With the most wonderful time of year well under way, the time for giving and gifting has arrived. Last year’s Bookish Gift Ideas post is being revamped as 2019’s Literary Gift Guide featuring my top choices for the readers and writers in your lives, or perhaps even for yourselves.
Prepare yourself; I included quite a lot in this Literary Gift Guide. Maybe get a snack, maybe get a drink. Get cozy. I found so many amazing, unique items that are perfect for gifting and couldn’t justify not sharing them with you.
Bookmarks
Bookmarks are a classic and easy gift for any reader in your life. In choosing bookmarks that stood out to me as unique gifts, I went for ones more specific than just reader-aimed designs, some focused on specific genres or classic authors.
Jane Austen Wooden Bookmark | $6.99 each
This wooden bookmark is so beautiful with Jane Austen’s signature at the top and her handwriting from a manuscript engraved on it. It comes in a variety of colors and can be personalized on the back.
Set of 4 Oscar Wilde Quote Bookmarks | $6 Digital Download
This set of bookmarks is unique because you actually have to print them yourself. It may be a slight inconvenience for you but could also be the perfect last minute gift if you have a bit of card stock around.
Antiqued Photo Bookmark | $10.69 each
This is a favorite choice of mine. These bookmarks are unlike any other I’ve come across. I chose to show the Oscar Wilde option for this bookmark because of my own overwhelming admiration for him, but there are so many options to choose from including many classic authors as well as historical figures. If you know a reader who is enough of a fan of one of these people (including Jane Austen, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Marie Curie, Virginia Woolf, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and many more), this would be the perfect gift. You can also get a customizable one and add your own photo.
Metal Author Bookmark | $13.85 each
I’m including this beautiful bookmark as an alternative to the one above. They’re similar in idea, if not shape, and while this one has fewer author options (Edgar Allan Poe, Arthur Rimbaud, Fëdor Dostoevskij and Oscar Wilde) it’s another brilliant and unique one. I noticed the Oscar Wilde choice for the previous bookmark was quite limited, so if you’re looking for one, this is a perfect option.
Fairytale Map Wooden Bookmark | $6.99 each
I love these. The map engraved into the wooden bookmark is hand drawn and inspired by the Brothers Grimm fairytales. They come in three colors (beige, raspberry, or royal plum) and can be personalized on the back. I adore these for fantasy readers.
Dark Academia Shelf Wooden Bookmark | $6.99 each
A wooden bookmark with a shelf of dark academia books including Ninth House—I’m obsessed! This comes in three color options (beige, ebony, and mahogany) and can be personalized on the back.
Journals
Black Paper Journal | $41.03
Every writer needs notebooks and journals, it’s just a fact, but this all black journal is eye catching and perfect for anyone who likes to spill their secrets on the page. This one is completely unlike anything I’ve seen before and is so cool. Gift it with a white pen so your friend can fill it up with amazing ideas, doodles or whatever strikes their fancy. It’s the kind of thing someone might not buy for themselves when looking for a journal but it makes a great gift and will be used a lot. The original comes with the Poe quote, “All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream,” but you can customize it with whatever you’d like on the cover.
Well Read Women: A Reader’s Journal | $14.95
This is the perfect gift for a reader. It’s a journal for tracking the books you read with spaces to write about plot, characters and quotes you enjoyed. It includes watercolor portraits of classic female characters.
Drinks
Charles Dickens Mug and Drink Set | $17
I think this is a fantastic gift. You receive a beautiful copper mug with a scene from a Dickens novel (I believe the scenes differ on mugs) and your choice of tea, coffee or hot buttered rum to make in it. It’s such a cute set and so festive.
12 Days of Christmas Literary Tea | $25
Give the gift of unique, literary inspired tea for the 12 Days of Christmas. This collection comes with 12 different sachets of tea. I recommend taking a look at this shop’s Etsy page to also look at larger packages of teas inspired by books such as Anne of Green Gables, Sense and Sensibility and more. Regular packages cost $10 but they also offer themed boxes such as the Narnia Tea Box which includes two flavors of tea, Turkish Delight, and your choice between two tea infusers. You can also add the tea infusers (either a teapot or book charm) to any tea order for an additional cost of between $7.50 and $10.
Literary Tea Pouches | $5.18-$7.48
This is a fantastic gift choice because you can choose any flavor of tea offered to be put in any themed pouch. This shop offers more modern options with current day favorites, such as Harry Potter, and specific character options such Snape, Gandalf and more. They also have horror options like The Shining, Dracula, and Rosemary’s Baby, as well as a variety of children’s favorites such as Care Bears, Barbie and My Little Pony. There are also TV show options, too. These pouches are the perfect addition if you’re already giving somebody a specific themed gift.
Mugs
Of course everyone needs mugs to drink their tea and coffee from. We’ve all seen the mugs that say things like, “So many books, so little time,” before so I wanted to be quite picky about my mug choices. I went for mugs without reader-related declarations and focused on unique, charming designs.
Fox on Book Stack Mug | $15.06
So sweet. There’s a cat option, too. You can find it here.
Floating Books Mug | $16.99-19.99
I love that this is a full image wrapped around a mug instead of a pattern. It’s so cozy.
Book Boxes and Gift Sets
A Christmas Carol Book Box | $55
I chose this specific box because it’s festive and perfect for this time of year, however, this shop has many options for themed book boxes. All boxes include a copy of the book, but each box has different items that go along with it, including things such as candles, tea, mugs, and snacks.
The Bookworm Bundle | $56
This is the perfect gift if you have a young reader to buy for but aren’t sure exactly what they’d like. Each book is a surprise and handpicked by the shop owner after you fill out a survey about the child’s reading interests. There are four age options: Picture Books, Early Readers, Confident Readers, and Independent Readers. You receive three books per bundle. It goes up to lower level YA books, so maybe around 12 years old. It’s a bit pricey (especially for picture books) but it’s something to consider if you’re a little lost for what to buy a young reader.
Literary Gift Set | $42.23-$52.78
Definitely one of my favorite gifts in this entire Literary Gift Guide, these gift sets are the perfect way to introduce someone to a classic or to perhaps give them a nicer edition of one they already own and love with some extra items, too. In this specific Jane Eyre box, you receive the Penguin Classics edition of the novel, an enamel pin, and a t-shirt with the classic line, “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me.” Not all boxes have Penguin Classics editions, but most come with t-shirts and pins.
Chocolate and Book Box | $19.78-117.45
I actually searched this specific idea of a chocolate book subscription box because it seemed like something necessary. I’m so glad I found one. You can order one box at a time, three months at a time, or six months at a time. Each box comes with a book from the genre of your choosing, chocolates, and a hot drink (coffee, tea, or hot chocolate). I cannot imagine a more perfect gift.
Ornaments
If you’re looking for a little something book related to gift this year, you can’t go wrong with ornaments.
Mini Journal Ornament | $12.95-$19.95
The best part of this little journal is that it has forty pages (20, front and back) inside for you to write really tiny on if you’d like to jot down some little Christmas memories to hang on your tree. You can have it plain ($12.95) or personalized with up to five letters on the front ($19.95).
Wooden Profile Quote Ornament | $10
A nice little addition to the Christmas tree. There are several author options, each with a famous quote engraved.
Jane Austen Book Ornament | $20.50
Bring the beauty of bookshelves to your tree with this Jane Austen ornament. So beautiful and a lovely gift for Austen fans.
Metal Quill Ornament | $14
Possibly just a feather, but still definitely a quill in my mind and great for any writer’s tree.
Charities
As readers, we all understand the importance of books and the impact they can have on your life. Since it’s the season of giving, I’d also like to call attention to some literary charities.
Pajama Program believes in the power of bedtime routines for children and aim to provide pajamas, books, and resources to parents and caregivers for children in uncertain circumstances so that they too can have good nights that lead to great days. Donate here.
First Book distributes books and educational resources to children in low income communities all around the world. Every $3 helps give 2 new books to a child. Donations are being matched by Penguin Random House during the holiday season. Donate here.
Litworld aims to increase literacy around the world and encourages creativity in children, focusing on the importance of reading aloud and writing as a way of teaching children creative expression as well as teaching them that their voice matters. Donate here.
Room to Read focuses on literacy and gender equality in education in low income communities around the world, encouraging reading and helping support girls through secondary school. Donate here.
I hope you all enjoyed this Literary Gift Guide and that you found something for a friend or to treat yourself to this festive season.
Thanks for reading,
Madison
I don’t even use bookmarks but I want some of those! And the fox mug is adorable <3 Great list!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post, Brittany!! I love the fox mug too 😊 thank you 🖤
Wow! This was amazing. I loved everything in this post. There was something for everyone. I actually ordered some items for the book readers in my life. Thank you so much these will make great gifts.
Thanks, Francesca! I’m so happy you enjoyed the post and that it was helpful to you 🙂
Wonderful post with lots of fantastic ideas. The bookmarks are lovely and there are so many different options for them out there. Plus that fox mug is gorgeous. I didn’t realise you could get book themed Christmas ornaments. And it’s wonderful that you included some charities here too 💕