I would like to get into the games but cannot understand most of the terminology.  Some people are recommending getting into an elephant swap first.

What is an elephant swap?

I think it is like the chinese gift exchange...where one person asks someone to reveal a book and then the next person can steal that book or ask someone else to reveal.

I won't swear to it but i'm pretty sure that is what they mean.

Thanks, Leslie, but I don't even know what a Chinese gift exchange is or what it means to "reveal" a book. 

have you ever done a white elephant gift exchange at Christmas? 

the concept is simple - you have a book that you are willing to give away.  everyone is given a number in order to "pick" a book.

the 1st person will ask someone to reveal the title and author of the book that they have chosen to give away.  So if I was #1 and I asked you to reveal your book, you would tell me (and the group) that you have chosen to give away Sail by James Patterson (for example).

Then the person that has #2 can either "steal" my book or ask someone else to reveal the book they have chosen to give away.

and then it continues from there.  sometimes a book can only be "stolen" 3 times and then it is safe and the last person that "stole" the book is ensured that they will receive it.

at the end, everyone gets a book from someone else and you have given away a book and there is no credit exchanged.

Ok, I'll try to make sense here. 

Person A, Person B, and Person C, and Person D are playing. 

Person A goes first and asks Person C (they can pick whomever they want) to reveal their book.  Person C's book is The Cat in the Hat.  The Cat in the Hat (at this point) will be mailed to Person A at the end of the game.

BUT, it is Person B's turn and Person B wants The Cat in the Hat so they "steal" it from Person A.  Now The Cat in the Hat will be mailed to Person B at the end of the game. 

Person A has no book any more so they ask Person D for a reveal.  Person D reveals Green Eggs and Ham, which (at this point) will be mailed to Person A at the end of the game.

Now it is Person C's turn (remember Person B already went).  They ask Person A for a reveal and Person A reveals whatever, etc. etc. etc.

Is that simple enough???  I tried. 

ETA:  Or, what Leslie said.  LOL

Thanks Leslie & Crystal.  That helps a lot. I am going to go over there and give it a try.

Swaps are fun!  Don't be afraid to jump in and join one that fits your reading interest.  We were all new players once and everyone over there is really nice and helpful.  Always someone to answer questions and help you out.  Don't be afraid of making a mistake, even people that play in lots of swaps make mistakes.

Hope you find a fun swap!  The first post of a game thread should have the rules and guidelines listed...watch for how many steals until a book is out, requirements for the book players can offer in the swap, etc.

The people who run swaps could not be nicer.  I am rather clueless, but everyone has been nice when I have made mistakes.  Jump right in!