10 great gifts for lovers of reading and books

You have to offer a gift to a person who likes to read? The good thing is that the universe of gifts is reduced only to books. The bad thing is that it’s a huge universe. Which book to choose?

You could start with the novelties that have been the most received this season. The local-air modern Greek tragedy printed in To clean of Alia Trabucco —who has already sold her rights in 13 countries—, the provocateur Annihilation de Houellebecq, or the explosive nuclear x-ray that Sara Mesa wrote in Family These are some of the standout titles of 2022. This may be where you’ll find yourself with the gift of the year this Christmas.

Other alternatives? In free search for example, are already placing their bets on the securities that will be bestsellers this end of the year. His forecast is based on the behavior of sales during the year, which in some titles included an increase of more than 25% in their figures, in addition to the data collected from the various publishers linked to the sales platform. Here are some of the strongest candidates:

If you scratched with the series the dragon house and the only thing you want is to enter the world created by the American writer and screenwriter George RR Martin, you cannot miss this title. fire and blood It’s the first of two volumes that features the now ultra-famous Targaryen family as its protagonist, delving into the story of each of its members. Openwork watermelon.

“At least a third of those you know are introverts,” said American writer Susan Cain when presenting this book, which in 2012 became the bestseller in her country. Ten years later, its Spanish translation finally arrives in Chile. Calmas it is titled in English, seeks to break with the stereotypes and misinterpretations of a society that overvalues ​​extroversion — and the idea of winners and underestimates those who present themselves more cautiously before the world. Cain speaks specifically to the timid of the world, seeking to provide them with tools to better understand themselves and make the most of their strengths. Self-help is here to stay…for a while.

An affront to these times of influencers, empty but self-important self-help phrases and advertisements that exploit self-esteem interspersed with toxic positivism. This is where the critical analysis of Nerea de Ugarte López, a Chilean feminist psychologist, begins and develops, trying to trace a passage towards new possibilities of relationship to oneself. One of them is political self-esteem, with which he seeks to approach the issue as a collective problem and not just an individual one. A book in which renowned feminist activists from Chile and Latin America participate.

If the previous options do not convince you, consider that the gift does not have to be a book. It could well be an object linked to reading, either because it facilitates it, or because it is particularly linked to the intimate relationship that the person has with said exercise or with his books. Here are some ideas about that. And of all the prizes:

The most emblematic of reading lights it celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2022. And despite the accelerated technological advancements that have existed since then—which render any electronic device more than five years old disposable—the Kindle remains unfazed in this space where technology and the analog world have found a kind of harmony: reading.

Although there are those who do not support reading on a screen, more and more converted readers are surrendering to the advantages of this gadget. And without this implying a detachment from the physical book. The biggest advantage of the Kindle and its comparisons is that you can load thousands of titles on it without adding a milligram of weight. Indeed, the Kindle Touch 2022 only scores 0.22 kg on the scale. Added to this is a screen with a resolution of 300 ppi and 16 GB of memory. Plus, it lets you enjoy your nighttime reading, without having to turn on the light or fight the whole house to get it done. And you can forget about social media and email headquarters.

If the detail of the nocturnal reading and the daily fights struck a chord; If you’re one of those people who resist giving screens more power and focus their enjoyment on the feel and smell of paper, then you may find a new favorite gadget in these super handy LED lights, which let you read the night without the need for additional light. Rectangular, compact and ultra-slim in design, this transparent panel illuminates every page simply by placing it on it. It also has adjustable brightness. Note that it uses triple A batteries, which are not included in the purchase.

But if the LED panel does not convince you and you are looking for a more traditional gift, this clamp lamp to be fixed on tables —or directly on books— can be your alternative. It has a high intensity horizontal LED light and an adjustable neck at different positions and angles. Be careful, because like the LED panel, this lamp also needs three triple A batteries for its operation, and they are not included in the purchase.

There’s nothing sadder than lending out books and, sooner rather than later, realizing they never returned to your library. Logical decision: “no more lending books”. But why be so rigid, when you can mark books with a ex-libris.

It is a stamp, an engraving or a label that certifies the ownership of each book: it includes the name and, most often, an image. It is usually placed on the first blank page, or on the front cover of the book or on the back cover. This is a practice that dates back to the 15th century BC. J.-C. and which has for example the most classic of the stamps with engravings of heraldic shields. In exlibrism you can customize a ex-libris in the form of a stamp, taking up classic motifs – the selection can be reviewed directly in the outstanding stories of the adventure – and adding the name of the person, his pseudonym or the desired concept. Its value varies between 22,000 and 30,000 pesos, depending on the complexity of the design.

How can you vomit up all those ideas swirling around in your head after a passionate read without having to literally eat someone’s ear? Why speak of the annoyance of those who have to listen to it but also of the disappointment of those who do not find the long-awaited reception there. This appreciation notebook, from the Chilean publisher mimeograph , is the response to this impulse. After reading, write. Notes, notes, thoughts… whatever. Let it stay there. Maybe one day there will be an idea worth commenting on.

To underline or not to underline the book? That is the question, not without controversy. Entire civilizations have been destroyed – it’s not true – on this question capable of dividing two worlds, two types of people, two types of readers. And if it must be scratched on the pages, it is better to do it with the right pencil, worthy of putting its point on the paper and intervening with the necessary subtlety so as not to transform the affair into a literary crime.

Lamy pencils seem to belong to this restricted group of dignitaries. Of German origin and a history of designs that are as classic as they are modern, it is a brand that has gained great popularity all over the world. An example is this Safari model mechanical pencil, graphite 0.5 millimeters, with an ergonomic handle, an eraser with a cleaning needle and a super resistant clip to hold it wherever you want. You can find it with a black or white plastic cover.

So much reading for so little hindsight. It’s not that there is a lack of muscles, but the positions we adopt each time we stretch to read shorten two or three years of life without any disc or cervical problem. And since it’s not about stopping reading, it remains to ensure a more comfortable place to lean on your back. It can be any cushion, or this ergonomic pillow that adapts to the optimal reading posture: with a straight back and supported elbows and arms. To read comfortably and healthily.

Because data, as simple as it may seem, is also a good gift – especially for those who know how to appreciate it – here are some of them:

• In Gutenberg.org You can find more than 60,000 free e-books or e-books to download (in epub or Kindle Book format). A bookstore full of classics such as Shakespeare’s Complete Works, Kafka’s Metamorphosis, Joyce’s Ulysses, Tolstoy’s War and Peace, among many others.
• If your day lacks hours of reading or eye support to keep your eyelids from closing every time you open a book, audiobooks can be your literary salvation. In librivox.org you can find over 17,000 free domain titles to listen to without any associated cost. Although most of them are in English, you can also find jewelry in Spanish, including an extensive catalog dedicated to the Golden Age: from Cervantes to Lope de Vega.

*Product prices in this item are updated as of November 30, 2022. Values ​​and availability may change.