Last Minute Christmas Gifts For The Bookish People In Your Life
If you’re anything like me, 2020 has been a half-caffeinated, half-tipsy blur of meaningless days, accentuated by some memorably wonderful — and, sadly, some memorably horrible — books.
While it might seem like the pandemic and the long periods of isolation it necessitated should result in having more time to get stuff done, the associated malaise seems to zap away these minutes and hours, leaving us precariously close to Christmas.
Have no fear, though, there is still plenty of time to get that perfect gift for the bookish friend or family member on your list.
As you’re finishing up your — hopefully virtual — Christmas shopping, consider the following options, all of which will surprise and delight your favorite book lover.
1. Independent Bookstore Gift Certificates or Subscriptions
If someone near and dear to your heart is rarely seen without a book in their hands, piling a stack of new reads under the tree might seem like a logical choice. But, as anyone who has ever tried to shop for a book hoarder — errr, I mean collector — knows, finding a book that your bookish loved one doesn’t already have on their shelf is certainly a challenge.
Solve this problem by turning to your local — or favorite distant — independent bookstore.
Though most think of independent bookstores as small little idylls, tucked away in obscure corners of town — basically a secret hiding place for the bookish — the 21st century demand for convenience in general, and the complexities of 2020 in particular, have led many to develop surprisingly robust online shopping platforms.
St. Louis’s Left Bank Books, for example, offers both physical gift certificates and — perfect for the last-minute gift-giver — eGift codes for purchase on the store website.
If you want something a little more distinctive than an egift card, consider a subscription or gift pack.
Gathering Volumes, a northwest Ohio independent bookstore located in suburban Perrysburg, offers several thoughtful options for shoppers near and far. Delight your gift recipient not just on Christmas, but in the months to come with a 6-month book subscription. Recipients of one of these subscriptions, which are available in a variety of genres and reading levels, will receive one book per month in the mail.
Even more personalizable, Gathering Volumes also offers fully customizable bookish care packages — which owner, Denise, will assemble based on your specifications. These packages can be shipped or, if your gift recipient happens to live in the area, locally delivered.
2. Bookish Subscription Box
Subscription boxes are all the rage and, if you’ve ever tried one, you can probably understand why. In this cold, cruel world, receiving a monthly box of happiness is such a simple delight.
Few people, I would argue, love subscription boxes quite as much as the bookish.
Regardless of your recipients personal preferences, you can almost certainly find a bookish box to suit.
If your gift recipient loves the prospect of getting gifts just as much as they like books, consider the Once Upon a Book Club box. This monthly box comes not just with a new book to read, but also loaded up with themed presents. Each present is labelled with a page number — and each corresponding page number is marked with a reminder post-it. As your loved one reads, they can enjoy a wave of book-related presents paired perfectly with the title featured in the month’s box.
Conversely, if the loved one you are buying for has Marie Kondo-ed their life and only wants items around that truly “spark joy,” consider a box that is light on clutter but heavy on conversation, the Literati Book Club Box.
Allow your gift recipient to select from book clubs curated — and participated in — by change-makers in the world, including Stephen Curry, Richard Branson, and Malala. Each month, your loved one will receive a new book in the mail. By downloading the Literati app — now available on Apple and Android — they can participate in an ongoing series of discussions about the month’s pick.
3. Bookish Wearables
Give your book lover exactly what they need to loudly declare their love of books: a wearable.
While lots of larger stores sell adorable bookish wares, the best options, I would argue, can be found via independent contractors.
Obviously, one downfall of waiting until this late in the game to support an etsy shop or other independent vendor is that your gift probably won't actually make it to your recipient by Christmas. But this is 2020 and the rules of time don't exist. The only rules that do exist are the rules of space — 6 feet of space, that is.
Making up for the fact that your gift might be ever-so-slightly delayed is the fact that ordering online actually makes it easier to get your gift into the hands of the recipient — who you probably shouldn't see face to face this year anyway — while avoiding the post office.
So what do I give them on Christmas day, you might be asking? Simple, print a snapshot of your gift and tuck it in your card or take some time and build a beautiful e-greeting, letting them know that Santa’s taking a bit more time to procure the perfect present this year.
For an ever-evolving stock of bookish — and political… and Schitt’s Creek-y…— shirts at impossibly affordable prices, check out the QueenBeeReads etsy shop. Your gift recipient can not only wear their new comfy garb, but also connect via social media with the spunky curator of this adorable corner of the eCommerce world.
Is your gift recipient a fan of the classics? How about a Pemberley Sweatshirt from LinaStudioDesign. It’s sure to warm them up just as fast as Colin Firth coming out of that murky lake in a wet shirt.*
*Results not guaranteed.
4. Author Event Admission
What better gift for a truly book-obsessed individual than face-time with their favorite author?
While face-to-face events haven’t quite made their way back into the mix just yet, authors are still out there — virtually — promoting their upcoming reads. Because these events are virtual, they are even easier to attend. Thanks to the magic of the internet, your bookish friend can see Robyn Harding speak at a bookstore in Edmonton from their living room in Orlando, for example
Some author promotional events are entirely free — and definitely worth exploring — readers are often able to get more up close and personal with their favorite authors — at least as up close and personal as social distancing will allow — at admission-required events. These events are often put on in conjunction with independent bookstores and admission is commonly equal — or similar to — the cost of a copy of the author’s latest release..
To find bookish events featuring your reader’s favorite author, go to the author’s website or Facebook page. From there, picking an event is easy, just consider the date and your budget to find the perfect meet-and-greet to delight your favorite book reader.
5. Printable Reading Journal
Looking for an incredibly budget-friendly option that will look like it set you back a lot more? Use a little elbow grease and transform a simple printable into an under-the-tree-worthy gift. Also beneficial, because these items are downloadable you can get them in your hot-little-hands immediately — even if you wait until Christmas Eve when you’re half a bottle of prosecco into the night to shop.*
*Purely made-up example. In no way based on the actual behavior of any human, alive or dead.
Buy the downloadable reading journal from LifeUnderControl, a little piece of happiness that will only cost you $7.08. Print out the journal and pop it into a binder, glue the pages into a bullet journal, or have them bound together at a local print shop. Every time your reader opens the journal to track their reading progress, they will think of you.
For an even less expensive option, download and print a book tracker from thepeachypolkadot. This cute-as-a-button tracker will fit right into their existing journal. Or, if your recipient isn’t a journaler, print it out and pop it into a frame. Leave the glass out so your reader can update it without having to unframe it each time.
