20 Amazing Bookish Gifts for Book Lovers
A book lover doesn't just read books. Spending hours after hours, head down in a riveting read is undoubtedly an essential part of being an active member of the book community. Still, there are several more creative ways bookworms can showcase their love for classics and bestsellers. In order to do that, every bibliophile needs a variety of bookish gifts to complement their reads. Whether it is gathering props for that perfect bookstagram photo, decorating your bookshelf, or making a fashion statement, here are 20 fantastic bookish gifts for every book lover.
Bookmarks
An essential item in a bookworm's arsenal is the bookmark. Well, unless you prefer a Kindle or commit blasphemy by dog-earring pages. Available in different shapes, sizes, and themes, it's always good to have multiple bookmarks lying around the house at any given time. A few simple ones with literary quotes are perfect to gift along with a book but go with something unique, like snuggly little animals with books to find your reading experience elevated to a new level.
Booklight
The urge to read can come up at any given moment. To keep it under control, one must always carry a book and have a booklight close. After all, nothing is more annoying than being two pages away from knowing the identity of a killer, and your partner turns off the light, making it impossible to continue reading. There are cute and functional booklights aplenty in the market. Pick one that you can easily carry while traveling.
Postcards
Put them on walls, send one to a friend, convert one into a bookmark, or use it as a background for a photo, there are several different book-themed postcard boxes that you can buy these days. We suggest picking up the classic Penguin Postcards, and you will be the envy of all your book-loving friends.
Mugs
A warm cup of coffee or tea has a strange way of complimenting a book of any genre. The whole idea of sitting by the window, drinking a hot drink, and reading a book is dream-like. Add to this doable fantasy by picking up a bookish mug that results in every sip being that extra bit special while simultaneously making a statement about your love for books.
Tote Bags
Bookworms have been carrying totes from long before the whole no-plastic-bags movement started. Visits to the bookstore or the library especially require a sturdy tote bag to bring back those heavy hardbacks. While typically any cloth bag will do, a book-themed one speaks volumes about your bookish temperament.
Funko Pop Figures
They add a bit of color and quirkiness to your work desk or look funky amongst all the books on your shelf. They even get you extra likes if you show them off on Instagram. Funko Pop figures are hip, usually inexpensive, and cover hundreds of characters from the book and film world. The Harry Potter ones are unsurprisingly famous, and so is the Stan Lee figure. However, try and get one of the rare Edgar Allen Poe Funko Pops for an insanely unique addition to your collection.
Author-Signed Books
A must-have for any book lover, author-signed books are no less than a collector's item. If you manage to get a personal note directly from the writer, all the better. Do remember to keep them safe though, as many signed books can be worth a good amount of cash after a while.
Pins and Badges
An affordable way to showcase your love for reading is through enamel pins and badges. Some of them are bespoke, made and sold by individual artists, while others are promotional items used by publishers to advertise books. Either way, you can pin them to your denim jacket, on your backpack, or stick a magnet behind them and display them on your refrigerator.
Penguin Classics
When it comes to collecting books, there's a whole lot that you can do. It can be first editions, a particular series, or all the books by your favorite author. However, the love people have for Penguin classics sees no bounds. The publisher recently took out a revised set of its Penguin Orange books, like The Crucible, with decorative cover art, which is an excellent purchase. However, the real charm is in searching secondhand bookstores for the "original" Penguin orange, blue, green, and pink covers that date back a few decades.
Jewelry
Pendants, earrings, bangles, you name it, and there's a bookish jewelry item out there to match your style. Designers get really creative these days, making all kinds of things that are both fashionable and distinct. Buy a set of earrings in the shape of a typewriter or a pendant with the famous quote by Frank Zappa "So many books, so little time," and see how everyone at your next book-meet praises your bookish buys.
Stationery
A true bibliophile has an inherent desire for all things stationery. It doesn't matter what kind, but the more bookish it is, the better. From pens, pencils, markers, to Post-its for footnotes, and journals to keep track of your reviews, bookworms love to have an entire set of stationery knick-knacks everywhere they go.
Phone and Kindle Case
While most readers still prefer to hold a book in their hands, tablets and Kindle do make it easy to read stories anytime and anywhere. So, to show off your preference for novels, select a phone or Kindle case that has a book theme.
Bookends
Another one of those necessary book buys, bookends are a fabulous way to display your collection on a desk or a table in your guest room. While the books between the ends are equally essential, choose a quaint bookend like ravens on a skull to surprise visitors with a freakishly intriguing decoration piece.
Candles
It might seem a bit odd since fire and paper don't really get along, but an emerging contemporary trend is that of book scented candles. The smell of antique books is particularly popular amongst readers. You can always keep an unburnt candle nearby, sniffing up the scent ever so often, or else, burn it carefully to create that perfect reading ambiance.
Subscription Box
It would be wrong to continue talking about books and not indulge in activities that actually involve buying new reads. Subscription boxes are an outstanding alternative to bookstores, wherein readers can get the latest books from top publishers delivered to their homes. Most subscriptions come with added paraphernalia like coffee, mugs, book covers, and bookmarks, making them all the more appealing.
Personal Stamp
Every die-hard bibliophile is extremely possessive about their books. They guard them with their lives and, in most cases, will even refuse lending of their prized possessions. Still, people borrow and forget, or in some cases, books do get mixed up. To avoid any such problems, invest in a personal stamp that you can then imprint on all your books, claiming your birth given right on them for eternity.
Posters
If sports fans can put up posters of athletes and movie buffs of celebrities, it's only apt that bookworms have a few posters of their favorite quotes or novels on their walls. Vintage art prints are particularly cool and make your room look all the more sophisticated. If you want to really impress, put up a book wallpaper, so that even if you don't have a personal library, you're still surrounded by books at all times.
Clothing
Scarfs, t-shirts, socks, and summer dresses, book-themed clothes are chic, stylish, and full of personality. Add an entertaining factor to your day by choosing a hoodie with Book Nerd written on it or be a little cheeky by wearing a top that says, "I like books more than people."
Home Decor
If you've invested in novel clothing, why stop? Go the extra length and integrate books into your home decor. Throw cushions are an attractive idea, as is a quirky Dr. Seuss wall clock for your kid's bedroom. Oh! And don't forget a door hanger warning people not to disturb you when you're reading.
Book-Themed Games
Book reading is usually a solitary exercise done best with no one around to disturb you. However, to share your love for books, it's nice to have a few literary-themed games that you can play with friends. Shakespeare is a popular character when it comes to board and card games. There's Shakespeare, a board game where you work towards putting up a play in six days, an adults-only Bard Dispense Profanity party game, and the good old Shakespeare-themed Top Trumps set for all ages.
The best thing about books is that they allow your imagination to run wild. You can always treat yourself to the gifts mentioned above, or else, play around with words, pages, ideas, and different elements to create something bookish that is inspiring, arty, and functional for your exclusive use.
