Suggested by Marsha:

Buy a Friend a Book Week is October 1-7 (as well as the first weeks of January, April, and July). During this week, you’re encouraged to buy a friend a book for no good reason. Not for their birthday, not because it’s a holiday, not to cheer them up–just because it’s a book.

What book would you choose to give to a friend and why?

(And, if you’re feeling generous enough–head on over to Amazon and actually send one on its way!)

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

As it happens, I think books are terrific gifts, and give them often. They can be tricky, though, if you don’t know someone’s taste well – or you can’t be sure what they might already have read or have purchased for themselves, which is why people usually give me bookstore gift cards instead of actual books!

But when it comes down to it, I’m having a really hard time with this question. How can I pick just one, and doesn’t it depend on the intended recipient? Should I pick one based on word of mouth, or one I’ve read and liked? So I think I’ll take the indecisive way out.

For my mom friends, so we could discuss it in our book club: I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids: Reinventing Modern Motherhood, by Tricia Ashworth and Amy Nobile. I was intrigued by this in a bookstore recently, but decided not to pick it up. I’ve learned more about it since then, and think I’m going to go back for it.

For friends who like reality TV as much as they like reading: Lost and Found, by Carolyn Parkhurst. This novel revolves around the teams in the final legs of an Amazing Race-type reality show, and is full of interesting characters and production background, plus the suspense of the competition itself.

For friends who are open-minded thinkers with a great sense of humor: Lamb, by Christopher Moore. While the premise of the “missing years” of Jesus Christ, as related by his best friend Levi (who is called Biff), could be dangerously irreverent, I’ve found this book to be smart, respectful, and frequently hilarious.

I’m just happy to help promote Buy A Friend A Book Week – any excuse to go to the bookstore is fine by me!