Shopping for the Perfect Book for Your Mother on Her Special Day
In the United States, the second Sunday of May is Mother’s Day. This is a special time to celebrate the maternal figures in your life. We all know the value of the women in our lives, and they deserve to be celebrated. Women’s work can go uncelebrated the rest of the year, so this is an important day of recognition.
The history of Mother’s Day goes back to the 19th century. Anna Jarvis is considered the founder of Mother’s Day, honoring the activism of her mother, Ann Jarvis. Anna’s mother advocated for a day celebrating mothers, and after her death, Anna made that a reality. The first Mother’s Day was celebrated on May 10, 1908, at a church service in West Virginia. President Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday six years later. Some countries celebrate mothers on different days, but most are in May.
On Mother’s Day, you should give any maternal figure in your life a gift they deserve. If your mother (or grandmother, aunt, etc.) likes to read, you can get them a book for Mother’s Day. This article will look at what makes for a good Mother’s Day book.
Specific Genres
The first factor you should consider is the genre of the book you buy the women in your life. If you know genres they tend to like, that is a great start. You can go to your local bookstore and browse that genre. There are seemingly endless books available, so you might be overwhelmed with options. You can look at the bestsellers first to see what is most popular, then start looking at other books. If a book catches your eye, read the blurb.
Going to an in-person store, as opposed to an online retailer, gives you the chance to see the available titles. Physically holding the books can make the selection more personal. However, you can always shop online to have even more options. You can search specific subgenres or themes to tailor your book hunt.
For some book ideas, you can browse Cloverly’s catalog of recently published books for inspiration. Our catalog has books of every genre — there’s bound to be something that your mother will love.
Favorite Authors
If you know what authors your mother is a fan of, that is another great starting point. When people like an author’s writing style, they will likely want to read more from them. You can keep up to date with their new releases and keep those in the back of your mind. Some authors publish new books regularly, others take their time.
You might be unsure if your mother already purchased the author’s latest book. You can either ask her directly or look at her bookshelf. If you want to take a chance, you can simply include a gift receipt with your gift. That will allow her to return the book if she already has it and buy another that she wants.
Branching Out
You might not know some of your mother’s favorite authors or genres (or she likes everything). If so, you can get more creative with your search. Instead, you can search for books that she might not have otherwise found. You can find these by browsing bookshelves and looking for something that catches your eye. Doing this can introduce a new genre or author to your mother.
When searching for new types of books, there are a few considerations you can keep in mind. First, look at the length. You probably do not want to give a book that is overly long if it is new to her. Ease her into the genre or author with short- to medium-length books, if possible. That makes her time commitment lesser than a long opus.
Second, assess the content of the book. When giving your mother a book, you likely do not want it to be salacious. Every family dynamic is different, but that can make for some awkward conversations.
Finally, consider if the book would be a way for her to connect with others. This can mean the book is a bestseller, popular with book clubs, or relevant to a group she is in. Literature is a powerful tool of connection, and you can foster that through your Mother’s Day gift.
Upcoming Life Events
You can also look for a book that relates to any upcoming life events in your mother’s life. For example, if she has a trip planned, you can give her a book about that location. This is a thoughtful gesture that will increase her excitement for her upcoming adventure.
Whatever book you decide to give any woman in your life on Mother’s Day, make sure it has meaning. The thought is what counts.
