A book for dds 18th birthday

[Janevaljane]

I'd like to get dd a book for her 18th (as well as some other things). She's a great reader, loves dystopian fiction, Phllip Pullman etc. She's applying to uni to read philosophy and theology. Does anyone have any good ideas? Bonus points if it is a lovely edition!

A bit niche but if she happens to share a name with a classic book then a nice edition of that could make a good gift. Thinking Emma, Rebecca, Jane, Anne etc

She does but I've already done that! Great idea though!

Bit out there but I have a copy of The New Sylva, it's a beautiful hardback book with lovely illustrations. You just need to be into trees!

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174463008048

Might be a bit young but Brave New World? So much in that - that Sky have successfully avoided in their adaptation. Not sure there's a lovely new edition out. But you could look for a 1st edition

Not a bad suggestion thank you

I found News from Nowhere interesting to read as a counterpoint to Brave New World and 1984 at a bit older than your daughter and I think she'd find it interesting in relation to the subjects she's studying. Utopian rather than dystopian, but that's what makes it interesting and thought provoking in comparison. No idea about the editions though, I imagine if you mean a 1st edition you be spending a lot!

A handmaid's tale (or another Atwood, I've loved all her books).

Or maybe American Gods by Neil Gaiman?

I'd go with old school Sci Fi - John Wyndham, Ray Bradbury, Aldous Huxley.

Not birthday but Christmas idea. Christmas Mystery by Josten Gaarder . Excuse spelling . The edition I have is beautifully illustrated .

You might find something on this book list that fits. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt or NW by Zadie Smith look promising.

www.amazon.co.uk/Minds-Fantasies-Reflections-Self-Soul/dp/0465030912?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

This books would be good for your daughter. It was recommended to me by a professor of philosophy and it also has lots of references to speculative fiction.

Cecelia Ahern has written a dystopian series "young adult" novels called Flawed and Perfect that are amazing and really bring into question about the kind of society we want to live in. Can highly recommend

A handmaids tale is a good shout as is anything by Simone de Beauvoir or Jean Paul Satre

If she's into comics at all I saw a beautiful illustrated version of handmaids tale in Waterstones a while back.

Wool by Hugh Howey

Intrusion by Ken MacLeod

Gone series by Michael Grant

Uglies by Scott Westerfield

I definitely read a lot of these as an older teen/YA.

Hope they help. If she's into fantasy at all I'd recommend Brandon Sanderson and Trudi Canavan. Literally any of their books.

A pattern of shadow and light by Melissa Mcphail. Beautiful books, they're pricier because they are huuuuuuge novels like massive each book and big concepts about the world and how it is created along with multi points of view, different threads.

Station 11 by Emily St. John Mandel - very topical! Can the arts survive after a global pandemic? Really good.

Might be a bit young for her but The Giver and the following books by Lois Lowry?

Also a hardback copy of The Arrival by Shaun Tan. Beautiful, thought provoking.

So many amazing suggestions, I'm really grateful, thank you. I would have definitely gone for the illustrated Handmaids Tale except she's studying it for A level and has read it to death . I will look through the ones I don't know.

emsmum79 I've just bought that for her anyway, not as an 18th present but just because it looks brilliant and it's just what she needs to be reading. Thank you.

I imagine she might have read it, but Sophie's World is a great book.

Man in the high castle?

I'd get her a book voucher, theres nothing more enjoyable if you're a book lover than actually going to a bookshop and choosing.

If not, Philip Pullman has a new book out this month, The Giver by Lois Lowry is aclasdoc, Station 11 by Emily StJohn Mandel is pretty popular and more contemporary. The fifth season or something by N.K.Jemisin perhaps.

What are some things she's recently read and liked? Does she like fantasy/YA novels?

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. It's wonderful! It's fiction but is about the works of philosophers.