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Original poster

Recommend a book for a 60th birthday present please

15 replies

Houseplantmad · 06/10/2023 20:51

Budget is £20. Looking for either fiction or non-fiction that would make a nice gift for a female friend turning 60.

OP posts:
whereisthecheese · 06/10/2023 20:52

What does she like?

bruffin · 06/10/2023 20:56

I' have just turned 61, only books i like nowadays are books on history of Art or knitting/crochet or maybe a cookbook
I only really read fiction on Kindle

cansu · 06/10/2023 20:59

The new Strike book is out. Depends on the genre she likes

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Rocknrollstar · 06/10/2023 21:03

Unruly Kings by David Mitchell. It’s no 1 on the Sunday Times best sellers. It is both informative and amusing.

StuffLoriThangs · 06/10/2023 21:03

Fiction - The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

non fiction - The Fun Habit by Mike Rucker (unless she is a joyful person all the time, then it might not be for her)

junebirthdaygirl · 06/10/2023 21:16

Lessons in Chemistry is a lovely read and anything by Elizabeth Strout. The Olive Ketteridge books especially. There are two so you might manage both which would be a super present. I am in that age bracket!!

PermanentTemporary · 06/10/2023 21:20

Does depend what she likes. Would she like Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver? I think that was my book of the year so far. Not exactly a cheery read though.

Original poster
Houseplantmad · 07/10/2023 10:08

Thanks all.
I have no idea what she likes but she loves reading. Has had a bit of a hard year so maybe something uplifting (fiction) or beautiful (non fiction).

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 07/10/2023 10:09

Houseplantmad · 07/10/2023 10:08

Thanks all.
I have no idea what she likes but she loves reading. Has had a bit of a hard year so maybe something uplifting (fiction) or beautiful (non fiction).

I’d just give her a £20 book token and let her choose.

Original poster
Houseplantmad · 07/10/2023 10:10

@junebirthdaygirl the Olive Ketteridge books look perfect. Thanks!

OP posts:
MermaidEyes · 07/10/2023 10:13

Fiction might be quite difficult if you have no idea what type of genre she likes. How about A 1960s Childhood by Paul Feeney? Or Memories of the 60s Then and Now? Something factual and slightly nostalgic might be more enjoyable.

Whataretheodds · 07/10/2023 10:13

Days Like These by Brian Bilston. It's a poem for each day of the year.
I bought it for an older relative who would never in a month of Sundays have bought poetry for himself but he loves it.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 07/10/2023 10:16

Whataretheodds · 07/10/2023 10:13

Days Like These by Brian Bilston. It's a poem for each day of the year.
I bought it for an older relative who would never in a month of Sundays have bought poetry for himself but he loves it.

I love his poems. So clever.

greyhairnomore · 07/10/2023 12:51

The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn

cardibach · 07/10/2023 12:55

Houseplantmad · 07/10/2023 10:10

@junebirthdaygirl the Olive Ketteridge books look perfect. Thanks!

If she likes reading and reads a lot she may well have read them. I second a PP who said Book Token. It’s really hard to get books (especially fiction) right.

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