Buy a Friend a Book Week is October 1-7 (as well as the first weeks of January, April, and July). During this week, you’re encouraged to buy a friend a book for no good reason. Not for their birthday, not because it’s a holiday, not to cheer them up–just because it’s a book.What book would you choose to give to a friend and why?
And, if you’re feeling generous enough–head on over to Amazon and actually send one on its way!
Wow, this one really has me thinking. Because I buy books for friends and family all of the time, unless I know they positively hate to read. But I choose the books based on the individual, largely because I will admit that it annoys me when someone buys me a book by an author that I don't like, but they do, or of a type that I am not interested in at all. (Yeah, even here it always ends up being all about me, baby!)
For instance, take my sister Mary Ellen. She is a scientist, and a former teacher. She is devoted to the environment, and human rights. So I tend to give her books that seem somehow related to that, because I know she isn't really interested in chick lit, or cozy mysteries. Last Christmas, I gave her Three Cups of Tea, which I thought she would really appreciate. (Plus, she - like me - is a tea freak, and the word "tea" was in the title!)
Then there's Lisa, who loves cookbooks A LOT. But she also enjoys books and magazines about fashion, beauty, classical literature, and Nancy Drew. So there are a lot of choices when shopping for her. I have a book in mind that I am planning to get her for her birthday in a couple of weeks, but I cannot mention it here, since she reads this. One year, I gave her Inventing Beauty, because I had enjoyed it, and had a strong feeling that she would, too.
Another friend, April, loves graphic novels, illustration guides, and movies. In spite of knowing that, I would likely buy her a Bible, or something similar - HA!
This is not to say that if I really like a book, I won't try to get others to read it. But I guess I don't have a one-book-fits-all title ...
8 comments:
I didn't even attempt this week's BTT because the question made no sense to me. What book would I send to WHAT friend? And when am I sending that book? What are the circumstances?
The pleasure of giving someone a book is the pleasure of selecting the right one for that friend of relative, at that time...
I think a LOT of us are going to fall into the "it depends" answer-category. And, since I can't seem to convince the BTT site to accept my comment (either that or ALL of them will eventually show up!), here's my post:
http://jhthomas.blogspot.com/2007/09/booking-through-thursday.html
I just like buying books for people because I like to read and generally associate with people who also like to read. I stopped forcing "The Three Musketeers" on people yonks ago and now I try to send people something that they might not buy for themselves but not so far out of their realm that they would not enjoy it.
And I think getting April a Bible for her birthday is a perfect idea! What would really make it special would be finding a fleabag motel that would part with one of the Gideon versions. She'd *really* appreciate that. :)
god's gonna get you walter...you know what i think april would really like...what's that book you found during your honeymoon, i "forget"...but yeah, i'm sure *she'd* enjoy that...
For my brothers I end up buying techo stuff.
Other than immediate family members I think it is risky to buy books for someone - I think it is better to buy a gift certificate and allow them the pleasure of finding something for themselve. The only book I was ever given was a huge disappointment (other than books given to me as a child by my parents were always wonderful, I have to say) so that probably has colored my view on the subject.
Oh! And let's get April something by Dr. Phil, too! She lurrrrrrvs Dr. Phil!
I generally hate getting books from people because they are so bad about picking out titles for me. Oddly enough, 'net friends are much better than IRL friends. Huh.
I'm with you on the "it depends". I can't think of a single book that I would give to everyone - no matter how much I loved it.
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