My Best (Bookish) Gift Ideas
It’s December 20th - eek! So many of us are mired in the final, bleary-eyed, full throttle push required to make the holidays happen. If you’re scrambling for last-minute gift ideas, I have a few good ones for you. Fingers crossed that these suggestions offer a spark of (bookish) inspiration!
When I told my husband I was planning to do a blog on bookish-themed gifts, he said, “So, you’re recommending books?”
Not exactly.
As I’ve often said, books absolutely make the best gifts. I have books in my home that were once holiday gifts, and I’ll l cherish them forever. However, I’d suggest that books are the easy part - while prioritizing reading them in a distracted world is where so many of us (myself included!) fall short. This gift list is designed to inspire you and your people to read.
Because as soon as you settle in to read a book, you’re golden. A good book will do the rest.
Those moments spent reading to my children will forever be some of my fondest memories. Moreover, the time we’ve spent engrossed in books seems to be paying off as my older kiddos are - knock on wood - turning into excellent readers. (Alternatively, they’re using reading as a tactical excuse to push back bedtime. Whatever their motivation, I’ll take it!)
One of my favorite things we’ve done gift-wise is to build on the book. For instance, if you have a child who loves the classic Snow White story, you might consider investing in a toy and costume to accompany it. As soon as your reading session ends, you can nudge your children toward their toys (or games or costumes) and watch as their imagination takes over.
As an aside, I know some parents are on the fence about graphic novels. I love them! One of my kiddos didn’t love to read until he found graphic novels. Dav Pilkey makes his books particularly immersive with a special How To Draw section at the back of each one. In the past, we’ve given our son comic book kits and art supplies to build off of his love of this genre.
Trust me: you have no idea how much a book has resonated with your child until you’ve seen them play afterwards. It’s incredible to watch! I hope you have fun with this idea.
In my summer newsletter, I was fortunate to interview interior designer Michelle Dashiell. We talked about how to bring books into the home. I was so inspired by her suggestion to think in terms of vignettes and to try to create bookish nooks in the home. Since our talk, I haven’t only noticed what my people are reading but also how they like to read.
For instance, bean bag chairs have a special sort of magic. My kids read in them so well. Why? I don’t know. The question is unnecessary - it’s like asking why peanut butter goes well with jelly, or why gin and tonics go well with summer evenings. They just do.
I’ve also taken note of the overall ambiance of the reading experience, because I think it matters more than I ever realized. One person in my family reads best while wearing headphones. Another reads best draped in heavy blankets. Another one of my guys loves to read by the fire.
Personally, I need quietude to read well. To that end, I discovered my favorite thing in the world this year: these earplugs from Loop. I use them for reading and writing. I can still hear, but everything is dulled. I’ve described them, to much heckling, as being inside a sound blanket.
I also love candles for setting a mood. These “Book Club” ones from homesick would be extra special treat for the readers in your life.
While these ideas stem from my life, I’d encourage you to watch the people you love while they’re deep inside their ideal reading “flow state.” If you can find a gift that will get them to that place more easily, it’s bound to be a good one.
Please reach out if you try the earplugs! We can discuss how much we love them without judgment.
If we think about books as only books, we’re thinking too small. The best books stay with us long after we’ve turned the last page. I think we should hold on to that feeling of connectedness and inspiration as long as we can. And we can do this by finding a way to take words with us.
I strongly encourage you to give everyone you love a blank notebook this holiday. It’s a powerful gesture to remind those closest to us that their words matter. They can journal. They can draw or making a rubbing (as recommended by artist Amanda Kimball in my fall newsletter). They can also transcribe pull quotes and excerpts from their favorite books, in the style of traditional commonplace book. I’ve also used Moleskine notebooks to list the books I’ve read. At the end of the year, there’s a tremendous sense of accomplishment in seeing your own completed list of well-read books.
This year, Ann Patchett gave me another idea. I haven’t read Bel Canto in years. However, I plan to read it again soon, as Patchett has released an annotated version of the book where she makes notes on her process of writing it. (It’s on my Christmas list. It’s happening.) I think we can take a page from Patchett (bad pun intended!) and annotate books we’ve loved for our loved ones.
Why not take a pen to one of your favorite books and make notes in the margins? The person who reads the book next will have a multi-layered sense of union: to the characters, to the author, and of course, to you. I know people who have lost loved ones and view the books they’ve found marked up this way as treasures. It’s a remarkable gesture of vulnerability. But if Patchett had this idea first, we can be sure that it’s a good one.
Finally, I found a shop on Etsy where they will frame a favorite quote or excerpt for you! I’m so excited about it and I plan to do this soon in my home - though my mind is spinning. Picking a favorite excerpt from a favorite book feels a bit like picking a favorite kiddo. Maybe this means I should frame more than one?
Yes, that’s exactly what it means.
In any case, I hope this post finds you excited and contented by the holiday bustle. Please feel free to reach out and connect at any time - but especially if you try the earplugs!
If you’re intent on making the holiday last longer this year, I have an essay in The Huffington Post that might resonate with you! You can read it here. I’m so grateful that you’ve stopped by, and I wish you all the best for a wonderful holiday season!
