To hate receiving novelty books?

[BambooForDinnerAgain]

Actually I know IABU, because it’s the thought that counts and I am lucky to have people to buy me stuff. But I just wanted to know if anybody else gets this.
As someone with a birthday around now, I am in a rage of certainty that someone will be buying me whatever this year’s equivalent of “Five Go To Brexit Island” is. I know everyone’s busy around this time of year, and it’s an easy get out to buy something like that, but I dread getting these things and having to make a fuss and read out little snippets and go “oh listen, how funny this is”.
And after Christmas the charity shops will be full of them, so I know I’m not alone. Bah humbug.

It is a waste of paper. But some people are so hard to buy for so I understand why the “novelty present” route is tempting.

YANBU. They seem very wasteful.

YANBU.

I get why people buy them - they're funny when you're reading them in the shop - but what the actual crap are you supposed to do with them afterwards!! I've had to donate all of my books because we have no space for a book shelf and I only really read my kindle anyway, so they invariably end up becoming some kind of 'decor' on a mantle piece and clutter my house up.

As a serious book lover who pretty much reads for a living, I despair of them. They're not usually funny, take up space and waste paper. I mean, I get that I can be difficult to buy a book for because I read at a rate of knots so it's hard to know what's on my stack, but...book tokens are a glorious thing.

These things are just churned out by publishers to take advantage of the desperate shopper, like any Christmas tat. Funny for five minute when they first came out, but the equivalent of Billy Big Mouth now.

Oh God novelty books. I love books. All kinds of books. Except novelty books. No book lover reads them or buys them for others.
Smile through gritted teeth and stick in the nearest bin. Dont send them to a charity shop. This kind of blasphemy should not be encouraged.

Have to agree. Buy me book tokens, take a look on my (many) bookshelves but novelty books can sod off! I love reading and the speed i read i re-read alot but cant be bothered with them taking up precious bookspace that means i cant have something else. My partner likes them though - for a few months (taking up shelf space) but when i suggest getting rid they're the funniest things ever

I was given the Ladybird book The Mum. Funny to flick through once, then into the recycling.

I do have some very old novelty books: two of Snoopy/Peanuts and 101 Uses For a Dead Cat which 7yo came across while we were moving house - laughed like a drain!

Yanbu. Waste of paper.

Yanbu!!!

Give me a normal book, for the love of God!

I feel better now. Thank you all!

I got a cocktail one once, who has the time or ingredients to make these?

YAsoNBU. I despair of novelty books (in fact novelty anything).

101 Uses For a Dead Cat

My ex gave me this book to cheer me up when my cat died.

The novelty books I read in the shop, smile and put them back.
Moment of amusement then I move on.

They're just hipster tat.

YANBU. I love getting consumables as gifts. Buy me the first pack of chutneys/chocolate /ministures you come across in the shop but please not random clutter that will fill up the house!

Hate them. Like a pp I read for a living (it’s a side hustle really) and I’m also studying an English lit degree so people always want to buy me books which is so lovely but if it turns out to be one of those novelty books I can’t help but be disappointed. I have hundreds of books in my house and I don’t expect people to know what I do and don’t have but what’s wrong with a book token? Actually my dad is pretty good now and generally gets me just that but my mum? What use do I have for a book of poetry written from the POV of a dog??? Stop it!!

YADNBU. Novelty books are nothing more than a waste of paper. I don’t mind thing like the QI books of facts, they go by the loo for bathroom reading (sorry if that’s TMI). Novelty books aren’t even good for that.

YANBU, I got a stack of the Famous Five ones a couple of years ago. Mildly amusing for about 30 seconds, then been relegated to the bookshelf ever since.

YANBU op, those famous five ones are funny for literally 10 seconds.

They're presents for people you don't know what to get for. If you can't think of anything else, take the hint and skip the present altogether.

**ChocolateTearDrops

101 Uses For a Dead Cat

My ex gave me this book to cheer me up when my cat died. hmm

Sorry that did make me chuckle- wouldn’t have at the time though!

chocolateteardrop so sorry glad he's an ex!

Fwiw there was a counter-book of 101 Uses For a Dead Human starring cats

Bugger. I've got a friend one for her birthday relevant to a "significant " age. She going to hate me clearly . In my defence however it's a present to go with her card, I've also got her a "proper" present which isn't tat or a waste of paper.

runs away and hides and awaits friends contribution to this thread imminently

To be fair We're going on a bar hunt is a funny one. I kept this for ages after receiving it before popping it in the charity bag!

YANBU!

We received two copies of thaf Go The F* To Sleep book when DS was born. I’ve been given a Grumpy Cat one, and the British Problems one. Total waste of paper.

Ok, going against the flow here but I love to receive these books. My Dad's dying of lung cancer so it's a bit bleak at moment, stupid WhatsApp GIFs, minipigs videos on YouTube and these sort of books are keeping me going! I have just bought another one for myself. Just posting incase anyone has bought them as presents and is feeling like they have messed up. There are people who will really appreciate them.