We’re in a party mood on Guardian Books: our Twitter account is approaching one million followers, after four years of fascinating conversations with an engaged and passionate community. To mark the occasion, we’re exchanging literary tips, memories and anecdotes on the social network. After the first reads we could remember and our favourite classics, today we’re talking literary gifts. Here is a selection of our readers’ contributions – add your own, either in the comments below, or on #booksamillion.
I was given Uncle for Christmas when I was 6. It still gets dusted off for a read once a year. #booksamillion pic.twitter.com/PRjUppNLLP
— James Clements (@James_ShMore) February 6, 2015
Beautiful story & illustrations Much-treasured gift from parents Great dedication too! @GuardianBooks #booksamillion pic.twitter.com/2eVXDp7L4B
— Pauline Brown (@PaulineBrown01) February 6, 2015
My girlfriend (now my wife) gave me Goodbye to Berlin when I was 19. I've read it at least 25 times #booksamillion pic.twitter.com/KVfVMPkE8l
— Tracey Lyons (@Tra_Lyons) February 6, 2015
My grandfather's birthday present from his parents in 1898. Given to me in 1996 - in precious pieces #booksamillion pic.twitter.com/ZxJ20pAAeo
— Claire Armitstead (@carmitstead) February 6, 2015
@carmitstead My great-grandmother's Unto This Last, Ruskin's economics lectures. She was 11. "From Father to Thelma" pic.twitter.com/Z1OefPWRMc
— Damon Young (@damonayoung) February 6, 2015
@carmitstead @GuardianBooks 1907 Alice's Adventures... Bought for my grandmother in the 30s. 2 pages covered in blood pic.twitter.com/bPQbwv6V3C
— Luke Richards (@imlukerichards) February 6, 2015
@nationalbook @GuardianBooks (The Unbearable Lightness of Being) signed my late father http://t.co/vPpafIr3BA pic.twitter.com/pYXpkonpYm
— Henry Köhler (@Authorportrait) February 6, 2015
Best book I've been given was a copy of Wind in the willows given to me as a child by my grandad. So precious #booksamillion
— Shelley Taylor (@mardybum_73) February 6, 2015
@GuardianBooks Wind in the Willows w/Michael Hague illustrations, given me age 6-7. V happy memories of Dad reading it to me #booksamillion
— Clarissa Aykroyd (@stoneandthestar) February 6, 2015
@GuardianBooks Dad's copy of Eliot. Bought year before he went to Bletchley. 1st codes I ever wanted to crack. pic.twitter.com/KDd6Wvfa9h
— Anne Williams (@AnneWilliams4) February 6, 2015
@GuardianBooks Trinity by Leon Uris. My grandma gave it to me when I was 14 & it made me fall in love with Ireland, which I love to this day
— Dagny Larkin (@DagnyLarkin) February 6, 2015
My dad never gave random presents. But one day when I was 9 or 10 Joyce's Pomes Penyeach turned up in my bedroom #booksamillion
— Justine Jordan (@justine_jordan) February 6, 2015
@GuardianBooks Lovely hardback editions of Lord of the Rings my dad gave me when I was 13. They set my imagination on fire. Still have them.
— Scott McChesney (@scottrmcchesney) February 6, 2015
@GuardianBooks #booksamillion Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. Highschool librarian handed me it when I was 16. Every read through is different
— Amy Williamson (@wiccad89) February 6, 2015
@GuardianBooks Sylvia Plath's collected poems. Given to me at a party. Kept on leaving the party to run upstairs and read it. #booksamillion
— Rosalind Jana (@RosalindJana) February 6, 2015
Sometimes the best gifts are the + unexpected, as was receiving this collection of stories I treasure #booksamillion pic.twitter.com/kM0XkWX2vq
— Marta Bausells (@martabausells) February 7, 2015
@GuardianBooks Beautiful Losers was perfect for a midwinter Greyhound trip Vancouver to Montreal in the very beat early 90s #booksamillion
— julian hanna (@julianisland) February 6, 2015
@GuardianBooks Infinite Jest! Best gift cause I didn't want to read it until I felt obligated and now I think it's brilliant #booksamillion
— tara thomson (@situationniste) February 6, 2015
@GuardianBooks The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. My mum loaned her copy to me and I fell in love with Middle Earth. Devoured the book & wanted more
— Estelle Sinkins (@Sinkins_E) February 6, 2015
@GuardianBooks my aunt and uncle gave me Dickens' A Christmas Carol when I was 10 #booksamillion got me hooked on the classics!
— Jilly (@jillywills) February 6, 2015
@GuardianBooks #booksamillion Walter Benton's This Is My Beloved. Flawless poetry. Given to me by a friend while living in France, 1998/99.
— Christopher Mooney (@ChrisPatMooney) February 6, 2015
@GuardianBooks Franny & Zooey by J.D. Salinger. Because we all go through that spiritual/existential crisis at some point #booksamillion
— Marie J Burrows (@marie_j_b) February 6, 2015
Aged 9, was given Swallows and Amazons to keep me quiet at a wedding. Preferred reading to weddings ever since. #booksamillion
— Ransome’s Lakes (@RansomesLakes) February 6, 2015
Best book given to me was Percival Pea and Polly Pomegranate by Jayne Fisher - by my newborn baby sister when I was two #booksamillion
— Laura Davis (@lcdavis) February 6, 2015
@GuardianBooks Uncle Tom's Cabin, given to me by my Nan as my 1st "grown up" book, an original & tatty with yellow pages 😍 #booksamillion
— Hannah Close (@HanClose) February 6, 2015
@GuardianBooks most magical was the Queen of Romania's The Lost Princess from Granny.Hopelessly entranced by its quirky quest #booksamillion
— Alice Stainer (@AliceStainer) February 6, 2015
@GuardianBooks Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, my Granddad`s copy from 1911. I identified myself fully with Huck Finn for years.
— Donna Oze (@DorothyOze) February 6, 2015
@GuardianBooks #booksamillion A teacher gave me Toni Morrison's 'The Bluest Eye'. Blew apart my tiny mind. Forever grateful.
— ScotlandBooks (@ScotlandBooks) February 6, 2015
@GuardianBooks was given Possession by AS Byatt on a blind date because our meeting fell on my birthday! He got a 2nd date. #booksamillion
— Hillary Avis Reece (@hwar) February 6, 2015
Which is the best book you’ve ever been given as a present? Join the conversation on Twitter or in the comments below and we will add a selection to this piece
