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Hi Everyone,

So if we get five or more people interested in the Secret Reader we will give it a shot. Here is how it will work.

Those who are interested please sign up below. If we get five or more people interested in trying this, then I will ask you all to send me your address (email or mailing address depending on your prefence of books). Please sign up by Dec. 26 so that addresses can be sent out on January 1st.

Please state if you want a paper or kindle or nook book when you sign up.

You will agree to spend no more than $5.00 including shipping for a paper book. I know with Amazon for the paper books you can get some used, in almost new condition, as low as a penny with 3.99 shipping.

If you want paper books then you agree that you will acept used books that are in decent or better condition.

I have to be honest I am not entirely sure if there is a way for shipping from Amazon, or sending a kindle or nook that it can be kept entirely secret, if anyone should find out who their Secret Reader is they will agree to keep the identity secret until the end of the trial run.

I am thinking of trying for three months starting with January. By signing up you also agree to send a book once a month.

If you sign up please put together a list of books or authors that you are interested in that I will ask to be put in the email with your address so that I will be able to pass it on to your Secret Reader.


With the three month trial period to see how well this works. This way with only a three month commiment it will be easy enough to stop if it completely doesn't work out or we can figure out a better way to make this run. I thought a $5.00 limit was the best for everyone's budget, this can be discussed though if everyone thinks it is too low. I know that this is just an idea that could totally flop, but hopefully not.

Yes I am willing to do this and I prefer paper books, but will read Kindle books too.

I think it's a great idea! I don't have a Kindle or e-reader so I would have to do paper books. Another great idea to check into for getting cheap used books is your local library. I know that our library takes donations of books, and the ones they don't add to their collection, they sell for less than $1 each to raise money. I buy books from them all the time and they usually have a pretty good selection.

I am in I only do paper books.

Since I have been so out of it lately, how about we try this again. If we can get two more people interested before say January 21 then we can start on February 1. If for some reason we dont get any others interested, we could try and see how it works with just the three of us for three months like before.

OK Janine, sounds good.

I want to join in too please. i rather paper books

Ok so we are up to four people. I will send out a message to everyone, not just about this but all the new activities in the group. I will be online for the next hour or so catching up so looks like things will be working out.

Great! :)

Just a few more days for people to sign up. I think with four people at the moment to sign up then I think we will give this a shot.

For the pairing of people with their secret reader, I will pick names out of a hat so to speak so that it wont be all that easy to figure out who is whose secret reader.

Before the first please put together a list of books (please have at least 20 books on this list so that the secret reader can have a wide variety to choose from). Please name this list as "Secret Reader" and have it here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ.

The secret reader who is sending the gift book will not use their name when mailing their package. Though if mailing the book from home use media mail for it is cheaper I have been told, and use the name Secret Reader instead of your own.

Any other questions about the Secret Reader. Please send me a message with your Name and mailing address when you can. I will take care of your address and I promise not to sell or give your address to anyone without your express permission other than your Secret Reader.

Would it be easier if, instead of names of specific books, that we just list genres that we like? It might be hard for people to find certain books, especially if they are newer books, without having to spend more than $5.

Good point Kim. So lets do this, put together a list while at the same time, in your private message to me with your address, list your favorite author(s), favorite genre, and whatever else you think your Secret Reader might need from you. I will then forward that information to your Secret Reader. I am thinking with the specific books especially with at least 20 books the Secret Reader might have an easier time finding one that you would want. But then again with the list of favorite authors, genre and such then the Secret Reader might just find something even better. So we will do both that way.

I made my secret reader shelf and sent my info to you Janine. This should be lots of fun..

I made my secret reader shelf too and sent Janine my info. Can't wait to get started! :)

Thank you guys I have all of your information now. I want to try and get more people interested. This should be pretty interesting and fun :D

I have vacillated back and forth and have decided to try this. I think my husband might start questioning my sanity when I start getting more books stacked beside my bed. Oh well!?!?!?

I wanted to give you all another alternative to sending books. There is a website called - this site allows people to post books they no longer want, as well as request books from other members. If someone requests a book you have posted, you send the requested book and then receive a credit. That credit can then be used to request a book of your choice. You can also request that the book be sent to the address of your choice.

I will set up a secret reader shelf as well. And I prefer paper at this point, as I still trying to figure out the reader program on our Surface.

I will get my personal information to you Janine.

Great to have you on board, and tell your hubby to relax for it is only three months this time around LOL. I figure that way we can work out all the kinks without giving all of us a major long term headache LOL. I got your information Noel. I will match up givers and getters on Thursday morning and get the information out to everyone Thursday during the day.

I have to say I am a bit excited for this is going to be so much fun.

Also on they have some books as low as 2.99 plus shipping.

I think $5.00 might be too low with shipping.

Ok, what do you all think would be a reasonable price for books including shipping everyone. Figure shipping of a book to be between 3 to 4 dollars. i would like everyone to weigh in please.

My local library has a HUGE selection of books for sale for a donation that have been donated by patrons to raise money. I figure if I buy from there, and ship media mail, I should be able to keep it within the $5 limit.

I think that if we try and stay around $5, then sometimes we might get lucky and have be less, and sometimes it might be more. We might be able to average out to $5.

Question on secret reader, how many books a month do we send or do we do 1 a month how is that going to work just wondering. I too have a library that sells books for 50 cents or 1.00 but if i can find something in there for my secret reader from their list or genre? But just wondering how many books?

Good point Linda. Um what if we do this, and I want your opinion. What if over the three month period, there is a cap of $30.00. Whether that is for one book a month or numerous books. There should be AT LEAST one book a month sent to your secret reader, but if you send more then it should stay under that $30.00 limit for the three months. What do you all think of that idea?

By the way these are the reasons why I thought a three month trial would be best so that we can work out all the kinks in the activity. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all your questions and input to find a workable solution. It is because of the questions and input that will be why this works and we have some fun along the way.

I think that sounds good to me.

Yes that sounds good. if we keep it to 5.00 a book that would be 2 books a month for the next 3 months.

I think a $30 cap for three months is great! I am really excited about this. :)

Ok, i am posting from my phone right now, so tonight i will send our everyone their secret reader information. I had my son do the actual pairing of names so that it was out of my control and fair for all. i hope that is ok with you all

That is great. Thanks so much Janine. :)

Sounds good to me

Yes it is ok, i am so excited i got off of work and got right on my computer to see if it was posted yet LOL

Okay all information has been sent out to everyone. Since I know who has everyone, for my Secret Reader, I have used my Mom Memory so that I forget who is my Secret Reader.

Also I was wondering if we should also allow general cards to be sent in order to encourage our Buddy. No other gifts but the books (well maybe bookmarks) but nothing else for I don't want anyone to feel that they have to go into debt trying to keep up with the others, hence the book cost limit. What do you all think about sending your Buddy cards if you want, and ONLY if you want to, for there would be absolutely no pressure.

That would be a good idea, we all could use some uplifting. I like the idea :) I received my secret reader pal and i am soooo excited. Will go to library Saturday and check see what they have in their sale and exchange again. Can't wait :)
Thanks Janine for a fun new idea with Secret Reader

Already ordered my first book for my secret reader off of thriftbooks. Woo Hoo :)

Hopefully next time around even more people will be willing to take the plunge with us, but maybe they are just waiting for all the bugs to be worked out :D. I am already looking for the perfect book for my Buddy too :D

By the way I tried to include the link to your Buddy's secret reader list on their goodreads profile so that you don't have to go to their main page. Just trying to be helpful there.

Can't wait to go book shopping for my secret reader!

Yeah I just ordered some books for my secret reader. :)

Wow! Looks I just missed this one ;-) I'll have to check in from time to time to see how it's going! Have FUN Secret Readers and I'll catch you in the next round!

Oh Kim (K) I hope that you will still join us through out talks and what not. And maybe if you have any ideas to share them. Hopefully if all goes well then we will be starting up again in May.

Sounds great! I'll be looking out for the discussions.

So I was wondering for those who are ordering online and shipping directly to your buddy, has anyone else needed a phone number for their buddy, in case there are any questions about the mailing address?? I ask because with Amazon I was asked a phone number and used mine. I wasn't sure if we should share the phone numbers or not. I personally and a wee tad bit uneasy sharing my number with too many people. What do you all think? Should we share phone numbers or if needed just use our own?

Hey Janinie,

Hmmm thats a good question, But i think it would be best to give out your own phone number, that way if there is something wrong with the order they can call the person that made the order. I am like you i don't want my phone number given out to lots of people, So i think you did the right thing by giving your number. Let's see what others think on this question lol

Have a great day my friend

That sounds good to me

There are new sign up for the next go around. Please go to /topic/show/... to sign up for those who are interested.