My Book Exchange Santa is amazing. Two packages on my doorstep today!

I went through the phase that many people go through in their late teens/early twenties where I felt the need to shout viewpoint (in my case, my lack of religion) far and wide and try to convince others to come around to my way of thinking. Sadly for me, I never really bothered to educate myself about appropriate or effective or ways to argue my case. I'm over that phase, but I am still interested in reading about others' arguments. Enter my Santa, who thoughtfully provided me with Richard Dawkins' "The God Delusion" and Christopher Hitchens' "The Portable Atheist". I've never read either and am excited to start.

"The Hobbit" is one of my favorite books ever. My mother read it to me and my younger siblings on a long road trip when I was about nine, and I've loved it ever since. My copy has been toted around with me for over two decades, and I was desperately in need of a new one. I especially like that the copy I received from my Santa looks like it was loved by other people as well: inside each cover there is a name and a phone number, both clearly written by children. I'm glad that the next generation is enjoying it as much as I did.

"The Game of Thrones" has, obviously, sort of been thrust into the pop culture spotlight with the TV series and I'm ashamed to admit that I've never watched it or, even worse, read it. Here's my chance. I'm stoked.

Thanks so much, Santa!