(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:
- They are easy to wrap.
- You get books on any subject –
even books on books. So you’re bound to find something.
- They are easy to wrap. Even I
can wrap a book without using a whole roll of sticky tape.
- They are easy to carry around
once wrapped.
- 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).
- Did I mention they are easy to
wrap? And easy to tie ribbon around.
- 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.)
