A book with a beautiful cover as a gift for an intelligent woman

[TwigTheWonderKid]

I need to find an excellent book as a birthday present for my friend. I would also like it to have a beautiful cover.

I am very unwell and can't get out to the shops to browse and it's so hard to find things online.

The most beautiful books I have seen recently are these https://www.chilternpublishing.co.uk/product-category/classics/

The floral ones are gorgeous, but my favourite cover is Moby Dick

My dad has been reading it and he can’t read small print, so I’m sure it will be fine.

A lovely hardback book from just £6 (used).
Your friend might want to visit some of the pictures of the dangerous women

www.abebooks.co.uk/9780789212566/Women-Who-Read-Dangerous-Stefan-0789212560/plp

The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susannah Clarke, hardback cover is gorgeous. Splendid writer.

The last 2 books I have bought as gifts have been hardback anniversary editions of Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch and The Secret History. Beautiful books. They gave me immense joy to gift.

Instead of looking for a new book with a beautiful cover, call an antiquarian book dealer and explain what you're looking for. He can probably find you some lovely vintage book. It's up to you to guess whether she'd love a beautiful edition of a 19th century novel, or an antique cookbook or what.

Letters of note by Shaun usher

Instead of looking for a new book with a beautiful cover, call an antiquarian book dealer and explain what you're looking for.

Hmm … This isn’t what I’d have wanted to be doing while seriously ill and undergoing treatment. Browsing an interesting online catalogue or looking through the lists for this year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction or Baillie Gifford Prize (for instance) would have been all the effort I felt inclined to expend. Though perhaps the OP has more energy or craves more active distraction than I would!

Fitzcarraldo Editions are absolutely beautiful, heavy weight card covers with a flap, & there's some really interesting titles. I would recommend both Fifty Sounds by Polly Barton & The Naked Don't Fear the Water by Mathieu Aitken (the former maybe better as a gift as not such a heavy subject)

I loved the Night Circus and they do it in a striking hardback edition: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1784879665?tag=prhmarketing2552-21

Ali Smith's season books have great covers (Hockney paintings) but it will really depend on whether she likes that sort of book.

Oliver Bonas online always has an eclectic mix of books that have interesting covers and a variety of genres. I usually get something from there for each of my immediate family at Christmas and not too much time spent browsing. I bought the Ikigai book on the Japanese meaning of life from there - very pretty and was much appreciated by the recipient.

Fast and Slow Thinking

Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day from Persephone Books is amazing. Nice cover and underrated novel with amazing charm.

Perfect choice!
I've read it so often I needed a second copy. It's an attractive edition of an absolutely lovely, funny and engaging novel.

I have this copy of The Secret Garden - https://minalima.com/product/the-secret-garden-uk-edition/

It has beautiful illustrations and interactive elements. They do other classic children's tales like Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland. It's genuinely one my favourite gifts I've ever received.

Have a look at Goldsboro Books - they specialise in first editions and many have beautiful covers and sprayed edges.

https://goldsborobooks.com/

They are breathtakingly beautiful objects. If only I could find one I actually want to get to the end of …

Not entirely serious - I can recommend Pond, by Claire-Louise Bennett, and I know Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, by Olga Tokarczuk has many fans. (Kathryn Hunter was tireless in the play; I must remember to seek out the film adaptation Spoor.) But I’m constantly starting Fitzcarraldo books and then wandering off, shamefaced …

Chiltern editions are beautiful. I have a couple.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pride-Predjudice-Jane-Austen/dp/1912714035/ref=asc_df_1912714035/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310953066705&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=683333617788008056&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006539&hvtargid=pla-605975447030&psc=1&mcid=bc3134e607c738a29542d98b5677b440

@StrangeNew , I don't tend to hold on to books once I've read them, and have a habit of abandoning a book when I have a few pages left so that it doesn't join the read pile.

I sort of feel obliged to let someone else benefit from reading the book. If I can't get past the first few pages of a book, I pass it on. I can always re-borrow or repurchase it should I want to.

I usually struggle with books as gifts. They tend to be worthy (e.g. prize winners) but not my taste.

I love receiving a book token.

Oh I absolutely loved this. One of my favourite books ever, and the illustrations are glorious too.
Another good one is Heartburn by Nora Ephron. Beautiful cover, and it's by Nora Ephron. What's not to like?!

I don't tend to hold on to books once I've read them … I sort of feel obliged to let someone else benefit from reading the book

There’s nowt so queer as folk!

For me my library is another skin. And, truthfully, a house without books - bereft of comfort. (Though this argument has been had on MN countless times, so no need here!) Mostly my failed reading attempts happen via free Kindle samples of early chapters squirrelled away on my phone. Actually deleting a sample is a seriously negative critique in my head. I’m wary of lending physical books unless to a house guest or relative (too much experience) but probably recommend at least one book to another person every day - so I’m doing my fair share of sharing.

@StrangeNew , my house is full of books. It reached saturation point years ago.

Ok … I’m confused! (Not that it matters at all.)