Kia Garriques

So, maybe it is a little soon to be talking about Christmas (*whispers the word through tight lips*) but the reality is that it is rapidly creeping up on us, which can mean only one thing – present lists!

Some are getting to work on their Santa lists early, in time for the first big delivery to the North Pole. Others, meanwhile are still in careful contemplation over what to ask for this year; while the very caring and considerate among us will already be experiencing that annual panic over what to give our loved ones. Regardless of who or where we are, I can guarantee that the present giving and receiving aspect of Christmas is playing on all of our minds right now.

So, the question falls: what is the best gift to give this Christmas? As we get older and begin to grow out of the toys and games that once entertained us so, it becomes harder and harder to satisfy us on Christmas morning. More and more, people will search for a gift with meaning and sentiment, or something timeless that you will enjoy and appreciate. If you can use it again and again and it provides some kind of entertainment or enlightenment, all the better!

This is why I think that a book makes for the perfect Christmas present; no matter what age you are, in what genre your interest lies or how avid a reader you truly are. Books entertain us; they pass the time, they inform us and, often, they transport us to an entirely different world. Who would say no the chance of a little escapism? Who could be disappointed by the chance to engage their mind, interests and imagination a little more than usual?

For the avid reader, they will delight in a stack of books under the tree on Christmas morning. But even for the more reluctant reader – the one who feels they don’t have the time or that they can never find anything exciting enough to entice them – the novelty of receiving the perfect book to suit their taste is truly a gift they will appreciate.

A book can be the most thoughtful of gifts; that is, of course, if you have actually put the thought in. While many rush out on Christmas Eve to snag the latest bestseller off the shelves as a last-minute gift for a loved one, they are clearly setting themselves up for a gift fail, nine times out of ten. Think of your favourite books: the ones that have stayed with you for life; the ones you treasure and come back to again and again. They mirror your interests and appeal to your very specific tastes. This is what you should bear in mind when buying a book for a loved one.

When selecting a book as a gift this Christmas (or on any occasion, for that matter) think about the person you are buying for. Sometimes they will be a self-professed fan of a particular genre – then, it is not too hard to go wrong. For the more closed reader however, think about their interests, their lives. What do they do for a living? What do they enjoy doing in their spare time?

A very good mark of the preferred genre is the type of movie the person likes going to see. Have you seen them reading work by a particular author before? Piece the clues together to find the perfect Christmas treasure!

In a world where everything is fast-paced, high-tech and in-your-face, the gift of a book can be a wonderfully refreshing.

Don’t forget, while we are busy being wonderful, generous friends, out searching for the perfect gift, let us not forget what we get out of this: an excuse to trawl the book store to make some of our own requests!