This is shameful, but I've never actually read the Lord of the Rings before. I think it's because, as a tender child, I was exposed to the creepy, CGI Gollum and it scarred me for life. I wasn't ready. Now, however, as a mature (ish) adult, my Santa has rectified this by getting me the complete set! I'm so excited to start reading and finally be able to say "my precious" in a low, hushed voice without the twinge of regret I usually feel.

Secondly, my Santa got me "The Yellow Birds," which is a book about death and war and gore and I'm so thrilled to read it at the gym and put my #firstworldproblems in their place. My favorite book of all time is the Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, so this should sweep me away as well.

THANK YOU SANTA! I know I'm a difficult giftee, what with the shameful lack of Tolkien knowledge and the makeup addiction, but you did SUCH A GOOD JOB! Yay!