Last week my Bookish Question of the Week post simply disappeared. My subscribers received the notification in their inbox but an old link presented itself when they tried to go to the blog. Very weird! In any event, I’m trying again!
I asked about book gifts – are you planning to give books as gifts at Christmas? If so, which ones? Fiction or non-fiction? Picture books or Bibles? I rarely receive books as gifts – everyone is too scared that I will already have it! And rightly so. But I love to give books as presents and love searching for the right kind. My dad loves a good legal thriller, my mum prefers a realistic story. My sister loves a well developed Amish tale, and my eldest thrives on the classics. My husband opts for the DVD!!
Over the weekend, however, I realised I could do more with books than just give them as Christmas gifts! They make a great decoration, too. After dusting and re-stacking overflow books (ones that don’t fit on my shelves!) that sit on a coffee table, I decided to pull them all off again and create a book Christmas tree, many of which you may have already seen on FB and other social sites. Here is my effort, complete with battery operated lights and book reading “angel” on the top!
So my convoluted question is what is your plan for books this Christmas? Gifts, decorations, or something else entirely?
December 1, 2014 at 1:02 pm
None of my family members are big readers, other than myself! My mom reads many different Christian authors in the nonfiction department, though I can never remember which ones, and unlike me she doesn’t have a wish list with over 100 books on it. Basically, while I wish I could buy a bunch of books as gifts and pass the joy around, occasionally one or two will be it for gifts. As for me….it’s most of what my wish list consists of! As well as another bookcase to put next to the new one I got last year, since both of my bookcases are full and overflowing!
December 1, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Also Rel, I LOVE your book tree! I just keep all mine stacked this way and that on my shelves because I like having them where I can see them all–it’s a weird quirk of mine. And I also loved seeing how many books I recognized and/or own of yours! Only a small number of my friends read the books I do (though I pass quite a few around) so it makes me so happy!
December 6, 2014 at 11:16 pm
Thank you, Marie!! Love that your wishlist is as long as mine 🙂
December 1, 2014 at 4:45 pm
Wow, now that is a great way to deal with those book piles you’ve been bemoaning. I love it!
I’ve decided that I am the book aunty. My brothers both have very much younger children than I do, so they are still at the picture book stage. I have a bit of an obsession for children’s picture books so it’s a perfect fit for me!! Miss Mischief and Mr Busy love to receive books as well so I always have them write me a list. In fact, Mr Busy re-reads books about 20 bazillion times so he gets more than his money’s worth out of them.
December 6, 2014 at 11:17 pm
I need to make a few more, Tracy, as you well know! You are a kindred spirit for many reasons – our mutual love of book giving is just one of them 🙂
December 1, 2014 at 9:32 pm
My Mum gives me at least 1 book every year – I usually tell her which ones I want and then pretend to forget she is getting them.
It depends on the year whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, although these days it’s usually non-fiction, such as a devotional book.
Sometimes I give books as gifts, but usually only if they are on someone’s wish list.
December 6, 2014 at 11:17 pm
Love it, Beth 🙂
December 2, 2014 at 12:18 am
I give books every year to a few of my family members. My husband’s aunt always gets the newest John Grisham. My husband gets last year’s Grisham — mostly because we are cheap and he likes a paperback best. ;). My youngest son sent me his Amazon wish list, so he will get 2 from that. Still debating on whether to get my daughter a journaling Bible that she mentioned last night. Anyone know of a good one?
December 6, 2014 at 11:18 pm
Sounds like you are well organised, Beckie!
December 2, 2014 at 1:19 am
I love it. Bravo! I’ve always wanted to try this. I like the table top idea.
We are doing toddler friendly Christmas decor. 🙂
December 6, 2014 at 11:18 pm
Very wise, Juju – we are well past the toddler stage but the books were in piles on that table so thought I might as well make it look pretty 🙂
December 7, 2014 at 3:58 am
I love it. So cute. I look forward to letting my girls make a book tree some day. And the table top idea is so clever.
December 2, 2014 at 4:48 am
Oooh fun question, Rel! I have to agree; my friends and family are always hesitant to buy me books for Christmas 😀 i think I’m going to give A Robertson Family Christmas to my aunts and mom for Christmas. It’s such a sweet stories and with more people discovering the Robertsons through Sadie and DWTS, i think it’ll be a fun gift 😀
Do you have a novel wish list? I know you must have so many on your TBR pile its hard to pick more, I’m sure.
Shaina @Crazy4Fiction
December 6, 2014 at 11:21 pm
I do have a wishlist, actually, Shaina 🙂 Usually ABA books, as you can imagine! People have been recommending Susannah Kearsley. Rae Carson, Kiera Cass, and Julianne Donaldson so I must remember to let them know. Thanks for the nudge to do so 🙂
December 2, 2014 at 5:54 am
I love to give books as gifts but generally they have to be extra-special, unique books. Like when I found nice copies of old, out-of-print books that my sister and I loved as kids so I gave them to her for Christmas and her birthday a few years ago. (Komantcia by Harold Keith and Mistress Malapert by Sally Watson.) I got my father The Poisoner’s Handbook by Deborah Blum and Looking for Calvin and Hobbes by Nevin Martell a few years ago – he loves unique historical nonfiction and anything to do with Calvin & Hobbes. And a few years ago I gave my brother the Narnia Chronicles and a box of hot cocoa. When we were in elementary school, we went through a phase were we would get up extra early every morning and drink hot cocoa while I read the entire series aloud, just the two of us. It’s a fond memory and I’m sure he appreciates having his own collection now. 🙂
Meanwhile, one of my favorite gifts ever was when my sister surprised me with a copy of Stories in Stone by Douglas Keister. I love the peacefulness and history of cemeteries so it was a unique and special gift right up my alley!
December 6, 2014 at 11:22 pm
Oh, I adore this, Sparks of Ember – such careful thought put into gifts that hold wonderful memories, too. Love it!
December 2, 2014 at 10:06 am
Nice tree!!
Hmmm, books this Christmas?
Maybe finish one and start another? 😉
December 6, 2014 at 11:22 pm
Glad you like my tree!!!
December 2, 2014 at 10:18 am
Can I just say that I love your book tree? It’s fab! Thanks for sharing. 🙂 As for bookish gifts, I doubt I’ll be giving any. The only other person of my acquaintance who loves to read as much as I is my mother and due to her health, she doesn’t read much anymore. And I’m like you, I don’t get books as gifts very often because nobody seems to know what to get for me. I’ve generously offered to make a list, but usually I get giftcards so I can pick them out myself. Which isn’t a bad thing at all! 🙂
Oh! And I definitely use books as decorations. As I have too many to fit on my shelves, they overflow everywhere in my house. One of these days, I’ll try my own book tree.
December 6, 2014 at 11:24 pm
Thanks Kara 🙂 What is up with your friends, girl?!?! I’m sure they are fabulous but I think we need to find you some book loving buddies, too xo
December 2, 2014 at 10:20 am
I bought The Secret of Pembrooke Park (Julie Klassen) as a gift, but I’m reading it before wrapping it!
December 6, 2014 at 11:24 pm
Ha, Virginia! My grandma used to do that, too. All in the name of seeing if it was appropriate, of course 😉
December 2, 2014 at 10:56 am
Yup, I’m a chronic book giver. I tell my husband that if I ever want to be published I have to do my bit to keep the publishers in business! My two nephews will be getting picture books, my sister-in-law and cook book and I’m agonizing over my husband who is super super picky. Help! He did just read Patrick Carr’s fantasy series and enjoyed those. Any recommendations?!
December 6, 2014 at 11:26 pm
Mmmm…has he read David Eddings? I adored them and there are heaps if he enjoys them. Start with Pawn of Prophecy and go from there. NB. Not CF book but some great spiritual analogies throughout.
Karen Hancock, Kathy Tyers, Jim Rubart…
December 2, 2014 at 2:37 pm
I always ask for books for Christmas. And birthdays. And random days in between.
As for giving books? Not much. On occasion, I’ll give my dad one when a favorite author of his has a book come out around Christmas. Otherwise, he already has it. My mom and sister aren’t fiction readers. And my husband is a pastor so he’s usually asking for a few books he needs for whatever book of the Bible he’s preaching on the next year. My mother-in-law always enjoys an Amazon gift card so I guess we kinda sorta give her books.
I do wish I could give more books as gifts! But not a lot of people in my gift-giving circle are readers. Which makes me sad.
December 6, 2014 at 11:27 pm
I think it is always hard for those of us who LOVE reading novels to understand that others don’t, right, Sally? That said, I’m a strong believer that in most cases it’s because they haven’t found the right book for them!
December 3, 2014 at 2:49 pm
I love to give (and receive) books as gifts. My daughters are easy to buy for since I know which ones they already have. For others, sometimes it’s just easier to give a gift card from a bookstore. Then I know the recipient will get the book they want.
December 6, 2014 at 11:28 pm
Good plan, Kandi, although I do love to give an actual book if I can as I’m sure you do, too.