The Curator: bookish gifts to get yourself this holiday season
Natalie's Favorite Things 2024 edition
While I fully appreciate the gift guide sentiment, I sometimes wonder, who do these guides really work for?
More specifically - who are all these lucky folks with a bunch of readers in their midst?? I have two and a half readers on my holiday list. My dad only wants clothes from Wal-Mart and everyone else has very specific adult tastes with little need for random Amazon finds.
However, you, dear reader, are on my bookish holiday list. As a book lover, you are entitled to a certain amount of book-adjacent accessories every holiday season because this is joy and an investment in your hobbies. Right1??
Natalie’s Favorite Reading Things
#1 - reading beans and book sleeves from Book Beau
Support small and get yourself some excellent reading accessories. All the fabrics are custom designed in-house so you can shop knowing you haven’t contributed to art theft (::cough Temu Shein etc. etc.::).
Reading Beans. These small pillows are kidney bean-shaped to curve with your body, fit right up on your shoulder, and cradle your head in just the right position. They fit in your lap or under your elbow for maximum book support. They are firm but covered in soft, removable, washable, and replaceable fabric for excellent cuddle comfort. We now own six please do not judge me.
Book Sleeves. There are many, many reading sleeves on the internet these days, but I consider Book Beau’s the original. They are water resistant, zipper close, come in all kinds of sizes and patterns, and double as organizational pouches for you fellow giant bag ladies. No more crushed pages or bent covers - unless you are into that sort of thing…
#2 - find the best e-reader cover for you
I’ve tested many case configurations for both Kindle and iPad, and these are my favorite setups.
For Kindle
Option 1 - a traditional wake-cover that wakes your Kindle when you open the cover. I love the designs and sturdiness of these from Etsy. The only downside is having to restrain the front over while reading.
Option 2 - a rubber grippy back-only case with removable/interchangeable Popsocket for ease of one-handed holding. My current favorite because it’s the most comfortable to hold in any position, and I just slide it into a book sleeve when I want to take it somewhere.
For iPad
Option 1 - Burga is my favorite for design + quality for iPad. These are a bit of a luxury purchase, but the designs are SO GOOD. Cases have built-in Apple Pencil slots and are super protective. My love for matching knows no bounds, as you can get everything in your Apple ecosystem matching cases. You do have to deal with the front cover flapping around when in use, and shipping can take a bit longer, so you must be patient.
Option 2 - Functional case with a removable front that also doubles as a stand. Just like with the Kindle back-only set-up, I love the ease of holding when you don’t have to restrain a front cover. The case is open so that Apple Pencil magnetizes easily. The iPad has survived a few drops in this case, but I still throw it in a book sleeve when I travel to protect the screen.
Bonus: for peak laziness - get yourself an e-reader remote page-turner, and you don’t even need to be near your Kindle or iPad! This gadget is a bit superfluous but very helpful when reading on the treadmill.
#3 - for your bookish lifestyle
A book-related sweatshirt or hoodie so everyone at the coffee shop knows what kind of person you are. I love both of these (here and here) from Etsy.
Book annotating supplies, including everyone’s favorite highlighters for no bleed, sticky book tabs, and my favorite pencil case ever.
A book puzzle including this banned book covers one or the classic horror covers, both from Barnes & Noble.
A mug to remind you that you’d rather be reading (via Untamedego and Etsy).
Hope you found something to love here and maybe make your reading life just a tit better - enjoy! 🖤 Natalie
reading 📖→
I finally finished The Historian, and this novel may define my reading taste for the next decade. What makes it so lovely is that while it has things to say about human nature & history, it’s also just a pure pleasure to read. The combination of extensively researched history with folklore, occultism, mystery, and even a love story makes it truly unforgettable. The vibes are immaculate.
Started Crime & Punishment and found myself dreaming in Rasky’s voice. I can already tell this one might wear me down, but I persevere.
consuming📽️🎧→
Holiday movies, already! This one was shockingly funny and heartwarming.
book news and restacks📰→
Thriftbooks loves me, and how do I know? They created a 2024 Book Awards Roundup so that I didn’t have to. Includes the biggest prizes like the Pulitzer, Booker, Women’s Prize, and my personal fav, the Bram Stoker Award.
and cats 🐈⬛→
it’s officially cat-trapped season
let’s chat 👻→
Do you have any gadgets or accessories that make your reading life better?
What are you reading currently, and is it any good?
in case you missed it 🖤
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See you around the bookshelf!
This is the first time I’ve literally ever heard of a reading bean. Would you regard this a necessity….? 😉 (yes bc you have 5)
I *loved* this! I am all about a bookish sweatshirt. I have one of those cute little thumb rings that helps hold your book open and I am so surprised how often I actually use it! I’m also hoping to get a page clicker turner remote thing for my kindle this Christmas.
Was The Historian the 2005 novel by Kostova?? I looked it up and now I want to read it!