I have this friend whose birthday is coming up. She said she wants a book but didn't specify (she's turning 16, btw). What should I gift her? She liked most of Fredrik Backman's books (A Man Called Ove, Britt-Marie Was Here, etc.), but And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer is her favorite. She likes sappy books and of course as the pattern suggests, doesn't like anything overly romantic- let alone spice. She's also read Pride and Prejudice, The Great gatsby, and Little Women. She surprisingly liked the Hunger Games too.
I was planning on giving her A Little Life or A Song of Achilles but found out they were both pretty graphic (i get A Song of Achilles is kinda spicy but what do you mean by graphic in A Little Life?) so now I've settled on Girl in Pieces? Do you guys think she'll like it? Anyone have any better recs?
by Intelligent_Lie_841
6 Comments
-The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: beautifully written! Historical fiction set in WWII Germany, narrated by Death. Since she liked The Great Gatsby and Little Women, she might appreciate the poetic writing and themes of love, loss, and resilience.
-Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom: short but deeply moving nonfiction book that explores life, death, and human connection.
Maybe try a reading gift basket? For example get her a book store gift card so she can pick out her next book, a new bookmark, maybe some hot chocolate, socks, sticky notes(if she marks her books), a mug, candy, candle, ect
If she just wants a book then I think your book ideas are great ones for gifts! You’re a great friend 🩷
I think A Little Life contains very adult themes and isn’t appropriate for a 16 year old, so good call.
A few recommendations:
{{To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee}} is an American classic that contains themes of racism in 1960 South. The relationship between the main characters (father/daughter) is lovely.
{{Tell The Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt}} contains themes of family death and grief, but is a lovely story as well.
{{The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstein}} contains a lot of “magical realism”.
Has she read Little Men? It’s a sequel of Little Women. I rather liked it.
You could get her some nice, bound hardcover classics like Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Jane Eyre – even if she has already read these, they make lovely keepsakes! I got copies of some of these when I was 8 or 9 and have them on display in my home to this day!
LOTR
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Jane Eyre
Age of Innocence
Cynthia Voight stuff
Love in Time of Cholera
Their Eyes Watching God
White Teeth