Booking Through Thursday - Presents!

What, if any, memorable or special book have you ever gotten as a present? Birthday or otherwise. What made it so notable? The person who gave it? The book itself? The “gift aura?”

Oh....this is an easy question!! My husband is not a reader. I think that is probably the reason that he never thinks to get me books for my birthday. Not that he ever really buys me practical things....he just doesn't think about books when it comes time to buy me something. On the other hand, my kids know me all too well. And they certainly know my favorite authors. A few years back, when Stephen King was releasing the remaining books in the Dark Tower series, I fell behind on getting them myself. I try not to spend a lot of money on myself, and books seem an unnecessary indulgent when times have been so tight. But Chad, my sweet oldest child, decided he wanted to do something special for my birthday. He talked my father-in-law into taking him to Barnes & Noble. He spent his own money and bought me Song of Susannah in the hardback edition (because those are the books I collect). The day before my birthday, he told me he wanted Grandpa to drive him to school because he had to go early. He said he had to study with his friend for a test and was to meet him there early. Silly me. I believed him. So....I told him it would be easier for him to spend the night at Grandpa's and I'd just take the girls. At 8 that morning, as I was getting the girls ready to go, the doorbell rang. There on my front step, grinning from ear to ear was Chad.....holding a wrapped present and a dozen red roses (again...paid for with his own money) for me. Sheesh...I'm crying just thinking about it, so imagine how I reacted that morning.

Last year for my birthday, the whole crew decided to get into the act. Clive Barker had just released Mister B. Gone (another favorite author of mine). Ana, my youngest, didn't have any money to contribute. So Grandpa gave her some "jobs" to do around the house and paid her for them. Which she in turn gave back to help pay for my book. Again....I ended up in tears. God, I love those kids!!

Any memorable gifts that you can think of??