Booking Through Thursday – Gifts
Do you like to give books as gifts?
I’m usually torn. I love giving and sharing books, but it can be hard. The giftee can be difficult to please, or you don’t know what they’ve read (or what they thought of books they have read). Even people who love to read and love to get books can be hard to gift books to … so, does that make you pause and reach for the neckties or DVDs or sweaters … anything BUT a book at gift-giving time? How do you feel about getting books yourself? Are you picky or easy? (For the record, I’m told I’m VERY hard to buy for, even though I’ll read just about anything … go figure.
I used to give a lot of books as gifts, but then I started encountering people not liking the book, or not having time for it, so I’ve basically stopped at this point. The only exception is if they put a specific book on their gift list, then I’m happy to buy it for them. Reading is a very subjective thing, so I find it easier to suggest a book to someone rather than outright give it to them. I’ll often reach for a book related gift card instead of a book itself.
Receiving books is another hard thing for me. I have a gigantic TBR list, but I’ve learned the hard way that I don’t necessarily want to own all those books. Not only do I not have room for them, but sometimes I end up reading one and it’s just such crap that I’m glad I don’t own it and can return it to the library. There are some authors that I will buy their work without even reading a review of the book, but even that’s difficult because I almost always preorder a book if it’s by someone I’m very fond of.
I’ve also reached a point in my life that I don’t love gift exchanges in general. I know I’m very difficult to buy for, and I know several people who are the same way, so I prefer to just take people to a nice dinner instead of having a big gift exchange. I’m one of those people who really wants to get just the right thing for someone, and I often end up stressing myself out over it when it really should be something enjoyable. So yeah, I try to talk people into not exchanging gifts with me, lol.
Thursday, January 10th 2013 at 3:51 pm |
For me, children are so easy to buy for, but when it comes to adults, gift cards to Amazon etc. are the best way to go.
Vicki recently posted..Booking Through Thursday: Books As Gifts
Friday, January 11th 2013 at 10:04 am |
I agree, buying for kids is much easier. If nothing else, I just think back to the books I loved as a kid and grab one of those. Amazon cards are definitely awesome for adults!
Thursday, January 10th 2013 at 4:00 pm |
Gift exchanges have diminished in my family until the kids are the only ones receiving…and they all want gift cards!
Here’s MY BTT POST
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Friday, January 11th 2013 at 12:22 pm |
Kids are funny that way, especially when they’re teens. That’s all my cousin really wants and he’s almost 22!
Friday, January 11th 2013 at 8:59 am |
Suggesting a book is a good idea too. Gift cards look like the idea of many for this week’s BTT question.
(Hazel Ceej on Bedight)
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Friday, January 11th 2013 at 12:26 pm |
I think gift cards have become much more common than they used to be. It’s easier on both the giver and the receiver
Friday, January 11th 2013 at 2:22 pm |
I give books as gifts to specific people like my sisters or best friends. I agree that it can be a really tricky thing.
I usually give my mom a list of books that I want at Christmas or my birthday for her to distribute to the family. They are usually books I have already read and decided I must own!
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Sunday, January 13th 2013 at 5:20 pm |
Ooo, giving a list of books you want is a great way to handle things, I think I might do that going forward. Makes it much easier than getting a random book you don’t really have interest in.
I have a few good friends who are also readers and I feel comfortable giving books to them, but otherwise I prefer to do gift cards. It seems to please people all around.
Saturday, January 12th 2013 at 10:07 am |
Books are subjective and can be difficult to gift. I love gift cards and I think they are so much more accepted as gifts these days. Especially with the ebook thing. Those are really hard to gift to people.
2 Kids and Tired Books BTT
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Sunday, January 13th 2013 at 5:22 pm |
It’s weird to say, but sometimes I know I don’t want a physical copy of a book taking up space on my shelves, so I prefer an ebook sometimes. There’s no way for someone else to know that, so it’s easier to get a card instead of physical books.
Monday, January 14th 2013 at 5:06 am |
I’m with you on gift giving in general and about receiving books as gifts. My TBR is so large that I’d rather not have books added to it (unless, of course, I’m adding them myself – LOL)
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