What’s the last book you received as a gift, and what’s the last book you gave as a gift?
Well, I know the last book I gave was Night Shift, Stephen King’s first collection of short stories. My friend was complaining that her son has a short attention span, and will only read the first few chapters of the book before skipping to the end. I thought maybe short stories would work better, and I remembered reading this collection when I was about his age. I still remember some of those stories!
As far as receiving a gift book, I can’t remember ever getting a surprise book from someone, which now that I think about it is kind of strange.
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I just gave my stepmom Tell Me Everything and Project Hail Mary. Kind of weirdly different books, but she reads a wide range.
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@Holly_Batsell those two books are kind of polar opposites, but they’re both wonderful. I hope she enjoys them. Did she give you a list or did you just think the books would be a good match for her?
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I received Bel Canto annotated by Ann Patchett and Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides for Christmas
I think the last one I officially gifted was The Road to Dalton by Shannon Bowring
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I gifted The Six (Loren Grush) and The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet (Becky Chambers) to a friend. Also, sent Impossible Creatures to friend’s sons.
As for receiving books, a friend sent me three Audible credits - woohoo! Does that count?
I used them for Time of the Child, Orbital, and a pre-order Happy Land.
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Audible credits and book gift cards are top of my list!!!
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I think giving/receiving gift cards is a great way to make sure people get what they like. But I’m still wondering if people know each other well enough to buy them a book they feel that person would enjoy. Is this a thing of the past, do you think? It seems like before the Amazon age people would often choose books for their friends. I’m just not sure how often that occurs anymore.
I have two close friends who are readers. If I encounter a book I think they’ll like I’ll send them a copy. Usually these are nonfiction, like Rough Sleepers for a friend who works for a non-profit that helps individuals with substance abuse issues, and Truly, Madly about the romance between Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier to a friend who’s an old movie buff.
But I guess my question is, is this a dying practice in the age of gift cards? What do you think?
I’m thrilled with gift cards. For those friends who want to gift me books but are afraid to because I read so voraciously we have worked out a compromise where I give them a short list (usually 6 or 8 titles) so they can choose. I will still be surprised by their choice and we both end up happy.
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Love this idea, @Anne_Glasgow!
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I’ve recommended books she’s enjoyed before so this Christmas she asked for a book I thought she would like. And I couldn’t decide so I got her two. 
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There are a few people in my other virtual reading community who I know well enough to buy specific books for and vice-versa but in general, I think it is tough to select books for people…such a personal choice. If I want to gift something more personal than a gift card, I have opted for memberships to BookBrowse and the like.
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I can’t remember the last book I received as a gift–think people assume I get my own (which I do–from the public library!) I gave “Wintering” by Katherine May to one friend for Christmas & Mary Oliver’s “Devotions” to another. Hope they enjoy them.
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The last book I gave was Getting Things Done (it’s the only ‘self help’ book I’ll buy for people). My mom gifted me The Emerald Mile in anticipation for a Grand Canyon trip we’ve since taken, and which I still have not read yet 
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OMG @nick you must read The Emerald Mile!
Fedarko is one of my favorite authors and his outdoor writing is unmatched. The Emerald Mile is a great thrill ride and so is his new one A Walk in the Park. Both about the Grand Canyon from very unique perspectives.
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My daughter and I always give each other books for Christmas. This year I received Christmas with the Queen and I gave her Time of the Child. We do a little box with treats and bookish things to go with the book. My only concern is one day we will give each other the same book.
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Christmas gift from my son The Library of America 3 volume set of Joan Didion. From my granddaughter This Sweet Magic. Books I gave as a gift to my son two nice hardbacks of Hemingway and The Berry Pickers for my daughter in law.
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Twice my daughter and I have given each other the same book. It was kind of fun!
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I received “James” and “The Anthropocene Reviewed” for Christmas and gave my wife “A Very Punchable Face” by Colin Jost this year.
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I have a young friend who turned 70 a couple of months ago. I gave her
All the Sinners Bleed by S.A.Cosby
James by Percival Everett
An Unfinished Love Story by Doris Kearns Goodwin
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