A-Z of Gifts for Book Lovers
We all know that sinking feeling of buying a book gift for someone, watch as they unwrap it and say, 'Oh. That's a good one. I've read it.'
It’s difficult to buy unique gifts for readers. This is despite there being a gazillion (approx) books in existence. They are surrounded by tottering piles and heaving shelves. The problem is that you don't know what they have read.
This is despite your scouring their shelves and making sure it wasn't there. The problem is that book lovers often use e-readers and libraries, and borrow and return books from friends; it's impossible to know what they've read. You might be safe with a recently released book, but if they're like me, they might have read it as an ARC (advanced reader copy). Foiled again.
But worry not, fearless gift hunter. In this A-Z guide I'm going to make suggestions that can help you in your quest for the perfect presents for book lovers.
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Where possible, I would encourage you to always support your local independent retailers, booksellers and artists).
A
Airplane tickets might be a great gift idea for readers. I’ve come up with a few ideas in this blog post about literary holidays, with Lisbon for Harry Potter or the West Yorkshire Moors for the Brontes. Find out who their favourite author/book is, and base a trip around it. Let them pack their own paperback.
What about some Artwork depicting their favourite writer or book? Or even their favourite book cover art? Here are a couple of famous covers.
B
If the reader in your life is anything like me, they’ll have a variety of Bookmarks to use, depending on the size of the book they are reading. But rather than grabbing a couple from your local bookstore, what about going that little bit extra?
A few years ago when I answered the door to some kids trick or treating at halloween, one of them handed me a homemade bookmark, and it was such a sweet gift.
Maybe if you have kids they could make a bookmark and you could have it laminated - or design it yourself with a favourite pet, writer or quote. Get creative and produce a thoughtful gift. Or, you could pick up one of these vintage bookmarks, with it’s silk tassel?
C
When I moved into my apartment a couple of years ago, I had to furnish it. My very first item was this Winged armchair - very much love at first sight. I immediately pictured myself beside my large bay window, disappearing into a book. If the reader in your life is anything like me, they’ll have a favourite reading spot and a chair to go with it. Maybe it’s time to upgrade their favourite item of furniture?
My favourite reading chair
C is also for case or cover - specifically for an e-reader. Slim, lightweight, with a magnetic catch to keep it closed and a swivel stand that allows you to prop and read (very important in bed or lying by the pool/beach). Look at this beautiful cover.
D
D is for Desklamp. Winter evenings in my favourite chair, rain battering the window, stick the desk lamp on, read for a couple of blissful hours. Get one that sits on a nearby table, that’s dimmable and flexible. There are many different ones on the market, and you’ll find one that suits your needs, but I particularly like this one with various light modes, brightness levels, touch control and charging ports. The only thing it won’t do is turn the pages on the book for you.
E
It seems incredibly obvious, but I’m going to mention e-readers anyhow. Many readers, especially the older generation, hold off on getting one - people love books as objects, holding them, beautiful covers, and just prefer reading from a page etc.
And I was one of those reluctant readers that couldn’t see myself buying an e-reader. Until lack of shelf space and curiosity got the better of them. I now love them, not as much as books, but they’re portable, I can just the type (important for old eyes) and as it synchs with my iPhone, I am never without a book. I can download ARC’s, borrow from the library (for the iPad/Iphone) and I will never use up all the available space.
I do prefer books, but you are just as likely to find me in the winged armchair with my e-reader.
F
When the sun does come out, how about retiring to the garden with a folding reclining chair to read? As the last of the light and warmth leaves the evening, why not call for someone to bring you a fringed blanket to rest upon your lap? And hey, bring a glass of wine when you’re in there - nice Italian Freisa to wash down another couple of chapters. Ain’t life peachy?
G
One thing that readers love to do more than anything else is to browse their local bookstore. So why not show your love for your beloved community bookseller with a Gift Card? It’s tougher than ever for the smaller guys to compete with the big retailers, but they can give personal recommendations, host author signings, order in books, and are very much at the heart of the community.
H
Remember that idyllic garden scene I described earlier with the folding chair/blanket/wine combo? Why not take it one step further, with a hammock - Surely the ultimate in luxury gifts for the book lover in your life. What’s that? You don’t have a couple of trees to tie it to? Don’t worry - they come with a stand.
I
Readers are often writers as well, so why not make a gift of an ink pen set? They’re beautiful objects to hold in your hand…..
as the words tumble out of you effortlessly, into your favourite…..
J
….Journal. If the reader in your life is anything like me, they’ll love to fill journals with quotes and thoughts. I have a cupboard full of them, and I love to track my reading life by occasionally opening one. I’ve also been know to try my hand at creative writing, and a hardback journal is my go-to. There’s just something about the connection between the brain, the pen, and the page - ‘Between my finger and my thumb, The squat pen rests; snug as a gun’ (name that poet?)
Look at this beautiful Antique Stone Leather Journal.
K
I’ve been deliberate in not making any recommendations for books throughout this guide. But I can’t think of anything for K, so I’m deliberately including one of my favourite books - Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami.
L
I’ve already mentioned (desk) lamps, so L is for Light. Most e-readers are backlit, so are easy to use in bed. I do like my physical books, so if I need illumination I use one of my reading lights. This one is really easy to clip to the bedside table/headboard and is both flexible and dimmable. (There are also smaller versions that I use to clip onto hefty hardbacks.)
M
Of course book gifts doesn’t have to be expensive - we need presents for every occasion, so what about something small and thoughtful -How about a mug with a nice quote? (and yes, we do.)
N
N is for Nook, as in Book Nook. The definition of a book is a ‘mini world created within your bookshelf’ and can be anything from the diorama of an alleyway or the inside of a small house. These took off a number of years ago, and are thought to have originated from a Japanese artist called Monde back in 2018, and are enchantingly unique gifts especially for readers.
Part of the fun with these book nooks is that you have make all of the interior parts, so it’s a great opportunity to spend time together. Not only a beautiful decoration, but a puzzle as well.
O
Just like a cat can sleep pretty much anywhere, a reader can curl up with a book wherever takes their fancy. Reading in bed is a particular pleasure, but you have to experiment with pillows to get the position that’s ‘just right’. This simple orthopaedic pillow makes things easy.
P
With so many beautiful book covers, you’d wonder why a reader would want to hide the cover with a book pouch cover. But it’s precisely because readers love their covers so much that they want to protect them, especially if you like to take your book with you and read on the move. No more worrying about scratches or frayed corners. Lots of different fabrics and designs to choose from.
Q
As a reader, I love a good Bookish quote. So for the special reader in your life, what about a favourite quote on a poster, map, tea towel - get creative!
Q is also for quiet, which readers tend to like. Introverts are also associated with books, and this is one of my favourite books on the subject (link in cover) by Susan Cain.
R
R is of course for reading, but it’s also for relaxing. Why not combine the two with a relaxing spa gift set for the bath. Reading in the bath is one of life’s great pleasures so encourage the book lover in your life to crack open a paperback and settle back in the bubbles.
S
Subscriptions make a great book gift, whether that’s for audiobooks (I’ve a list of the best ones here) or a book subscription service - there are a few out there, and I haven’t tried any so can’t recommend.
S is also for Speaker - I enjoy listening to audiobooks in bed, and these handy little speakers fit snugly under the pillow.
Speaking of sleep, what about a sleep mask? Sleep hygiene is something people pay a lot of attention to, and an eye mask can help to block out any light that might be disturbing your sleep. So why not listen to an audiobook on ‘Sleep hygiene’ through this super nifty Bluetooth Sleep Mask?
T
A couple of chapters in the bath before bed is hard to beat, especially after a tough week and for me is one of lifes simple pleasures. Avoid soggy pages or a submerged e-reader (I think some of the more recent versions are waterproof, or withstand some light spillage) with this simple bamboo tray. Also has a slot for the e-reader/iPad and a holder for your wine glass. Of course if you are good with your hands, you could always make one yourself.
Readers will know the feeling of being curled up on the couch, lost amidst the pages of a very fine book, content as a purring cat. The one thing that would increase your comfort would be something to pull around you. Like a….Throw. Soft and warm with a bookish design, this would make the perfect gift.
U
U is for unique bookends to help readers keep their heaving shelves or desks neat and tidy. Books tend to multiply in heaps and piles, often taking over a room, so these bookends keep their unrestrained growth in check. Because as every reader knows, you can never, ever, have enough books. There are lots to choose from but I quite like these:
V
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a reader in possession of a lot of books is in need of more bookshelves. I have a few tall bookcases but piles of books continue to accumulate - I don’t have room for more bookcases, but I like these smaller vintage bookcases that will fit into various smaller spaces, as my apartment slowly turns into a library.
W
Throughout this article I’ve mentioned reading chairs, pillows and hammocks. Of course if you’re going to be relaxing, especially when there’s a chill in the air, a woollen or weighted blanket will come in handy. Could also double as wall hanging.
X
Difficult to think of something beginning with X, but I have read some great books with X in the title - links to review in covers.
Y
Just like X, Y is a difficult letter for gifts for book lovers. Which is why I’m including ‘Yellowface’ a superior literary thriller by Rebecca F. Kuang. You couldn’t get a cover that is more yellow, and it’s got yellow in the title. Link to review in cover.
Z
Z is for Zen, the topic of one of the titles in my list of favourite books on mindfulness and meditation, which some readers might appreciate.
So there you have it, that’s my list of Gifts for Book Lovers. I hope there was something on the list that might make unique gifts for readers in your life, or at least sparked some ideas.