CanadianContent discussion

A place for discussion of our Secret Sender 2024!

We will try using Elfster to match people up - thanks for the recommendation, Allison. What that means is that we'll have less control over re-matching people who've been matched before. I can put some controls in, so I think I'll try to add exclusions where at least you won't send to the same person as 2023, if I can collect all the right info on that!

Please send me a message with your email address. I'll then send you a link to Elfster. From there you'll enter your mailing address. I think Elfster will do the rest for us! If it doesn't work, we'll go manual again. :)

Getting a few folks signed up through Elfster. Quick update - make sure you input your mailing address. It think you're prompted to, but incase not, please add it to your profile. This will be the way you receive your Secret Sender information.

Also - I think it'll prompt you to make a wish list. I suggest we don't do that through Elfster. We have a great system in GoodReads to be able to review one another's shelves (and I enjoy that so much!) that I think we should just leave that work to GoodReads and not use this Elfster function.

Lastly - the deadline is currently set for Wednesday, Jan 3. If we don't have everyone signed up by then, I can extend it.

Thanks!

I think we’ve done it!

With any luck, all 9 participants in the 2024 Secret Sender received an email from Elfster informing you who your recipient for the year is. If you tap on their name, you’ll find their mailing address.

One thing: we have two Allisons and two Sarahs - in both cases with the same spelling! So I think the four of us will have to identify ourselves here with our last initial so that folks know which one they have.

I’m Allison P. 😊

Let the fun begin!

Also - and someone else should pipe in here or else this whole thread is going to be the Allison P show 🤪 - hints are welcome here!

For instance, if you have a local bookstore that you’d recommend, fun to share that here. Your sender may or may not use them, but it’s an option. (If you have Rainey in Bermuda, message me and I’ll help you through how that works, as I had her this year. Regular Amazon, etc, doesn’t work, right Rainey?)

And everyone categorizes their books differently, so if it isn’t really obvious which books you own vs don’t own (does Want to Read mean you own them?) then you can share those hints here.

Have fun!

I’m Allison T. 🤓

Hi there - Yes, I added the local bookstore - called the Bermuda Bookstore - in Bermuda on Elfster that's easiest to use. Miriam and Hannah love our secret exchange.

With Amazon, shipping directly to Bermuda or to the US via my US forwarder's address requires the shipper to have: 1. my Trader ID and 2. an Invoice for Customs. Books are duty free but the paperwork is still required.

hints on my shelves: these 2 are the best to browse from as a start

1-waiting-4-price-drop ‎
19-wish-list-want-to-buy ‎

so excited for 2024

Allison T. here again! Unfortunately, we don't have any independent book stores in eastern Newfoundland that I can recommend. There are a couple of used ones, but nothing for new books. Just typing this makes me sad.

I have a couple of shelves that may be of use to my Secret Sender:

wishlist - these are mostly new books coming out that I really want to get my hands on

la bibliothèque chez moi - lists all the books I already own

Yay for a new year of giving and receiving books!

Allison T - I feel your pain. my little city does not have any independent book stores either. sometimes I think I should retire and open one up... with a cat...

I'm looking forward to another year of Secret Sender! I have a "Canadian tbr" shelf on Goodreads, books I'd like to have someday. And because I have a book buying addiction, I have a "books I own" shelf. My to read list is massive and not a good source as I've rather lost track of it. My goal this year is to get thet sorted. Happy reading!

I'm Sarah W!

Hints for my shelves:
Want to read ... but not also shelved as "own-it".

Some of you have some great shelf inspiration!

Looking forward to the fun!

Sarah G here. Hi! I haven’t spent enough time in Elfster to get my wish list sorted out. I will soon. Lovely local bookstore in Kingston is called Novel Idea. They just loved being apart of our secret gift idea. *Rainey, I was so happy you used them for many of your purchases!!*

Oh sorry. I do have a shelf on GR called “need to get my hands on”. I’m looking forward to another year in this group❤️

Sarah wrote: "Sarah G here. Hi! I haven’t spent enough time in Elfster to get my wish list sorted out. I will soon. Lovely local bookstore in Kingston is called Novel Idea. They just loved being apart of our sec..."

Dawn at Novel Idea loves our Secret Sender gifts. She had just as much fun as I did.

I always try to use a local bookstore.

Covid was good for our little town, because a couple fled from Calgary to Invermere, B.C. and opened a bookstore called Four Points Books. It has been such a success that they purchased the property next door and are doubling in size! So if anyone wants to support my local indie, here is the link: https://fourpointsbooks.ca/

I’m happy to receive anything on my To Read list. Used books are welcome, too!

Oh Elinor! They’re living my risky dream! Opening a bookstore in northern BC!? Yes please! I love that story!

Oh it’s not that north. I just looked it up 🤣🤣 But that detail is irrelevant for my dream. Hahah.

Allison wrote: "Oh it’s not that north. I just looked it up 🤣🤣 But that detail is irrelevant for my dream. Hahah."

Everything in Canada is north, really. Fun fact: it is minus 37 today.

Stay warm!! Hope you are snuggling in with a book Elinor!!

I've received two books already! My Secret Sender is very speedy. The only problem is that I'm now away in Mexico until the end of March but I look forward to opening them when I return!

Have a great (long!) trip, Elinor! Your delivery is the first to open the gate for a fun year of another Secret Sender!

Something to look forward to!!

Awesome, books at home to greet you! Be sure to bring home some of that warmth and sun with you! Enjoy Mexico Elinor!

Oh nice! Happy reading!

Nice to have new books to welcome you home! Enjoy your time in Mexico!

I arrived home to find my books -- such a nice welcome back! Thank you, Secret Sender, for To the River: Losing My Brother AND The Spoon Stealer. I look forward to reading them both with great interest.

I'm just off to the post office to pop my gift into the mail for my own Secret Sender recipient.

That's exciting, Elinor! My Secret Sender a couple years ago sent me The Spoon Stealer and I really enjoyed it. I think you will, too.
I haven't read To the River: Losing My Brother. It sounds interesting. Enjoy your new reads.

Hi folks! I was actually just recently thinking that this was a quiet thread, and then I came home today to an Indigo package! Thank you, Secret Sender, for sending me two books I know nothing about, but both of which really excite me!

The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading is so neat and unique! I love that I'll get in behind the curtains, a place I do know a little about as I've worked at two different bookstores over the years, and currently am director of the hospital library through a weird turn of events two years ago in a portfolio shuffle! This will really hit home.

The Laundryman’s Boy: A Novel looks really, really intriguing and has really great ratings - and is also Canadian! Can't wait.

Thank you, again. Feeling spoiled on this sunny spring evening.

How nice @Allison! Enjoy!

I should say that both are Canadian! Very cool.

@Allison, Director of Hospital Library, and reader extraordinaire! Awesome! Your new book gifts sound like two stories to welcome in Spring along with the sunshine- enjoy! I am keenly jealous of the library director title...

So fun!! it is always so great to come home to books!

That sounds like the perfect job for you Allison... totally jealous.

Well, I’m feeling a little misleading in this group with that title because I’m not the actual librarian! I just have it in my portfolio as one item. There’s a librarian who knows it all and does the work! But cool nonetheless to learn how it all functions. It’s more complex (and expensive!) than I ever realized!

A wonderful Monday morning surprise to receive a gift of books from my Secret Sender! Half-Bads in White Regalia: A Memoir and Long Way Down! The timing is perfect as I was looking at my bookshelf last night wondering what to read next! These will be at the top of the list! Happy reading everyone! Wanda

Exciting! I have a copy of that first one that has been waiting to be read... I may recall that it was a long-listed book for Canada reads in the past. I will have to look up the other.

so many great books to read in this thread!

New books are so exciting! Enjoy @Wanda!

I LOVED Long Way Down. Big punch in few words. An amazing book in my opinion.

What a fun surprise tonight hear the doorbell ring and open the door to a surprise book delivery! Wandering Stars and Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder! I'm very excited about both - thank you to my secret sender!

Also... books are the very best kind of deliveries!

Oh fun! Sarah, I think this is your first Secret Sender delivery ever, right!? Welcome to the fun! Both books look great. In particular, the Salman Rushdie one will be an incredible read, I'm sure. Enjoy!

Great to see these exciting posts!!

@Sarah - Knife is on my radar so I will be interested to see what you think!

@Allison - The Laundryman's Boy is a book for the Grimsby Author Series tomorrow so I just picked it up and read it... it was a terrific read... so sad how individuals who have immigrated to Canada (and elsewhere) have been treated over the decades.

A huge thanks to my Secret Sender for The Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor and Flint and Feather: The Life and Times of E. Pauline Johnson by Charlotte Gray. I am familiar with and enjoy Patrick Taylor's writing. I look forward to reading both of these books.

That’s exciting Kathleen. I have a very old, leather bound and treasured copy of Flint and Feather that was my great Aunt’s. Pauline Johnson’s home on Six Nations is about 20 minutes away from here. Enjoy!

Sarah wrote: "What a fun surprise tonight hear the doorbell ring and open the door to a surprise book delivery! Wandering Stars and Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder!..."

Such fun to have a book delivery! I am looking forward to Tommy Orange's new book- There There was a good one, hope this is just a great. The Salman Rushdie book is sure to be humbling, it's on my radar as well. Enjoy Sarah!

Kathleen wrote: "A huge thanks to my Secret Sender for The Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor and Flint and Feather: The Life and Times of E. Pauline Johnson by Charlotte Gray. I am familiar with and enjoy Patr..."

Awesome new books for you Kathleen! I have always wondered about the Irish Country Doctor book- it catches my eye all the time- sounds like Flint and Feather is a must read as well- enjoy your new books!

it was a great book day for me... I arrived home from the amazing Grimsby author series to find a package waiting!!! Inside were some books that have been on my wish list for a long time to fill my collection.

Thank you to my secret sender, I am so excited about A Serious Widow (same author as a Book of Eve which we had discussion about ages ago in this group) by Constance Beresford-Howe (her books have been hard to find so I always keep my eye open at used book sales).

I also have received Startle and Illuminate: Carol Shields on Writing and Random Illuminations: Conversations with Carol Shields. All these books are older prints so I am excited to read them and add them to my shelves!!

A big thank you to my secret sender!!!

@Susan, what a wonderful way to start the weekend for you! new (hard to find) books! enjoy!

This thread is always so great to introduce new books. I love the creativity of the choices that come out of this group!

I'm late posting here, but I received some books in the mail a few days ago! The Secret Wisdom of the Earth and Bluebird. Both look very intriguing! Thank you Secret Sender!

I have been a little absent on Goodreads but am glad to get back into the secret sending! And receiving! I heard someone come to our door yesterday and my husband got handed a bag of books, of which I have not heard of any of the titles: Recipe for a Good Life by Lesley Crewe, The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters, and The Secret Keeper by Genevieve Graham. I have been totally spoiled! What an amazing surprise. Thank you.

That’s awesome!!! Of those, I can say you will enjoy the Graham book. She is coming to the grimsby author series so I have given it a read already. I love learning more through historical fiction.

Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ wrote: "I'm late posting here, but I received some books in the mail a few days ago! The Secret Wisdom of the Earth and Bluebird. Both look very intriguing! Thank you Secret..."A

Allison- Enjoy your new books! They both look like great stories!