We've all done it. You close a great book, put it back on the shelf, and slowly forget the details. The line that stopped you in your tracks, the character you couldn't stop thinking about, and the question the ending left you with all fade a little more each month.
Reading is about so much more than getting to the last page. It's about thinking through the words, coming to your own conclusions, and carrying the ideas off the page and into everyday life. And, of course, it's about having fun.
If you're shopping for a bookworm, the best gifts help them hold on to what they read and discover what to read next. Here are our favorites, plus a reading challenge to share with the readers in your life.
Why Keep a Reading Journal?
A reading journal turns reading from something you finish into something you keep. Here's what it gives a reader:
- Better memory. Writing about a book helps you remember it long after you've finished.
- Deeper thinking. Answering "what worked and what didn't?" sharpens your own opinions.
- A personal library. Years from now, it becomes a record of everything you read and how it made you feel.
- Better book club conversations. Notes and favorite lines are ready when it's your turn to talk.
Our Hand-Bound Reading Logs
Each of our reading logs is hand-bound with a longstitch binding and holds 200 pages designed for reviewing and analyzing books. Inside, there's space to record the title and author, favorite lines, what was good, what could have been better, and how the story stayed with you. The first page is titled "Reads and Reflections."
Choose a cover to fit their style:
- Butterfly Reading Log: cozy brown, blue, and red flannel
- Language of Flowers Reading Log: medium denim with a vintage Rome hotel stamp
- Flamingo Reading Log: pink stripes and flamingos on lokta paper
The Genre Reading Challenge
Most of us have a comfort zone. Maybe it's thrillers, or romance, or one favorite fantasy series. That's wonderful, but some of the best books we've read came from a genre we swore we'd never try.
Here's a challenge to share with the readers in your life: read at least one book from each of these 11 genres this year. Write down the title, keep a tally, or just cross it off as you go.
- Mystery / Thriller
- Romance
- Fantasy
- Science Fiction
- Historical
- Classics
- Horror
- Memoir / Biography
- Industry or Nonfiction (history, science, self-help, or true crime)
- Poetry
- Graphic Novel
That's a mix of fiction, nonfiction, and different formats. Poetry and graphic novels are usually the ones that push readers furthest outside their habits, and they're often the most surprising favorites.
Tips for Branching Out
- Ask for recommendations. Ask friends for their favorite book in a genre you don't usually read.
- Start short. Novellas, short story collections, and poetry are an easy way to try something new.
- Use the library. Borrowing makes it low-risk to try a genre you're unsure about.
- Read with a friend. A buddy read makes the challenge more fun.
Hand-Printed Bookmarks
No book lover has enough bookmarks. Ours are original linocut designs, printed by hand on 2" x 6" archival paper and laminated, so they protect the book while you read. Each one is signed and dated by the artist. Favorites include the Blue Floral Bookmark, with a checkered ribbon, and the You're My Jam Bookmark, covered in strawberries.
At $6.50, they're a sweet stocking stuffer or an easy add-on to any book you're gifting.
A Few More Gifts for Readers
- A tote bag for library runs, like our Mothball or Tulip Tote
- Washi tape for tabbing favorite pages
- A Prompt Journal for the reader who loves to reflect beyond books
FAQ
What do you write in a reading journal? The title and author, favorite quotes, what you liked and didn't, and how the book made you think or feel.
What is a genre reading challenge? It's a goal to read at least one book from a list of different genres, so you branch out from your usual picks.
How many books should be in a reading challenge? Anything that feels fun. Our 11-genre challenge works out to about one book a month, with December off.
Find Their Perfect Gift
Shopping for more than one reader? Take the 6-question gift quiz on our Holiday Gift Guide page. Because the best stories don't belong on the shelf. ✸
