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Original poster

A book with a beautiful cover as a gift for an intelligent woman

66 replies

TwigTheWonderKid · 23/04/2024 13:27

I need to find an excellent book as a birthday present for my friend. I would also like it to have a beautiful cover.

I am very unwell and can't get out to the shops to browse and it's so hard to find things online.

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CountingCrones · 24/04/2024 15:48

Comtesse · 24/04/2024 13:46

Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day from Persephone Books is amazing. Nice cover and underrated novel with amazing charm.

Perfect choice!
I've read it so often I needed a second copy. It's an attractive edition of an absolutely lovely, funny and engaging novel.

Comtesse · 24/04/2024 13:46

Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day from Persephone Books is amazing. Nice cover and underrated novel with amazing charm.

Mathsbabe · 24/04/2024 13:35

Fast and Slow Thinking

TheOriginalMrsMoss · 24/04/2024 13:25

Oliver Bonas online always has an eclectic mix of books that have interesting covers and a variety of genres. I usually get something from there for each of my immediate family at Christmas and not too much time spent browsing. I bought the Ikigai book on the Japanese meaning of life from there - very pretty and was much appreciated by the recipient.

Perfectpots · 24/04/2024 11:32

Ali Smith's season books have great covers (Hockney paintings) but it will really depend on whether she likes that sort of book.

Sadik · 24/04/2024 08:27

Fitzcarraldo Editions are absolutely beautiful, heavy weight card covers with a flap, & there's some really interesting titles. I would recommend both Fifty Sounds by Polly Barton & The Naked Don't Fear the Water by Mathieu Aitken (the former maybe better as a gift as not such a heavy subject)

StrangeNew · 24/04/2024 07:58

Instead of looking for a new book with a beautiful cover, call an antiquarian book dealer and explain what you're looking for.

Hmm … This isn’t what I’d have wanted to be doing while seriously ill and undergoing treatment. Browsing an interesting online catalogue or looking through the lists for this year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction or Baillie Gifford Prize (for instance) would have been all the effort I felt inclined to expend. Though perhaps the OP has more energy or craves more active distraction than I would!

Labbydood · 24/04/2024 02:50

Letters of note by Shaun usher

MsAmerica · 24/04/2024 02:47

Instead of looking for a new book with a beautiful cover, call an antiquarian book dealer and explain what you're looking for. He can probably find you some lovely vintage book. It's up to you to guess whether she'd love a beautiful edition of a 19th century novel, or an antique cookbook or what.

WeirdButFuckingBeautiful · 23/04/2024 23:21

The last 2 books I have bought as gifts have been hardback anniversary editions of Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch and The Secret History. Beautiful books. They gave me immense joy to gift.

Portakalkedi · 23/04/2024 22:31

The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susannah Clarke, hardback cover is gorgeous. Splendid writer.

Catico · 23/04/2024 22:20

A lovely hardback book from just £6 (used).
Your friend might want to visit some of the pictures of the dangerous women

www.abebooks.co.uk/9780789212566/Women-Who-Read-Dangerous-Stefan-0789212560/plp

SpikeWithoutASoul · 23/04/2024 19:06

chesterlestreet · 23/04/2024 17:12

@SpikeWithoutASoul that looks great. Do you mind me asking how big the print is? Would love to send it to my Mum but she cannot cope with the tiny print that some books have

My dad has been reading it and he can’t read small print, so I’m sure it will be fine.

Hippee · 23/04/2024 18:25

The floral ones are gorgeous, but my favourite cover is Moby Dick

A book with a beautiful cover as a gift for an intelligent woman
HoldingOnForAHeron · 23/04/2024 18:16

What sort of books does your friend like?

chesterlestreet · 23/04/2024 17:12

@SpikeWithoutASoul that looks great. Do you mind me asking how big the print is? Would love to send it to my Mum but she cannot cope with the tiny print that some books have

MrsW9 · 23/04/2024 16:13

Waterstones has recently reissued hardback versions of some of Patrick Leigh Fermor's wonderful travel writing with the wonderful John Craxton covers. https://www.waterstones.com/book/a-time-of-gifts/patrick-leigh-fermor/9781529369496

The Penguin clothbound books are also great.

What kinds of things does she like reading?

belleface · 23/04/2024 16:00

Holly Ovenden designs beautiful covers: www.hollyovenden.com/

Povertytrapped · 23/04/2024 15:05

I recently finished reading Cuddy by Benjamin Myers - it has a beautiful cover (hardback is slightly different to paperback I think) and I think it might be the best book I have ever read … don't be put off by it being about Saint Cuthbert as the story and the way it is delivered is frankly magical, it's not especially religious more about people and how they relate to each other and even to themselves; when I'd finished it I was really disappointed and wanted to start it again almost immediately...

highlandcoo · 23/04/2024 14:59

Ah, I think some of the endpapers are based on contemporary textiles rather than wallpaper. They're beautiful anyway.

highlandcoo · 23/04/2024 14:55

I'm sorry to hear that you're unwell Flowers

Many Persephone books have the classic grey cover, but with beautiful endpapers based on contemporary wallpaper with bookmarks to match. However a few, for example Someone at a Distance, do have lovely covers taken from paintings.

Persephone also sell "book envelopes" in a choice of three linen fabrics, to protect your book when carrying it around, which perhaps would be a nice extra gift for your friend?

Original poster
TwigTheWonderKid · 23/04/2024 14:10

Oh thank you so much you wonderful ladies. Plenty to peruse whilst I am sitting here having my treatment this afternoon 🙂

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