# Please recommend a gift for a bookish friend **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 13, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102 "2005-10-13T17:59:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/1 "2005-10-13T17:59:56Z")
I have to find a gift for a friend who is a reader. She prefers, I think, lighter (non-psycho-butcher) mysteries and fantasy…and perhaps comedies of manners. For example, I think the _Silence of the Lambs_ subgenre is out, and the vague descriptions I gave her of George R.R. Martin’s _Song of Ice and Fire_ quite turned her off (too ruthless/bloody). Agatha Christie, Lord of the Rings, Wallace and Gromit, Jeeves & Wooster are “in”. I myslef haven’t been keeping up in that sort of literature for a while. Does anyone have any opinions and/or recommendations of books (or perhaps even DVD movies) that might appeal? Preferably something new or hard to obtain, as she’ll be likely to already have older stuff. Thanks immeasurably, Sailboat ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/2 "2005-10-13T18:08:58Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > I have to find a gift for a friend who is a reader. She prefers, I think, lighter (non-psycho-butcher) mysteries and fantasy…and perhaps comedies of manners. Seems like [Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1582344167/qid=1129226874/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-5662855-7044667?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) would fill the bill nicely. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/3 "2005-10-13T18:15:13Z")
If she hasn’t read them, the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series is good. Actually more comedy of manners than mysteries. Most of the time there isn’t even a murder. Alexander McCall Smith, the author, also has a couple of other series going and I think there is a new one with his Scottish detective, whose name I can’t remember at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/4 "2005-10-13T18:25:02Z")
Elmore Leonard, J.A. Jance and Carl Hiaasen are excellent mystery writers w/o much of the shock and gore. All are fairly prolific and probably have new books out. They all have good charactor development. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/5 "2005-10-13T18:31:49Z")
Just realized this might be a thread for the Cafe Society forum, although I am loking for opinions. Apologies to anyone who finds it mis-posted. 🙂 Thanks for the suggestions so far! They look interesting. 🙂 Sailboat ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/6 "2005-10-13T18:42:28Z")
I love Charles de Lint. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/7 "2005-10-13T19:55:04Z")
Is she a fan of Sherlock Holmes? You might try [The Beekeeper’s Apprentice](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0553381520/qid=1129233232/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-0797814-9226257?v=glance&s=books). There are several in this series with Sherlock Holmes as an older man and his young female apprentice. ---
**Author:** ![GrahamWellington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/54ee81/32.png) [@GrahamWellington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrahamWellington)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/8 "2005-10-13T20:31:55Z")
Why not the trilogy box-set by Dr. Michael Savage of “The Savage Nation” (a brilliant nationally syndicated radio talk show host that describes himself as being an independant conservative). He’s on the radio in many parts of the country (USA) for three hours a day, five days a week. Check him out – he’s the best! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Penchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Penchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penchan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/9 "2005-10-13T20:43:50Z")
I’m an absolute sucker for [Mercedes Lackey](http://www.mercedeslackey.com/text/1biblio2.shtml). I’ve read the entire Valdemar series at least 5 times. And it’s about 25 novels! It’s pretty light-hearted and fun to read in bed. ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/10 "2005-10-13T21:23:56Z")
If she hasn’t read Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books, they’re hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/11 "2005-10-13T21:38:17Z")
> [@Snakescatlady](#): > > I love Charles de Lint. I second him. He writes pretty light urban fantasy, with interesting, fun characters. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/12 "2005-10-13T21:41:13Z")
And how could I forget the \*\*Thursday Next/b] series by Jasper Fforde. It’s about detectives who investigate “crimes against literature,” with plenty of nods to book-lovers. Probably find it in the fantasy section. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/13 "2005-10-13T21:48:02Z")
Check [amazon.com](http://amazon.com) to see if she has a wish list. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/14 "2005-10-13T21:52:27Z")
From what I’ve read of Patricia C. Wrede’s “[The Enchanted Forest Chronicles](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0152229000/qid=1129239958/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/002-6134649-8458405?v=glance&s=books)” they are funny, and enjoyable to adults. Does she own Ursula K. Le Guin’s "[The Earthsea Quartet](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0140154272/qid=1129238960/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/002-6134649-8458405?v=glance&s=books) "? If she already owns those four, then maybe “[Tales from Earthsea](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0441009328/ref=pd_sim_b_4/002-6134649-8458405?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance)” or “[The Other Wind](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/044100993X/ref=pd_sim_b_5/002-6134649-8458405?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance)” would be in order? (The Other Wind is **excellent** IMO.) I like Diane Duane’s “[The Book Of Night With Moon](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0446673021/qid=1129239076/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-6134649-8458405?v=glance&s=books)”. “[The Gratitude of Kings](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0451456416/qid=1129239553/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-6134649-8458405?v=glance&s=books)” as well as "[Lythande](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0886771544/qid=1129239102/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-6134649-8458405?v=glance&s=books)"by Marion Zimmer Bradley are both good. Would she like [The Cat Who](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0515090174/qid=1129238895/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-6134649-8458405?v=glance&s=books) series? Mercedes Lackey is a good author too, particularily her “[Bedlam’s Bard](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0671878638/qid=1129240137/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-6134649-8458405?v=glance&s=books)” series. (But also her [Halfblood Chronicles](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0812511751/qid=1129240232/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-6134649-8458405?v=glance&s=books), which she wrote with Andre Norton.) ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/15 "2005-10-13T21:57:44Z")
Adding, there is a fairly [new](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0743499050/ref=pd_sim_b_3/002-6134649-8458405?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance) book in the Bedlam’s Bard series too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/16 "2005-10-13T22:24:14Z")
Dorothy Sayers. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/17 "2005-10-13T22:33:35Z")
Caroline Graham has a series of cozy English Inspector-type mysteries that I like. She has a way with peripheral characters and village life. There aren’t very many in the series and I was pleased to find the lasted one at the library today. The Burglar series by Lawrence Block another fun and humorous mystery series. She should stay away from Block’s other series, though, with Matthew Scudder. Those are dark and nasty. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/18 "2005-10-13T23:17:49Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Is she a fan of Sherlock Holmes? You might try [The Beekeeper’s Apprentice](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0553381520/qid=1129233232/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-0797814-9226257?v=glance&s=books). There are several in this series with Sherlock Holmes as an older man and his young female apprentice. These are quite good. Heartily seconded. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/19 "2005-10-13T23:20:08Z")
I would _love_ to have a Levenger book weight! ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102/20 "2005-10-13T23:35:21Z")
Just an alternate suggestion. How 'bout finding a reasonably well-written bok, but an antique book? Something from the 19th or early 20th century? If you stay away from rare books, these can be sometimes purchased for a really reasonable price. Only a thought. I did this once for a co-worker, an antique book on creatures of the sea and she loved it. The ol-time misconceptions only added to its charm. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-gift-for-a-bookish-friend/326102.md?page=2)