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Original poster

Is this an acceptable gift? What to do?

109 replies

PresentingPercy · 09/12/2020 11:34

A friend received this book (Don’t read this if you’re stupid) as an anonymous gift in her pigeon hole at work. No note with it. Plain white envelope. Her name but a slight error on the address. She doesn’t think it’s from a client. The info about the book is attached from the publisher. It’s the last sentence that’s the issue. Friend lives in South London. Any advice welcome.

Is this an acceptable gift? What to do?
OP posts:
Chewbecca · 09/12/2020 13:46

I can see why she’d be a bit freaked out. I would be trying to find out who left it there for sure.

stackemhigh · 09/12/2020 13:50

(Don’t read this if you’re stupid)

What is wrong with you, OP?

Tamingofthehamster · 09/12/2020 13:52

I would be worried if I received a book anonymously about serial killers in the place where I live. It’s hard an expression of love is it?

cardswapping · 09/12/2020 14:07

So your friend is worried it is a death threat because of the last line?

I would not conclude this, but she could leave the book in her pigeon hole and see who is upset at her not picking it up...

lockupyourcinammon · 09/12/2020 14:11

worried about what?!

katy1213 · 09/12/2020 14:48

Is she stupid?

katy1213 · 09/12/2020 14:50

Of course, there's the tanned Russian bottoms - bare bums on the beach, or a Russian Miss Whiplash? I'd be very worried about that!

BessieSurtees · 09/12/2020 15:10

@katy1213

Of course, there's the tanned Russian bottoms - bare bums on the beach, or a Russian Miss Whiplash? I'd be very worried about that!
or tips on successful and painless serial killing.....

but no its not that sentence that is the worry.

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 09/12/2020 15:12

Reading the reviews (it gets good reviews from The Guardian and The New Statesmen, for example) it's just the style of the book / humour.

Nothing sinister at all.

A bit odd to receive an anonymous present but not alarming.

Do nothing!

Why would she do anything?

If it has arrived from someone in the building she could stick a post-it note saying 'haha thank you!' in her pigeonhole.

SleepingStandingUp · 09/12/2020 15:13

@Coriandersucks

I’m stupid so sorry, can’t help I’m afraid
It's the book title, not a bitchy retort from op
SleepingStandingUp · 09/12/2020 15:14

@stackemhigh

(Don’t read this if you’re stupid)

What is wrong with you, OP?

It's the book title
SleepingStandingUp · 09/12/2020 15:15

I think someone has misjudged your friends sense of humour

CharlotteRose90 · 09/12/2020 15:16

Is your friend interested in serial killers or something? Or likes documentaries on crazy people?

SilverOtter · 09/12/2020 15:18

If it's meant to be a threat, it's not a very good one...

BIWI · 09/12/2020 15:28

Secret Santa present?

Arthersleep · 09/12/2020 15:40

Sorry, but am laughing so much at the blurb and the fact that your friend is only concerned by the South London part. Toothpicks in foreskins- fine. Serial killers giving out tips - fine. A vague mention of South London.... ARGHHHHHH!

OhCaptain · 09/12/2020 15:49

What do huh mean ‘what would you do’? Nothing!

It’s anonymous. I’d read it or donate it. Certainly wouldn’t be worried. Chances are someone thought it would be a funny gift.

Original poster
PresentingPercy · 09/12/2020 16:55

Apologies if I wrote the title of the book incorrectly. I’m not sure lots of reviews found it funny at all. Darker than dark is a common thread. The description I posted is Penguin’s own description. The publisher.

For the people who sympathised that this book has been received anonymously and wondered about her job: she’s a barrister. It came in the post at chambers. Its a new copy of the book with no marks or notes. No gift tag. Of course she’s asked around regarding who might have sent it. Posted on Facebook etc.

Thanks to the few people who cared that a young woman might be a bit worried by this. I didn’t really expect the sarcasm I have to say.

OP posts:
OhCaptain · 09/12/2020 17:06

But you didn’t say why she was worried. Being a barrister it’s potentially worrying because she could have pissed off some very nefarious people. But how could we have known that?!

soschreibfaul · 09/12/2020 17:13

I said before that your first post was weird.

Now you drip some relevant information and give us a ticking off that we couldn't read your mind.

FPS123 · 09/12/2020 17:25

The fact she’s a barrister changes everything. Criminal law?
I said on page one that if she worked in say, probation, it would change the context.
Massive drip feed there.

VinylDetective · 09/12/2020 17:32

The bit about a toothpick and foreskin is intriguing. It almost makes me want to buy it.

unmarkedbythat · 09/12/2020 17:36

Thanks to the few people who cared that a young woman might be a bit worried by this. I didn’t really expect the sarcasm I have to say.

You'll know next time, though, won't you? Give hardly any contextual information and what on earth do you expect?

MrsBobDylan · 09/12/2020 17:43

What exactly are you doing op? If this is a sinister gift from someone who means your friend harm, you have very clearly identified that she has received it and is worried. And also that she lives in South London.

Your friend should speak to the Police if she is worried about it being some someone connected to her work, particularly given that it talks about murder.

Or not. It is up to her. I can't see what business it is of yours or what use this thread could possibly be?

unfortunateevents · 09/12/2020 17:44

You seem quite invested in this OP? Has your friend asked you to broadcast this so widely? Why does she think it's not from a client? Given that you speak about an address on the envelope, this presumably arrived in the post so surely far more likely to be a client than a co-worker?