Rambling Wednesday: The Gift That Is Easy To Wrap

(Or, Why Books Make Good Gifts)

When you are obsessed with books, it is at once very difficult and very easy to buy someone a gift. For someone like me, who is not too imaginative when searching for gifts, books are a natural choice. I find it near impossible to buy someone that doesn’t read a gift. See, for me things like books, chocolates and bubble baths are connected. When I receive a book, I am ecstatic. When I receive chocolate I am ecstatic because I can eat it – while reading. Or I can have a lovely rose/lavender scented bath – while reading. Take reading out of the equation and I am left with other hobbies. But something like paint or a DIY-kit is much more difficult to choose or buy for someone else. For instance – I buy only my own quilling paper, because I am very picky on the type of paper I use. I despise plastic crochet hooks. All paper crafting materials must be acid-free… see, very picky. And what if their hobby is fly fishing? I know nothing about fishing! How am I supposed to buy something fly-fishingy which they will actually use?

Seven reasons why books make good gifts:

1. They are easy to wrap.
2. You get books on any subject – even books on books. So you’re bound to find something.
3. They are easy to wrap. Even I can wrap a book without using a whole roll of sticky tape.
4. They are easy to carry around once wrapped.
5. It’s a lot easier to get a book to suit someone’s personality than choosing between Rose (too girly?), Lavender (am I saying she’s old?), Strange Spicy Scent (too masculine?) and Flower Smell That Will Give You Instant Migraine (stagger out of shop into pharmacy to get pain killers).
6. Did I mention they are easy to wrap? And easy to tie ribbon around.
7. Of course, if you’re buying them an ebook you don’t even have to wrap it. Or carry it somewhere. But I still like writing something inside books I give to people.

 Of course, if you can’t find that elusive book, written by that elusive author and printed by that elusive, independent press that your family member/friend simply has to have… go on, buy a gift card.

(An earlier version of this post was posted last year on Ramblings of a Lone Bibliophile.)