There are few things more wonderful than a brand new book just waiting to be opened and read. Books are ornaments, friends, and their presence can make a house a home. The Beautiful Book Company offers book subscriptions and gifts, perfect for the person who loves books.
Here’s their blurb:
Perfect for those who love to keep up to date with their reading – a different book, delivered straight to your letter box every month.
Pick from one of our packages for an unusual and thoughtful gift, or a great way to discover new books yourself.
They have a wide range of subscription options. While I think they all look brilliant, I am trying out the Contemporary Novel version. It costs £34.99 for three months, then the six, nine, and 12 month options work out slightly cheaper.
Anything wrapped in brown paper looks immediately appealing. (Are you humming ‘My Favourite Things’ yet?)
Also, unless you have a minuscule letterbox, this will fit through just fine.
Simple and attractive branding. All you need is a little sticker on the parcel.
I can’t wait to unwrap this!
At first I had assumed that it was just the book wrapped in paper, but no, there’s a box inside. (I think they should have added a sticker to the box, but it’s a very minor detail.)
It’s wrapped up like a present! How lovely.
Inside the little clear envelope are a few little extras.
A card with a splendid and apt quote; a discount card; a brand card with more info about the subscription; and a lovely bookmark. What the bookmark says is indeed true.
OK, so what was the book? I decided to go for the Contemporary Novel version, because I have read and own all the books in the pictures of the Classic Novel subscription pictures. Yes, I know I don’t actually own every classic novel every written, but I didn’t want to risk a duplicate. So Contemporary it is.
The Night Rainbow by Claire King.
My taste in books is pretty catholic, and this really appeals to me. I’m especially intrigued by the notion of a child narrator, especially one so young.
I’m also pleased that this gets 4.5 on Amazon. OK, I know that a lot of crap gets good ratings on Amazon, and there’s plenty of popular stuff that I can’t bear (Dan Brown, McDonald’s, and most of terrestrial television for a start) but I get the impression that this is a thought-provoking and touching book.
Discovering new books is a wonderful thing, and getting a book through the mail every month is a lovely way to do this. This service is also remarkably personal. They don’t send out the same book to everyone. Instead, when you subscribe you can tell them about the recipient’s favoured authors and themes.
Value-wise, the book cover price is higher than the monthly price, and of course the longer the subscription, the better the value. Postage and packing is also included.
There is an excellent range of different subscription options including cookery, politics, and Young Adult fiction. I particularly like the Baby Book subscription, which would make a splendid gift for new and expectant parents.
I think there is always something slightly ceremonial about opening a brand new book, there’s that tingle of anticipation as you embark on a new adventure of the imagination. Unwrapping both the box and the book itself makes this an even more enjoyable experience. The quote card and bookmark are pleasing extra touches.
With Christmas coming up, this would make a wonderful gift for, well, pretty much anyone! Getting a beautifully presented book through the door every month, with its prospect of a unique journey in store, is one of the most delightful treats I can imagine.
Oh, in case you were wondering, we have a lot of books. I love books. We have shelves and shelves of them, plus boxes more we haven’t found space for yet. This is a (candid) picture of one of our living room walls.
There really is no such thing as too many books.
A different version of this review was first published on allsubscriptionboxes.co.uk.
