Help me think of gifts for a bookish 17-year-old girl

[Manro]

I’ve been ill the last couple of weeks and not able to get out and shop for 17-year-old DD‘s Christmas presents. Starting to panic now as I only have a couple of things. She’s quite difficult to buy for - if you gave her money she would buy books, then more books, and more books. She’s really into Victorian literature, plus the Classics, as in ancient Greeks and Romans, particularly Pliny the younger. I am absolutely stuck! She’s definitely not into make up or anything like that, but nor is she tomboyish either. She’s absolutely lovely though and a completely delight, and I’m sure will be thrilled with anything she gets but I’m really stuck.

When she was younger, I would rely on lots of crafts and arty type stuff, but that sort of thing has taken a backseat in recent years.

I’m still not well, so really it needs to be things that can be bought online. All suggestions welcome, up to a budget of about £200 in total.

Has anyone mentioned Madeleine Miller's Circe and Song of Achilles? My classics-loving daughter devoured those. Also, I'm not sure it's in print any more, but one of the most wonderful Classics derived books is The God Beneath the Sea (Leon Garfield / Charles Keeping)

Honestly, buy her books not book-themed trinkets.

How about-

Emily Wilson’s translations of the Odyssey and Iliad
Anything by Natalie Haynes (and I’ve added an image showing her recommendations for this year)
The Missing Thread by Daisy Dunn

For Victorians-
Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea make a nice pair

Or modern novels that cover the period eg Possession by AS Byatt, The Crimson Petal and the White, or anything by Sarah Waters

A bit later than Victorian but 17 would be a great age to read Orlando or a Room of One’s Own

Ah, well I’m sorry if (in the midst of all my helpful suggestions - Persephone Books, Fitzcarraldo Books, Folio Society, perfume) my mentioning that I didn’t understand Book Nooks caused you pain! It was an actual question and I was disappointed not to receive any answer. 🤷‍♀️

Oddly enough, I assumed your daughter would be so buried in Loeb Classical Library volumes at school that she couldn’t bear to have them at home too. But I’m glad you’ve found something suitable.

So buy her some beautiful versions of books. She may also like the Wolf Den series if she hasn’t already read it if she’s a fan of the Greeks and Pliny.

Or some beautiful book ends for her collection. A stamp or personalised page embosser.

But as a bookish girl when I was that age it was Waterstones vouchers I wanted.

You can pick up Folio Society books second hand in excellent condition for less money. Look in second hand bookshops and online.

I know everyone’s saying books not trinkets and I do agree to some degree but I’ve seen some lovely glass vases with classic books printed on them and I Love them.

if she reads on her bed what about one of those high back cuddle cushions for comfort.
And a McClaggen greek gods and goddesses mug
But yes book tokens
and maybe some coffee shop vouchers? Or a hot chocolate maker?

One of my daughter's favourite presents was a £50 book token.

Apologies, I misread your tone.

Easily done!

Damn you all!!!!
I was finished shopping for my 19 year old, book loving, history and science loving DD and now I have just bought 2 more books and a blue stocking badge! I am trying to avoid the Folio Society (and I definitely haven't book marked this thread for future reference, oh no no no).

If you're looking for non-book related gifts, my very similar sounding 17 year old was pleased by feminist/introvert slogan tshirts, a wheat bag, an oodie, nice pens and notebooks, and knitting and cross-stich equipment.

I came to say the same!

A brilliant publisher to get a bookish girl acquainted with.

They do lovely fabric book envelopes too, so one of those with a sample book inside would be lovely.

Are you anywhere near Bath?

Mr B's does a book spa which may be perfect

https://mrbsemporium.com/gifts/#reading-spas

A personalised non ink book stamper. Or embosser. So her name and that it’s from her collection.

magnetic bookmarks. As a stocking filler.

🤣🤣🤣 I think a lot of Mums of boys would think likewise.

Those of us who love books don’t really like kindles. It’s not the same. Useful for travelling but it’s not a book.

I would love one of those (a stamper/embosser for my book collection)

Bookmarks are always good - I recently got a nice one as a gift that I actually want for myself!

And agree with PPs about a book token, I'd give a £50 book token plus one or two books to read while she is waiting to go and spend it!

Nothing better than having loads to spend in a bookshop

https://www.waterstones.com/books/search/term/literary+letter+bookmark

I am delighted by all the recommendations for Mr B's and Persephone's: we live in Bath, and it is reassuring that these places clearly have so much support!

Seriously - a lot of the boys she encounters seem to be these 'roadmen' types, or at least pretending to be so, in as much as middle class boys from Bath can do so! So it is comforting to think that somewhere out there, there might be boys her age who might appreciate the qualities she has!

Faber’s poetry diary

A Little History of Literature, by John Sutherland. Interesting and very readable and will result in a long list of more stuff to read.

Another couple of book recommendations: Red Thread: On Mazes and Labryinths, and Under Another Sky: Journeys in Roman Britain, both by Charlotte Higgins. And The Dress Diary: Secrets from a Victorian Woman's Wardrobe, by Kate Strasdin.

And a possibly random suggestion - has she read any Charlotte Yonge? Hugely popular Victorian novelist. You can get some lovely original editions on eBay or ABE books, and could look for one with a presentation plate (school prize). The Heir of Redclyffe was probably her best-selling one, lots of angst. The Daisy Chain is another good one. She wrote some historical fiction, which I would avoid. There is a society you could join her to, the CMY Fellowship. Similarly, there are societies for most Victorian novelists, if you know which she enjoys.

@reallyalurker yes, literary society membership is a good suggestion for anyone looking for a last minute lit gift for another reader - or for oneself! The Alliance of Literary Societies in the UK has a useful list of their members. https://allianceofliterarysocieties.wordpress.com/member-societies/

Speak for yourself! I love physical books and have a large collection, but also love my kindle for portability and reading at night without needing to have a separate light on.