Top Ten Tuesday: Holiday Gift Guide

This week's (a day late - woops!) Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, is a holiday gift guide freebie. The ideas given were ten books to buy the YA lover in your life, 10 books to buy for your dad, etc. My list is going to be ten gift ideas a reader might like for Christmas.

Ten Bookish Items for the Reader in Your Life

1. A book subscription box: There are lots available, depending on your budget and where you live, and for different reading genres. I would say the minimum would be $25 USD per month. Most subscription services have one-month, three-month, and six-month plans - any of them would be appreciated by book lovers! The box I subscribe to is OwlCrate but there are so many more - a quick Google search will give you lots of options.
2. An Audible subscription: This would be based on your reader's preferences, some people don't enjoy audio books. Audible is a subscription site that sells digital audio books, which you download directly to your device - no need for CDs! Audio books are a quick way for readers to get through several books in a short amount of time. They also help them to be more efficient and multi-task, as they can be "reading" while doing chores or driving.
3. Magnetic bookmarks: Readers love bookmarks (so any will do), but the magnetic kind are particularly popular right now, and practical as they won't simply slip out. You can find lots of fun designs and awesome sellers on Etsy. One of my favourite Etsy shops for bookmarks is ReadandWonder.
4. Books: This may seem obvious, but not to everyone. I love books and reading, and my family knows it, but they rarely gift me books. Partially because they don't know what genres I prefer or what I might already have. However, I'm fairly certain that if you asked your reader for a list of title ideas, they would be happy to supply you with said list! Also, many readers enjoy having several copies/editions of the same book, so giving them a book they might already own isn't too big a deal. RockPaperBooks for example, carries classic novels with new modern art covers. They are gorgeous - any reader would be happy to receive one of these beauties!
5. Gift cards: Of course, gift cards can be given to just about anyone on your list. Some people don't like gift cards because they can be considered "impersonal," but they can be a really appreciated gift, especially for students or people on a fixed income. Personally, I enjoy receiving gift cards because for me, gifts are about the thought. If one of my loved ones didn't know exactly what to give me, but they knew I loved books and therefore gave me a gift card to a local bookstore, or a bookselling website I enjoy, I would still consider it a thoughtful and personal gift, and would be thrilled. For Apple users, you can also buy ebooks thru iTunes for Kindle, so an iTunes gift card would work as well.
6. eReader: This is a pricier gift item, and may be a matter of personal choice (some readers prefer to only read paper books), so you would have to know your reader's preferences. There are several eReaders and apps on the market today, the most popular being Kobo, Nook and Kindle, but again, a little research will go a long way.
7. Signed books: Maybe your reader has a favourite author? This gift idea would take some forethought and planning, but getting one of their books signed by their favourite author (with a personal inscription??) is sure to be a winner. How to get a book signed by an author: you have to go to a book signing event, or contact the author to ask if they offer book signing services. In most cases you will be required to send a copy of the book to the author along with a postage paid return envelope and a fee for the signing - it could get pricey. I've recently learned that some Barnes & Noble or Target stores in the US sell signed copies of books occasionally. So if you're lucky enough to live near one of these stores, this could be much more affordable option.
8. Reading accessories: This is again based on personal preference, but some readers like to use book lights for nighttime reading; Stick-It Notes or adhesive markers for marking favourite parts or quotes; pretty/interesting (and functional) bookends for their bookshelves (maybe they need a bookshelf!); a notebook for tracking their reading, or writing down thoughts & quotes, etc. The list could go on...
9.  Book cover items: By this, I mean items which are made to look like books, or have prints of actual book covers on them. T-shirts, posters, mugs, tote bags, phone cases, there are sooo many options! Redbubble or Society6 are good starting places. These are like Etsy (a single website housing many independent shops/artists), but seem to be a lot more art based, which is where your book covers will come in!
10. Fandom items: This is another gift idea that will require knowing your reader well. Do they love a particular book series that has a significant following? If so, there's a good chance there will be a myriad of fandom items your reader would enjoy. This could range from scented candles, to Christmas ornaments, to stationery, to jewelry... Lots of options are available for this idea as well. I, personally, am a big fan of Harry Potter, so I would be tickled pink to receive Harry Potter-themed items. HPGeneration has some really beautiful (if not pricey) items for this particular fandom.

Well there you have it! Ten gift items the reader in your life might enjoy this holiday season. Is there anything you would add? Which of these would be at the top of your list?