Great Regulars: I've always thought that books

are the ideal present: they speak to an individual taste, reflect the interests of the recipient of the gift and, of course, they say something about the giver. There's often a subtle message: I know what you want to read, what your dreams are, what you hope to make of your life! There is often a little nudge: Here is the kind of thing you ought to be thinking about!

I once got a diet book as a gift. The message was neither nice, nor covert--but it was effective.

from Jay Parini: The Guardian: Vermont Public Radio: Books Do Furnish A Room

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