It’s my birthday this week.
The greatest gift I can imagine is if you give yourself the gift of a book. Here are my suggestions about how to go about that. Add your comment here (or visit me on Twitter @bookgaga or Instagram @vzbookgaga) and let me know what you got, OK?
Happy birthday … to all of us!
If you purchase from an independent bookseller, it’s also a gift to those hardworking people and businesses. Maybe you already have a fave that you support, or you can find one here:
Pre-ordering books is not only “a present to your future self” … it’s also a gift to tireless and determined authors and publishers.
Learn more here (via The Week) and here (via Book Riot).
If you can meld your book purchase with support for Ukraine, how beautiful that would be.
Some ideas? The Kobzar Book Award (launched in 2003 as an initiative of the Shevchenko Foundation), which celebrates Canadian literary works with tangible connection to the experiences of Ukrainian Canadians, has winners and shortlists spanning genres.
Literary Hub has some tantalizing suggestions, too.
Books are always vital, perhaps now more than ever. Whether we turn to them for diversion, solace, education or inspiration, they are what bolster us to face the world’s challenges. Their essential truths help us to discern and to combat when words are twisted to undermine and harm what we respect and hold dear.
Belated wishes! I bought myself Joan Didion’s last essay collection, Let me tell you what I mean.
Love this idea!
Thanks, Christine. I’m still celebrating my birthday over a month later. This is truly the gift that keeps on giving!
Much belated, but I bought Sarah Polley’s essay collection from Caversham Books yesterday in your honour. Happy birthday, V!
Kerry, thank you for continuing to make this an extended BEST BIRTHDAY EVER! And what a great choice for your book purchase. Thanks again, you beacon of bookish wisdom you.
I pre-ordered
Letters to Gwen John
by Celia Paul
Happy birthday to us (mine is March 2nd).
Wonderful! Looks very interesting: https://www.nyrb.com/products/letters-to-gwen-john
Happy birthday to us and to everyone who loves books.
Happy Birthday to you, Vicki! I hope you have a wonderful birthday week and treat yourself to some top titles. I need little encouragement, as you well know, so am more than happy to honour your birthday by buying myself a book and have treated myself to a copy of Good Citizens Need Not Fear by Maria Reva to offer some additional support for Ukraine. Such a great idea. Thank you for being the bookish star that you are!
Kath, thanks to you and Squizzey for joining so enthusiastically in this bookish celebration. I’m delighted that you’ve picked Maria Reva’s collection – such a timely choice.