Gift Guide 2014: The Book Lover
1. Banned Books and Cool Story Buttons via BustMyButton on etsy: $2 each
These are great little additions to a book themed present, or any present for that matter. They're adorable and affordable, and the BustMyButton shop is a treasure trove of buttons for all fandoms, from Dr. Who to Harry Potter to reproductive freedom. (Yes, reproductive freedom is a fandom.)
2. Read Books Not T-Shirts T-Shirt via LaundryFactory on Spreadshirt: $19
This is a fairly prevalent T-shirt slogan, but this particular design is by far my favorite. I'm not usually a fan of T-shirts with writing on them, but this one is an exception. It's cheeky, not pretentious, and it's a great gift for a bookworm with a sense of humor.
3. Texts from Jane Eyre: And Other Conversations with Your Favorite Literary Characters by Mallory Ortberg via Amazon: $10
So you have a friend that's constantly reading and dropping literary references in casual conversation like it ain't no thang. You appreciate this, but you don't really know how to give them a gift that reflects their interest in all things bookish. This is the gift for you. It's filled with texts between well loved characters from fiction, and an avid reader will most likely find it charming and hilarious.
4. Literary Scarves via UncommonGoods: $42
There are three scarves in this collection, which are printed with pages from Jane Eyre (her again!), Wuthering Heights, and Alice in Wonderland. The one pictured is Alice in Wonderland, which has illustrations as well as text. Wuthering Heights is printed in a beautiful italicized script, and Jane Eyre is your basic book typeface. They're all beautiful, and will be particularly meaningful if your giftee is a fan of one of these books.
5. Hagrid's Hut Soy Candle via Foxy Frog Scents: $15
When I think of what Hagrid's Hut must smell like, I don't think of it as something I'd want in candle form to similarly scent my own home. But the description of this candle says that the scent encapsulates "the outdoorsy aroma of fresh dirt, wet leaves, and a hint of crackling fire," which I think sounds positively lovely. There's also a smaller size for $8.50, and there are other pop culture themed candles in this shop as well.
6. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (Puffin in Bloom Edition) via Rifle Paper Co: $14
My love for Anne Shirley runs deep. In fact, this is her second appearance on a Gift Guide. The last time was in 2012 when I needed to give a headless cardigan model a head, and decided to go with one of the best there ever was. Puffin in Bloom is a gorgeously designed line of books (that come with matching bookmarks) that also includes Little Women, Heidi, and A Little Princess. This would be a wonderful present for a lifelong fan of Anne, or a young person who needs a good literary heroine in their life.
