Discussions,  Let's Talk Bookish,  Memes

Let’s Talk Bookish: Books as Gifts

Hey, everyone! I hope you’re all doing well. I have been a bit under the weather the past few days. I tested positive for COVID on Tuesday, but started feeling sick on Sunday, so I’ve been out of school all week. Which is really inconvenient because finals start next week. So I’ve been having to study from home, while trying to get better. COVID was really untimely. But I’m feeling better and hopefully I’ll test negative on Monday so I can get one review day physically in class before finals start on Tuesday.

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits where we discuss various topics and share our opinions. Today’s topic is Books as Gifts (suggested by Hannah @ Hannah’s Library).

Prompts: Do books make good gifts? Do you ever give or receive books as gifts? Would you rather receive a book from your wish list or be surprised? What would you do if you didn’t like the book you were given? Would you expect someone to read a book you got them right away?


For me personally, I love receiving books as gifts. They’re, like, the only thing that I always ask for when it comes to birthdays and Christmas. I don’t ever really need anything else, but books will always be something that I love and want more of. Obviously, I think they make great gifts–both to receive and to give. They’re useful and are one of the only gifts that you can give again because there are so many.

I wouldn’t mind being surprised, it’d always fun. Though, to get one on my wishlist would be nice, because I know that I’m interested in reading it. If someone gave me a book they thought sounded interesting, but I don’t, I’d kind of feel bad if they asked about my opinion on it later. Same goes for the other way around. If I give someone a book and they don’t really like it, that’s kind of a bummer. Surprises aren’t bad, though. I’ve read some really good books that I wasn’t expecting to get.

As for what I would do with a book I didn’t like, I’d probably get rid of it. Whenever my bookshelf is full, I’ll do a book purge and give them away to my current or old English teacher. They both love all the books I give them. The books I get rid of are ones I didn’t like, ones I’ve lost interest in and don’t want to read anymore, or ones that I read but didn’t really stand out to me. I would feel a bit bad if I gave away a book someone gave to me, but I have too many books on the shelf for there to be a book I didn’t like.

I would never expect someone to read a book I got them right away. I don’t do it with books I receive, so I’m not going to expect someone else to do it. If I don’t have any other books to read at that moment, then yes I’ll read it right away. But more than likely, I’ll have a few physical books that I want to read before I get the one I got as a gift.


Do you like receiving books as gifts?
What do you go if you don’t like a book someone gives you?

13 Comments

  • Krysta

    I love receiving books because yes, I love books, but also they are easy to donate if they are something I didn’t enjoy or don’t see myself reading again. I give my books to teacher friends for their classroom libraries, or to the library to sell. It’s definitely a lot easier for me than driving to the thrift store and trying to figure out whatever new traffic configuration they have going on, and then attempting to discover if the employee is about to take my boxes. If I want to donate books, I just drop it at the front desk of the library and go on my way!

  • 🌺 IceLillies 🌺

    I personally enjoy receiving books as gifts, even if it’s only one book.📔 If I receive a book that I read and don’t like, I’ll still keep it. Reason is, love and money was spent on this gift, so I shouldn’t be too picky. I’ll probably avoid it for awhile, though I’ll most likely read it again once in a while, who knows I might like it the second time. 🙂

  • 🌺 IceLillies 🌺

    Yeah, sometimes that just happens. 😐 You will never truly know your opinion about a book, until you read it twice. Well, for me anyway,🙂 I remember as a kid, that I didn’t like a chapter book, (I’ll never know why) and when I read recently, I liked it. Has this experience ever happened to you?

  • 🌺 IceLillies 🌺

    Yeah, when I was younger my mom would have my sister and I read 2-4 chapters a day of a book. As you could guess, with a baby brain, I thought it was boring. So I would read a few words every for pages, every day. So I just made the conclusion that I didn’t like it. 🤦‍♀️ Well, now I get the chance to read those ”boring” chapter books.

  • Anoushka

    Ksjdhsndnd I’m so sorry about testing positive, that sucks 😩😭 hope you’re feeling so much more better now and best of luck for finals <33

    This was such an interesting discussion!! I love receiving books, even when they might not end up becoming favorites. Because, like: LOOK!! ITS A BOOK!! I don't usually get rid of ones I don't like though, especially gifted ones, because I like the memory attached to them too much.

    • Lotus @ Pages of Starlight

      Thanks! I’m feeling better and finals are now over, which is good.

      I usually keep books I was gifted, since I usually end up liking them. I don’t think I’ve had a book given to me that I didn’t like. Or if I did, I can’t remember.

  • elloras

    I love books as gifts! For the most part, friends and family give them to me when they think I’ll be excited about them – or when they’re excited, so I get to learn a little about them, which is nice. I also love to give books, only to those friends who I know are readers.

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