I hate getting books for Christmas in general because I’m such a mood reader, and I’ve plastered a fake smile on my face many a time and repeated internally ‘Its the thought that counts.’ as I unwrap a book I will not read.
But the worst one by far, given to me by my own Mother , who I know loves me, when I was fourteen years old! was >!Men are from Mars Women are from Venus.!< I am sitting there horrified thinking what is she trying to tell me? As my sisters are flat on the floor laughing to the point of puking. We eventually came to the conclusion she just saw an attractive cover on a bestseller table and grabbed it. Love to know your terrible gift stories.
To answer the reverse of the question, back when you could get charity shop books for £1, my mum bought about 40 for my birthday and gave them to me in a shoebox. It’s one of the best presents I’ve received. About 7 Terry Pratchett books, the night circus, and a handful of others I really enjoyed at the time. One accidentally very disturbing book that freaked me out so much I hid it, but otherwise a perfect present.
Ahh the old days in the 90s and 00s when books cost 20 cents each at charity shops and I’d come home to a whole bag full :')
Oh, that sounds amazing! As a bookworm who grew up with little money (basically everything I had was hand-me-downs or from charity shops) I would have been over the moon.
There used to be a website where you could buy a box of random used books without any idea of what you’d get.
Edit- I found it. I think it’s meant for interior decorators?
This is dangerous knowledge for me to have. I have limited shelf space but unlimited desire for more books.
This is so cool!! I love that they have kid specific boxes, they would be great gifts for youngsters who are into reading! Wrapping all ~125 to ha e under the tree! Or a birthday scavenger hunt!
You may have just changed my life.