Novel as gift for someone I don't know very well

[CaliforniaDrumming]

Someone I don't know very well has invited me for her birthday party. I was thinking of gifting a book. Any suggestions for a recent novel that is guaranteed to please everyone? Or a cheery book ( not self help)? She suffers from depression.

I recently gave a relative 'Klara and the Sun' by Kazuo Ishiguro and she really enjoyed it - I loved it as well.

Why not get a book token, so she can choose her own?

Book tokens feel a bit impersonal? She is very feminist, as am I. Are there any good feministy memoirs out ( but not academic or dull)?

I love Ishiguro but not read Klara yet!

Speaking as a booklover, please please do not buy a booklover, who you don't know very well, a book! If she has a local bookshop that takes tokens (not all do) then a token would be a lovely gift but otherwise I would get something else entirely.

An Anne Tyler?

I am reading this at the moment. It's a great read and really thought provoking. A great choice.

Stacey Hall's The Familiers is also a great book

Anne Tyler is a very good shout.

www.virago.co.uk/virago-news/2020/09/25/bookshop-day-feminist-bookshops-in-the-uk/

A list of feminist bookshops with online ordering.

Do you know if she reads a lot? I'd buy a fairly recent best seller since a big reader is less likely to have a new book than an older book and a less enthusiastic reader is more likely to read a book there's a buzz about.

If you know she's a feminist then Bitch: A Revolutionary Guide to Sex, Evolution and the Female Animal by Lucy Cooke might be a good option. Or a book that has won a prize recently, Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller might be a good option, it won the Costa and was shortlisted for the Women's prize. Not read either yet though, I have read Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro which was shortlisted for the International Booker and is excellent.

Unsettled ground by Claire Fuller is an excellent and thought provoking novel.

I recently read A Love Story for Bewildered Girls which was really excellent

Speaking as a booklover, please please do not buy a booklover, who you don't know very well, a book! If she has a local bookshop that takes tokens (not all do) then a token would be a lovely gift but otherwise I would get something else entirely.

Absolutely this! I loathe people buying me books. I have either got them/read them or they are something I don't want to read and have no interest in. There are loads of books I vaguely fancy buying. I don't want someone else's choice.

So a scented candle or hand cream then?: ) I searched MN for present ideas for people you don't know very well, and that came up. I will think about it.

Thanks for all the other suggestions. She does read a fair bit.

book token!

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

I disagree! I love receiving books - better though if she can exchange it if needed.

Loads of great feminist books out atm:
Julie Bindel
Louise Perry

Two books that I have given recently that were well-received and might appeal are:
Maggie Farrell - I am, I am, I am
Rayner ?? The Salt Path

I’ve recently just finished Billy Connolly’s latest book. It was brilliant.

I actually love to receive books. I always like to have new ideas of what to read.

Woman in the Photograph

This book is good, and is a fictional story covering key moments in the feminist movement in recent times. Well worth reading.

I’d prefer a book over a scented candle or hand cream any day!

Absolutely. I suppose scented candles and handcream both have the advantage that they are things you can use up and finish (except I hate candles and never use them). If you want to go down that route then food, drink or flowers are all good generic gifts. Or soap, I love a nice soap (Bronnley is fab).

As a booklover, I would be delighted to get a book token so I could go and choose what I wanted!

What's your favourite book?

I would love a book token. A book chosen for me might be brilliant, or it might be something I'd never read in a million years, or something I've already read/bought. Risky choice for a present in my eyes.

I also loathe scented candles and don't use handcream. I like good chocolates, flowers, plants, wine, gin, decent beer, food of all sorts, restaurant, theatre or cinema vouchers.

If you really want to get a book, how about this one? I heard her speaking on the radio the other day. She is absolutely inspirational. Incredible woman. www.penguin.co.uk/books/313/313672/let-it-go/9780241395493.html