Tag Archives: shopping

Gifts Inspired by the Brontë Sisters

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If you’ve read this blog for a while you probably know I have a slightly sacrilegious attitude to many of the classics which form the literary canon, but despite this I love Wuthering Heights,  Jane Eyre and all things Brontë. The sister’s lives could have been a novel in their own right, I’m pretty there isn’t a massive motion picture being promoted at the moment, given the success of biopics about Keats, Austen and Potter in recent years. Either way, their books are amazing, a blend of the Gothic and Romantic traditions which are perfect for reading on cold winter nights.

Consequently, I have decided that Brontë inspired items would make great Christmas presents for the Romantic (with a capital R of course…) in your life. Here’s a list of my favourite Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights themed gifts.

Jane Eyre Birdcage Necklace £12

Jane Eyre Birdcage Necklace £12

I love this necklace for the free thinking woman in your life. As my boss reminded me, much to my amusement, when we were selecting book covers in work the other day; bird cages are very on trend. This trinket adds weight to the motif with a well-chosen quotation on the presentation card, “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” £12, Notonthehighstreet.com

Jane Eyre Manuscript Journal

Jane Eyre Manuscript Journal

If you’re looking for a present for an aspiring writer, they may take inspiration from this mini journal which is embossed with Charlotte Brontë’s writing from the manuscript of Jane Eyre. It’s a bargain at £6.99 and would make a lovely diary.

Wuthering Heights Poster

I mentioned some time ago that I didn’t want so much as need this amazing paper cut style poster which is being sold to raise money for a charity which aims to fight illiteracy. So for about £40 you effectively have a gift that gives twice, a beautiful picture for the recipient and a better life for someone who learns to read.

Whatever our souls are made of decalIt may be because I’m decorating my house at the moment, but I’m a big fan of this Wuthering Heights decal which contains part of one of my favourite passages in literature. I think it’s great inspiration for a gift for a book worms, you could order a custom decal with a favourite passage from any book, or even a song lyric. I would put this up in a shot if my boyfriend would let me. Compromise leads to a very bland aesthetic.

Wuthering Heights Candle

If you want to experience being out on the winding, windy moor more fully while reading in the comfort of your own home (or bath) then this Wuthering Heights inspired Wild Heather Emily Brontë candle is just the ticket. Just be careful you don’t stir up any ghosts by leaving it alight in your window…

Jane Eyre Mouse Mat

Jane Eyre Mouse Mat

I don’t use a mouse mat in the house, but I think that this Jane Eyre mouse mat would be a great Secret Santa present for a bookworm or Jane Eyre fan, and I don’t think you need to be either to appreciate the sentiment that “Conventionality is not morality.”

Jane Eyre quotation mug

Jane Eyre quotation mug

Finally, if, like me, you suffer oppression every weekend from a partner who wants you to tidy up the house, arm yourself with this Jane Eyre mug. Sip your tea and hold the moral high ground while proudly displaying the quotation, “I don’t think, Sir, that you have a right to command me.” Best not use it on your boss though, they kind of do.

Fairytale Themed Presents

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The Crimson Fairy Book

The Crimson Fairy Book

Recently, instead of catching up on the news while I wait for the bus, I’ve been reminding myself how much I love reading classic fairy tales by reading the stories of Hans Christian Andersen and The Brothers Grimm as eBooks on my phone. The stories are still great, but the lack the magic of settling down by the fire with a beautifully illustrated book. In honour of Christmas Magic, I thought I would share my top fairytale inspired Christmas presents. I hope you find them helpful when shopping for gifts for fairytale lovers.

 

 

 

 

The Yellow Fairy Book

No list of gifts for lovers of fairy stories would be complete without the Folio Society Fairy Books. Colourful, luxurious and beautifully illustrated with introductions from key names in folklore studies, I think they would make the perfect Christmas present. I’m tempted to start a collection as well, but where to start? They’re all so beautiful. The Folio Fairy Books are quite expensive at £44.95 but have real heirloom potential.

 

 

toadstool tree decorationsThey don’t scream Christmas, but I love these toadstool tree decorations, £5.25 for two from Pipii, which could be used to add a little sparkle to the house all year round. They are made from glass though, so keep them out of the reach of tiny hands.

 

 

 

Fairytale BookendsThese fairy tale bookends, £25 notonthehighstreet,  are the perfect way to keep your bedtime stories organized and are pretty to boot. The paper cut style reminds me of the silhouette illustrations in a copy of Cinderella that my great aunt bought me for Christmas when I was very small. Great for a reader who is decorating their house. Hint, hint, hint, family…

 

 

Happily Ever After BookmarkAt £12, this Happily Ever After bookmark would make a really sweet secret santa present for a reader. A gift that will keep on giving any time they pick up their book, and which could easily be disguised in a Christmas card for a nice surprise.

 

 

Once Upon A Time Necklace

This Once Upon A Time storybook necklace, £44, is made from solid silver, and can be customized with a personal message especially for your fairytale fan. It also comes in a really cute little gift box, which is a bonus if you’re no good at wrapping presents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazon Tax Avoidance Sparks UK Protest

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I’ve been feeling really lousy for the past few days, a combination of total exhaustion and some winter bug, but I had to share this article from the Guardian newspaper which really made me smile. People have taken to their computers and are finally protesting Amazon’s digital tax avoidance.

Go on, join in, you know you want to.

100 Artists for Literacy

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100 Artists for Literacy

100 Artists for Literacy.

I loved the above post on Anni Cardi’s blog, which links you to a charity Doedemee selling posters of redesigned book covers to help raise money to fight illiteracy.

Guess where I’m shopping this month! I think I’ll probably get the Wuthering Heights design for myself,  because it’s completely gorgeous AND one of my favourite books.

The posters for Alice’ Adventures in Wonderland, Anna Karenina, Wind in the Willows, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atonement and Northern Lights are also amazing. I might ask for some for my birthday/Christmas.

Emergency Valentine’s Gifts- Books

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If you’ve forgotten Valentine’s Day, instead of the obligatory perfume, chocolates and flowers which reveal your faux pas why not give these bookish alternatives which offer a thrilling, and sometimes chilling, take on the love story.

 

Perfume- Perfume Patrick Suskind

The dark tale of a man who becomes obsessed with a quest to bottle the ultimate perfume by capturing the scent of young women. A compelling novel, this has the added kudos of being Kurt Cobain’s favourite novel.

 

Chocolates- Like Water for Chocolate Laura Esquivel

A brilliant work of magic realism, Like Water for Chocolate tells the story of the forbidden love between Tita and Pedro. Kept apart from Pedro, Tita pours her feelings into the food she cooks, which then begins to have very strange effects on those who eat it…

 

Flowers- Tulip Fever Deborah Moggach

In 17th century Amsterdam, Sophia is trapped in a loveless but comfortable marriage to a much older man when she falls in love with a passionate young artist. An engaging read with art, intrigue and tulipomania. A film is rumoured to be in the works for 2013 so appear cultured by giving this to your beloved before the bandwagon gets rolling!

Buy Online, Support Your Local Bookshop

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For anyone who wants to support their local bookshop but reads eBooks, or enjoys the convenience of buying online, there is a new scheme called Hive which allows you to order the books online and collect them from your local indie bookshop. The local bookshop is then paid a commission fee. Apparently, they are also paid the fee if you buy eBooks or have the books delivered to your door.

Obviously this is a commission, so it’s still good to visit the bookshop and buy direct when you can but this could alleviate some of the guilt we feel when we’re too rushed to get in for a visit! The only problem for me is that my favourite local bookshop isn’t on there yet, though another is and there’s a lot of representation for the Oxford shops.

Gift Wrap for Readers

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With Christmas coming up fast, I’ve been making a note of my favourite presents and wrapping papers for readers. If you have a book lover in your life, why not wrap them something exciting in one of the following?

Winter Playtime at The Bodleian Library

This gorgeous wrapping paper is a treat for readers and lovers of vintage alike. Winter Playtime is £5.50 for 6 sheets of paper from The Bodleian Library.

Penguin Classics

Also great for fans of vintage books is this lovely Penguin Classics Wrapping paper, £1.75 a sheet from Penguin.

She is too fond of books & it has turned her brain

For the no frills reader, jazz this monochrome wrapper up with a bright red ribbon. From £1.95 per sheet at The Literary Gift Company

Scrabble Wrapping Paper

Wordsmiths young and old will love this Scrabble wrapping paper. £2.50 a sheet from Not On The Highstreet.

Home Furnishing for Bookworms

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I’ll probably be quiet for the next week at least as on Tuesday we get the keys to our new house. I’ve spent some of tonight going through the bookshelves in my flat and had filled bags with books to go to charity shops and books to go to family and friends, which has cleared some space. There are still plenty of books to pack to take to the house though, and I’m going home to my Dad’s this weekend, so will probably end up packing a lot of my old university books that I didn’t have space to keep with me before. I’m trying to be ruthless elsewhere- mostly with clothes- but at least minimalism isn’t as now as it was…

To get you into the house moving/home making mindset, I thought I’d share the exciting book related things that I am lusting over for my house (but probably can’t afford):

Literary Map of the UK

Stacked books wallpaper

Bookshelf Wallpaper

Penguin Deck Chair

Much Ado About Nothing One Page Book Poster

Murder and Mayhem in Hay-on-Wye

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If you’ve seen my twitter thingamajig, you’ll know that I spent Sunday at the Hay-on-Wye festival and browsing around the town which is home to numerous second hand book shops, including one which touts itself as the biggest in the world.

I didn’t like the biggest second hand book shop, for me it was a bit too slick and pannelled, which removed the excitement of hunting through dusty shelves looking for treasure. There was one shop which I thought was a genius idea, a  book shop dedicated to crime novels. There were chalk outlines of bodies on the floor and quotes from famous crime fiction on the wall. If you’re ever in Hay-on-Wye I thoroughly recommend a visit to Murder and Mayhem.

 

Alice In Wonderland- The Shopping Experience

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On Saturday, after I’d visited the festival bookshop of The Oxford Literary Festival in Christchurch Meadows, I stopped by Alice’s Shop which sells memorabilia associated with the Alice in Wonderland/Alice Through the Looking Glass books  by Lewis Carroll.

This picture is a bit wonky- like Wonderland itself

As you can see it seems to be very popular with tourists and was even busier inside that it was out. I bought some post cards (as part of my campaign to resurrect the art of letter writing- they are letter writing-lite) and Mad Hatter Tea for my father, as well as a Mad Hatter quote card. We’re big Alice fans in my family.

Something that really excited me was learning that the shop itself actually features in Alice Through The Looking Glass. It used to be a grocery shop that the real life Alice used to visit to buy her sweets, and was run by a lady with a bleating voice. This ended up as the mean sheep who sells Alice the egg that becomes Humpty Dumpty. I remembered the passage well because Alice is told that two eggs are cheaper than one, but if she buys the two she must eat them both. It always struck me as the type of thing you would say to a greedy child whose eyes were bigger than their belly, though I could imagine an eccentric shop keeper having such a policy.

‘I should like to buy an egg, please,’ she said timidly.

‘How do you sell them?’

‘Fivepence farthing for one— Twopence for two,’ the Sheep replied.

‘Then two are cheaper than one?’ Alice said in a surprised tone, taking out her purse.

‘Only you must eat them both, if you buy two,’ said the Sheep.

‘Then I’ll have one, please,’ said Alice, as she put the money down on the counter. For she thought to herself, ‘They mightn’t be at all nice, you know.’

The Sheep took the money, and put it away in a box: then she said ‘I never put things into people’s hands— that would never do— you must get it for yourself.’ And so saying, she went off to the other end of the shop, and set the egg upright on a shelf.

‘I wonder why it wouldn’t do?’ thought Alice, as she groped her way among the tables and chairs, for the shop was very dark towards the end. ‘The egg seems to get further away the more I walk towards it. Let me see, is this a chair? Why, it’s got branches, I declare! How very odd to find trees growing here! And actually here’s a little brook! Well, this is the very queerest shop I ever saw!’

Always late…

I’ll be going back when I get my house buying sorted out to buy myself their amazing character key holders. I think I’ll get myself one of each and use them to hang my necklaces from!