Gifts for a Bibliophile (except books, of course!)

Giving gifts is often the hardest thing to do unless you are gifting something to book lovers. Then the entire bookish community opens up to you, giving suggestions. The easiest and the best gift to give to a book lover is always a copy of the book on their TBR (to-be-read), but there are always other bookish items that a bibliophile would always treasure.

1.       Stylish Bookmarks

I am sure I am right when I say that there are never enough bookmarks for a booklover. I know how I leave spoons, torn paper and basically anything I find handy inside books, using them as bookmarks. But ever since I started using actual bookmarks with either paintings on them or sketches of my favorite characters or some of my favorite quotes, I have realised that bookmarks are quite fun. There are many online stores that sell customised bookmarks but I suggest searching for an artist on Instagram, someone who creates bookmarks and lives in the same city as you. Supporting small ventures is always suggested and you can get as many bookmarks as you want with barely any shipping cost.

2.       Book sleeves

Bookbeau on Instagram as well as The Bookworm Box sell fantastic book sleeves which can keep books safe and are stylish for one to carry. Bibliophiles are in the habit of carrying a book with them no matter where they go, but the problem with paperback that are much easier to carry is that if proper care is not taken, the book gets damaged. The edges of the book often get curved or the pages might get folded which ruins the appearance of the book. Moreover, your hands might start sweating from holding the book for too long. Keeping it in a bag is not too safe either because the book might get folded inside the bag too. So, book sleeves are just a protection for the books. You can find various designs and gift a book sleeve that you think your book-loving friend might like.

3.       Harry Potter Wand keychain

Who doesn’t like Harry Potter? Harry Potter Wand Keychain will ensure that whoever you give the gift to will remember you whenever they use their keys. It is quite fun carrying a wand around at all times and makes one feel like a wizard. Moreover, it is easily available on Amazon and any other e-commerce portal. Apart from just Harry Potter keychain, you can also find Game of Thrones Keychain, Lord of the Rings Keychains and many other designs. Depending on the person you are giving the gift to, you can choose which keychain you want to gift or just buy different keychains and gift an entire set.

4.       Literary Tote bags

Plastic bags are way out of fashion, so if your friend likes to shop, you can give her a literary tote bag that she can use for book shopping. Hookedtobooks store also has a Read More tote bag and Bookish Tote Bag that you can buy. It will not only look fantastic while carrying but also give motivation to the book lover to keep reading more and buying more books.

5.       Bookish Tees

I, much like many other bibliophiles, fangirls and fanboys love nothing more than to wear my heart out on my sleeve and by that I mean, to wear bookish T-shirts, tank tops and Hoodies. I have plenty of T-shirts in my collection like “The book was better”, Sherlock themed T-Shirt, Tardis Hoodie and what not. You can choose a T-shirt based on the preference of the person you are giving the gift, just make sure to guess the size right.

6.       Mini-folding Book lamp

I first saw this lamp on Khubaibliophile’s profile on Instagram and when he mentioned that it was a gift from his wife, my only thought was that it is such a perfect gift. The mini-folding book lamp can be used not only to read leisurely in a dark room but also for creating beautiful pictures. When lit up, the mini-folding book lamp looks like a magic book. The lamp actually looks like it is a book and you can keep it anywhere in the room, it will look just as beautiful. It is one of the best gifts for any book lover.

7.       Scented candles

Scented candles are really relaxing but if those candles are book-themed, they become the best bookish gift. These days, so many book-themed scented candles are available in the market and whether the person you are buying the gift for is a Young Adult Fantasy fan, or a Hopeless Romantic or likes classic literature more, you can find a matching scented candle set for them. The candles are scented to remind you of the characters and the premise of the book.

8.       Gift a Book Box

Keeping the best for the last, the online e-commerce world is filled with amazing book boxes with Owlcrate and The Books n Beyond Box being the best of all. But you can always choose to gift a book box that suits your budget and is to your liking. A book box can contain all the items mentioned above and if they do not, you can always gift a customized book box. You can also try assembling the book box yourself with hand-made bookmarks and accessories. There are plenty of DIY videos on youtube that can teach you how. Depending on the person for whom you are getting the gift, you can decide on a book box online or do the hard work yourself.

There are many other bookish gifts that can be given like literary postcards, Bibliophile Journal, Beautiful notebooks & stationery, Kindle or other e-reading devices or bookish mugs. Even if you don’t find much in the stores near you, internet has opened up the market so much that you can find all these things online. I would recommend browsing social media sites and trusting word of mouth over written reviews though. You can find Bookstagrammers who have their own e-stores and book lovers who are also artists creating such literary gifts.