Virago Secret Santa 2019: Opening

Many of us like to wait for Christmas day but, because I know that others may be eager to open their gifts or may be travelling over the holiday period, I declare this opening thread open for business!

Let the festivities begin!

Thanks Jane! What a lovely image.

I will probably open on Christmas Day as I am at home with family! 😁

Perfect picture, Jane! And a Happy Virago Secret Santa to everyone!
I'll be opening mine on Christmas eve.
Excited to see everyone's treasure!

Looks like I may be one of the only ones opening today; starting tomorrow I won't have access to free/reliable wifi for ~2 weeks, so won't be online much.

Look what I got!!! Through some detective work, I believe my VSS is Heaven-Ali.


It's an amazing Persephone Christmas!

The Children Who Lived in a Barn by Eleanor Graham
Because of the Lockwoods by Dorothy Whipple
Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski

and a lovely VMC of Christmas stories, Aunt Sass: Christmas Stories by P. L. Travers

Thank you so much Ali!

ETA: Not in picture: some Ferrero Rochers in the fridge!

I have also begun the opening season, although not yet finished it. Jane spoiled me with no less than five parcels so I'm opening them over several days, the first one Maragareth Kennedy's The constant nymph is already opened, three more will be opened tomorrow on Christmas Eve, and the last one on my return home, so I will return here with a full report around the 27th. Until then I just want to report that I'm one third into The constant nymph, greatly enjoying myself, and very happy that Jane choose to share some of her favorites!

I'll be opening tomorrow late morning, after volunteering at parkrun in my Little Miss Christmas leggings and massive flourescent jacket. It's all safely stored still in its box, though I know it's OK to open, as we have new cats, one of whom is a paper-eater!

What a wonderful pile of books (and chocolate) from Dee! Hard to type all of it on my phone, but all five books have been thoughtfully chosen. I think the first one I'll start is Told In Winter by Jon Godden. Thank you so much, Dee!!

Thank you so much Johanna, for a very special selection of VSS gifts. Johanna's selections were just perfect with two books from my wishlist and some introductions to new-to-me authors who Johanna thought I'd like. I really appreciated the handwritten notes with each gift and the Scandanavian Christmas crafts, it all felt very special :-)
The books were Hangasman by Shirley Jackson (from the top of my wishlist), Long Live Great Bardfield (wanted since reading the comments on a Virago thread last year), City Folk and Country Folk (a Russian 'buried treasure' that I'm delighted to be introduced to and some gorgeous little mini editions introducing me to Selma Lagerfield, (after reading Johanna's intro I'm very keen to start this), Henning Mankell (who I've been meaning to start reading for years) and the wonderful sounding The Unknown Unknown - Bookshops and the delight of not getting what you wanted.
And the card was just lovely too. Thank you again, Johanna!

>7 Stuck-in-a-Book: Happy reading, Simon!

Thank you so much to Cornishgirl for my lovely parcel, beautifully wrapped although I'd left it in its box due to new young cats.

Christmas tea - I was just bemoaning having run out of Christmas Tea and there some was - we have already enjoyed a cuppa this afternoon!
Cornish soap
Cornish chocolate - both look lovely and a very sweet touch as I said I like books from where you are.
Daphne Du Maurier - Jamaica Inn - and a book from where you are, and you've visited there (loved the card that explained all this!). I will save this for Ali's Du Maurier Week next year, and it matches the edition of Rebecca I won from her this year!
Rosamond Lehmann - The Ballad and the Source in original Virago Green and a good choice
Margaret Kennedy - The Ladies of Lyndon in original Virago Green and from my wishlist (I have absolutely no problem with these being pre-loved - I love reading other people's names in my books!)
Willa Cather - My Antonia - a book I've read but don't own and wished I did, and looking forward to a re-read. Also nice that one of said new cats is called Willa!

>4 LisaMorr: I am so glad you like what I chose Lisa. Really hope you enjoy the books. Persephone books are special.

Well Lyzzybee was my Santa again! Two years in a row.

I got two fantastic green Viragos from my wishlist:

Christopher and Columbus by Elizabeth von Arnim
And
Clash by Ellen Wilkinson

And a book by a local author (who I have met several times and who lives near me) Beatrice the story of a Cadbury family heiress by Fiona Joseph

I also got a pack of 4 vegan chocolate bars. Yummy.

Thank you Santa Liz, it was a perfect selection of gifts.

Looks like we have all been having some lovely Santa treats! :D

I opened my gifts yesterday and here they are:



I have been blessed with an Angela Carter from my wishlist, a very lovely and intriguing Vita Sackville-West book on English Country Houses, a beautiful notebook with my name on it and some Christmas decorations (not pictured, as they're on the tree!). Thank you *so* much Santa!

My Santa did not name themself, but I think I recognise the writing - Simon????? :DDD

Also - loving the doggo Christmas card! :DDDDD

Thank you very much Lisamorr for my Christmas goodies.
All beautifully wrapped.

Two original green virago's,

Devoted Ladies by Molly Keane which is just perfect, have read a few of hers but not this one so an excellent choice.

Daughter of Earth by Agnes Smedley , a new author for me and one I am looking forward to reading.

The Astonishing Adventure of Jane Smith by Patricia Wentworth republished by Dean Street Press.
Husband has his eye on this one.

Chocolates too.

A perfect selection.

My Santa has been wonderfully thoughtful and generous. I have much wanted books from my wishlist, other well chosen titles, and more besides.



All the Dogs of My Life by Elizabeth Von Arnim
Marling Hall by Angela Thirkell
Tin Toys by Ursula Holding
Black Lamb and Grey Falcon by Rebecca West
The Olivier Sisters by Sarah Watling

Plus a beautiful and capacious book bag, chocolate and a Persephone gift card.

Thank you so much, Cate!

Twas I! Hope you enjoy :)

I will list my books properly when I'm home after Christmas and using a laptop again :)

Merry Christmas and Happy Boxing Day to everyone!

I finally made it here! Yesterday was so busy that by the end of the day, after a much-needed relaxing bath, I wasn't fit for anything more than a lie down on the couch re-watching The Crown. So in the peace of this morning, with a delicious cup of coffee, I opened the lovely gifts sent from Karen.

Oh my!

Karen, thank you ever so much for the books & treats that you sent! Three beautiful green spines from my wishlist: Dorothy Richardson's Pilgrimage 2 and Pilgrimage 4, Dawn Powell's The Golden Spur and two wonderfully interesting new-to-me books; Stella Benson's This is the End and Lara Feigel's The Love-charm of Bombs which I started reading immediately! I never knew that Elizabeth Bowen was an Air Raid Protection warden. This book is so well written. I love the references to Bowen's books given the circumstantial influences in which they were written. This also features Graham Greene (also a ARP warden), Rose Macaulay, Hilde Spiel and Henry Green. Fascinating.

To add the bookish pleasures, a bag full of dark chocolate coins, seasonal spice tea leaves and a Literary Emporium 'to do' list resembling a library check-out tag. Just perfect.

I'm so glad that I waited to open these this morning, away from the hub-bub of yesterday. They made this day, and this already lovely season, even more special.

Thank you again, dear Karen! 💚🎄✨💚

(PS. Can anyone assist posting images here? I haven't posted a pic in awhile and I no longer have photobucket.)

>17 Stuck-in-a-Book: Thanks Simon! 😁

Dear Jane, You're very welcome! I'm so glad that everything arrived for the day. I know things were sent from all over higgly-piggly but I had so much fun gathering these for you!

What a wonderful Virago VSS this year has been!

Wishing everyone a very Happy (Bookish) New Year! 💚📚

>19 bleuroses: Can anyone assist posting images here? I have this great Virago thread starred: https://www.librarything.com/topic/59470

Missing the Secret Santa fun, but enjoying "watching" you all unwrapping the treats.

Oh, This Is The End is wonderful!

>19 bleuroses: it was a joy to shop for you Cate, and having checked out your library and interests, I was hoping that Love-Charm would hit the spot! And This Is The End is a fab read - it was my first Stella Benson! VSS is such fun! 😁

Sassylassy - thank you! I'll give it a try!

Simon and Karen, I'm excited about the Benson too - and this will be my first as well. The premise is intriguing and quirky - and I'm all about stories with orphans. Benson is quite underread/underrated, I think she would be the perfect subject for Paris Review's column 'Feminize Your Cannon'.

Here they are - my VSS gifts from Karen. 💚
(Thanks again, Sassy, for your technical assistance. I forgot about our Wiki page!)

Agreed about Benson - thank goodness Mike Walmer is reprinting her because she really is unfairly neglected! I’ll look forward to your thoughts on Love-Charm as I’m keen to read it myself! 🤣

To me one of the best things with this Virago Secret Santa exchange is all the new books and authors I get introduced to. As a VMC novice I love to get VMCs recommended for me and Jane clearly caught onto that and gave me no less than five VMCs, all with beautiful postcards explaining why that particular book was selected.

These were the books I got:
The constant nymph by Margaret Kennedy,
Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner,
In a summer season by Elizabeth Taylor,
The love child by Edith Olivier and
Without my cloak by Kate O'Brian

I have of course heard of some of the authors but I have read nothing by them so this was a perfect selection which I will love to explore. I also like that they are all green VMCs from the 80s and 90s, as I had none of those older editions before.

Thank you so much Jane, both for the beautiful gift and for arranging this Secret Santa exchange!

Back home now - you can see my five wonderful books on the top of this pile https://www.instagram.com/p/B6lbO8OAwdA/

Told In Winter by Jon Godden - this looks so up my street, and can't wait to start
The Possessed by Elif Batuman - from my wishlist, perfect!
The House in Norham Gardens by Penelope Lively - where I did my driving lessons!
Twelve Poems by Sylvia Townsend Warner - somehow I haven't heard of this book by an author I love, so I was very excited to open it
A little original sin by Millicent Dillon - Two Serious Ladies by Jane Bowles is a really wonderful book, and I'm interested to learn more about the author.

Thanks again, Dee! Such special choices.

>29 Stuck-in-a-Book: You're very welcome. I really enjoyed the blog reading and podcast listening that I carried out for shopping research purposes!

Can I please say a massive thank you to everyone involved in this year's Secret Santa. Jane and Karen, I know we all appreciate your hard work and organisational skills at a time when there will be many other demands! Thank you again Johanna for a perfect VSS with a Scandinavian flavour. And thank you everyone who joined in, as without you it couldn't happen. Each year I have a slight fear it won't be possible this time, and I know we're a smaller group this year but it has felt just as special.

So thanks to all and wishing you a happy 2020 🌻

Most welcome, Dee. Jane really does most of the organising and is brilliant at it - I just follow instructions! :D But it *is* so lovely to be involved and I hope it's a tradition we can carry on! :D

Happy 2020, all!