When my friend Jen asked me what I would include on a list of my favorite things, I was really excited to think like Oprah. The list I sent her included fancy tea, my favorite cheese, and a selection of cozy loungewear. But then I thought about how my real absolute all-time favorite thing is reading. What items would I include on a list of favorite bookish holiday gifts?
I asked my fellow Book Riot contributors to pretend to be Oprah and add their items. Here are the favorite bookish holiday gifts we came up with, just in time for holiday gift-giving. Any of the ideas below would be a perfect literary gift for a bookworm!
A Nice, Sturdy Mug for Sipping and Reading
I am often reading while drinking tea, hot chocolate, water, juice…a girl’s gotta stay hydrated during hours of reading. I don’t know about you, but I’m usually reluctant to put down my book even for a second, so I’m fumbling around for my mug or trying to set it down without looking. I love a sturdy mug with a flat, wide bottom that I can grab without thinking. Bonus points if it’s a bookish mug, like this one featuring Jane Eyre or this stylish mug inspired by Rebecca (hint, hint, Santa).
—Kathleen Keenan
Find more bookish mugs in the Book Riot store.
View this post on InstagramCurrent obsessions: peonies and literary mugs?️ . My latest literary mug was acquired at Lewes Castle a few weeks back and not only does it allow for a generous amount of coffee, but it also shows the greatest opening lines in literature (or so it claims). I can only show you one side at a time and these are the books I recognised quotes for on this side (the yellow quote that you can’t see that well is the famous Pride & Prejudice). Any others you recognised? . What’s a famous opening line that you love? And please free to Google it, I think it’s always so unrealistic to expect people to remember favourite quotes from books ? Google is your friend! . Have a lovely Monday! If you’re home like me with an extended weekend I hope you fully enjoy it! ❤️ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #bookstack #charlesdickens #beloved #tonimorrison #culturetripbooks #met_createchange #bookishfeatures #peonies #ataleoftwocities #prideandprejudice #janeausten #thecolorpurple #alicewalker #literature #literarymug #coffeemug #happymonday #mondaycoffee #classics #classicslover #penguinclothboundclassics #penguinclassics #booklover #bibliophile #booksofinstagram
A Blanket Scarf
Blanket scarves are my absolute favorite fall thing, and they’re perfect for cozy reading anytime, anywhere. You can wear it to keep warm and stylish, you can use it as a blanket while snuggling up to read, or you can even spread it out as a blanket to sit on while enjoying a good book outdoors. I’ll be wearing this scarf every day once the weather turns cold.
—Susie Dumond
(P.S. The Book Riot store has scarves, too!)
View this post on InstagramI’m all about the cozy lately. I need blankets and scarves, cups of tea and cozy reads. ??? What are some of your favorite cozy reads? p.s. 10 points to the Hogwarts house of whoever can guess which book this is. ? . . #cozyreads #autumnreading #winterreads #booksandscarves #bookishconnoisseur #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #readersofig #cozybooks #readergram
Fun Socks
To be completely honest, I enjoy fun socks for any occasion. However, when I’m reading inside while the A/C is blasting in the summer or when I’m reading inside and winter is being winter, I like cozy socks that reflect what I’m doing (like these or these if I’m reading a library book). Also, I enjoy socks that reflect what I’m reading about (like these if I’m reading about art).
—Christina M. Rau
(AND socks.)
View this post on InstagramLaura and I got each other literary socks for Christmas. Unplanned. Can you guess who was the giver & receiver of each pair? ? . . . #literarysocks #janeausten #fuckoffimreading
“Not Today” Necklace
All bookish jewelry is fun. It’s a small reminder of your bookish-ness that you project onto the world, where only the sharp-eyed and similarly minded will recognize the references. My favorite bookish jewelry is my Arya Stark necklace. When her teacher asks her, “What do we say to death?” Arya responds, “Not today.” It’s a good mantra. I wear the necklace on exhausted days, rough days, days when 2018 really begins to grate on me, and I just need to face it all and tell it, “Not today. You won’t get me today.” I think everyone needs a piece of jewelry that propels and supports them through the bad days.
—Leah Rachel von Essen
More gift ideas: bookish earrings; bookish necklaces.
View this post on InstagramCompletely personalized book locket with quote inside. FANTASIATRINKETS.COM Link in bio! . . . #fantasiatrinkets #handmade #handmadejewelry #fantasyjewelry #literaryquote #literaryjewelry #bookkeyring #bookjewelry #bookworm #booklocket #booklover #bookcover #bookcharm #bookkeychain #miniaturebook #customizablejewelry #personalizedjewelry #customizable #personalizedgift #quote #favoritequote #favoritebook #thecountofmontecristo #alexandredumas #dumas #montecristo
Thumb Thing Book Page Holder
Sometimes I want to enjoy a snack while I read my book, which necessitates a free hand. I was gifted a bright pink Thumb Thing Book Page Holder in a Galentine’s Day gift exchange and I totally love it. Is it comfortable? Not really. Does it work exceptionally well? Definitely not. But it makes me feel like some kind of professional bookworm when I use it, and that’s enough for me.
—Abby Hargreaves
For more book holders, check out this post listing 35 of our favorites.
View this post on InstagramI’m all for writerly gadgets but I would feel like a right gumby using this (aptly named the ‘Thumb Thing’). Has anyone out there got one? #books #booknerd #read #reading #amreading #booklover #readingtool #tools #thumbthing #bookpage #pageholder #pages #page #turnthepage
My Catch-22 Tote Bag
I’m not much of a book swag person or a shopper in general. An exception is my green canvas tote bag with the iconic blue and red cover of Catch-22 by Joseph Heller on it. I bought it at Barnes & Noble several years ago and brought it to work with me. They sell other tote bags with classic covers on them, but this one appears out of stock at the moment.
—Grace Lapointe
Looking for a tote? The Book Riot store has you covered.
View this post on InstagramWhat more does one need? This bag. ? $12. Available now in my #etsy shop. And totes ship free! #bagsandpurses #canvastote #literature #literaturetotebag #literarytote #booktotebag #bibliophile #bookbag #librarybookbag #coffeelovergift #booklovergift #readinglist #etsyshop #bookworm #literate #bookish #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #bookaddict #coffeeaddict #giftidea #igreads #igbooks #shopsmall #booknerd #literatura #etsylove #etsyfinds
All the Bookmarks You Can Collect
Bookmarks will likely never become valuable, in the resale value. I pick a lot up for free from my local library. But they are valuable for keeping your place, without having to crease a cover or memorize the page number. They’re also handy to store, since you can put your extras…in a book!
—Priya Sridhar
Our picks for bookmarks: Halloween themed; leather; printable.
View this post on InstagramOur sturdy bookmarks are some of our favorite products we make, these ones are mostly ones we’ve included in past boxes but our Marissa Meyer bookmark is actually available in our shop! Since we have started making them we have been using theme nonstop, I don’t think I’ve actually used a different bookmark since we made our first one. ? Do you have a go-to bookmark? ✨ Photo by @fictionallyfloral ? ✨ #bookishmerch #bookmark #bookish #bookmarks #bookstagram #dreamyandco
My “Dangerous Women Read” Tote Bag
I’ve got roughly fifty-leven hundred tote bags in my possession, but this one by Gibbs Smith is one of my faves. There’s something empowering about walking around and announcing to the world that this woman reads and you should probs be scared of her. *shrugs and gives no f*cks*
—Vanessa Diaz
More Book Riot posts about totes: 11 of our favorites; large tote bags; even more good totes.
View this post on InstagramWe have some tote-ally great news! New items are up in our Etsy shop including this Agatha tote! Follow the link in our profile to see all our fun, literary & handmade items! ? • • • #agathachristie #etsy #etsyseller #handmade #literarygifts #literarytote #totebag
A Bath Caddy That Holds A Book, A Candle, and a Glass of Wine, and Magically Fits in My Weird Bathtub Perfectly
I haven’t found it yet, but WHEN I DO.
—Alyssa Eleanor Ross
More Book Riot posts about bath caddies: one woman’s quest to read in the bath; 6 essentials for bathtub reading.
View this post on InstagramI am doing everything I can to wish fall into existence. This morning it was only in the low 70s, so I thought I would treat myself to a bath. Bad idea! I was sweating profusely within 30 seconds. ? But I didn’t want to waste the water (#californiaproblems), so I sat in there for an hour. At least I had a book to keep me company! ??? Does it feel like fall yet where you are? (Or spring?)
What would you put on your list of favorite bookish holiday gifts? Channel your inner Oprah and let us know in the comments.
Source : Inspired by Oprah, 9 of Our Favorite Bookish Items for Holiday Gift-Giving
