging onto my Amazon box so I can't do the same. I'm glad you're pleased, Ellen, I had both those books also sent to my house, The Gift of Rain will be added to my Mother's Christmas gifts, and The Tenderness of Wolves will be added to mine!

Hooray! My Swap box came today! Thanks Katie. It's also large and heavy. Nice! And because I'm faithful and honorable, it will be tucked away quietly under our tree. How about that restraint? Huh?

2 more packages from book depository in the mail for me today! Thank you to my Secret Santa. I feel absolutely spoiled! :D

>155 jolerie: Hee hee!

Like, Duh!

Ooh! Love that poster, Mark.

My Santa Thing package just arrived from Amazon, via the USPS.

I'm saving this and the Mark's Christmas Swap box til Christmas Eve.

You're welcome, Mark. The gifts are wrapped, so if you haven't already, you can take them out of the shipping box. Might be a little nicer looking under the tree that way :) I did splurge a little but I thought the Swap organizer deserved a little extra!

Great poster, Marky-Mark. I just wish everyone I had to give gifts to at Christmas would be ecstatic over a book gift, but alas, there are some I know who would be disappointed not to receive bacon lollipops, a Yankee toaster, a heating pad or socks. Me? I'm disappointed when I get something other than a book gift card or voucher. Go figure. ;-)

I'm the same as you, Caro. It's rare that I get a book, so I'm extra glad that we have this and the SantaThing so I have bookish presents on Christmas!

I'd totally be up for a Chicago meetup, whenever and wherever. Nancy, I'm really excited that we're getting together for the exchange! Looking forward to coffee and yummy pastries as an accompaniment to the company. :)

When's the Chicago meet-up? I'm ready.

I got my package today!!!!!!

Thank you Laura Lenz... Name was on the box! No opening for me but I am super excited!

I'm not sure of my giftee's user name, but thank you here & I'll try to thank you personally when I open the box on Christmas!

Tina- Yah, for you! It's LauraBrook!

I am ready for the Chicago meet up too and I will not even be attending! lol

I sent out the Christmas package to my giftee today. Sorry to be late, but I was rather busy last week what with final projects and all.

Thanks, Mark!

Hi Tina, I'm glad you got it already! You can open up the box, they're individually wrapped and will look much nicer under the tree that way. (Assuming they last that long, of course!) ;) Fingers crossed that I made good choices!

Stasia, it would be great if you could make it. Actually, like (I think) Linda posted on her thread, it would be Wonderful to have a giant LT Meetup, wouldn't it? It would have to be an overnighter though, I'm sure there'd be too much chatting for just one day. Hope you're enjoying a little relief after your projects are turned in!

For anybody on this list who lives in the Seattle, Washington area - The American Library Association will be in Seattle at the Convention Center starting Friday, January 25, 2013 and ending Monday, January 28, 2013. You do not have to be an ALA member to go to the exhibits. The exhibits will open on Saturday morning. It will cost you $25.00 to get a pass into the exhibits and once in there you get FREE BOOKS! There will be free ARC's. Already published hardbacks and paperbacks have to be paid for, but the ARC's will be free. There will be adult fiction, non-fiction, YA and children's books in ARC form. There will be author signings and author readings. You can also see the latest in library technology and databases. The LT God's are usually there too. You get to meet Tim, (also known as He-Who-Created-LT) and other LT employees. I will be there late Friday night and stay until Monday. If there is interest I would be happy to host an LT meet-up at the conference.

The ALA summer conference will be in Chicago in late June, and I intend to try to get a gathering of LT people to come to that one.

I haven't received any package yet and am starting to get worried as it seems most of the others have already found a package at the door.

Oh! Thank you! I will make every effort to go. This sounds like great good fun. Let's do a meet-up, even if it is only you and I.

#167 Thank you so much LauraBrook! They are now sitting cutely underneath my small tree! Cute paper choice -- "Do not open until Dec 25". :) Can't wait!

It is so enjoyable to read the posts as gifts are sent and rec'd.
Ellen! Ack! You caved. LOL. Good try, my friend. Glad to see Santa was good to you :0)

168> Thank you for posting that! I will definitely try to get down to the convention center that weekend. Free books? That's a no-brainer. :-)

Lynda, I hope you will still be my friend. I did cave. I just *wanted* to know what books were in those packages! Like I said, had I been planning to be here on Christmas, I would have waited.

No sign of my package. Yet. Hope it gets here soon, as I will be leaving on Sunday. If I leave before it gets here it will just have to sit and wait for me. Just like my chair.

We will have to try and set up a meet-up. Coffee in Seattle with book loving people. Sounds like a great time to me.

YAY! A present for under my tree ;-)
Pretty RED package came today from Caro (cameling, of course).
Ron brought it home and said I could look but not open.
I tried to get him to open it for me - ah - oh yeah, to see if it was what I thought. Hahaha. No dice!
Then I saw Caro wrote on the flap "Cee! Not til Xmas!"
LOL... I will have to wait. 11 days and counting!

Thanks for the fun Caro!

Whooooppeeeee! Mail box had a lovely Amazon box in it this afternoon! And Chelle (gogs81) has excellent taste in books for her Library Thing buddies. Thank you so much. I am totally sure I am going to like reading Sea of Poppies, Three Day Road and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

I received my package today!! I am so excited, and I am dying to know what's in there, but so far I have been very good, and the box remains unopened. Thanks so much, Stasia - I know I will love whatever you chose for me!

#176 -- you are in for a treat with Three Day Road....

Oh, thanks for saying that. It is a book I did not know what to think about.... except I knew my secret santa has very good judgment in picking books, so I was trusting it would be good.

Karen- Those are terrific Swap gifts, Chelle has perfect taste! I love all 3, with SOP being a 5 star read and then you'll have to get river of smoke.

Has everyone received their Swap books yet? I know Benita has not and I'm still waiting for my gifts to land down a particular Canadian chimney. Come on, B.D. (Book Depository)!!

I know the first part of my gift to my giftee arrived in her Canadian chimney (LOL) from Amazon.ca .
I sent the second part myself about 11 days ago (first class) and hope they arrived, but I have not seen anything here about that.
Surely it will make it before Christmas - right USPS ?????
Do you have any influence there, Mark?

Just over a week to hang on (til I open my Swap and Santa Thing books).

Claudia- No influence! But if you sent it First Class, 11 days ago, it should be there! Did she check her chimney? Some people don't.

Linda- Love the restraint. :-)

I have no restraint. Any way, opening boxes of books at my niece's house in front of her kids, the niece, her husband, her mother, her father would be no fun. None of them read the way I do, and are completely baffled by my joy at receiving and giving books! Ha! So I decided to open them and be happy right now!

I received via SantaThing Gone to Soldiers which looks fascinating! And Cutting for Sone which has received so many nice comments here in LT, I am sure I will love it. Sad thing is that my Secret Santa has disabled his/her comments feature on her profile so I can send her a personal thank you! Darn.

ETA: I think I already disclosed the three fine books I rec'd through the Mark's Swap! Oh, joy! oh, joy!

Hmmm... I'm wondering ????
Maybe her husband snagged it for hiding?
I can understand having a hubby like that - lol
I'm gonna have a little faith here... just a little ;-)

Hmmm... the light is slowly going on. Just in case I am the Canadian in question, I have so far received one package from Amazon. My husband took control of it and it is now under my tree.

Don't have mine yet, but I'm picking them up from my Santa on Friday!!! :D I think I'll be able to restrain myself for a few more days after that.

Yay Karen, I am so glad you like the books! (Even if you snuck them open before Christmas, tsk tsk ;-)

I enjoyed Sea of Poppies and Three Day Road very much! I hope to hear how you like I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings as I haven't read that but it's on my own wish list!

I know, Chelle, I am so bad. But living by myself, with my dog, and then spending Christmas with my niece's family, it just felt right for me to treat myself well! So I do.

Keep watching your mail, Judy....

I am so excited to see what everyone gets! We need to have an unwrapping ceremony all together broadcast on Google Hangout or some such so that we can all show off our gifts to each other, lol.

I will probably only have an iPhone to access the Internet when I open mine. I'll do the best that I can at updating here. It's our tradition to open gifts on Christmas morning, but I have no idea what the tradition is at my brother's house where I'll be spending the holidays this year. I will probably wait until Christmas morning to open them so that I'll at least be able to follow tradition with them, even if my sister-in-law has altered the family practice (although she may not have).

Go Lori! Go Lori!

I received another interesting parcel in the mail today. I was a good girl and placed it directly under the tree, but I am really looking forward to opening these parcels! I usually open one present on Christmas Eve, and this year I know which one it's going to be.

YAY! USA and Canada work together to get your package to you in time for Christmas!!! Good neighbors ;-)

You are a very good girl and you will be rewarded!

Thanks, Cee. I'm glad that your mind is now at rest (at least about this), I know I worried about my gifts until my giftee announced she had received them.

As previously mentioned... I've got two packages from the Book Depository -but who is my Secret Santa? I do not know yet who to thank!

Oh, I have not a clue either as to who my SS is. Figure I'll find out when I claw my way into the box on the day.

Deb- It's from the Lone Ranger! Like, Duh! Did it say Christmas Swap on the outside label? You be a good girl and keep it under the tree until Christmas Eve/Day.

Friday morning I met up with my AWESOME Not-So-Secret Santa, Nancy/alphaorder, to pick up my fabulous present!



I feel so lucky to now be the proud owner of Read This! Handpicked Favorites from America's Indie Bookstores and My Ideal Bookshelf! On top of that, we had such a nice chat for a couple of hours, with probably the tastiest apple pastry I've ever had and a delicious latte. (Nancy, we should do this more often!) It was the best present and morning I've had in a long long time. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!

Mark, feel free to spontaneously pair me with Nancy every year. ;)

Can't wait to see what everyone else receives!

Mark is right. I did not receive my package before I left Tuscaloosa. However, that is not a bad thing. I am going to check with the people I have looking after my house to moors so will know if a package arrived. the rest of you be strong! Keep those packages under the tree!

Right now I am sitting at a truck stop in Colby Kansas. I am in a Starbucks and treating my aunt to an Eggnog Latte. We are this far west attending the 50th wedding celebration of my cousins. It has been cold and lots of snow and wind this last week. I have blankets in the car and am prepared for cold if I have to be. I must say that the high plains are beautiful in there stark way. the sparkle with the snow cover. like Mark I have my long johns on! It will be a couple of days before I get back to wi-fi so Merry Christmas!

Have a wonderful Christmas with your family, Benita!

194> Love that.
Most of the presents I'll be putting under the tree for my family are books. It's what we've always most loved receiving from one another.
I'm planning to read my two wonderful presents from my MCS Santa in the first part of 2013.

You are most welcome, Laura. So glad the weather didn't keep us from meeting up. It was a great way to kick off my holiday season. I couldn't wait to give the books to you, as I knew you would enjoy them. And I had such a great time chatting - we could have gone on much longer!

Laura & Nancy- Yah, for an LT Meet-up and a Christmas Swap! How cool is that? I love the 2 books! I read "Read This" a couple months ago and really enjoyed it and I've heard good things about My Ideal bookshelf.

Benita- Checking in from Colby Kansas! Good to hear from you!

Merry Christmas, everyone!!

I said I'd open my Christmas Swap books and my Santa Thing books on Christmas Eve. Now, it's Christmas Eve, but I think I'll wait til late morning, when I'm more wide awake and can appreciate them better.

Merry Christmas, guys! Has everyone received their gifts? I sure hope so. My packages are still safely under the tree and will be opened Christmas morning. I can't wait!

Is it Christmas yet?

Mine is also under the tree. I was going to open on Christmas Eve but my son said absolutely not. So tomorrow morning it is.

We open most of our gifts on Christmas Eve so I opened mine a couple hours early, before we leave for Chicago.

Thanks, Benita. I love my books!! I do hope to meet you when you're here in the summer, too.

I received the beautiful-looking collection of vignettes, The Frozen Thames, as well as the first in a cozy series, the Key West Food Critic series, An Appetite for Murder by Lucy Burdette.

I can't wait to open my package from Karen, maggie1944!

My Mom is in the ICU with aspiration pneumonia. We've gotten past the severe sepsis, but we aren't out of the woods yet. She is awake now and sat up for two hours today. Please keep her in your prayers and positive thoughts!

Oh, dear, luvamystery65! I am not a prayin' woman, but I will hold your Mother in my heart and hope for a quick and complete recovery. I had some pneumonia last year and I know it is miserable, and not to be taken lightly. I hope she is feeling better each minute that goes by, and that her Christmas day can be a joy for her.

I'll say some prayers loveamystery65... Wishing your mom a speedy recovery!

Roberta,
I'm sorry to hear your Mom is so sick.
My wishes for her quick recovery
and a restful Christmas day for you all.

#213 Thank you Karen! It means so much to me. Positive and kind thoughts are as meaningful as prayers. Sometimes more so because prayers can become rote and positive thoughts are made with intention. I'm sorry to hear you had pneumonia last year. I hope you never go through something like that again.

I absolutely LOVE my two books, The Garden of Evening Mists and Genesis! You really nailed it Karen. These are the two books I had on my list to buy in January. I really want to read them and my library system doesn't carry them. Thank you! Thank you!

Merry Christmas! (Will post a pic later)

#214 Thank you TinaV95
#215 Thank you Claudia

I wish you both a very Merry Christmas.

Books! Books! I got books! yay
Caro (cameling) was my Santa - the package has been under my tree looking festive - I finally opened it this AM! See how good I was?

The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
AND
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

Two of my wishes come true :-)
and 700 pages of great reading!

Thanks so much, Caro!!!!

Happy Christmas morning, everyone!

Roberta- I'm so sorry to hear about your Mom. I hope she recovers quickly. Please keep us updated.

Claudia- Wow! 2 of my favorite titles. That Caro, has exquisite taste! And I admire your perfect restraint!

Okay, I poured my first cup of coffee and opened my box, that has been waiting patiently:



Is that lovely packaging or what? And what was inside each one:



This is from Katie, who did a stellar job with the selections. Go Katie! Go Katie! The first 2, the Memory of Love & Super Sad True Love Story I have had on my WL forever and now I finally own them. Yah! And one step closer to reading them.
When Arcadia came out earlier this year, it drew my interest to Lauren Groff and I noticed her first book got rave reviews, so I slapped it on my list as well. I still plan on picking up Arcadia soon. It has recently been released in softcover.

Christmas morning greetings, everyone! AFter last night my house is a disaster but I'm putting all that aside to finally enjoy a couple of quiet moments , enjoy a hot cup of coffee and open my santa swap prezi's. I rec'd The Cellist of Sarajevo, Dissolution (I so want to get started on this series) and Favorite Father Brown Stories. Thank you so, so much Lori
(Thornton37814)!!! and merry Christmas to you!

My Santa was Kerri! (DorsVenabili).

I received 3! books from my wish list: Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont, Sister Carrie and Nelson Mandela's Conversations with Myself.

We are having a quiet day here before family returns to town tomorrow, so I think I will read Mrs Palfrey.

Thanks again Kerri - great selections!

#222 - You're welcome, Nancy!

*********************

I just opened my Santa package and received the following from the kind and wonderful Ms. Lynda (Carmenere):

*The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro
*2666 by Roberto Bolaño

Happy Holidays, Everyone!!

Took a moment before the family descends and opened my packages. Thank you so much, Claudia (Bahzah) for my gift of My Family and Other Animals, The Big Sleep, and The Black Prism, all books I have been wishing for. My secret Santa deserves a big shout-out for being such an expert at choosing such great books!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Glad you like them, Mark! And I know I'm not alone in sending a big THANK YOU for organizing the swap again this year. What fun!

A big thanks to Pat (phebej) for my books:

The Seasons on Henry's Farm by Terra Brockman
Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA by Richard Hill

I'm looking forward to both. I guess I could have opened?the box early as they were wrapped!

Lori, I'm so glad you liked the choices. As I mentioned in my PM, you had a really interesting wishlist. I literally spent hours going through it and checking out many books I had never heard of and then placing them on my own wishlist or library list. :) I'm planning on reading Finding Family now too! And I currently have home from the library The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden which looks like a great Christmas book which I first heard about on your wishlist. Happy reading!

I'm also hear to report on my gifts from Deb (vancouverdeb). We do a big Christmas Eve party every year so I was completely distracted in the last week or so getting ready for that. It wasn't until late last night after everyone was gone that I sat down to relax and all of a sudden remembered I had books waiting to be opened! Deb did a great job selecting for me. I got:

The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick

I first heard of both of these books on LT so it seems fitting to get them as Swap books.

And, despite the fact that I'm currently trying to finish 3 or 4 books, I started The Yellow Birds last night and am hoping to spend more time with it today.

I know I'll love both books. Thank you Deb for making great selections and thank you Mark for doing the Swap again this year.

I love my books from lindapanzo. I opened them accidentally before Christmas because Amazon didn't put in a gift note, but I put them back in the box and got to open them all over again this morning.Whooeeeee

Thank you, thank you, thank you Linda for the great selection of:
Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne
Heliopolis by James Scudamore
An Ice Cream War by William Boyd

I can't wait to start reading these.:-)

Wow, some everyone received some great swap books. LTers have excellent taste!

Kerri- We'll have to do a 2666 G.R., at some point. I have had a brand new copy sitting on my shelf for over 2 years.

Pat- Both of those are 2 of my favorite reads of the year. Enjoy!

Caro- I am an evangelist for Empire of the Summer Moon, one of my top reads of the year. You should love it.

I opened my package from Stasia, and what a thoughtful Santa she has been! I received three wonderful books off of my WL:

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman
World War Z by Max Brooks

I was thrilled with all of them - added to my WL this year, as this has been my first year on LT. How fitting that I had heard about each of them right here on the threads. I am looking forward to digging into these treasures. Thank you, Stasia! And thank you, Mark, for organizing this - what fun!

Linda picked out two perfect books for me: The Faces of World War I and The Faces of World War II. The woman knows me all too well!

#229 Uh-oh, Caro, I didn't order any of those. Sorry.

Pat-I'm glad you found interesting things on my wish list. Many of the things are book bullets from LibraryThing challenge threads. A few have been on my Wish List longer and a few came through Facebook, conferences, blogs, etc.

Opened my books at the crack of dawn yesterday and found three - count them three - lovely books - Funeral Music, Hungry for You and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. Thank you, Tina, for your generosity. Having quite the internal debate over adding Funeral Music to the basket of continuing series books that I mean to read this coming year. (Think it's going right on top.) Loved MPLS when I got it from the library last year and want to read it again soon and I love the idea (HfY) of a vampire as a chef.

Hope you all had a lovely day and big thank you to you, Mark!

#235 I'm glad you approve of my choices... You had quite the wish list and I spent a lot of time browsing through trying not to add to my own WL!! :) I really hope you enjoy each one! I've read some Lynsay Sands Argeneau vamp series and thought I'd be sure to include a "fun" one for you...

I got home last night after a bumpy flight in from Houston TX. After unpacking, my other half says "Hey.... you can open your books now!"

My Santa was LauraBrook and she did an excellent job! I received three titles from my WL
When We Were Bad
The Girl of Fire and Thorns and
Bite Me

I was so excited!!! Thank you so much, Laura for three great books! Can't wait to get started on them.

Thank you so much for doing this Mark!!

I'm here, I'm here! I opened mine yesterday morning but in the mad rush to get ready to head out for the day I didn't end up having time to come say thank you to Mamie!!

She picked some great books for me :) Zoo Station is one that I have been seeing such great reviews about, and Rebel Heart is the next in the Dust Lands series and I have been waiting patiently on the library waiting list for it! So happy to have these two great books!
Thanks so much Mamie! And thanks to Mark for being such an awesome host!

Hope everyone had an awesome Christmas!

Wow! Mark, you must feel very good for having engineered such a cool Swap. So many readers so happy. The world must be spinning on its axis a little more easily with this huge increase in good feelings.

You are welcome everyone! Yes, it was a little work but the rewards are endless. Nothing like getting gift books, even if they are off your own WL. I'm glad they're so many happy faces.

Mamie- That is a GREAT trio! Yah!

Chelle- I loved Zoo Station. I NEED to get to book 2.

Karen- Thanks! I'm glad you were able to join us.

I didn't get any books from my family so can't wait for the books from the LT family. I am sure that there will be a package for me when I get back.

I am so glad that Linda liked the books. I couldn't find the Frozen Thames at any of the used books stores seo had to buy a brand news copy for her. It is such a nice gift type book. However, because of that she only got two books instead of the three that most people are getting.

#238

You will love zoo Station. Mark is right, it is an excellent read. Before you know it you will be reading the rest in that series.

I'm still wondering about the Caro/Linda mystery in #229 and #233.....?

237: Tina, I'm so happy that you like them all! YAY! Here's to many hours of happy reading with them! Merry Belated Christmas!

Ok, so I have a problem...I opened my box from my Secret Santa and went Squee when I saw Revelation and The Rise of Ransom City. But we threw away the Amazon box before I checked to see who my Santa is. And today was recycling day, so it's gone...

Thanks whoever you are!

And thanks to Mark for once again organizing this!

Jim- Suz (Chatterbox) was your giver! I haven't see her around in awhile. We'll have to find out if she got yours all-right?

Mystery solved! Or at least part of my mystery book packages and the Christmas Swap has been solved. I did credit Linda with the wrong set of books received. What Linda, my dear Christmas Swap pal sent me was:

In the Garden of Beasts - Erik Larson
The Moonflower Vine - Jetta Carleton
A Share in Death - Deborah Crombie

Super books that I can't wait to get to.

but.....I still don't know then who sent me those other books.*sigh*

Thanks Mark for all of you work. The swap was a lot of fun - look forward to next year!

I have a question... I'd like to send you a little something for organizing all this Mark. Would you allow anyone interested in saying thanks to send you something from your WL that you didn't receive for Christmas?

I do hope that "squee" is good, Jim??

Yes, I've been busy with reading, work and headaches... so not around that much. Meanwhile, I finished opening my box from Jim, to find Romanov Riches by Solomon Volkov, which is very nice indeed! A book I have been coveting for a while, and one that I'll have to find time to read soon... Thank you!!!

Yah the mystery was solved! Yah, the mystery was solved! Whew! I thought I may have screwed up somewhere.

Caro- Who ever sent you those books, sure had good taste.

Tina- You sure don't HAVE to send me anything...but if you really WANT to, that's up to you. Another treat in the post is always rewarding.

Oh yes, "squee" was good! :)

Caro - were the other books from SantaThing? If so, you can go see who your Santa was.

251. Your surprise is on its way! Thanks again for a lovely swap!

And thanks to Mark for being my Book Santa! I received How it All Began by Penelope Lively and Tiny Sunbirds Far Away by Christie Watson !

Thanks again Mark for organizing this and being my Santa!!!! :) Squee!

Hey Chelle - Zoo Station was fabulous! I went right on a binge and read right through the series last summer!!!

Adding my thanks to everyone else's for your hard work on doing this, Mark!

You guys are welcome! Once again it was a lot of fun! Everyone get their book(s)?

Got them and reading one right now--The Yellow Birds--which ended up on my WL partly because of your recommendation Mark!

Just got back today and there were two packages from the Book Depository waiting for me. Howeve, there was no name on either package so I don't know who to thank. Somebody will need to step forward.

I got two books that I want to read and one of them is going to be a group read this year. Long Ships will be a group read sometime this spring. I also got Seige of Krishnapur. I have waned to be started on this series for some time. The books were those luscious paperback copies from the New York Review of Books. Whoever sent those - thank you.

Glad to see that you got your books, Benita! I hope you can find out who your Santa was.

Benita- Welcome back! Ilana (Smiler69) was your giver. She hasn't been around lately. Send her a PM.

Will do! The books were really nice and there is going to be a group read of The Long Ships later this spring, so I will get it off my shelves ASAP. Maybe, I will send her a copy of my lengthy Christmas epistle as well! I like to send Christmas letters.