I love it when people gift me books. When you’re given a book, you know that someone went out and thought very carefully about what you might like to read. It’s such a special thing to receive. But almost more than I like receiving books, I really, really love to give them as presents. My new favourite thing to do is to go down to the shops, pick out a book, and give it to someone as an unexpected unbirthday gift. It’s wonderful to walk through the shelves, reading the backs of all the covers and picking out the book that you believe will be perfect for the special person you have in mind. Books make the best presents, for several reasons.
Books are a very thoughtful gift. Picking out just the right book takes a lot of consideration. You have to think about what sort of books they like to read, what authors they’ve read already, and which books you know are amazing. It can take a while, and a lot of thought, to choose just the right book, but what you end up with is a book that is super specific to the person you’re giving it to, and which they know you will have put a lot of time and effort into choosing.
It’s also a gift that will last a long time, and that you can add to. A box of chocolates, or a bar of soap might be nice presents to give, but they go away very quickly. You can eat a box of chocolates in an evening, and that soap only lasts so many baths. But a book is something that you can enjoy over and over again. And, if you’ve chosen a good one, you can add to it, gifting more books in the series, similar books, or books by the same author, and build up their collection over time. Plus, books can then be shared with friends and family. It’s a gift that can be enjoyed by many people.
If you give someone the right book, you could also introduce them to a brand new author they’ve never read but they might absolutely love. It’s always exciting to discover a new author that you really enjoy. Suddenly a whole new world of books opens up to you that you might never have considered before. Giving someone a book by a new author they haven’t read is like handing them a key to a new library, one they can explore for a while to come. It’s not just one book you’re giving them, but a whole stack of potential new friends.
There’s always the chance to give someone a book that’s one of your favourites and share something that you really love. If you love a book, there’s nothing better than being able to share it with someone and introduce them to one of your favourite reads. Maybe they will love it as much as you do and you can share your enjoyment of it and have something to talk about and enthuse over.
When you someone a book, you’re not just giving them an object. You’re handing them a potential new friend. You’ve got the opportunity give a book as a gift, you’re giving them a potential new friend, you can share a book that you really love, you can give them a really personal gift by carefully choosing a book that you think will suit them, and you might even introduce them to a new author that they’ve never read before. And, as an added bonus, you’re giving them something pretty to decorate your shelves as well. Books make amazing presents. There’s nothing quite like receiving a book that someone has chosen especially for you, except maybe being the person who gives the book in the hopes that you’ve chosen something that will become a new favourite.
Do you ever give books as presents? What your favourite book you’ve ever received as a gift? Let’s chat in the comments!
Looking for a great book to give as a gift? Why not check out my brand new novel Frost Hands? It’s a YA sci-fi about teen mutants, secret agents, and the fight to do the right thing in the face of an overwhelming opposition. Available now in print and ebook!
Photo by Mariana Vusiatytska on Unsplash
