Virago Secret Santa 2020: Letters to Santa + Help and Advice

Do you have any special items you are "wishing" for? Do you have any preferences towards used or new books, paperback or hardback?

Are you only interested in VMCs, or would you enjoy receiving other types of books?

Is there anything else your Santa might send you? Maybe they could choose a pattern from your Ravelry wishlist to sent you? Maybe they could send you something you collect or something that would be a particular treat?

You can mention what you don't want. Some people have allergies or dietary requirements, or large collections of mugs or notebooks and so don't really want to add to them!

Please post anything you think will help your Secret Santa in their quest to find a gift for you.

Also, let's keep this thread just for letters to Santa and keep chat and questions and answers on the original Secret Santa thread! Experience has taught us that makes it easier for everyone to find out what they need to know!

Dear Santa

I've tried to be a good girl this year but it's been quite a challenge what with COVID and all. Much wine has been consumed and I confess Netflix too. Oh alright, books and chocolate and ice cream as well. I feel like it's Christmas already now that my first grandchild is in the world. I am more than happy with second-hand books. My VMC list is up to date but I am happy with Persephones too, if second-hand copies exist. I am on Librarything and on Goodreads and Amazon as Alexandra Daw (I'm not very inventive with usernames am I?). And because I am a long long way away I will not be at all surprised if it takes yonks for your reindeer to get here. We've had some wild weather of late, so they may get blown off course.

Thank you Santa.

Dear Santa,

Well, 2020 has been a strange year - I certainly can't remember one like it, and it has been hard at times. Books have, as always, been a real comfort and solace.

I have posted a wishlist covering Virago and Persephone books I would be pleased to add to my shelves - I am always happy with pre-loved editions as I've always considered my house a home for lost books.

I have also have a small wishlist of other titles of interest on Amazon which I hope should work from this link:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/3RXDTOSIWC0WC?ref_=wl_share

Of course, please feel free to source from anywhere but Amazon.... ;D

I'm afraid my LT library is completely out of date so will not be of much help to you, Santa, though if you have a look at my blog you can see what I have read during its lifetime - and also the kind of things I like to read!

Apart from books, it's probably useful for you to know that I am vegan and love green tea (though never with Jasmine - shudder). I am obsessed with stationery - notebooks, crafty papers, washi tape, that kind of thing.

Whatever you choose to send my way this year will be fab, Santa - and thank you!

Kaggsy

Dear Santa,

This has certainly been a very different year to what I had hoped.
Lots of plans on hold waiting for better times.
Thankfully I can get lost in books which I take comfort in.
I have posted a wish list , I really don’t mind , I especially love old books with inscriptions.
Perhaps you could surprise me with a book you have read and loved?
I have a wish list on goodreads under Mary Durrant.

I have knitted my way through lockdown having picked up my needles again.
I have found it so relaxing.
I would love a pattern from ravelry , you can find me as craftycornishgirl.
I particularly would love to knit the habitation throw which uses mini skeins one can get in advent calendars, oh I would love one of those too.
Anything related to knitting, a shawl pin for the shawl I am knitting and stitch markers.

Earl Grey is my go to tea.
I love anything organic from chocolate to traditional bar soaps.

Just one book would be just wonderful.

Thank you so much Santa Xxx

Well of course, as a fellow knitter, I am off to Ravelry to check out that pattern! :)

Dear Santa,
I am so pleased to be taking part in the VSS again this year.
I have no especial wishes and would be delighted to receive anything that comes recommended from you and that you think I would like. I know you have wonderful taste.
If you're not sure what I'd like, then do have a look at my library, favourite books and favourite authors. For further help, I do have an Amazon wishlist:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/ls/?ref_=navm_em_lists_0_1_1_5&filter=default...

(I hope you can view the wishlist okay - Amazon seem to have made some changes to accessibility of wishlists. If you can't and would like to, please let an elf know and I'll try something else!)

My LT catalogue is up-to-date and I am equally happy with books that are new and shiny or worn and pre-loved.

Thank you Santa. I hope you enjoy being part of the VSS as much as I always do, despite the year's challenges 🎄♥️

Dear Santa,

I'm afraid my LT library has never been anywhere near up to date (although it might tell you something about my reading tastes) and neither is my LT wishlist. I'm sorry for making things harder for you.

As I don't encounter many Viragos in Norway, I really love the way VSS has introduced me to new books and authors. I would therefore love it if you were to share any Virago you think I might enjoy and which you can recommend. I have made a Virago collection in my LT library which should include all the Viragos I already own and/or have read (at least out of the ones listed in the group spreadsheet). Any Virago not on that list that you want to recommend would be great. New or used are both fine and I don't collect any special editions.

As general pointers I believe that long novels should have happy endings but shorter works don't need to. I don't mind a tragedy once in a while but I don't want to be kept in misery for too long... I must also admit that although I really want to love Persephone novels, so far I don't, so if a novel seems like something that would be perfect for them, it is probably not perfect for me. I do have a book blog in case you need more ideas on my reading preferences: https://ireadthatinabook.wordpress.com/

I have a LT collection with books I am searching for, which is up to date. They are mostly out of press and might be hard to find but I'm listing them just in case you do see any of them (in any edition).

Gifts, labelled as such, should go through customs with no issues, but if you send things through a commercial seller it is best to include nothing but books (books have zero VAT whereas mixed packages may cause some charges).

I have been promised some other books for Christmas, well truth to be told I ordered them myself, so there is no need to spoil me. I will be perfectly happy for just a single book that you want to share!

Johanna

Dear Santa

Hooray and jubilation, my LT catalogue is up to date! But I have realised I put books I have read and passed along or ones I've borrowed and read in Read and Unowned and I'm not sure they appear in my main catalogue so it's worth looking there. Any Viragoes I have or have had should be marked as publisher - virago if I've been a Good Girl.

I have a wishlist for Viragoes I added here and I have a main wishlist here: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/my-wish-list/ (if you did pick anything from there, which I am not expecting you to do, please see the note to email my husband as it can get a bit duplicaty otherwise!).

What I do love is a book local to you, location or author (while not being a thriller or horror or nasty murder or probably sci fi book). And I love second hand and elderly books, esp ones with names written in the cover, more than brand new ones!

I love dark chocolate and don't like things with cats on even though I love cats ... picky of me, I know.

Thank you, lovely Santa!

Dear Santa,

As most years, I am very happy with surprises! My catalogue is up to date, and secondhand is very welcome.

I don't tend to love historical fiction, gritty crime, enormous books. I'd love to try more books in translation.

I'm vegetarian and am trying to eat a bit more healthily after binging during lockdown! Love anything Christmassy - decorations etc. But mostly love books, of course.

Dear Santa,

You may have already been shopping, and if so there’s no need to take any notice of what I’m about to write. I'm sure you could make excellent choices without any help, and I’d be delighted to be completely surprised. Because often the best books of all are the books you didn’t know you wanted until you saw them ….

If you would like some guidance:

My library is as up to date as it ever will be, but please be aware that the tagging is a little erratic.

I've added the VMCs and the Virago Travellers I would love to add to my library to the wishlist thread. That's about it for Viragos, because I've been collecting for a long, long time, because many of the more recent additions to the list don't call me, and because I'm trying not to be a completeist.

I’d love anything at all that I don’t have by any of the favourite authors you will see on my profile page, and I've constructed a little wishlist here.

My favourite books take me out of the here and now; and I'm happiest in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Pre-loved books and new books are all very welcome here.

I would rather not received anything to eat or drink this year, but I always love nice notebooks and knitting ephemera - especially stitch markers

I think – I hope – that gives you a idea of my taste.

Love,

Jane x

Hello Santa,

Well I have been as good as staying home during a pandemic has allowed me to be ;) I have been reading steadily though not madly. As far as VMCs and Persephone's are concerned I am fairly sure my library is up to date, other things a bit more hit and miss though I have added some of my new books recently. A look/search on my blog http://heavenali.wordpress.com might help you see if I have recently read/bought something. Please look at the wish list thread if considering Persephone because my family are definitely buying me Persephone books!

I love second hand books just as much as new - sometimes more, very happy with inscriptions inside - they tell their own story. I have a lot of vmcs and Persephone, but old editions of vmc/persephone authors are just as much appreciated as actual green and grey spines.

I don't like heavily romantic books, modern crime or sci-fi. I do like vintage crime and domestic middlebrow generally - though not that keen on Angela Thirkell despite having read several or Miss Read.
I am sure what ever you choose will be fabulous, as a surprise can often lead to wonderful discoveries.

Aside from books - any edible treats need to be vegan, I love tea,(black teas) though not fruit teas or green tea.

Thank you in advance - and a Merry Christmas.

Dear Santa,

It's so nice to be sharing in the Virago Secret Santa once again! It's been a crazy year, so having this one thing still happening is so great!

My LT catalogue is reasonably up-to-date. I have amassed quite a nice collection of VMCs since joining this group and you can see them all tagged as VMC. I would be happy to receive any I don't already have, used or new is just fine.

I was introduced to Persephones through the Virago Secret Santa and I have a grand total of 6 so far; I have rated all those I've read as at least 4 stars, so I'm sure I would enjoy any Persephone!

I have a pretty long Wishlist here on LT - these are all based on the reviews of my fellow LTers, and I would be happy with anything from this list.

My guilty pleasures are fantasy, science fiction, horror, magical realism, books you might describe as surreal, so if you like those kinds of books, I'd be happy to receive one of your favorites!

I love cats, milk chocolate and notebooks if you feel like throwing anything else in the box (ok, don't throw any cats in the box lol)!

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Warm regards,
Lisa

Hello Santa

You've done a lovely job under the tree in >1 kaggsy: above, so I know with anything that might appear under my tree will be just right.

My LT catalogue is quite up to date. I don't have Viragos listed as such, but searching by that name, all my Virago titles appear. Over on this thread https://www.librarything.com/topic/326039#unread you'll find my current wish list.
I live in rural Canada, where Viragos new or old are really difficult to find, so getting these imprints, old or new, is a real thrill.

I'm also a huge fan of 19th century fiction from just about anywhere, travel writing and garden writing (this latter has its own collection in my library). My LT catalogue is up to date for these categories. Poke around my library and get an idea of oddities outside the book world that would be fun to receive, should you be so inclined. The people at the border will turn away food though, so that's not a good idea - save it for your elves!

Being a 19th century person, sci-fi and its ilk don't really work, neither does cozy.

As before, should your elves notice any older Canongate or NYRB books, they are always welcome too.

Merry / Happy Christmas from Sassy

Dear Virago Santa,

It's that wonderful time of year again and as always, celebrating with my friends here is one of the highlights of the season!

I've just posted my wishlist to give you a hand; however, if you have a book that is a particular favourite, it would be most welcome!
Pre-loved books are always lovely.

I read mostly lit fiction but also love literary autobiographies/biographies.

I feel confident to say that my library collections and tags are up-to-date.

Most of all, I hope you have fun. Tis the season!

Thank you, dear Santa!
Cate xxx

Dear Santa
I am thrilled to be participating in VSS this year.
Just a quick note to let you know that my library and tags are up-to-date.

I don't have a wishlist but will welcome any choice you think I might enjoy.

Preloved books are most welcome.

If it helps - I do have copies of all of the books published by Persephone Books and have also been collecting VMCs for a very long time.
Consequently, I do have very green and grey bookshelves :-)

Thank you Santa and Merry Christmas to you and the hardworking Elves.

Trish