Who wouldn’t love receiving a book as a gift for special occasions like Christmas or birthdays? Anyone who enjoys reading would agree that books are among the best gifts ever. I definitely do. My family often gifts me books, and even comic-books. And sometimes, I gift them to myself. It’s the one indulgence I allow myself freely, almost without a second thought.
Festive seasons like Christmas are perfect for gifting books, including timeless classics like A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, while birthdays and anniversaries can be made more memorable by pairing non-bookish presents with famous memoirs, inspirational reads or novels that resonate with those occasions. Similarly, self-help or motivational books make excellent gifts for life events like graduations or career changes.
While gifting books, an old holiday tradition, is a lovely way of saying, “I thought of you,” the gesture becomes even more meaningful if you choose a book your recipient will truly enjoy reading. It shows that you’ve put thought into it, rather than just picking any book off the shelf. Of course, that goes for all gifts too.
Here are a few stray thoughts on the joys of browsing, buying and reading books, along with pictures of books and book sales I’ve captured over the years.
Books are more than a literary escape to other worlds. They’re also deeply personal. When you give someone a book, you're not just giving them a thing—you're giving them hours of entertainment, adventure and introspection, a quiet way to spend time with themselves and their imagination, and a much-needed break from worries and responsibilities.
Beyond book gifts, nearly two-thirds of my books and comic-books have come not from new bookstores or e-commerce sites, but from footpath booksellers and secondhand book sales. Over the years, I’ve got some great bargains, including out-of-print books and vintage comic-books from the sixties and seventies—all for a song. I remember one time when I stumbled upon a lot of twenty early Wolverine and Hawkman comics at an old newspaper mart in South Mumbai, each priced at just Rs.10 (about 12 cents). It was an absolute steal!
Books never lose their charm, unlike gadgets or trendy items—they can be read and reread, treasured, and even passed down over time. You feel a sense of pride when your children develop a love for reading, start their own collection, and recommend titles they read and liked.
Few things in life equal the pleasure of just browsing in a bookshop. Even if you don’t buy anything, there’s a mysterious affinity for the sight of endless shelves of books and the smell of both old and fresh paper. You instantly feel at home wherever books are.
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