Nope, we’re not talking about the larva of a wood-boring beetle that feeds on the paper and glue used in books. Buying them a gift would be a little bit out there. Instead, we’re talking about your friend who loves to read books.
But you knew that anyway, right?
And we realise that for many, the ideal gift for a book lover is, obviously, a book. But in reality, buying a present for your pal who loves literature is harder than you think – they might already have that book, or read it, or dislike the author, or have asked for it from somewhere else…
The list goes on, and the pitfalls of present buying for a book lover only gets deeper.
We’re here to help you negotiate this tricky task. If you’re keen to dream up something unique, surprising and thoughtful for your friend, then you’ve come to the right place; here are 7 IDEAL gifts to give a bookworm this Christmas.
EBOOK VOUCHER
Assuming your bibliophile buddy already has an e-reader like a Kindle, Kobo Nook or iPad, then consider gifting some vouchers for them to use. Of course, the voucher will vary depending on which e-reading device they own – so make sure you find that out first – but giving the gift of autonomy is a much welcome present, don’t you think?
If buying a voucher is a little too impersonal, you could buy them a book online and set the delivery date for Christmas day. Alternatively, you could also put together a little Christmas eCard full of working coupons for their type of e-reader – a thoughtful gift if you’re a little strapped for cash this year.
Read: 5 IDEAL ways to save money on your festive shopping
E-BOOK PILLOW
Tired arms – they’re one of the chief occupational hazards of being an avid book reader. Indeed, the body often gives up before the mind when it comes to reading, with injuries sometimes sustained by those who truly love to read, all in pursuit of that last page. That’s why the invention of the e-book pillow is such a welcome one for bookworms.
Gifting your pal with an e-book pillow allows them to read with more durability and longevity than their arms alone could ever muster.
NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
A bookworm may well appreciate a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. A bookworm needs peace and quiet to concentrate on the chapter of their book – you know, the kind of silence you’d find in a library.
Noise-cancelling headphones can replicate this, helping to shut down the domestic life buzzing around them, other people on the train, and even the noise of roadworks and other disturbances. A pair of these headphones will not only help enhance your beloved bookworm’s reading experience, but they can also listen to their favourite audiobook and cancel out background noise in the process – a double whammy, indeed, but don’t expect to ever talk to them again!
A NIGHT OUT AT A LITERARY THEMED COCKTAIL BAR IN LONDON
If your bookworm friend likes a tipple or two, combine their love of books and booze by taking them to a literary themed cocktail bar.
- The Drawing Room –
- The Library Bar at The Lanesborough
- Martini Library at The Arch London
- Scarfes Bar
- Tiffany’s Library at The Covent Garden Hotel, London
- The Library at Electric House, London
If you hadn’t noticed, there are lots that go by the name of ‘library’ on this list – you could always turn it into a cocktail crawl of bars of the same name.
Or if you’re looking a little further afield, some of the best library-themed bars in the rest of world include Greydon House in Nantucket, The Library at The Nomad Hotel in New York, Pulitzer’s Bar in Amsterdam, Bar and Books in New York, and The Library Bar at Saint James, Paris. Speaking of travelling further afield…
A TRIP TO ONE OF THE WORLD’S OLDEST & MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOKSTORES
One of the best things about books is that they let you travel without moving your feet. But if you’re looking to splurge on your book loving pal, then why not take them on a trip to see one of the world’s most beautiful bookshops? Yep, we’re talking about Lello’s bookstore in Porto.
Not only is it one of the world’s oldest and most beautiful bookshops, but rumour has it that JK Rowling took inspiration from Lello’s for her Harry Potter books. With its winding staircase and intricate wooden interior, this place oozes a certain “Hogwartsian” ambience. Another rumour flying around is that the Hogwarts’ uniform was inspired by the black capes of Porto’s students…wow!
BATHROOM CADDY
Reading in the bath is one of life’s pleasures. Deploying a bathroom caddy during bathtime allows you to relax with a glass of wine balanced in front of you alongside that book, perfectly positioned at the right angle for reading. And no wet pages, too…bliss.
A MUG WARMER
Picture this; you settle down with a steaming cup of tea and your favourite book. You get completely gripped by the chapter you’re reading. But when you finally come to take a sip of your tea, it’s stone cold. For book readers, this is a common and annoying occurrence. The last thing you want to do is to get up to warm up your drink when you’re lost in the pages of a good book. The solution? A mug warmer, of course.
As the Independent explains, “Mug warmers come in the form of heated coasters or as mugs with heating elements to maintain a perfect drinking temperature, and some will even let you know when your drink gets there’’. Let us direct you to their article on the best mug warmers for 2021.
CANDLE THAT SMELLS LIKE BOOKS
Bibliosmia…we all love it, don’t we? Bibliosmia comes from the Greek words for ‘book’ and ‘smell’…that lovely smell of old books that so many savour is undeniable, but why is it so pleasurable?
As the guys over at Interesting Literature explain, “Bibliosmia or book-smell is caused by the chemical breakdown of compounds within the paper. What we’re smelling is the slow death of the book, albeit over a very long period of time”.
Some clever people have captured that smell in candle form. So, why not check out these 9 Candles That Smell Like Books from the guys over at Bustle? And with that, we’ll leave you to your book.