Christmas Swap 2022

Welcome to the Christmas Swap for the 75 Books Challenge Group 2022. Yes, as I am amazed to say every year, Believe it or not, it’s that time again. I am Jeff (mahsdad) and this is my 8th year running the 75 Group Swap. I'm looking forward to another great book picking season. It continues to be such "interesting" times we live in, But this is 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’ll use a randomizer to make the selections. Everyone will get a 75er to buy book(s) for.

This year the limit is $30, but that is only a suggestion. Speaking for myself, I don't care how much you spend, if you send me some interesting books that you think I'll like, I'm totally here for it. Hopefully, that will work for everyone. Fee free to pick 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. Bookshop.org, is a good choice when it comes to independent bookstores as well. Totally understand, however, if Amazon is your only option, but we all need the locals.

The cut off will be about the 26th of November, the Saturday after the US Thanksgiving holiday, this gives you three 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 (assuming they are still doing it). We’ll be able to make comments there to let your other Santa know what you’re getting from us.

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

OK! I'm in. Will pm you my e-mail; snail mail address hasn't changed.
No e-books for me, please. I am very very fine with used. I do have a pretty hefty wishlist on LT, so I shouldn't present a big challenge.

Yippee Linda! Welcome back in!

I am in again! I still have the same address.

I am in again as well. My address has not changed either.

I'm in. Same address.

I'm of course still in, Jeff. Same address too.

>1 mahsdad: I'm in!!!!

I will update my 2022 Wishlish.

Whoever gets me, please use it for suggestions.

I don't care for e-books.

I prefer softcover/paperback as I have arthritis, and hardcovers are too heavy most of the time.

Used books are fine!

I don't like horror, gothic, dystopian, graphic sex/violence, so no Fifty Shades of Gray, The Handmaid's Tale, or American Psycho, thanks.

My mailing address has not changed, but I'll PM you my email as per your request.

Thanks for setting this up.

I'm in - all info is still the same.

Alright, we're up to 8. Carrie, Stasi, Laura, Paul, Fuzzi and Jim

Do I have to make a wishlist to participate?

>11 kgodey: Hey Kriti, not really, but it might help in someone picking for you. If you'd rather be totally surprised and you have a relatively good list of the books you have read (don't want to get dupes), I'm sure that would work too.

I personally don't have a specific Christmas WL, just my regular one that I've been building over the last 15 years, so anything there is fine by me. I'm pretty good at keeping track of what I have read in my collections so if someone picks something that I've never read whether or not its on my WL, I'm totally game for it. I also have my ongoing bucket list of reading the Pulitzers, Hugos and Nebulas so that always makes for good source material.

I guess for some of the more prolific readers, like yourself (137... Congrats), it might be hard to have a definitive WL, but as long as your Santa can see what you have read, and maybe what genres you just don't want to touch, it will put them in the ballpark.

I just want it to be fun, with as little stress as feasible.

Hope you'll join. It'll be good to have you back after several years. 🎄📚🔖

ETA - I somehow got your book count WAY off! :) 256, if more amazement and congratulations!

8 years? Wowza! Time sure flies. You know I will be joining. Thanks for keeping this seasonal train going. I will have to beef up my Wishlist. I don't add much to it these days.

>13 msf59: Alright! I've got you down.

>10 mahsdad: Did you count me? I didn't see "Lori" on the list.

I have updated my wishlisted books and created a tag CHRISTMAS 2022 with 36 books to choose from. I am ok with fair copy second hand but Book Depo is best to send to me as it is free.

>15 thornton37814: Bad Jeff. I said Laura instead of Lori. My wife's name is Laura and muscle memory and/or poor concentration made me type that instead of Lori. Definitely got you on the list.

>12 mahsdad: Okay, I'm in! I'll PM you my details, although my address hasn't changed since 2013 so you probably have it somewhere.

I'll do a post with my book preferences in a week or two when my brain is less concussed. My LT collection is very up-to-date so it should be easy for whoever gets me to make sure they don't get me something I already have. I do have an Amazon wishlist, but it's not really reliable (I put all sorts of random stuff in there and never take anything out), but I'll post it with a cautionary note when I do my book preference post.

I should also mention that I updated my Christmas wish list here on LibraryThing. It does not include books I can get at the library.

ETA: I'm okay with used books in "very good" or better condition.

My library does not always reflect books read prior to joining LibraryThing in 2007.

I do not have a wish list. I have a BlackHole. If someone cannot find something for me in there, they must have issues :) It is about 16K books big.

ETA: I also have a "Need to Buy" list that only has 11 titles on it.

I'm in! My address is still the same.

Amanda and Kriti are added to the list. We're up to 11!

I am in this year. My information is the same (the zip code is 35404) :-)

I don't do e-books, so only hardcopy for me.

I will update my wishlist - which is gargantuan.

That's great Benita, and I have triple checked that the zip-code is correct. ;)

I'm in again, of course. Same address. I'll update my WL. Thanks again for leading the LT Holiday Spirit of Giving!!

Hey Kim, thanks for joining!

I'm in! Different address, but same e-mail address. (This time I made it by the due date...)

Will update the wish list and PM you the snail mail address. E-books are great, so are second-hand "dead tree" books. Since I have more than 12k books of both kinds on hand, not all of which are yet logged on LT, it may be best to stick kinda close to the wish list??

Hey Suzanne! Thanks for joining.

Just a signal boost post to get it back to the top of the list for those that look at the threads from top down (most recent posts, etc)

I'm in. Will PM my address. No ebooks, please, but gently used books are welcome. My LT wishlist is current.

I'm in too. I think you may still have my addy and email. No ebooks for me either but gently used books are a treat especially ones from the sender's collection.

Yippee, Laura and Janet are in. That brings us up to 16. Hope we'll get a couple more this week before I make the picks.

I'm in! Address same as last year

I have a wishlist of obscure titles I can't find at the 2 libraries I frequent.
I like used books and surprises. Maybe the best book you read this year?
I read all kinds of fiction and, occasionally, some non-fiction. Open to anything!

Hi Nancy, I have you on the list. Welcome!

Late again, but I am in. I believe you have my address; it hasn't changed in years.

ETA: I guess I must cobble up a wish list. Or is it wishlist? I prefer wish list, and it seems I have some books on there from Christmas 2021. I'll look it over.

>35 weird_O: Whew, I was worried. When I posted in your thread the other day about it and I didn't hear, I thought you might not going to join us this year. I was going to let you go another day or so and pester you with a PM, but now I don't have to. Glad you're here!

Wow, I'm glad I thought to look for this thread after getting the message that the general LT Santa Thing was closing! That made me realize I hadn't heard anything about this Christmas Swap. I'm in, and my info should be the same as last year. Won't get my wishlist up until next week though.

Hi Roni, glad you found us again. I’ve got you on the list.

Still a couple days if someone stumbles upon this. I’ll make the picks on Sunday!

Last bump up to the top of the message list. I'll make the selections sometime tomorrow.

I never posted my book preferences, here they are:
- Physical books only, please. I generally like hardcovers if possible, gently used is fine (online, I buy books in "fine", "like new" and "very good" condition).
- My LibraryThing catalog is up to date, so don't buy me anything I already have!
- I tend to prefer older (pre-2010?) to newer books, unless it's an author I already like.
- I read mostly SFF, but I'm open to anything.
- Here are some of my lists on Amazon. I hesitate to call them "wishlists", they're more like "lists of books someone mentioned that I'll investigate later". my fiction list, my non-fiction list and my learning about history list.

Also I gave in and signed up for SantaThing, here's my profile: https://www.librarything.com/santathing_thing.php?id=311

I have an x-mas wishlist collection, but feel free to choose something off list, too. Used books in hardcover or paperback are fine by me. All of my books are cataloged, so I don't own it if it's not in my library.

https://www.librarything.com/catalog/amanda4242/xmaswishlist

Okay, the names have been drawn. I found a new site that let me put in all the names and do the selection. It made it a little easier. It also let me block certain matches. I have my selections for the last 3 years, so the people you get to buy for should be new to you (at least new in the past 4 years).

I'll start sending out the PMs with your giftee and addresses.

Merry Christmas! (Its after Thanksgiving, I can say that now. :) )

>42 mahsdad: The excitement builds! Thanks, Jeff, for doing all the heavy lifting with this again.

I am ridiculously excited for this!

Me too!

My wishlist is up to date, and I'm fine with gently used books.

Thanks, Jeff, for doing this every year. I really enjoy it!

Alright, all the messages have been sent. I'm pretty sure I didn't mess anything up :) But let me know of something doesn't look right.

Some people gave me email addresses, if you need them. You'll definitely need them if you are going to give any eBooks, but check here first to see if they offered a preference for DTE, or digital. (Me personally, I like the paper).

Try to put LT, or 75'r, or something similar on the packing, whether in a note or part of their name so they'll know not to open it, as we're not expecting gift wrap.

If you have an questions, or want to ask your giftee any questions, let me know and I'll be your conduit.

Once shipping starts happening, let us know here (you don't don't have to reveal yourself), and I'll make a note, in case there's any shipping issues.

Typically we wait until after Christmas to announce who was Santa for whom, but you can really do that whenever you want.

Have fun!

And for my Santa, I made a Christmas Swap Wishlist. It's just a sample of recent things from my overall Wishlist, so feel free to go off list! 😀

I prefer paper, used works for me.

I have updated my Wishlist but if you feel like surprising me, that is fine too. I have no problem with gently used books.

Doing a fine job, Jeff.

I tested positive for COVID Saturday, so haven't been doing much. No books in my Xmas Gift List, but I did check that all the books in my general Wishlist were still ones I don't have. I accept all forms of books: digital or print, new or used. I probably need to add recent reads to my collection, but there also a list of all of the books I've read this year near the end of my thread, and those would be most of the ones that would be added to either my library or my Read but not Owned collection.

Thanks, Jeff.

I have updated my Christmas swap 2022 list. I don’t do digital books, so only print for me. I don’t care if they are new or used.

>51 ronincats: Oh dear Roni. Get well soon.

>51 ronincats: here's hoping you feel better soon.

Feeling quite gleeful, as I have placed orders for my giftee already!

>51 ronincats: Feel better soon, Roni. I'm so grateful that for so many of us now, Covid is less of a mortal threat than it was nearly three years ago and more of a really nasty illness. I hope this is a mild bout and you're back on your feet soon...

My Xmas wishlist is up to date! Either digital or "dead tree" books are fine; gently used second-hand are fine! After all, it's all about the words...

>55 Chatterbox: Me too, Suz. My order was placed yesterday (evening your time).

I'm ready. Almost. New shelf space is opening up within the hour. I have a "Wish List"—not that default wishlist—populated with three dozen titles I hanker for. I need book books, not e-books or audio. Used is just ducky. I thank you.

I've scrolled through my giftee's list—okay, not even half the list—and have a little assortment of books to look for at the book sale that opens at noon today. Happy Holidays, folks!

>57 weird_O: Enjoy the book sale! Happy hunting!

My package is heading for its recipient (as of yesterday).

Books ordered and on the way shortly.

I have also ordered my books and my lucky recipient should get them in a week or so. 😁

I ordered 4 books for my recipient and three have already been dispatched via Book Depo.

Books ordered but a Dec 20th delivery date...

Books ordered and on their way.

The books I ordered are en route to me. Will try to mail them this weekend.

Lori Thornton

Books all ordered!

Santa has arrived at my house. Even though technically I know who they are 😉 I'm going to pretend I don't until Christmas.

Thanks! 🎅🎄❄🎁📦

Books ordered!

Same here! As soon as I get them all, I will send them over to my giftee.

I received a package from Book Depository. It does not mention Christmas Swap. I will save it for Christmas Day.

I received a package from Half Price Books with "Christmas Swap" on it!

I received a second package with "Christmas Swap 2022" on it. This time from Book Depository!

I have a box packed and ready to head on its way to my swapee tomorrow!

I just received a third package with "Christmas Swap 2022" on it. This one came from Amazon Fulfillment Services.

I mailed a package this afternoon; projected delivery late next week. I feel much better.

Got a package today!

>77 drneutron: Santa said Amazon left one at your door on Tuesday.

I got a package with LT in my name. I think that means it came from this group.

In the meantime I ordered the books for my LT Swapee and got a notice yesterday that my order had been shipped. Somebody should be getting a box sometime next week.

When I mailed my LT75 Santa package, I told the postal lady the contents was books, so it would go as media mail. She asked me the standard declaration about not having dangerous or prohibited stuff in the package. "Just ideas," I answered. She laughed knowingly.

>80 weird_O: What a great story, Bill!

The books for my giftee will be heading out Monday with instructions to "wait until Christmas" to open :)

>80 weird_O: Love that, Bill. I can just envisage it too.

My two packages have been shipped and I am notified that one of them has been delivered already. I reckon that the second one will land next week.

I found two packages outside my door with my name and "75er" on them! (It must have puzzled my landlord, who probably rescued them from the front door...) I have put them aside so I will have something to open on the 25th! I'm glad my giftee has received all/most of mine.

>78 amanda4242: Under the tree, unopened!

>84 drneutron: Phew! I was worried the elves had made a mistake!

I'm still waiting for my giftee's books to arrive. :horrors:

Mailperson actually came to the house to deposit a very fat and, to me, intoxicating package. Gosh, what could it be? Addressed to that Weird_O Bill guy, so...

I must have been very good. I just received a 4th package. It appears to be from wob (wob.com?) via Royal Mail that was routed through Independence, Kentucky--just outside Cincinnati.

>87 weird_O: >88 thornton37814: Santa and Rudolph have had a busy day!

>88 thornton37814: wob=world of books.

Those are some exhausted elves out there!!

ooooh, got a THIRD package today!! :-) Fun!! Looking forward to opening them on Xmas morning...

Got an amazon package today with "Christmas Swap" in the address. Setting it aside for the day!

The books went out to my swapee today - in one package. I am now thinking I should have mailed each book individually, lol.

>88 thornton37814: I got an update. My giftee's books were shipped from the seller in Pennsylvania, but were routed to Los Angeles!

Now they're coming back to North Carolina...sheesh.

Got a package from Better World Books today addressed to LT Carrie! I will set it aside until Christmas. I think it's books. ;-)

I won't be home on Christmas Day, and I don't want to drag the packages to Mississippi. I will probably open on the evening of Monday the 19th so I can decide if a book might need to be inserted into the stuff I'm loading in the car that evening! It's either that or wait until I get back . . . and I'm not sure of that date yet although it will probably be toward the end of the week--just before New Year's.

>93 alcottacre: I did not have the wherewithal to ship them myself so the sellers are shipping them, one book at a time. It does have the disadvantage that I can't include anything personal.

>97 kgodey: I had the same issue. I would have preferred to gift-wrap the books and add a bookmark or card, but... The time it would take packages to get here, the need to get to the post office and re-send everything, and the double postage cost? I figured my giftee would rather have an extra book!

I received a package today from B&N, with my username incorporated into my "real" name....assuming it's from one of Santa's LT 75er minions!

>97 kgodey: >98 Chatterbox: Yeah, I had the sellers ship the books to me so that I could add to the parcel even though my giftee would have gotten the books piecemeal had I sent them the other way. Advantages to either way of doing it, right?

>99 laytonwoman3rd: Mmmmmm, could be… 😀

>98 Chatterbox: That's pretty much my thinking.

>100 alcottacre: I don't know if there's any advantage to getting them piecemeal, I think a personalized box sounds nicer (and with adding to the parcel sounds like extra books, which is even nicer!)

I realized I had it shipped to me so I could gift wrap it. After I took it to the post office, I realized I forgot to wrap the contents, so it's still just a box!

>103 thornton37814: bwahaha!

I'm sure your giftee won't mind.

I like to add stuff like bookmarks, so having gifts shipped to me makes sense, ESPECIALLY if I can get the elusive "free shipping" option.

>102 kgodey: I do not know, Kriti, I kind of like getting more parcels, lol.

>103 thornton37814: I do not wrap. I told my husband just last night that for the rest of my life it is gift bags or nothing. I hate wrapping!

I stopped in to say that my parcel from Weird Bill arrived in today's mail. Thank you so much, Bill. I will be opening first thing Christmas morning that is for sure!

I received an Amazon Fulfillment package today with two (it feels like) books in it from my Santa. It's under the tree waiting for Christmas.

All my books for my giftee have shipped, but they tell me one won't make it until after Christmas. The best one, too. :^(

Got a package from Powell's today. Thank you, Santa!

I got TWO MORE packages today from my Santa!! Bringing it to a total of five... Clearly, my Santa is a savvy thrifty shopper!!

I received a second package from Book Depository. No Swap designation but I am sure it is. Under the tree it goes.

>105 alcottacre: Just want to say, Stasia, that I wrapped the book before settling it into the carton. I wrapped so you wouldn't have it. But you could open the carton without seeing the book title. Whatevs...

Glad it arrived in time and in good condition.

>107 amanda4242: I will tell Santa everything arrived okay. : )

>110 weird_O: Thanks for taking the time to wrap the book, Bill, and letting me know. I will place the wrapped book under the tree and dispense with the cardboard :)

I got a package today from Lori!

I'm trying to figure out whether to wait to open it or just open it now. We're not doing anything for Christmas so I don't have a tree or other gifts it can go with.

>113 kgodey: I would open it now!

Just had the postman deliver my package from Stasia! So much fun!

Have received a second package with "Christmas Swap" in the addy! *puts under the tree with great anticipation*

I've also received a second package from my LT Santa today.

>115 streamsong: I am glad to know that it arrived safely!

I did end up opening my package, which contained The Midnight Library and Catherine the Great, and I'm really looking forward to both of them. I also got some cocoa, chocolates, and bookmarks. Thanks Lori!

>119 kgodey: That is awesome, Kriti!

>119 kgodey: Glad you enjoyed them!

I got a package today, woo!

I am pleased to inform that I got two packages today which I spotted eventually had Paul LT Swap on it from Book Depo but it was amid a fairly hefty delivery but I am happy with :

Scrublands by Chris Hammer (actually delivered a couple of days ago)
and
The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig which made me cheer because I do miss not being able to get any of his books here.

Secret Santa, whoever you are I, love ya!

I think it is the first time that I got my books before Christmas!!!!

I received an LT pkg today!
I'm trying to save it till Christmas . . but I really want to rip into it now!
Thank you, Lorelei.

Since I'm heading out of town in the morning and packing today, I decided it was time to open the packages. Suzanne did a great job with her picks:

Claire Keegan / Foster (a novella)
Marilyn McEntyre / When Poets Pray
Margot Bennett / The Widow of Bath (British Library Crime Classics)
Daphne Du Maurier / Vanish Cornwall

I'm taking a couple with me and planning to read the others in January.

Welp, since Minka the black kitten cat was particularly intrigued by the wrapping around one of my five (5!!!) gift books, I decided to let her "help" me unwrap it! It turned out to be conductor John Eliot Gardiner's wonderful book about Bach: Bach: Music in the Castle of Heaven. I can read it while listening to the cello suites!! I'm going to open one more on Wednesday, one on Friday (this will help me get through the week...) and two on Sunday, which is Xmas! And I'll let Sir Fergus the Fat (the other resident feline) pick which one to open next... :-) )

Thanks, Santa!

>124 nrmay: you're very welcome! You were especially fun to shop for.

Ooh, I got another package today!

My package arrived!! And I think there are several books...Yippee! Thanks Santa. : )

Oh! And another package came. I think my SS is awesome and I haven't even opened anything yet.

Another package arrived today!

I opened my swap books as soon as I finished cooking for tomorrow. My family had a tradition of opening our gifts on Christmas Eve, and tomorrow morning will be busy with church and then Christmas dinner afterwards. I am thrilled with the seven books from my swap Santa!



After the War
Address Unknown
An Island of Our Own
The English Boys
The Son of the House
Random Passage
The Sea Gate

>132 cbl_tn: Wonderful haul, Carrie. I hope you enjoy them all!

I am very happy with my Santa's choices: Fearless by Jack Campbell and Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul: Church, State, and the Birth of Liberty by John M. Barry.

Thank you, whoever you are!

I will reveal since it is Christmas Day, that I was Mark's secret swap Santa.

I hope you enjoy your books, Mark.

^Perfect timing, Paul. I just opened my packages and was very pleased at what I received. I now own 2 lovely poetry collections, along with a story collection that I have wanted to read forever. Earthlings looks to be a nice surprise too. Thank you, my friend.

I am so pleased they all arrived nicely, Mark. Being me I had to choose some of the poetry you had listed. The short story collection looks interesting and my own pick for you is simply a story that is bat-shit crazy and I am sure you'll like it.

Well, I was thoroughly spoiled by friends and family this Christmas, including our own Weird O (Bill). I opened my presents to find:

The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford
The Farm by Tom Rob Smith
Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Merullo
The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet
The Betrayal of Anne Frank by Rosemary Sullivan

Thank you so much, Bill!

>126 Chatterbox: Suzanne, I was your Santa. I'm glad you liked the book you opened on Monday! I hope you enjoy the rest of them too.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Linda (@laytonwoman3rd) was my Santa and she outdid herself. She gave me a wonderful stack of books from her shelves, as well as some chocolate.

West by Carys Davies
Lost Everything by Brian Francis Slattery
The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers
Justice by Larry Watson
Shylock is My Name by Howard Jacobson
Faulkner Novels 1942-1954 by William Faulkner : Go Down, Moses, Intruder in the Dust, Requiem for a Nun, and A Fable

Can't wait to get started.

BTW, I also continued by tradition by creating a List for your 2022 Christmas Gifts. Feel free to add to it.

https://www.librarything.com/list/44234/2022-Christmas-Gifts

I opened my wonderful package from Stasia/alcottacre!

Lovely selection:
The Fell - Sarah Moss
Unholy - Sarah Posner
Cold Earth - Sarah Moss
A Woman's Way West - John Fraley

and from her own personal collection:
I'd Rather be Reading - Anne Bogel

and hey - I would have enjoyed the copy with kitty toofiie autographs!

I'm getting more and more dense, I think. Is the list exclusively for Santa Swap gifts? Or is it also for books gotten from Santa and from family and friends? Asking for the friend.

>142 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. I believe we have mostly shared our Swap books over here, although I don't think there was ever a rule in place.

>142 weird_O: No rules Bill, I just created it to record any Christmas Gift. Add whatever you want. It’s all in good fun. 🎄

>140 mahsdad: It was fun finding things on my all-read shelves that were on your Wishlist, Jeff.

My generous Santa was our own Dr. Neutron! He sent me a murder-themed package of intriguing reads: Anne Perry and the Murder of the Century, Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club, and Destiny of the Republic. Perfect fare for long winter evenings...and luckily another Santa has furnished me with two boxes of orange liqueur-flavored chocolates to indulge in while poring over the gory details!

Another fine 75'ers' Christmas Swap is (ahem) in the books!

>140 mahsdad: OK, now I'm dense...how does one add to that list?

The LT elves redesigned the list functionality a bit recently. When you are on the List page, you should see a button on the right side that says "+ Add Work To List". When you click it, it will give you a search box. Type in your book, or author and then select the specific one from the list. It will add it to the global list.

You can click on the various headings to switch what you see. If you click on someone's name, you'll see their list as well.

Hope this helps!

>147 mahsdad: Yup, that works like a charm if you see what's writ instead of what you THINK it says...I must have seen Add to Your List, instead of Add Work to List. My brain IS a bit frazzled by this time of a Christmas evening.

I just got home from a weekend with family over in Abilene and opened my books. Thank you so much, Janet (streaming), whom I've been neglecting shamefully but appreciate so much.

I got:
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
Enola Holmes: The case of the missing marquess by Nancy Springer
The Cat, The Quilt and the Corpse by Leann Sweeney
Earth Invader by Randall Garrett

Quite a range of genres there!! Thank you.

And Fuzzi, I am your Santa and there is still one more book, the best one, that should arrive next week.

Thanks to my Santa (Amanda!), there was a beautiful edition of Arséne Lupin with great illustrations and The Doomsday Book for our cruise coming up in February!

>138 alcottacre: Glad to hear you like the book selection, Stasia. I had fun scanning "The Black Hole," although I made it only about halfway through. Followed, of course, by scaring up the books. Knowing you, you'll read all of them before January 1, 2023. :-)

My thanks go out to Carrie (cbl_tn) for the excellent books she gifted me. And also thanks for the snacks she included. Mmmmm.

Regeneration (Regeneration Trilogy), Pat Barker
The West End Horror, Nicholas Meyer
The Book on the Bookshelf, Henry Petroski
What Is Left the Daughter, Howard Norman
Churchill's Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: The Mavericks Who Plotted Hitler's Defeat, Giles Milton
What It's Like to Be a Dog: And Other Adventures in Animal Neuroscience, Gregory Berns
Totally Weird and Wonderful Words, Erin McKean
He Wanted the Moon: The Madness and Medical Genius of Dr. Perry Baird, and His Daughter's Quest to Know Him, Mimi Baird

>149 ronincats: woo! Another book?!

:Snoopy dance:

>152 weird_O: Glad you like them!

>140 mahsdad: I added my three, thanks for the link.

>130 Berly:
I was your Christmas 2022 Swapee. Since you said that you didn't care if books were used or not I was able to go to town. I hope that the books are ratty and torn. I included a couple that weren't on your list, but since they were part of a series, and I am somewhat of a completist, I went ahead and included them in your Christmas package. Happy Reading!!!

I opened my package today and was VERY happy with my books. They were the only two books I got this year so they were so very welcome. Jeff was my Swapee and he gifted me with a new copy of Women of Troy by Pat Barker. I hope it is as good as Silence of the Girls.

I also got a book that was a surprise selection. Salad Only the Devil Would Eat by Charles Hood appears to be a book of essays about nature. I enjoy reading this kind of book, so expect this one to be a happy reading event during my retirement retreat.

Thank you very much for this gift. It is much appreciated.

>156 benitastrnad: Thank you Benita!!! You really did got to town. One book is wrapped in plastic like they do at libraries and one has worn corners, but they are actually all in very fine condition and I'm glad I had "used books" as an option 'cuz I totally scored. 6 books!! And I am laughing (and totally appreciating) the you are a series completist and sent my 3 by Bartle Bull -- what a great book haul! Thank you, thank you. Happy reading to you, too. : )

Dear Fahrenheit 451
The Christmas Card Crime
The Orenda
White Rhino Hotel
Café on the Nile
Devil's Oasis

>157 benitastrnad: Hey Benita, I feel kinda bad that everyone seems to have done such a good job with the used books, that I only got you 2 books. I'll have to try harder next year. I do hope you like the books, especially the surprise one. It was a favorite of my reads this year. It was one that I just saw in a Botanic Gardens we went to in Santa Barbara last spring. It had my laughing out loud at times. I found it one of the few times I actually wanted to "push it" on my friends.

As far as the question you raised on my thread about the source of my purchase. I'm not sure what information was on the packaging, but I used bookshop.org instead of Amazon. They support indie bookshops and give them a way to have online sales. The books come directly from Ingram and such, but they give a commission to the store that I choose. When I purchase books online (which admittedly is rare these days, I have so many to read, its only when I'm in front of a book that I have to buy it :) ), I'm trying to stay way from the Big A.

>151 weird_O: I sincerely doubt I will finish them that fast, Bill! You did a great job with the selection and I really appreciate it.

>159 mahsdad:
Bookshop.org sounds interesting. I will have to check that out. It is also confusing.

Bookshop.org is based in Brooklyn, N.Y. If I want to return the books I would send them to Ingram Returns in Roseburg, OR. The Ingram Returns Center is located in Fort Wayne, IN.

I recycled the cardboard that the books came in, but it was sent from Oregon.

Ingram is well known in libraryland. They are a long time jobber. That means that they are a book supplier. They are based in Nashville, TN. That is where the company started. They are a private family owned company and one of the younger family members has recently taken over the business. Ingram's is now making a big push to offer some competition to Amazon. They are offering libraries steep discounts and free or very cheap shipping on books and other library materials. The same kind of things that Amazon does.

I use Alibris to order used books. I have used them for years because they offer really cheap prices for the books. If I watch what bookstores I am ordering from I can piggyback orders and get cheaper shipping charges. That is how I managed to get 6 books for my Swapee this time. Or course, it also helps what people have on their lists. New best sellers aren't going to be cheap from used book companies. It helps if you let best sellers age a bit, that way there are lots of used copies floating around out there. The more common the book, the cheaper it is. Berly's requests just happened to fall into all of those slots very nicely.

>158 Berly:
Yes. I tend to be a completist. However, in the case of the Bartle Bull books - I read that series and loved it. It is great adventure. It is also historical fiction, but a wonderful thrill ride as well. I figured that if you read the first book, which was the only one you had requested, that you would be hunting for the rest of the series. I just saved you the trouble of hunting down the other books in the series. I can't wait to read your responses on the 75'ers thread this coming year. There are several fans of that series on that thread, so you will have lots of people chiming in as you read these books.

>159 mahsdad:
I will be sure and post my comments about Salad Only the Devil Would Eat when I read it. Maybe the two of us can drum up some enthusiasm among our colleagues, and drive up the sales of the book.

>161 benitastrnad: I have made a mental note about bookshop.org, thank you.

I have used abebooks.com for years, but I think they are now owned by Amazon.

HOWEVER, bookfinder.com not only offers a great search engine, but the ability to pick and choose from indy or not sellers.

>162 benitastrnad: You are da best!! : )

>149 ronincats: it came! It came, Fugitive Telemetry!

Thank you SO much!

>166 fuzzi: TOLD you the best one was yet to come!!!

>139 kgodey: Kriti, many belated thanks!!

In spite of the fact that I realized belatedly that I had an out-of-date wishlist still on LT, Kriti managed to pick almost entirely books from it that I HAD NOT read, thus pulling off a feat that most people I know would deem to be impossible!

In addition to the lovely book about Bach, my goodies include:
You Will Never Find Me by Robert Wilson (a series I started and want to continue, and now will be able to read, AND it's a Europa book, WOOT.)

Claire Tomalin's bio of Samuel Pepys, which is fabulous, as I find myself reading more and more references to him in other books, so it's long past time that I read a bio of him.

The Blue Guitar by John Banville, which continues to intrigue me, but which I have put off acquiring/borrowing!

and Thomas Cahill's book about the Middle Ages, which I have read, but which I don't possess -- and now I do, in a very nice hardcover! So, a great excuse for a re-read...

Only the cats are annoyed, because they have no interested plastic-wrapped books to paw at. Books aren't quite as fun cat toys, it seems, even if they are much MORE fun for human recipients...

>167 ronincats: I put it on the shelf next to the previous volume, Network Effect. The others I have in ebook form.

My Santa was quite lovely to me, sending me three books from my wishlist: Love and Saffron, Ruined by Reading, and Marion Lane and and the Midnight Murder. Already into Ruined by Reading, and it's great.

>123 PaulCranswick: Twas I, Paul! I'm glad you're happy with them (and that they made it there before Christmas!) There should be one more coming, as well (that one was always projected to not arrive till after Christmas).

>171 lycomayflower: I got it today, Laura and I am indeed a happy chappie! You helped give me a great Christmas. Three great additions to my library. xx

>172 PaulCranswick: Yay! I'm happy to have helped your Christmas be great!

Such wonderful additions to everyone's libraries! We cleaned up this Christmas :)

>170 lycomayflower: I am glad you like my Swap picks, Laura. Enjoy!!

>174 alcottacre: So right, Stasia. This swap has become a delightful new Christmas tradition for me.

>168 Chatterbox: I'm glad I guessed well, Suzanne! I hope they are all in decent condition, it's always a bit of a crapshoot with used books.

>177 kgodey: They are all in remarkably good condition! I agree, it can be frustrating with used books, as one person's "very good" condition is another person's "acceptable", but these are all immensely readable. I try to avoid getting older mass market paperbacks because that paper deteriorates remarkably and feels rather yucky to the touch... In this case, three were hardcovers, and two were high-quality paperbacks, all still tightly bound and without any marks on the pages!

>176 laytonwoman3rd: It is a lovely thing, isn't it? I feel closer to the group, which seems kind of silly but there you go, when I participate in the Christmas swap.

>179 alcottacre: not silly at all. I get to know people better when I look over their Wishlist and make decisions on what to get them.

And I enjoy seeing people's reactions to the books they receive. :)

>180 fuzzi:
So my reaction to your choices for me is nothing short of pure delight, great happiness and the wonderful dilemma of what to read first. I am thrilled with all my new books! Thank you, thank you. I think you surely must have exceeded the suggested limit . .
I have noticed for years that you and I read many of the same books. There could not have been anyone better to choose books for me!

I received from fuzzi
the 3 books in the Carbonel series
the 3 Cyteen titles. As a children's librarian, I still love J and YA books.
the first 2 of the Sir John Fielding mysteries.
All my favorite genres represented! J, YA, Fantasy, Sci fi, mystery, historical.

>180 fuzzi: I am glad to know it is not just me!

>181 nrmay: All my favorite genres represented! J, YA, Fantasy, Sci fi, mystery, historical. That is so cool, Nancy!

It seems like everyone had a happy and prosperous swap. Thanks to all who participated. I hope I wasn't too much of a pain pestering everyone to join. There were 19 of us this year. I always hope for more. And I will optimistically keep posting about it next year. I don't know what's better, posting on the most popular threads (which I didn't do this year), or posting in the Message thread. Some people keep track via starred threads (like I do), or thru the Group thread listing which shows the most recents, so I never know who's seeing what, when. I'm just glad that anyone shows up 😁

Also thanks to those who posted in the 2022 Christmas Gifts list. I've already got a couple books on the WL from it, and there are a couple people from outside our sphere who have contributed. Its a fun ecosystem we have here.

Happy New Year! See you in the 2023 threads!

>181 nrmay: OOOOh the Carbonel books! I so adored the first book as a child, and then acquired the special hardcover re-releases of all three several years ago. They are much-cherished parts of my library.

>181 nrmay: I did not exceed the limit, as you were okay with used books.

I found the Carbonel and Fielding sets on eBay. And our local used book store had the Cyteen set.

I'm so happy you like the books!

>178 Chatterbox: I'm glad they turned up in good condition, Suzanne. I did make sure to get hardcovers where the prices were reasonable and regular paperbacks otherwise, I avoid mass market paperbacks too.

Although even hardcovers are no guarantee, I bought a hardcover recently that was in really good condition except that someone had played Hangman all over the endpapers.