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In the case of fiction, I’ll buy just about anything, even if it’s not my taste, and have no qualms.
However, I do refuse to purchase non-fiction if it’s too far outside my own tastes…Glenn Beck would be a no. I’ll give them a gift card to a book store, or get them something else. I don’t want to be seen buying it, I don’t want to hear about it when they’re reading it, and I don’t want to have it foisted on me when they’re done with it.
Also, if a person only gives you 1 idea for a gift (“I really want Ann Coulter’s new book”) they kind of suck. I mean, at least give me a couple of different ideas!
I suppose the main reason behind giving someone a gift is that you want to buy them something they WANT to own. I myself can’t ever justify putting money into the pockets of “authors” but I’d rather make the receiver happy than give them a gift card. Those are SO impersonal.
Well it is always nice to hear from the kind and compassionate left how they would scrooge their friends or slap their faces because the friend had different tastes – as someone else said giving a gift is not all about you! I dont want the palin book because i got it for myself , read it and tho i was indifferent to her for a long time i started to respect her when she described how tough just a normal day to day is in Alaska compared to the lower 48.
But theres always fiction – ton of great fiction out there and most of it isnt written by political or media folks.
If it’s something the recipient really wants and it’s not an item that represents an ideal or image I loathe, then I’d bite the bullet and get it for them. If it was something I was passionately against and would hate myself for doing it, I would try to find them another gift (non-book) that they would also enjoy.
My sister and I are both serious readers. We both devour books and because we can’t stand each others taste we just give each other gift cards to our favorite book stores.
I will not buy things like Twilight for anyone EVER. I do not care how much they want it.
In most instances I’d get the person something they would like whether I like it or not. But when it comes to non-fiction political books, I just can’t buy something I don’t support and give that person my money. I’ll stick to fiction or something non-political.
First of all, there is no way I would spend money on a book by Palin, Beck, Huckabee, etc., I don’t care who asks for it.
Secondly, I must defend Jodi Picoult (who says on her site that she hates Nicholas Sparks, by the way.) Her books (unlike his) are very well-researched, and shed light on many important and current issues. They can be tear-jerkers, though.
I am amazed at some of these comments. Like it’s been said here, a gift is about making the other person happy. Why bother otherwise? Give people what they want or get them a gift card. It’s not about you, so don’t be selfish and/or snobbish. Grow up, people!
I simply cannot buy a bad book (what I deem to be awful writing/silly subject matter) for anyone. They can waste their own money. I refuse to participate in that.
I wouldn’t mind buying someone a trashy, unoffensive novel (Nicholas Sparks, Danielle Steele, etc), but I definitely wouldn’t shell out cash for a book by the likes of Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck, or Sarah Palin. Nor would I buy anyone Twilight, because that’s just cruel. Thankfully my friends have the good sense not to want these things anyway, so I’m safe.
actually the 150th Anniversary Darwin would appeal to a creationist. Its an abridged creationist version (at least the link is wrong)
When I was younger (18ish), and way more judgemental and snobby, I got a book on oceanography for my 16 year old cousin. I thought it would be good for him. I thought he needed to become more “intellectual”. I was a complete idiot. Three months later, he was dead. I lost an opportunity to give him a present that would bring him joy. After that, I only give people gifts that I hope they love.