Wednesday, October 31, 2018

9th Annual Broke & Bookish Secret Santa


Well hello! We've missed you dearly since shutting down the blog but Jana and I (Jamie) have been excited to come back together to host Secret Santa because it really has become such a staple event in the online book world.

SO WE ARE BACK FOR THE 9TH ANNUAL BROKE AND BOOKISH SECRET SANTA!!

So, I guess I'll just get to what you reaaaaally care about -- signups! But before we get started, three things:

1. Please only sign up if you are truly interested and are committed to sending off a package (on time). No seriously, stop and think before you sign up. Can you commit to this? Will you have time and money for it? We have only had a few problems each year (and some got resolved) but we'd like to not have to spend my time chasing people down -- seriously.  It's a bummer for the person who doesn't get a package and a bummer for us to have to hunt you down for months after. And guess what....you don't get to sit with us anymore. We  keep track of that stuff and no Secret Santa cheer for you if you are Naughty Santa.


2. In all the years past (besides last year because I had a 3 month old), we've always gotten all pairings done within 48 hours - that's not going to happen because TODDLERS DON'T ALLOW FOR THAT haha.  SO this year....please be patient...the pairings will likely trickle out in a few days, with the help of Jana again this year, rather than the marathon session I normally do. I hope you can understand! Also, please be gentle if it takes me a little bit to answer emails. BE THOROUGH IN YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE so we don't have a ton of people emailing us asking specific questions to be relayed. We probably will not have much time to go back and forth to ask about specific likes and dislikes as we did in the past (unless it's really important). Please utilize the hashtag to ask questions in hopes your person answers or use their person of contact. 


3. A word for people outside of the US/Canada who want to participate: if you are outside of US and Canada just know we can't guarantee that you will get somewhere even remotely close to you. We try to work it geographically for you (and we work realllyy hard at it) but it all depends on who signs up and where they are from. That said we typically have a decent number of signups from England and Australia and a bunch in Europe. The past two years, as a courtesy, I made a note on this post, that I updated daily, wherein I listed the countries of people who had signed up so you would know where you could potentially send to. So, just be aware, if you sign up and are outside of the US/Canada...We will try my best to pair you with someone close-ish for shipping...but no guarantees. Last year we had some people not realize how much shipping costs would be, so if you are unsure, do a quick check with the countries that I list to see how much it might be.

Countries outside of US/Canada/UK that people have signed up from so far:


4. We're capping it at 400 participants this year because we honestly can't commit to doing more than that!




Things You Need To Do


1. Send an email to TBTBSecretSanta (at) gmail (dot) com answering the following questions BEFORE November 13th  with the answers to the following questions: 

*BEFORE November 13th means by 11:59pm EST on the 12th though if they slip in the wee hours of the morning while we're sleeping that's okay but please don't yell at us when you are past the deadline any later. 

  1. Full Name & Address
  2. Blog URL/Twitter username/Youtube channel/Instagram username/ (any social media that will be helpful for your person to get to know you) YOU MUST BE ACTIVE ON ONE PLATFORM.
  3. List 10-15 books you'd like to read or a link to a wishlist (please mix it up with older and new releases -- aka maybe things that aren't just available in hardcover right now). DO NOT ASK FOR ARCS please. If your SS wants to throw some in there because they saw it on your Goodreads wishlist or something that's fine but once we had someone ask for mostly ARCs and not everyone has access to an ARC fairy. Also, make sure your Goodreads profile or Amazon wishlist is public at least for the time this runs. Double check that your links work if you are viewing them LOGGED OUT.
  4. Genres you read the most:
  5. List of your bookish preferences (a few fave authors,  things you WILL NOT READ, does not prefer used books, prefer hardback or paperback, if you are okay with them not getting you something on your wishlist if they think you will like it etc.)
  6. Please give a few things you like or things about yourself (to help with your goodie). See below for examples in the guidelines.
    * Suggestions for things to add that could be helpful to tell your Secret Santa for the little gift: general info about yourself, if you celebrate Christmas, hobbies you have, your passions, music you love, things you will not eat/are allergic to,  smells or flavors you do not like, shows you watch/favorite movies, things you collect, any fandoms you are part of, if would love something native to where your Secret Santa lives, coffee/tea you like, favorite colors, foods you love, your style/aesthetic, favorite animals, things you are obsessed with, etc. etc. Also maybe if you have an e-reader and would be willing to get ebooks or a gift card.  Just really anything relevant to your interests that could help them.
     
  7. Would you be able to send internationally if needed? Please answer with:

    A. Yes, I can.
    B. No, I cannot.
    C. Would prefer not to but will if needed

    (if you are outside of US and Canada just know I can't guarantee that you will get somewhere even remotely close to you. I try to work it geographically for you but it all depends on who signs up and where they are from. You can check in here where I will be updating this post to see which countries are represented if you are unsure. 
  8.  Are you:
    a) Under 18
    b) Over 18
  9. Have you participated in this Secret Santa before or is this your first time?
  10. Please choose what "level" of package you will be sending out ( I will be pairing people with similar answers so please understand by choosing an answer I'm expecting that to be what you send out ):
    a) 1 book and a small gift
    b) 1-2 books and a couple goodies
    c) 2+ books and goodies
  11. Is there somebody that your Secret Santa could contact if they have a question for you? Please ask that person before you put their twitter handle or email address here. I get a LOT of emails to me trying to figure out specific things (ie: what's their favorite color? What GoT character is their fave? Do they have this Funko pop?) to make a great package for their Secret Santa so this might be a little less work for me to be the middleman going back and forth and asking the questions and supplying the answers.
  12. Any questions, comments or additional things your Secret Santa should know?

2. When you receive your Secret Santa match: go play Santa and buy your prezzies -- please read the guidelines below. Send it out no later than December 17th (perhaps earlier if you are sending internationally). The earlier the better as the mail is always slow during the holiday season.  IF SOMETHING COMES UP PLEASE EMAIL US. Communication is super important for us.


3. After you send off your package, please email TBTBSecretSanta (at) gmail (dot) com letting us know you sent it off WITH DELIVERY CONFIRMATION/TRACKING). Email us again when you receive your package. (Unless there are questions, we will not be responding to these emails due to time but will filing them away). If you have not received your package by January 3rd please then email us and we will attempt to contact your Secret Santa. Please understand we will try our damndest to work it out but there is only so much we can do in the event someone decides to be naughty. Karma is a biotch though..maybe they'll get their toes run over by Santa's sleigh.

4. FOR EXTRA FUN: We will use the hashtag #TBTBSanta again on Twitter & Instagram for this event! We'd love to hear and see through pictures and tweets your entire process -- maybe a sneak peek of your Secret Santa skills in action (a picture of something you are sending, the wrapped picture, the box) and we'd LOVE to see your goodies as you get them!




SOME VERY IMPORTANT GUIDELINES AND SUGGESTIONS

1. Books can be new or used. Use your discretion as far as used books go but please be kind and don't send something you wouldn't want to receive. They should be in VERY good condition -- like you can't even tell if it was read.


2. When we say "goodies" we do not mean free swag or promotional items. If you want to add that kind of stuff in AFTER you also put in some thoughtful and kind goodies that you thought your person would love...We're all about that! But when it says books + goodies...the goodies should not JUST be stuff anyone could have picked up at a convention or something.


3. Be thoughtful: 99% of the time the gifts are really sweet and thoughtful and what you would expect but occasionally someone just throws random crap in a box and ships it off to fulfill their end. Don't be that guy. Gifts should be wrapped and there should absolutely be some sort of note in it. Please do not ship directly from Amazon or elsewhere to them (unless you talk to us first...in the past there have been issues that we totally understand where this needed to be the case).

* If you aren't sure what kinds of things to add for goodies peruse the #TBTBsanta thread on Twitter or Instagram to see pictures of packages from last year. Lots of good ideas that will probably help you!

 * If you are from outside the US or Canada, be aware that you might have to send internationally due to the fact that there are significantly more US participants and I may not be able to pair you up with someone closer.


* Be sure to thank your Secret Santa when you receive your package via social media or reach out to me for their email!


* Feel free to grab the button to put on your sidebar or make your own!

Please ask any questions in the comments!!

Thursday, January 11, 2018

All Good Things Come To An End

Hey all! Jamie here! It's that time...to officially turn the page on The Broke and the Bookish after 8 awesome years.

-As a reminder, Top Ten Tuesday is NOT stopping...it's going to move over to fellow TB&TB contributor Jana's blog so definitely check that out! It's been a JOY doing Top Ten Tuesday with you guys every week for all these years. Thank you for making it such a fun part of this community! I've gotten questions about what will happen about Secret Santa...it is likely that Jana and I will come back to bring it back for next year...I mean, we are still part of the community and it's such a fun event that it would be just wrong for it not be back!


Now a couple of words from myself and the other ladies....along with where you can find us around the Internet!


Jamie says...

I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little teary thinking about The Broke and the Bookish coming to an end. I started this blog on a whim when I saw that book blogs were a thing and asked a few of my friends in the Goodreads College Students group that I ran if they wanted to start a book blog with me! They were enthusiastic and we spent months planning before we launched in June of 2010. This decision changed my life. I can't even BEGIN to tell you all the ways it did because this post would be ridiculously long but it was the best decision I made in my young adult life. I met some of my best friends and I really found myself in my 20's through this community and writing on my own blog in addition to this blog with these AMAZING ladies. I think about that 23/24 year old girl that started this blog and now I'm like WOW...I'm 32 now, am married, have an almost 6 month old. How life has changed! I'm grateful that I've had these ladies to share this journey with!


Where to find me: 

The Perpetual Page-Turner: In addition to blogging here, I've been blogging at my own blog, The Perpetual Page-Turner, for the past 8 years and will be continuing that. It's evolved from a book blog to more of a lifestyle blog that's heavy on the books (because that's who I am) and I'd love you to come visit me over there and stay in touch!! (Apparently people didn't know I had another blog?? I guess I'm not good at promoting myself lol)

Twitter -- I will still be tweeting @brokeandbookish as I always have (though I might change the handle name...so hard to decide..I've become rather attached to it).

Instagram: www.instagram.com/perpetualpageturner  or my personal Insta which is mostly pictures of Riley and my dog, Finn is www.instagram.com/jamielee841

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1518370-jamie-the-perpetual-page-turner





Jana says...

I've loved writing with the ladies of The Broke and the Bookish these last 8 years! I didn't even know book blogging was a thing until Jamie posed the idea to a bunch of us college students, and we jumped into this amazing project that turned into something so much bigger than I think any of us imagined. The Broke and the Bookish helped me find my love of reading again, discover genres I never thought I'd read (sci-fi and fantasy, what!?), and make lifelong friends. It made me start up my own blog, and I even went to grad school to get a degree in library science because book blogging made me realize how much I love the world of literature. Recommending books to people brings me so much joy. I never would have known any of this about myself, nor would I have made such life-changing decisions had I not thrown myself into the bookish community.

Where to find me:

That Artsy Reader Girl: Not everyone knows that Jana of TB&TB and Jana of TARG are one and the same person. lol. I started my own book blog about 7 years ago. I write lots of book reviews and put on fun events (sometimes with friends). It's also home of the Debut Author Challenge. I hope you'll come chat books me with there! 


Twitter: I'm @ArtsyReaderGirl, and I'm always up for late night silliness, book chats, fangirling, cat pictures, and commiserating!

Instagram: I love posting pics of books, weather, food, and crazy life things. 

Goodreads: Here lies the longest TBR and most detailed list of shelves in the world. If I ever disappear online, someone please come look at my Goodreads and see if they all fell on me.



Lauren says...

I knew I’d love blogging with these ladies long before I jumped in... back when we were all young hoodlums (ok, maybe just me) in the College Students Goodreads group. TB&TB has given me an amazing outlet to chuck all my book love into, as well as a place to find new bookish friends. I've LOVED reading comments and finding I'm not alone when it comes to the emotional rollercoaster books tend to take me on. Readers of any written word will always have a special place in this world and I'm just happy to be one of them. It's bittersweet to say goodbye, but I'm still here, as are all the lovely TB&TB ladies. If you can't find me, I'll probably be in a corner somewhere, sniffing a book. 

If I'm not napping or watching Netflix, you can probably find me online somewhere...

For hilarious pictures of my wiener dog, you can add me on Snapchat (tattooedbiblio). For more dog pictures with a sprinkle of family and books, I recommend my Instagram. For all things bookish, my Goodreads is a safe bet. And lastly, for deadpan jokes and sarcastic memes, Facebook is where it's at.


Daisy says...

I can't even begin to describe how much this blog and blogging in general has meant to me over the years! And I'm feeling pretty nostalgic and sad to see The Broke and the Bookish end, but I have to admit that it's time. I've loved being a part of this group of wonderful ladies and sharing so much with each other. When we started this I was doing my internships and now I'm a GP, married and have daughter who's almost 10 months old. CRAZY. 

Without Jamie deciding to start this I probably wouldn't have found my way into the blogging world and I'm so thankful for that! I've connected with amazing people and am part of a book club now that meets up monthly (can't imagine not having these girls in my life anymore!) and though I'm not as active in the community as I used to be, I'm very thankful for each and everyone of you that I've gotten to know over the years!

Where to find me:
Twitter | Instagram | My personal blog (that hasn't been updated in almost a year, but maybe soonish)




Julia says...

My heart hurts thinking about the end of The Broke and the Bookish. I fondly remember 8 years ago talking to everyone to figure out a name, direction, the About Me page, coding the first site… We launched the first review the day I started my first job out of college. This blog, these ladies and all you were so instrumental in keeping me sane during those crazy years of travel and figuring out adulthood. I will always cherish the time we had here – all the good reviews, all the amazing recommendations, all of the ways to read out of my comfort zone. I love you guys and I loved this. Now onto the next big adventure, once I figure out what it is. If I do anything else, I'll make sure to let Twitter and Instagram know :)

Where to find me:
Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram 




Lori says...

It has been an absolute pleasure to contribute to this blog over the years. I have met a lot of wonderful people that I call friends through book blogging. I have had great conversations about books and life with people far and wide. My TBR has grown at an exponential rate and my bookshelves overfloweth. It's been fun to see everyone transition from carefree college student through our late 20s and into our 30s. This blog and the connections I've made here have been a great comfort in the storms of my late 20s when I just didn't know which way was up. I am sad to see this blog shut down, but I can't wait to see what everyone takes on next.

Where to find me:

An Irreverent Escapade: I'm reviving my personal blog. I've missed having a space to go write about whatever. Look for posts about books, cooking, yoga, clothes, and life--basically, whatever I feel like tackling on a given day.

Twitter: CoffeeGirl217

Instagram: LLindsey217


Kimberly says...

In the time since we started The Broke and the Bookish I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree, got married, adopted a dog, and had a baby. The one constant? This blog and these incredible ladies. We were just a group of college students who wanted to talk about what we loved, who knew it would be such a big part of our lives? Because of this blog I have formed friendships, discovered amazing books, and found the community that has helped me become a better person.  I’m sad to see an end to an era, but excited to see what comes next.

Please come find me on any of these sites! 

Bridget says...

Joining up with TBTB was one of the best things I ever did during my blogging life! It was such a pleasure working with these ladies. I’ve fallen off the blogging train in the past couple years, but it’s been so lovely having this great group of women to talk books with. I so appreciate all the readers for helping make this blog what it is. Thanks, TBTB, for giving me so many fun years ♥️

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Ten Books We Meant To Read In 2017 But Didn't Get To

For future TTT topics, click here.

Starting next week, January 16th, Top Ten Tuesday will be moved to Jana's blog, That Artsy Reader Girl. Jana has the schedule of future topics up through May! 

This week we're talking about the books we'd planned on reading in 2017 but never got to for one reason or another. But it's a new year and we've still got all the days to read them! 

Jana's Picks:

1. The rest of the Harry Potter series. I've only read book #1, but am on Chamber of Secrets right now!

2. Charing Cross Road 84 by Helene Hanff - It sounds so sweet, and my book club read this this year but I got really sick and didn't get a chance to read it in time for the meeting. Has anyone read this one?

3. All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda - I've heard great things, and I love mysteries like this one!

Lori's Picks:

4. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead - I know it's a 2016 release, but I meant to get to it in 2017 too and just didn't. I started it, but then for whatever dumb reason--probably got busy with school--I put it down. It's definitely on tap for this year. Promise!

5. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng - I got this for my Book of the Month pick and just didn't get to it. Everyone I've seen who's read it has loved it. Definitely need to pick up this year.

6. Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong - This was another BOTM pick that I've heard so many great things about and that I just didn't get to. It's not a terribly long read and the character should be somewhat relatable since we're around the same age...

Daisy's Picks:

7. Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas - though I'm a bit less excited about this installment, it's still [art of one of my favourite series and I really need to read this.

8. The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May - I'm DYING to know how it ends, really want to re-read the first two books though.

Julia's Picks:

9. The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman - I totally meant to not only read this, but reread the entire His Dark Materials series 

10. Literally all the books... by all the authors - I think 2017 was the least that I have read in years. Like maybe even under 20 books. I am too afraid to count...

Which books are you making a priority for 2018? 


Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Top Ten New-To-Me Authors We Read In 2017



Just a reminder: Starting on January 16th Top Ten Tuesday will be moved to Jana's blog, That Artsy Reader Girl, as The Broke and the Bookish will be closing our doors (for now). 

Happy New Year! I (Jana) am so ready for 2018. This is going to be my year. I can feel it. :) Today's topic is new-to-me authors we discovered in 2017. Which authors did you discover last year? 

Jana's Picks

1. Katie Ruggle -- Her romantic suspense novels are amazing!

2. Jenn Bennett -- I read Alex, Approximately this year and it was so much fun! I can't wait to read more of her books.

3. Meagan Spooner -- Hunted was my first of her solo novels (I've read These Broken Stars that she wrote with Amie Kaufman), and I loved it a lot.

Jamie's Picks

4. Heidi Heilig -- I finally got around to reading Heidi's debut from 2016 and I super loved it and can't wait to read the sequel and what she's working on now! I also really love following her on twitter so just overall she's a fave of 2017!

5. Adam Silvera -- I read 2 of Adam's books this year (History Is All You Left Me & They Both Die At The End) and I am obsessed with his books! I've owned his debut since it came out and realllyyyy need to finally get to it!

Lauren's Picks

6. Gillian Flynn - I actually listened 3 of her novels in 2017... Dark Places, Gone Girl, and Sharp Objects. I think I listened to Sharp Objects first and instantly knew I had to get my hands on the others. Now I just wish there were more!

7. Mike Mullane - Granted, this guy is actually a retired astronaut, not a writer, but I really liked his book about his space life. He has a great sense of humor and showed who he really is in his book, flaws and all. If you’re in remotely interested in space flight, you’ll love his book Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut. 

8. Katherine Arden - I read her novel The Bear and the Nightingale months ago and I’m still thinking about it. It was just an amazing folklore tale that enthralled me! I can’t wait for the sequel!

Julia's Pick

9. Naomi Novik - I finally got around to reading Uprooted and it was so good! I only read a few books this year and this one would have been high on the list even if I read my wanted 50. I can't wait to explore more from Novik in the future! 

Daisy's Pick

10. Becky Albertalli: I finally got around to reading Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and it was EVERYTHING!

Which new authors did you fall in love with in 2017?






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