:smack: OK, need to preview post better.
A well-written book
and old-time misconseptions
Sorry…
And old-time misconceptions
That’s it. Quitting before I make it even worst…er, worse! :wally
The Book Of Weird
Do not discount the last one, just because you would have to get it used. It is magnificently odd.
This is what I was going to recommend.
The trouble with shopping for readers (and I speak as one) is that if a book would really appeal to them, they may have already bought it or read it. For that reason, don’t forget book-related gifts, like the Levenger book weight already mentioned. The Levenger catalog has lots of other ideas, many of which can be obtained in less expensive versions elsewhere.
Another possibility is a reference book related to the field she likes; fans don’t always buy these for themselves. Some reference books related to the mystery field are here.
Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society.
BTW, another Mercedes Lackey fan here.
I think the idea of antique(ish) books is a nice one. A friend of mine bought a set of Enid Blyton’s “Famous Five” novels in 50s hardback versions for his step-son as a present, and although I’m, ahem, a fair bit older than the kid, I was so jealous.
If she likes mysteries, a set of a writer she likes in those Penguin green and white paperbacks, or the Gollancz yellow hardbacks would be imaginative and not something she’d likely buy for herself.
In fact if you know of a book she’s very fond of, a hardcover version, even second-hand would be a lovely gift.
Or a nice set of a children’s series she enjoys, such as the Narnia books might be something she’d enjoy … I’ve seen the Narnia series in a boxed set which would be an attractive gift.
And if you want to buy her something new, can I recommend Connie Willis’ “To Say Nothing of the Dog”, which is both mystery, fantasy and comedy of manners.
second janet evanovich, so very funny.
good heavens, carl hiassen is rather gory and shocking. according to him there are no e.r.s in florida. people just drive about with the head of pit bulls stuck to their arms!
more in the cosy mystery line:
donna andrews, funny and great titles. crouching buzzard, leaping loon is my fav.
anne george, her southern sisters series is really fun.
gillian roberts has an interesting phila pa series.
sharyn mccrumb has some very interesting books and a cool last name.
I adore Mercedes Lackey!! I have every single one of the Valdemar books, the Dragon Jousters trilogy, and am anxiously awaiting the third book of the Obsidian Trilogy. I’ve read every single one of them many, many times. 
That’s a good point. Many times when a friend buys me a book I have to return it because I have already read it.
Amazon gift certificates?
Most of my friends now get me gift certificates, either to Amazon or to Boarders. I love them, since reading is one of the things I do most often and take great pleasure from.
OTOH, one of my all time favorite gifts is from an ex-girlfriend who, knowing I liked books, went to a book-signing and got me a signed copy of a mystery novel. OK, the book and the author sucked, but the amount of thought and effort that went into the gift made it a big deal to me. I still think of her regularly.
BORDERS.
Borders.
I am feeling anally retentive today.
fnord.
FNORD
No. Borders is the national book chain. *Boarders *is a local book store that has been here since the dawn of time.
OK, I made that up.
Has your friend heard of P.G. Wodehouse?
I recommend The P.G. Wodehouse Omnibus or some other such compilation of Wodehouse’s short (or shorter) work.
If the anthology includes “Pig Soooey,” or “The Empress at Blandings,” so much the better. The Crime Wave at Blandings is a truly wonderful novel, and it’s both a mystery and a comedy of manners.
Mary Daheim writes a series of mysteries set in a bed and breakfast. They’re light, entertaining and frequently funny.
For light, humorous fantasy, I’d suggest the Myth Adventures series by Robert Asprin. They are fun and filled with wretched puns, the best kind of wretched, the kind that make you groan.
He also started a SF series, all of which have the word “Phule” in the title. He only wrote the first one or two. The ones that list a co-author are very labored and to be avoided.
If you’ve spent any time on this board, then you’ve seen the name Terry Pratchett mentioned. The Discworld books are great but don’t start her with the first 4 or 5. Maybe the subseries written about the witches would appeal to your friend. They are very funny but the humor often runs hand in hand with serious looks at politics, myths and incredible characterization. I’d also suggest the YA series that follows a young girl who is learning to be a witch,. Her name is Tiffany Aching. There is also a great take on the Pied Piper legend for YA called The Amazing Maurice & His Educated Rodents. Maurice is a cat conspiring with a troop of rats that’ve become intelligent by scavenging a garbage dump behind a wizard’s university. One of the rats develops a rat written language that is both funny and profound.