All photos by Kelly Hotte.
Amidst yummy treats, friendly chatter, and the smell of freshly ground coffee, the first annual Bookmas was held this past Saturday (December 19th) at Black Squirrel Books & Cafe.
Bookmas organizer Alex
More than 110 bookworms participated in the community Secret Santa event that organizers Vaughan MacDonald and Alexandra Ekstrom referred to as “literature and giverature” – books and giving.
Participants had been supplied with the first name and reading preferences of the person they were buying for. They then had to head into Black Squirrel, purchase a gift book, take it home, wrap it, and bring it back to the shop to place under the Bookmas Tree.
On Bookmas morning, participants gathered at Black Squirrel, to open their presents and to meet other book enthusiasts.
For participant Sheryl, a Carleton University professor, buying for someone else with such little information was a challenge.
Bookmas particpants Conor and Ashley
“I knew the gender and the preferences, but not the age. You want the person to like your choice but you’re uncertain they will because you don’t know much about them. So I narrowed the books I considered. I thought of classics because you know they are a good read. And I looked at books that sounded interesting or were totally original and unique. Part of the fun is the uncertainty in the buying.”
Liz agreed with that. She was buying for someone who listed their preferences as children’s book, young adult fiction and graphic novels.
“Now, was I buying for a younger person or an older person who has an interest in youth-orientated literature? I avoided major titles like The Hunger Games. And no super heroes. Not everybody likes super heroes. In the end I chose something that I thought looked interesting. And when I read the first line of the book (“October Schwartz is not dead.”), I was certain.”
The Bookmas tree
Casey, a custom furniture maker, tried to find a book that incorporated the listed preferences as much as possible.
“In the end, I chose something that looked interesting. It’s good if there’s a surprise element. It’s a good way to discover.”
Organizer Alex was pleased with the response to Bookmas, and the fact that the event had raised $527.25 for SchoolBOX, a Canadian charity which helps children in Nicaragua by providing them with tools and resources to get an education.
A portion of each book purchase price went towards SchoolBOX. In return, as a thank you, Equator Coffee Roasters, which supports the charity, provided book buyers with a coffee sample pack.
Bookmas will return next year, its fate made certain with the comments a participant.
The participant told Alex “It was a wonderful day. I’m not able to go home this Christmas. Opening presents today, around a real tree, with new friends, is almost as good as being at home for Christmas.”
