Bookworms are creatures of comfort who crave for little more than a peaceful corner and a good read. Here are some gifts ideas for them. Feel free to contribute your own suggestions (or argue with mine).
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Floating Bookshelves: If your book lover is prone to piling books up in stacks everywhere, then maybe it's time to get him an appealing storage solution. An invisible bookshelf is an old favorite and can slip in with most decor. 'Sides, who doesn't like some spooky floating books? $14 [Amazon—or make it yourself via Cut Out + Keep]
Photo of DIY version by Cut Out And Keep
Bookology Trivia Boardgame: Let's face it, even the most modest of bookworms enjoy showing off now and then. A simple way to indulge them while spending time together is a good ol' fashioned trivia board game. Bookology Trivia just happens to be perfect for that, but heads up: It's way more fun with a larger group. $11 [Amazon]
DON'T BUY Gift Certificates: There are those times when you're hesitant to pick out an actual gift. What if he actually likes ancient history instead of sci-fi? What if she's not ready for a book with that many pages? Whatever you do when those questions kick in, please don't get your bookworm a gift certificate. While you may think that it says "Here. I remembered to get you a gift," the message that comes across is, "I couldn't be bothered, so take this fake limited-use money and buy your own crap."
Technivorm Thermo Moccamaster: Coffee. Coffee. Coffee. Aside from being part of our morning routines, it's also a part of a proper cuddle with a book. While there's real science to making a good cup o' joe, the Moccamaster delivers the best results for a drip coffeemaker, without the extra work of other methods. But it'll cost ya. $265 [Roast Masters]
Berkeley Lamp II: Yes, a lamp. Seriously. It's tough to find a lamp that illuminates the room well without making your eyes feel like they're gradually being pulled out of their sockets. The Berkeley Lamp II may be expensive, but it's bright—with a ceiling-pointed "room light" and a downward facing "task light"—and energy conscious. Plus, it comes with a grounded 120V socket for plugging in your ebook reader at the end of a week of heavy page turning. $289 [Berkeley Lamp; Review]
Nook, Kindle, Cool-er, Sony, Alex, Que. The ebook reader choices out there read like a biker chick's list of ex-lovers, and it's tough to pick the best. To us, it comes to a showdown between the newly reduced-price Kindle and the Nook, but we haven't reviewed the Nook yet—nobody has—so it's a tough call. If your love for Amazon knows no bounds, pick it, but if you are curious about what the Nook's second screen can do (and at what cost), wait a few more weeks. $259 for either one [Kindle Review; Nook Preview; Amazon Kindle Page; Barnes & Noble Nook Page]
A Rare Book: You know exactly what your bookworm's all-time most beloved book is and you know that he would love a special copy of it. So where on earth do you start looking for a first edition, advanced reader, or autographed copy? If you're hesitant to hit eBay or trudge through bookshop after bookshop then places like AbeBooks and Alibris should be your first stop. They offer a selection of rated rare booksellers and some incredibly customizable searches. I'll make your search even easier if you want to get me one of my favorites: A lovely first edition of Fante's Ask the Dust is available for a mere $12K. Not shopping for me? Ah well, maybe next year. $.01 to $1,000,000
Photo by p0psicle
Don't forget to recommend your own favorite gift ideas for bookworms in comments—include pic and pricing if possible.
All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.