Quercus #GreatestGift Christmas Campaign (5 Book Giveaway!)

I am thrilled and honoured to be part of Quercus' Christmas campaign! I have 5 books to giveaway, which I have chosen myself. You can find more about the campaign on the Quercus website here. I have been asked to write a short post about why I think books are the #GreatestGift.



I think from the minute I learnt how to read I became a bibliophile. Luckily for me, I had parents that encouraged me to read, in fact as a child my favourite series of books was Enid Blyton's Secret Seven series, and the copies I read were the same my Mum read as a child, they were yellowed and battered but I didn't care, there was something comforting about reading the exact copies she did. I can remember receiving books for Christmas from a very young age.

I do believe books are one of the best presents that you can receive. I have so many Christmas memories of receiving books; when I got the first three Harry Potter books for Christmas is memorable (they were the only three out at the time so I now feel old!) I remember quite vividly because my Mum went Harry Potter mad that Christmas, I remember getting a Snitch-shaped book light! I used to get little presents at the end of my bed to open before the big event downstairs and remember my Mum catching me reading at 4am! Every Christmas since 1999 I have also received the Guinness World Records, so with this Christmas that's 17 books? I think... But every Christmas I can recall reading out the latest records to my family, and going through the book with my Nan. As a child I will admit I was spoilt, yet it is these memories of books which are perhaps the most touching. As I got older I would then hint heavily at what books I wanted, usually autobiographies!

Unfortunately my need to have everything now means I buy most of my books myself, or as a blogger receive them early which is like Christmas every day in a way but receiving a book that someone has bought is still a magical thing. I love seeing friends and family encouraging their children to read, and buying them books at an early age. With the advent of tablets, children seem to be a lot more tech savvy than most older people, and I often fear children will grow up being disinterested in reading unless it's on a screen. So books are the #GreatestGift because they encourage people to read. But, it's also about buying books for people that already love to read, for example a signed book by their favourite author, or a first edition/rare edition. That's something that person will treasure forever, and will mean so much more than the usual generic items people waste money on at Christmas.

If I had my way everybody would receive a book at Christmas and one hour would be set aside to just sit and read! If only... Books are just the perfect escapism, to completely forget about your own life, travel the world and go on adventures without even leaving the house! My favourite quote sums up what books mean to me:

“So Matilda’s strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea. These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: You are not alone.” - Roald Dahl

The five books I have chosen to giveaway are all a little different! As it's in the hope that the winner will take something they like from it, and perhaps give one or two of them to friends or family! So there's Crime, Women's Fiction, Non-Fiction etc so really, something for everybody!

To enter the giveaway Tweet @bookaddictshaun @QuercusBooks using the #GreatestGift hashtag and answer one of these questions:

1. Who would you share the books with if you won?

or 

2. Why do YOU think books are the #GreatestGift?

You have until 6pm tonight, and my favourite answer will win the five books, and the items below!

Liz Loves Books is tomorrow's stop!