Books make excellent gifts, and there’s nothing nicer than browsing your local bookshop on a winter’s afternoon. But, if you’re unsure what they might like, or which books they already have on their shelves, the experience can be more stressful than soothing – especially when you’ve left it too late and Christmas is just days away. Or maybe you’re simply looking to branch out a little after buying books for one particular friend or family member for as long as you can remember. Whatever the circumstances, if you find yourself in search of gifts for book lovers that aren’t just books, you’ve definitely come to the right place. We have searched our favourite shops to find the perfect last-minute gifts for books lovers that will arrive in time for Christmas, and will delight keen readers all year long.
A book subscription
While this does still involve gifting books, it does not involve you having to choose them – and will be infinitely more exciting for the recipient to receive a surprise every month. There are many different services to choose from, but we’ve heard good things about The Willoughby Club, which offers a range of genre- and age-based subscriptions. If you’re unsure of someone’s specific reading tastes, you can opt for a lovely gift tin, which includes everything they will need to get their subscription set up. Simply choose the subscription length and the genre – fiction, crime or bespoke – and the rest will be done for you. If you’ve missed the final delivery deadline, fear not, as there are printable gift certificates and gift vouchers too.
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Another great option is Daunt Books, which has shops across and London and has its own subscription service for paperbacks, hardbacks, children’s books and cookery books. If you’re hoping to make a last-minute order, you can visit a local shop or give one of them a call to find out what might be possible. And you can always pop a little note into a Christmas card letting your friend or family member know a special delivery will be on its way soon.
A pair of bookends
Anyone with a keen interest in interiors as well as books is sure to appreciate some interesting bookends to help liven (and smarten) up their shelves. Whether they’ve got a wall of bookcases in their living room or a single bedroom shelf, these will always come in useful, and can be used together or separately. There is any number of lovely examples out there, and you will have the best idea of what will suit their aesthetic, but there are a couple that have caught our eye recently. We love the witty idea behind Carl Auböck’s design, which quite literally lends a helping hand to books prone to toppling, and the brass will age beautifully. For something a little funkier, how about a pair of handsome horse heads from Villa Bologna Pottery? Inspired by the company’s studio housed in former stables, they are also available in cream and dark green.
An evocative candle
Gone are the days when scented candles were considered unimaginative, clichéd presents, as there are now so many exquisite collections to choose from. To make it particularly personal, it’s always worth thinking about their favourite scents – for instance, is there something similar to their perfume or cologne? – or their favourite places. What could be more fitting for a bibliophile than a candle inspired by a traditional country-house library, with its leather-bound volumes and old wooden shelves? It might sound somewhat fantastical, but when you hear that True Grace’s ‘Library’ candle has notes wood, moss, fir balsam and smoky scents, you can begin to imagine just how evocative this scent really is. The same is true of the suitably named ‘Paper’ candle created by luxury publisher and bookseller Assouline, with its blend of cedar and sandalwood, and clove and vanilla base notes.
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A reading journal
If you know a keen reader who is also a lover of lists, or is an active member of a book club, then a reading journal is just the ticket. This one from Papier has space to review 32 books, with four pages per review, eight pages for reading wish lists, a tracker for books they’ve borrowed or lent, and even an address list for favourite bookshops, websites or places to read. It’s something they’re bound to come back to all through the year, and could well become one of your go-to gifts for book lovers in future years. A lovely journal would not be complete without an equally good-looking pen – we love this fountain pain by Abask, which has a precision-made German nib for the smoothest ink delivery and a very attractive resin casing. There are lots of different colours available so you’re sure to find something to suit every taste.
A proper reading light
The quiet days in between Christmas and New Year are made for hunkering down at home with a good book. However, with the days still short and quite possibly gloomy (the odds of a white Christmas are looking pretty slim), a good light is an essential accessory for any reading spot. Anglepoise ‘Original 1227’ desk lamps are both a design classic and a practical purchase thanks to their adjustable height and angle, which is ideal for reading in low light. It will work just as well on an occasional or bedside table as it does on a proper desk, while the floor-standing version looks great beside a comfortable armchair. There are various colours to choose from, too, including the heritage National Trust shades.
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A beautiful bookmark
Make sure they never lose their place again – or commit the cardinal sin of turning down the corners – by buying them the most beautiful of bookmarks. We’re not talking glorified pieces of paper or card that will soon end up scrappy and creased, but more substantial bookmarks that will stand the test of time and look just as good in a decade as it does now. Parisian goldsmith Christofle has create an intricate carved design in gilded metal, while Smythson’s bookmark is crafted from cross-grain leather and features a tab for securing pages (and if you order very quickly, you might still make the deadline for personalisation).
