Instead of doing a bookish holiday swap this year — because I need more books like I need a hole in the head — I signed up for the Book Blogger Holiday Card Exchange, a really brilliant idea from Anastasia at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog, where bloggers sign up to send cards with book recommendations. I signed up to send two cards, and got to very exciting ones in exchange.
The first was from Caitie at Pub Writes — I love that cute little puppy on the front! Caitie recommended a few books to me:
- Boys and Girls Together by William Goldman, which Caitie said is one of her favorite of all time.
- I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
- After Long Silence by Helen Fremont
- Anything by Haruki Murakami
I’ve been wanting to read more Zusak since I read The Book Thief, so I’m glad to have another recommendation. I don’t know much about the other authors, so that’s exciting. Thanks Caitie!
My second card traveled pretty far, all the way from Iris at Iris on Books who is originally from the Netherlands but is currently in Sweden. I don’t think I’ve never gotten mail from that far away before, so that was exciting too. Because of how much I love journalism, Iris recommended People Like Us: Misrepresenting the Middle East by Joris Luyendijk. I found out that my local library has a copy, and I’ve already put it on hold.
A big thanks to Caitie and Iris for the cards and recommendations, and to Anastasia for organizing such a fun holiday swap! Any thoughts on which of Caitie’s books to try first?
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I am glad you liked the card – I hope you like at least one of the recommendations!
Caitie: Oh, I am sure that I will! I’ve read lots of reviews of books by Haruki Murakami, but I just haven’t gotten around to reading one. I definitely want to do that this year.
Me, too. I really want to try something by Murakami.
I loved this swap! I ended up sending a card to Caitie, and my card came from the Netherlands! The only book from Caitie’s recommendations I’ve read is I am the Messenger, which I liked, though not as much as The Book Thief. But then, The Book Thief might be one of my favorite books ever, so that’s a tough bar to pass.
Erin: I loved this swap too! It was so fun to write about books in the cards, and get some recommendations in return. The Book Thief is one of my favorites, too, so if/when I read I Am the Messenger I’ll have to try not to compare it too much.
i’ve been in such a fog lately that i completely missed the card swap! this is such a cute idea and it sounds like you got some nice recommendations. i can’t help with which to pick, though, because i’ve never read any of them. 🙁
did you send cards to the same people who sent to you or to different people?
Nat: It was a mix – I sent a card to Caitie, but my other card went to Kinna at Kinna Reads. So you didn’t necessarily send one to the same person, but some people did.
I actually ended up liking I Am the Messenger more than The Book Thief, so I hope you decide to try it! And People Like Us sounds really good, I hope you share your thoughts when you’ve read it.
Cass: Interesting! I really want to try it because I just loved Zusak so much and want to read more by him. Totally agree on People Like Us, I can’t wait for it to come from the library.
How fun! I love that blogger card exchange 🙂 I’m glad to know Zuzak’s other books are just as good or better than THE BOOK THIEF!
Marie: Me too; I’m excited to try his other book and hope that he writes some more.
I think this is one I’m going to have to participate in next year! It sounds fabulous.
Amanda: It was really fun, and also inexpensive, which is nice during the holidays.
I didn’t like I am the Messenger even half as well as The Book Thief, so don’t get your expectations too high and maybe you’ll like it better.
Jeanne: Interesting comment — it seems like thoughts on the book are pretty mixed (at least from the comments here). I’ll try to not have too many expectations and hope that helps 🙂
It’s funny that I seem to get and send more cards to bloggers these days than even my family. I wonder what that is about… The new? the layers of media when we get to hear about the reaction of our exchange? Anyway, just thought of that.
Care: Yes, I got a card from you as well – I loved the puppies! I am not a big Christmas card person myself, but do like doing the swaps for things. You ask some interesting meta questions about it 🙂