What’s the last book you read that you enjoyed so much that you immediately bought a copy for someone else?
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I don’t often gift books I love. When gifting I try to focus on books I think the reader will love. If I’ve read something I think one of my friends would enjoy then I loan my copy. I’m pretty sure the last time I did this it was She Who Remains by Rene Karabash.
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The last one for me would have been Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray. One of my close friends loves historical fiction, and I suspected (rightly) that like me, she’d never heard of Frances Perkins. The book was fascinating, plus I feel like she’s a woman we really should have heard of loooong before this. My friend did read & enjoy it.
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Like Anne, I often loan books I love but now that most friends are retired in various states, I’ve gifted a couple. Most recently was Little Bird by Barbara Viniar a story rich in Hebrew tradition, and the strength of women in the early 1900’s.
Also, when my brother returned from a trip to the Redwoods in northern CA astounded by all he had learned about trees, I gifted him Lab Girl by Hope Jahren. This memoir is a treasure of unbelievable info about soil and trees and the challenge of being a female scientist.
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‘Whistler’ by Ann Patchett!
The most recent book gifting I did was a copy of THE DAILY STOIC by Ryan Holiday for my best friend. This was a few years ago!
I just have my copy of The 48bLaws of Power away. It was published a long time ago, but is still a good book.
The last book i can think of is “West With the Giraffes” given to my sister. Sandy was not very technical in nature so she never purchased anything online. And when she tell me she was bored and had no other books to read I would surprise her with Amazon delivery. She was a fan of historical fiction so I had great fun searching for the right book. I lost her 5 months ago and not only do I miss her terribly, but I miss not being given the task of finding that special read for her. When I read West. . . I knew immediately she would love the story as much as I did. I still consider it a sleeper, not as well known as some books, but it leaves the reader having experienced an adventure across our nation along with wonderful characters and two long necked companions..
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@Carol_N You sound like a great sister and it’s wonderful that you and your sister had an additional bond through books. I recommended West With Giraffes to my book club a couple of years ago and we all loved it. Although we’re both voracious readers, my sister and I have very different personalities and genre preferences, but I passed it on to her anyway after we finished it in book club. She has since recommended to many of her friends. Books seem to make our bond stronger.
THE OFFERING by Benjamin Myers. I bought 2 paperback copies from Amazon last spring. It was such a popular book among members. I have friends that will only read paperback or hardcover. They feel they have to hold a book in their hands for them to truly enjoy the book. I told the person I gave it to for her to pass it on to other people who I thought would enjoy the book. My friend has told me it is now on the 5th reader
I loved The Correspondent and sent it to my friends with whom I used to have a letter correspondence! Of course, we mostly text and email now, but the novel reminded us all about the true pleasure in receiving and writing actual letters.
Many people here won’t like my answer: ATLAS SHRUGGED by Ayn Rand. But that’s the truth. It was several years ago.
@Techeditor I actually really enjoyed Atlas Shrugged. Made me think! It’s one of the few books I’ve read more than once.
I don’t give a new copy of a book. I give away the one I have enjoyed. There are a couple of friends of mine who are avid readers, and I know for sure that they appreciate the ones I give to them.
I did! Back in the day I read everything Ayn Rand wrote. I didn’t quite internalize her ideology but I thought she wrote interesting and challenging stories.