It is the time of the year when love is in the air!! It is Valentine’s Day season after all — when hearts are everywhere, when love is literally in the air, and we have lists of gift ideas and date night activities and more! So I have another list of gift ideas for your loved ones. Based on what I normally recommend, they are obviously bookish!

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My Valentine’s Day History

I remember when Valentines day first became something to celebrate in India. I saw all the Hallmarks and Archies (greeting card stores in India) stores in Bangalore suddenly start displaying huge heart based displays and teddy bears. It became a popular holiday in India soon, for who does not love the images Valentine’s Day brings to mind – love, romance, chocolates, hearts, teddy bears, flowers.

And then I moved to the US and my first Valentine’s Day here, I heard the bell ring one evening. On opening the door, I saw one of those giant teddy bears waiting for me..:) As years passed and the kids came along and started school, Valentines Day meant preparing cards for the 20+ kids in their classes. We made popup cards one year, went the easy route and got cards from Diddums’ another year, and a third year, got permitted treats for everyone.

Love is in the Air – Quotes You’ll Love

Since love is in the air, here are a few swoon-worthy quotes from books perfect to celebrate..

Falling in love

“I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly and then all at once.” – John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

When In Love

“Who, being loved, is poor?” —Oscar Wilde, A Woman of No Importance

“He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking.” —Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

“You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I’m grateful.” —John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

“When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

“Whatever our souls are made out of, his and mine are the same. If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger.” —Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

“Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.” ― Nicole Krauss, The History of Love

The Many Ways We Love

“You don’t love because, you love despite; not for the virtues, but despite the faults. ” — William Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury

“Do I love you? My god, if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches.” —William Goldman, The Princess Bride

 “If you ever have need of my life, come and take it.”—Anton Chekhov, The Seagull

“Wheresoever she was, there was Eden.” Mark Twain, The Diaries of Adam and Eve

The Gift Ideas

And finally, the gift ideas..

Here are a few suggestions that I normally love to gift anytime of the year

The Bookish Ones

Books, of course

It is International Book Giving Day as well on the 14th of February, so what better gift than a book..

• Here is a list of over 20 books for your little Valentines
• And for readers across ages, here is another list of 13 Unique Books

Games

• Rory’s Story Cubes (always fun! and much loved in our home), or
• The Bring Your Own Book board game that is sure to add fun to any evening
• If you or someone you love loves wordplay and puns, then Punderdome will be perfect!

Other Bookish Items

The etcs.

And then I have some more fun stuff.

• Susanna Leonard Hill holds an annual Valentiny writing contest. The gist of this is – write a Valentine’s story appropriate for children (ages 12 and under) maximum 214 words in which someone feels brave (due 2/12). Check for more details here

The love in your heart wasn’t put to stay;
Love isn’t love until you give it away.

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