Is this lame? Books as gift

[GwenFromBudgens]

My DM is impossible to buy for. Totally impossible. Not into beauty, clothes or make up. Everything she wants/needs she buys herself (and the top quality version - way above what I could afford). Normally, I play it safe and go for theatre tickets, but that's out this year.

So I've come up with the idea of buying her some fiction books that I've loved reading. I was thinking maybe 12, so like a year long calendar of books.

Do you think this sounds ok, or does 12 books just sound a bit dull? She does love reading, mainstream fiction/thrillers etc rather than anything high brow.

Does anyone creative have a bright idea of how I could wrap/present these so they looked a bit more special than just a basket of books? Was thinking of writing a little bit for each one about why I liked/chose it.

What about one of the Ali Smith season books for an appropriate month?

A themed gift for a book - so for example, a jar of marmalade to go with Claire Fuller’s Bitter Orange?

Oops, pressed send by mistake. Does she share your taste in books? I would try and find her some titles she would definitely read.
As the little gifts which each book, a great idea. If one of he books is sad you could include a pack of festive tissues. A bookmark, choc, wine, posh biscuits etc all sound good.

Fab idea!! How about
Where the Crawdads Sing
The family upstairs
The other wife
The pact
Magpie Lane
The swimming pool

I'd love this! You could give her a voucher at xmas and send her a book every month to make it a year-long gift...

I would be thrilled to receive this do you need a new friend?. I’d really appreciate a note inside each book saying why/what you liked about it. I’m a sucker for those “staff recommend” cards in bookshops.

I wouldn’t mind in the slightest if they were second hand books either. In fact, next year, I might just suggest a book exchange with my family.

@Giraffey1

Does she like reading? You haven’t said.

Yes, she did - in the third para

If she likes reading that's a great idea! Pick a good mix of different types of books, personal message is a lovely touch.

I really like the thought of a book for every month. How about wrapping each of them individually in brown paper with a one liner "hint" that you'd use to describe each one written on it (but don't include the title/author) so it's a surprise each month ...

I'd love this as a present.

I like that idea GlamourSpider. I was thinking of wrapping each one in brown paper and string with a little card attached which could have the clue in it.

Thanks for recommendations tenlittlecygnets. Those are definitely the type of books she reads (has already read a couple) so will have a look.

I've just finished our zoo by June mottershead. It's about Chester zoo - bbc did a mini series - book is better. Very light hearted. Got a copy for Xmas for my mil due to the zoo at belle vue where she had fond memories of going as a child which is described. Bit of a memory lane for her.
Sounds a lovely idea.

She watched the mini-series! She'd love this. Added to list!

Not lame at all. Incredibly thoughtful. I wouldn't try and do a gift with every book though, overkill.

Lovely idea.

Would she use a kindle?
Put the 12 books on that? Or does she like actual books?

She won't use a kindle, prefers the "weight of a book".

Like everyone else, I also think this is a perfect gift as I love escaping in to a good book. My favourites are crime/thrillers and I’d like to recommend a series by a Swedish author, Camilla Lackberg (the Patrick Hedstrom and Erica Falck series), which starts with the Ice Princess. It is my favourite series of crime novels, and the first time I’ve waited for the next in the series to be released since the Harry Potter books . If she enjoys the first book, there’s quite a few books in the series now so could be useful for gift ideas for the next few years

A man called Ove
Normal People

It's a lovely gift

That's such a great idea, I would love someone to take the time to organise this for me!
I usually read books like you said your mum likes but I recently read Elizabeth is missing which I really enjoyed, my husband bought it for me but I never would have chosen it myself so maybe you could throw in a few that she may not choose herself.

I think it sounds like a lovely idea!!

My suggestions would be ...

The other Mrs Walker - Mary Paulson-Ellis
The watchmaker of Filligree street - Natasha Pulley

If she likes victorian thriller/crime mystery type things then: The Yard series by Alex Grecian are great and very readable (as in addictive )

What a lovely idea!
Can I suggest
Tove Jansen's The Summer Book. A novella about a woman and her granddaughter spending a summer together on an isolated Finnish island. Beautiful book. An old one that I happened upon rather than a popular one.z

Dark Matter is a fabulous 'is it a ghost?' story , set in an ice station in the 20s. A perfect Winter read

Brian Bilston's You Took The Last Bus Home is a mixed bag of poignant and witty poems.

Bill Bryson's Mother Tongue is a very readable history of the English language. Really interesting to understand the origins of words and how (and why) they differ across the country

Persephone Books specialise in female authors and have sibscription and gift set options

Fabulous idea I’d have loved this as a child,

I love reading and I'm always happy to receive books. The one thing I would say is that 12 books chosen by someone else (and books are SUCH a personal taste) could feel overwhelming.

I still think you should do it, but just stress to her that she should pass on the ones she isn't keen on. And don't keep checking in to see what she's read - it shouldn't feel like she has to read and enjoy them all to show appreciation.

I’m a book lover, but don’t always enjoy the books other people want to pass on. I much prefer to choose my own books and would find 12 too much. But you know your mum best, and I’m in the minority here, as it seems it would be a popular gift to most. I’d much rather the subscription idea personally, where I could choose my own titles.

I'd love this pity no one in my life is thoughtful enough to do it for me