What, if any, memorable or special book have you ever gotten as a present? Birthday or otherwise. What made it so notable? The person who gave it? The book itself? The “gift aura?”My Response:
No one special gift book stands out, but I can remember getting books for my birthday, Mother's Day, and Christmas on several occasions. I love books, and it's an obvious gift choice for me. They have all been novels, except for one time in my life. That was my college graduation at age forty-nine.
I'm a late bloomer. When I graduated from college, my daughter and son-in-law threw me a surprise graduation party. I received several reference books as gifts: Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary--an almost five-inch thick volume, One Hundred Great Operas and Their Stories, and The Complete Poems of of Keats & Shelley. Those titles were selected as symbols of pride at what an old lady could accomplish. Over the years, the dictionary has been frequently used. The opera book was given to me by a couple who, along with my husband and me, were season ticket holders for that one year. I opened it a few times. The poetry book has been the most neglected. It was a gift from my son and his wife, who were impressed with my GPA and envisioned me curling up and reading it night after night. These presents are special because when I look at them, I remember the time of celebration, the wonderful surprise party, and the love of family and close friends.
Have you ever received a special book for a gift?
27 comments:
Good Morning Sally, I can't say that I have received a special book, I've gotten them as a gift. I don't have a love affair with books anymore, by the time I decide I'm going to read, it's late then I fall asleep. My Dana, sometimes on a weekend,will read an entire book.I admire people that do love thier books.
Hugs,
Chris
I've received many books as gifts. My mother used to buy me the new Stephen King book for whatever holiday was approaching.
take care,
Dawn
The only ones that I can think of are small books of inspiration. I have several.
I always remember who gave them to me, and enjoy browsing through them every now and then!
Great topic!
Good Morning Sally
Those presents sound to be just wonderful. You are such an avid reader and they will continue to bring those specific wonderful memories to you of people and times. Really nice. Thats an awfully big dictionary!
I remember when I was 10 years old and I had a girlfriend Sylvia. She had an older brother who looked after her during the summer. I remember each day she had to follow through the dictionary a page a day to learn new words and meanings before she was allowed to go out and play. I wonder where that vocabulary would have taken her in years.
I remember when my eldest son Geoff was a teenager he gave me the "Mother's Chicken Soup For the Soul" book. That was a very special present for me from him.
Hope you have a lovely day.
Judi
goos Morning Sally... I do have a love affair with my book... they are all precious to me but the ones I recieved as gifts really touch my heart... My Grandfather use to always buy me a beautiful dress and a special book for Christmas... each one signed inside by him... those are my jewels...Thanks for the memory of him this morning...
(((HUGS)))
Donna
The book I received was "Children's Book of Knowledge". It was given to me by my dad not long after my parents separated. I still have it. It is huge, worn and the cover of the spine is gone. I will not allow dd to touch it w/out me with her. (things tend to fall apart in her hands...well made things...)
It is a book with definitions of animals, breeds, rocks, places, far away lands, languages, etc. I love that book.
Oh, and I meant to tell you, I have no idea how your clip art managed to also copy onto my post, but it did and I left it there. I hope that you do not mind. That has never happened before. LOL! Usually when I copy and paste, clip art and pictures stay behind. I have no idea how that worked.
Morning Smiling One!! Oh, how special you are and now I know why you're so smart! You're educated! I ain't got no education - can you tell? lol
Well, as a child I received a book every two weeks. I loved to read as a kid - no brothers or sisters - so it was just me. My mom and dad both worked and that's when they got paid - every two weeks. They knew how I loved to read - The Hardy Boy, Nancy Drew, other little classics and would always let me go pick out a book. They were not readers themselves but they did help develope that wonderful gift in me!! I guess those books were really a present but I considered them precious gifts. I still have some of my little old books. Now that I've written my uneducated short story - I'll shut up!!
Keep smiling my shoeless friend. LOL
Be a sweetie,
Shelia;)
I can't say I have ever gotten any "special" books but I always asked for a book or two for Christmas and my mom knew exactly what type of books I loved to read and would get me some.
I was going to vote on your poll but I don't see any diet drinks....my favorite drink is Diet Dr. Pepper.
Over the years I have received many books as gifts, but I suppose the most used one is my Book of Etiquette. My folks gave it to me for my 16th birthday and I still use it to this day. Reference books are such a great gift idea.
Good morning Sally, I love your post about your graduation party. I would say you sure deserved it. I would guess at that age your GPA was exemplary. Receiving those lovely books was definitely the best gifts for you. I know your family has your special love always. That's the way it should be.
My dh gives me books all the time but nothing of note. Little silly tidbits of information etc. My daughter introduced me to Jan Karon's Midford series stories and has given me several of those books to read. I love that series. Have you read them? You would enjoy them for sure.
Hugs...Jeanne
I love expensive decorating books, but don't purchase them myself very often (I'm frugal). But now every Christmas my son and I have developed a routine that I just love. A couple of weeks before Christmas, we get on the phone together while he is on his computer and we go over all the new decorating books. He orders them while we are talking!! I'm always surprised which ones he gets for me on Christmas morning. I love it, and he loves the ease plus knowing I'll enjoy my present. Sally
My dad gave all of his children a book that he liked so much. He gave it to us for Christmas on e year. It was "The World's Greatest Salesman" by Og Mandino. It was great .
When I was growing up, we didn't have a lot of money, but my mom and dad still managed to find pennies for books for me. My dad gave me Dr. Suess's Sleep Book when I was seven. My little sister was born that year, and I read the book to her so much that I could recite it. I read it to my kids, too, and guess what's ready to wrap for the 6-year-old grandson's Christmas? :)
Wow, congratulations on your achievement!! And what a neat way to celebrate it!
I got the history of tea one year from my best friend for my birthday. As have lived in separate states for years now I found it to be a touching gift, as we always drink tea together. And we drink our black tea with milk. :)
What a great answer Sally! It's great that you went back to school.
The ones I treasure the most are all the Peanuts (Charlie Brown and Snoopy) books that my dad used to buy for me when I was young.
Every time a new one came out, he'd surprise me with it. I still have them, but they're falling apart now.
What a special gift! (I was never a fan of poetry myself, though)
When we were small we use to get the Weekly Reased. I love to get it....... Come to the beach! Heeee Kathy
Nobody buys me books..because they know chances are I've read them already..but just last week on my birthday my MIL gave me a Barnes & Noble gift card...WOO HOO...I love it when they do that!
I love this post...alway slove your book posts!
I have received many books as gifts from friends and loved ones, all cherished. But you know? One of the most special to me was my copy of Little House in the Big Woods that I got when I was 8. My mother's best friend bought it for me and I read it so many times that year that I almost wore the pages out! I still have it and that copy was soon followed by all of her books.
Love,
sue
I love that! A dictionary and reference books :) I wish I would use a dictionary....my hubby does and he knows so much more for it!!
I don't know if it qualifies as a gift, but my mother "gave" me my great grandmothers books that she had handed down to her. Two are school books with stories like Pandora's Box in them and one is her VERY OLD copy of Gone With the Wind. Their bindings are totally falling apart. I rarely read them, because I am afraid they will disintegrate faster. But they mean the world to me and that copy of Gone With the Wind is what started my love and fascination with the classics.
*hugs*
Hi Sally, I was fascinated by the fact that you graduated from college at age 49. My mother graduated from college the same year that I did! She was 57 years old at the time. She is gone now because that was a while ago. Anyway, congratulations on your GPA. Wonderful!
We had a family friend who gave me a book every Christmas. She was a principal of an elementary school in Dayton. (Rose E. Miller School.)
I felt very privileged to receive such a gift. One was the Christmas Carol.
Good evening,
I like you treasure all of my books. They all have special meaning to me.
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