Merry Wanderer of the Night:
gifts

Have you I mentioned to you all that Jason is the best guy ever? He has gotten me two bookish gifts recently. Two things I've wanted for a very long time. For Valentine's Day he got me a reading pillow. I mentioned this on my first Best Gifts for English Majors post and I never got one. I was so excited to open it on Valentine's Day and I've already gotten a lot of use out of it.

This is perfect for reading in bed at night. I don't have to hold the book up so my arms don't get tired-- a major problem with reading in bed. I just put the pillow in my lap, hold the book open and read away. You can order these Peeramid Bookrests on Amazon if you're interested. They are hard to find.

He also got me a great t-shirt from the greatest store in world, Raygun. Raygun is a local thing, they make great t-shirts about towns in Iowa because those of us who love Iowa love to show our pride. Someone else really liked Iowa, especially the girls that live there...

Yeah, that's right, Jack Kerouac. I've wanted this shirt for a long time since On the Road is one of my all time favorite books. Sigh. I'm just so happy I have this shirt. If you're not from Des Moines you'll probably find it less exciting, so thanks for humoring me.

In other news, it's midterms which means I have way too much crap going on this week. I have several books to make, a paper to write, a presentation, and an exam. Blargh. I'm really looking forward to spring break, even if I'm only dog-sitting. Lots of time to read and relax. In my lifelong attempt to make you all read essays I posted a three sentence essay yesterday! You should all go read it! I even challenged you to write your own and so far one person has taken the challenge.

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Last year around this time I made a list of Gifts for English Majors. Another year has gone by and there are a lot of new things out there for English majors, so I thought I would make an updated list for the English majors (or book lovers) in your life.

1. McSweeney's and Believer combo subscription. For ninety dollars you can get a whole year's worth of awesome literary goodness. I've been a Believer subscriber for one year now and even though it has a hefty price tag, I haven't regretted it at all. The Believer is an almost monthly publication (nine issues) that has book reviews, comics, columns, and literature. They also have special issues throughout the year. I don't subscribe to McSweeney's (yet), but it's a fantastic literary magazine with great contributing writers. A year's subscription gets you four issues, which is basically like getting four books in the mail. Speaking of which, McSweeney's also has a Book Release Club for $100.

2. Ophelia Joined the Group Maidens Who Don't Float: Classic Lit Signs on to Facebook

is a book I reviewed last spring. It's super cheap ($6 on Amazon) and will give any English major hours of fun. Ever since I reviewed it I've lent it out to at least four people and everyone loves it. For more info on this book check out my review of it.

3. Moleskine Passions Book Journal

is another item I reviewed earlier this year and I absolutely love it. It's a great way for any reader to keep track of their notes from the books they read. I use this for school to keep track of the main ideas from books so by the end of the semester I can return to those notes and remind myself of the main points of the book. Check out my review of the journal for more info.

4. Penguin Classics Hardcover Collection

. I'm not suggesting you buy the entire $200 set, but a favorite book out of this collection would make a nice gift for an English major. I, of course, have my eye on Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. Several stores have these on sale for less than $15 right now, so it's a good time to get them.

5. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4

, because English majors have to have fun too. I can just see myself coming home after a long day of school and work, curling up in front of the television to play with my Harry Potter LEGOs. That actually sounds very nice.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. If you make a purchase using one of my links I will earn a small percentage which will then go back into this blog.

This isn't so much gifts for English Majors as it is stuff that I really, really want that is kind of related to being an English Major. But isn't that how these lists always turn out?

1. Peeramid Bookrest.

They have these downtown and I want one so bad, except the ones downtown are a lot prettier. I always read on my bed and my arms get tired when I have to hold my book up all the time. I asked for one of these but I don't think my parents understood what I meant. Perhaps I'll get one for myself after Christmas. If I was good at sewing then I would make the reading pillow that Dreadlock Girl made. Even you haven't seen it then you can check it out here.
2. Literary Note Cards, I particularly want the Bronte Sisters Note Cards.

I still write letters to my grandma and I love pretty stationary. I actually need to write her a letter this afternoon and I wish I had a nice Bronte note card to send her. She doesn't really know about the Brontes but I think the pictures are nice. Besides, when I become a famous writer and people want to read my letters to find out who I was I don't want them to find ugly stationary! (Insert hysterical laughter here).
3. Classic Novel Posters, like this ridiculously overpriced Mrs. Dalloway print. I happen to have the cheaper On the Road poster and I get quite a few compliments on it. These are nice because they're not too postery, if you know what I mean. You can frame them and they look like nice art work and not boy band posters.
4. I already have this, but Secret Lives of Great Authors: What Your Teachers Never Told You About Famous Novelists, Poets, and Playwrights

is a great gift book for book lovers. I use it sometimes before I take a class about an author so I can get the dirt on them. Plus then you can say interesting things in class, depending on who your teacher is as some of the things are quite dirty. Like James Joyce's sex life!
5. Literary Action Figures, I am personally dying to have this Jane Austen Action Figure.

They are kind of stupid and I'm not sure what I would do with one, but I think they make nice gifts. I wouldn't mind having a Jane Austen action figure on my desk. I might have deep conversations with her or perhaps she could help me on my papers.