I’m looking to get a gift for my wife’s brother-in-law, and I know he’s an avid reader, but I don’t know what specific books he’s read. A gift card would probably be the most practical solution, but sometimes giving one is shorthand for “I exerted the least amount of effort possible,” so I’d like to avoid that. So I’m looking for recommendations for good gift ideas that don’t require me to find out if he’s already read a certain book before. For example, eReaders – are they still a thing? Or some kind of book-of-the-month-club-type subscription?
I’d like to spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $100. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Yes e-Readers are still a thing, particularly Kindles, but you should see if he has one already. Some people read on tablets also.
Perhaps a good book light for reading at night without disturbing a partner would work. There are min-book shelves for organizing the stack of books near one’s bed.
There is the Bas Bleu catalog which specializes in gifts for readers. Most of them are T-shirts with witty sayings and the like but it might give you ideas.
If he is anal at keeping track of the books he read like I am, a book database might work. I have a thing called Book Organizer because it had to be flexible to do my magazines also, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it.
[=68.ARA1wlNfRf5v6rYg9QidLtlwp3yI2gWPlqHv7_NOLSQ4Zgy1ZwDl6jl2GxpmrxJOvX03ITZB8yIMZT_deJX0ES4D_dNMQ049ig6Bk2sQO8G_cXMvQKiZZ0ILN8vbhS2wZa9GSM_OgY2gzNa2HJfPy7AIOGtWkB9W9eUqogpe1XibPW_LrB7TB2trK8zA7u-OqCG9al2i0vg7WQ9oQGR_zLqtFQ3ePf9PIHyv7mxGatB4EJA4bdSLpFXg1TfoA1GsQ5FTCDHxWjH5GhjBqhF0kab_4pEh0j3mgJx2"]Book Lover Things](Redirecting...[0) has book t-shirts that are really good.
Speaking just for myself, reading a good book is only a small part of a wonderfully cozy, immersive experience. Picture me snuggled in a chair wearing a huge, oversized hoodie and sipping a nice mug of tea. Think of comfort inducing things that can be done while reading. Maybe a tea or wine of the month club?
A bit above the $100 limit, but snoop around and see if he has Amazon Prime ($119/year), if not, offer to get it for him. Give him a card with a note that states you’ll sign him up for for the first year. He’ll get access to a huge number of books including some free ones. He doesn’t need a dedicated E-reader, E-books can be read on almost any device from a smartphone to a PC. If he already has Amazon Prime, get him an Amazon gift card and recommend signing up for Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/hz/subscribe/ku?ref_=amb_link_2&_encoding=UTF8&shoppingPortalEnabled=true#.
Other than that, since book preferences are so personal, the best you can do is something ancillary like what Alpha Twit recommended.
Inspired by the thread about what I don’t want as a gift, I include books, music and movies. Unless it’s something you know I’ve been searching for without success, my tastes in those three areas are so specific and subject to change, even I sometimes I want it until I come across it.
I’m still a bit upset that my friend discouraged me from buying yet another Chinese to English dictionary that I saw at a used bookstore. :mad:
Some ideas based on Alpha Twit’s post – how about a slanket/snugee? Yes, they ads are goofy but I think they could work to help keep a reader cozy. How about noise-cancelling headphones?
Do you know if he’s got some treasured book classic favorite? If so, check if it’s available in some form at Litographs, who specialize in printing entire books onto shirts, blankets, scarves and the like, with nice designs related to the content. If he’s on the nerdy side, maybe a shirt with the full text of The Princess Bride, arranged such as to form a portrait of Inigo Montoya?
That’s exactly what I was going to suggest. I’ve got a picture (as in, hanging on a wall, picture) of a Wizard of Oz one from my mom. A year earlier I gave her a Great Gatsby one.
They’re popular enough that there’s a million different designs, but not quite well known enough that everyone has seen them.
I think I plug these bookmarks every year around this time. I linked to the solid inlay page because I like those best, but they have all kinds of beautiful stuff.
I was going to suggest the same thing, before I saw the $.
To improve your chances of getting something he really likes, try to find out more info about his reading habits, preferences, etc.
If he likes to read in bed - or has poor eyesight, you could get one of those little reading lights that clip-on to the book.
If he is a t-shirt/sweatshirt/coffee mug kinda guy, there are plenty of book lover things - either w/ saying, authors, or - say - the Library of Congress.
If he has a favorite author/book, you might look into getting a first edition or signed copy or something. Even if he has a copy, $100 can get something most book lovers would love to have on their shelves.
