A Life Well Read
Have you answered our reader survey? I've loved reading the feedback I've gotten so far, and will publish the results next week, but if you haven't done it, could you take 2 minutes right now?
Today I want to share a great gift-idea for your own wish-list or for the booklover on your list. A Life Well Read: My personal journey through books is such a great gift idea, or something that the booklover will want to add to her bookshelf.
It's a beautiful boxed set that looks like a classic book so that it will feel right at home on your bookshelf.
Inside the sturdy and decorative box, you'll find:
- Cards to keep track of the books you read with a place to list title and author, where you got the book, how you rated the book, and notes and impressions.
- Dividers to sort the cards: books on loan, books I want, books to give (one of my favorite elements — a way to remember fabulous books that make great gifts), my favorites, and many blank dividers to sort by your favorite genre, by family member, or however you'd like.
- Two kinds of bookplates: "from the personal library of" and " this gift is especially for."
You can purchase it at their website: A Life Unplugged. It's also available at amazon.com.
The publishers have donated one copy to give away (U.S. shipping addresses only). If you'd like to win a set — for yourself or as a gift — leave a comment here. The winner will be announced next Wednesday.
Come back tomorrow for a special DVD giveaway as well!
The winner of Broken into Beautiful is #20 Mrs. Mommyy. With all of the heartfelt comments, I wished we could have given away 20 more, but if you didn't win it, this is definitely one we'd recommend.
Managing Editor Jennifer Donovan is a contributing editor at 5 Minutes for Mom. She blogs at Snapshot about daily life with a tween daughter and a preschool son.
Filed under Gift Ideas, Jennifer by 
Comments on A Life Well Read
stephanie @ 2:12 pm
What a cool idea! Please enter me.
Julie @ 2:18 pm
Yes I'd love to win this! Please enter my name.
LuAnn @ 2:25 pm
I would love to win this. I know someone I would love to give this to.
MRS.MOMMYY @ 2:47 pm
What a beautiful idea, this would make a lovely gift for many.
llenadadelgozo @ 2:57 pm
I took the survey, although I'm fairly new to 5minutesforbooks. I would love to win. I am almost obsessive about organizing my books, and although I've started a journal to keep track of what I've read, I'd love to have a more formal system.
Laura @ 3:38 pm
Count me in.
stephaniesmommybrain @ 4:23 pm
what a great idea!!
corinne @ 4:35 pm
What a neat idea. I'd love it! Thanks for the giveaway.
RebekahC @ 4:35 pm
This is so cool. I definitely want to enter the giveaway. Thanks for the chance and thanks for sharing this little reading heaven tidbit.
RebekahC
littleminx@cox.net
Deidre @ 4:38 pm
What a great idea and so much more attractive than my binder with papers falling out all over the place. LOL
Definitely enter me!
Deidre
Stacie @ 4:44 pm
That sounds like an awesome gift. I would love to win.
Monica @ 5:37 pm
This sounds much better than my current list system. Count me in.
Christy H. @ 5:42 pm
What a great idea and wonderful giveaway!
southeastcountrywife @ 5:55 pm
I've never seen anything like this! Sounds interesting. Please enter me.
Kerri @ 6:41 pm
I have been involved in book clubs and love being able to keep track of books I've read, books I want to read, books I've lent out, etc. This is an amazing gift! It'd look wonderful on my nightstand!
Plus, I think I will purchase some of the sets for my reading friends!
Lori @ 8:25 pm
What a great idea!! I want one!
jenna @ 9:16 pm
This would make a great gift….for myself! Thanks so much for the giveaway! I would love to win!
megan @ 10:15 pm
This would make a great gift for my mother in law.
Kari @ 11:14 pm
OH WoW, what a super FAB idea….I love it and would love love to win it!! THANKS girls!!!
Gail @ 11:28 pm
That sounds like a good idea for a gift!
drey @ 11:45 pm
What a great idea that also looks good! Please enter me, I'd love to win it. =)
Tracy @ 12:31 am
how nice! I'd love it!
Ashley @ 8:44 am
Wow – what a great gift! Thanks for the giveaway!
Katrina (Callapidder Days) @ 9:22 am
This looks really cool. Please enter me for this giveaway.
Jennifer @ 11:15 am
This sounds so interesting and would be an amazing gift for my MIL who keeps track of books on sheets of loose paper!
Christine in NJ @ 12:02 pm
OH… I just found your site while clicking through lit blogs. You quickly went to my "favorites bar"!… and what a way cool gift you are giving away!… would LOVE to win… Thanks for the opportunity!
Shantell @ 12:49 pm
This would make a great Christmas gift for my mom. She has a little library in her home and it would be fun to know her favorites. I also like the book plates. This will make it easier for her to track who she loans books to. Great idea. Thanks for the opportunity.
Megret @ 1:19 pm
Oh, what a neat idea! Enter my name, please!
Megret
musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com
Alice Hansen @ 1:34 pm
This is a really unique idea – thanks for the chance!
Michelle @ 2:02 pm
I would love to be entered. Thanks!
Gina Stratos @ 5:12 pm
Great giveaway.
gkstratos@yahoo.com
angie @ 7:09 pm
This sounds like something I would love!!
anotherlisa @ 7:41 pm
dig the organizing! please enter me, and i'll order a couple also. so cool to find things i can give, as well as keep for myself
Rebecca @ 12:04 am
A beautiful idea, both my husband and I would share this if we won, thank you.
Rebecca Snodgrass @ 8:23 am
I would love to win this.
Jenn S. @ 9:05 am
This is a really neat concept. Thanks for the chance.
Deborah Wellenstein @ 10:36 am
I'm a big reader, so this would be great for me. Thank you!
Sito @ 10:53 am
I would love to have this set. Years ago I had a book journal where I recorded what I had read, how I rated it, and I would include quotations or scenes I found particularly good or infuriating. For whatever reason, I stopped doing it. I'd like to start back up again.
Kirby McCauley @ 11:56 am
What a neat idea!
C. Clemens @ 12:12 pm
please enter me to win
Shannon Baas @ 12:14 pm
I would love this. I read a lot.
jesy @ 3:22 pm
Trying my best to keep reading
Kathy Scott @ 3:27 pm
I love to read and I cannot tell you how many times I have picked up a book and realized that I had already read it.
Lisa @ Pockets of Time @ 3:41 pm
Great giveaway! Please enter me.
Kelly F @ 4:13 pm
This is amazing. I am always forgetting book recommendations by my friends and this would be so helpful. I have decided to make my new year's resolution for 2009 to read 50 books. Wish me luck!
susan varney @ 5:25 pm
being able to keep track of books read is perfect
christopher h @ 6:25 pm
love to win this
alyce p @ 6:38 pm
This would be perfect for me-I am a huge bibliophile. I read 2-3 books a week so could use something like this to help me organize and log them. Hope I win!
Denise @ 7:53 pm
I love to read!
Janet F @ 8:39 pm
I would love to win!
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Michael Capp @ 9:11 pm
I'd love to win!
Vickie @ 9:50 pm
What a great giveaway!
Susan Smith @ 10:47 pm
Please enter me
Hil'Lesha @ 11:33 pm
This is very interesting!
Jennifer @ 12:21 am
I really REALLY like this idea! I am an avid reader (when I have the time) and I am always having a hard time remembering names of books, but I always can remember the book! I also like to give books away, so this would be perfect for me. If I don't win it I might just have to buy it!
Catherine @ 12:25 am
Thanx for the contest
Christina @ 1:18 am
Please enter me, thanks!
Carol Lawrence @ 4:21 am
I like this prize,it would be nice to have.
David Bertolo @ 5:37 am
Looks like an interesting read. Please sign me up for your contest.
Linda Howard @ 7:32 am
Please enter me. Terrific prize. Thanks!
ky2here @ 8:00 am
We'd love to win these.
Susan @ 8:25 am
What a cool idea! Whoever came up with this was really smart!
Jill Miller @ 8:36 am
I would just love to win this!!
RogerKeeney @ 8:57 am
What a great gift to encourage my teen to become more organized.
Karen Gonyea @ 9:42 am
Count me in
Susan C @ 9:49 am
I have kept a book journal for over twenty years. It is falling apart and I really need a new system. I really like the idea of keeping track of books loaned out!
smchester at gmail dot com
Shelley Slider @ 11:26 am
I would really love to win this. Thanks!
veronica sandberg @ 12:34 pm
want to win this
michele anne jaquays @ 1:02 pm
I would love to be able to give this item to my sister-in-law. It is not only different buty handy and a good idea.
Jen @ 1:40 pm
I would love one of these!
Catherine copeland @ 7:39 pm
wow until now i rely on my memory. i'm certain i've forgotten the titles of quite a few books i've read. what a great idea
Jennifer hedden @ 9:10 pm
enter me
Daniel M @ 9:31 pm
great set add me please!
Jennifer Jozwiak @ 10:44 pm
I've been keeping track of what I read for years then i lost the notebook! I was devasted. This prize would be very special to me.
Millicent C. @ 12:00 am
Wow how neat! Thank you for the giving us the chance to win
Julie Donahue @ 2:41 am
Very cool!
DeSeRt RoSe @ 4:00 am
I just found this site and I'm having a great time browsing and reading, love the what's on the nightstand ! I loved this idea of a box set for book lovers and would love to get one. hope to win
Christine Groce @ 11:05 am
Great idea! I would love to win this. Please count me in. Thanks!!
Pamela Angelo @ 1:11 pm
This is a cool idea! Thanks for the giveaway and enter me!
Mary G @ 1:54 pm
I would love to win this.
djp @ 2:40 pm
i would enjoy this
edj @ 2:47 pm
Wow, what a brilliant idea! I'd love one; please enter me.
Veronica Muo @ 3:22 pm
This sounds interesting. I'd like to win.
Rachel Newman @ 5:41 pm
My mom would love this gift for Christmas. If I don't win it, I will buy it. Thanks for making my shopping a little easier
ladyspy79(at)aol(dot)com
Steve Scott @ 5:49 pm
This would earn me serious brownie points with my wife.
Lisa A. @ 6:57 pm
This looks like it might help me become more organized in my hectic life!
Gary Osborn @ 8:30 pm
Wooo Hooo Make me a winner!
Nannette Ryan @ 12:00 am
I would really like this
Felicia Shapiro @ 12:09 am
Great giveaway!
Elizabeth M. @ 5:23 am
This is probably one of the coolest ideas I've heard of in a long time!
Cassandra Shuff @ 6:01 am
please enter me
Erma @ 8:01 am
I would love to win this. Thanks for the chance to win.
Valerie Mabrey @ 10:03 am
count me in
jennefer sweitzer @ 10:37 am
What a great gift for my husband's grandma,Please enter me.
Patti D @ 12:40 pm
I love this! We have four generations of women readers and what we all do is write in a notebook. I have taken it a step further and wrote "reviews" and for selp-help or spiritual books, I have also included how a particular book has helped me.
My daughter is now reading the books that my Grandma, mom and myself have read (like Nicholas Sparks), so we all are very excited to share what we have "journeyed".
Salina Munson @ 12:59 pm
i think journeling is a great way to keep track of things, feeling, events, for years to come. i have kept a journel for over 5 years. i like everyonce in awhile going back and revisiting myself at different moments to see how i have changed. thanks for the giveaway.
Robert Doscher @ 1:01 pm
I look forwrd to listing all my favorite reads with this prize.
Cheers!
tanya wilson @ 1:52 pm
I think this would be a great gift for my stepdaughter!
Heather B @ 3:24 pm
What a great idea! a great giveaway!
Laura G @ 3:33 pm
would love to win!
Jodi @ 4:11 pm
This is a great idea, thanks so much for the chance to win such a wonderful product.
william causey @ 5:08 pm
please count me in
Gina Stratos @ 5:34 pm
What a great idea.
gkstratos@yahoo.com
Joyce Jacobs @ 5:46 pm
What a fantastic prize. Thank you!
cindy a @ 6:06 pm
looks wonderful! Thanks for the giveaway chance.
Carla Pullum @ 7:14 pm
Count me in!! Happy Thanksgiving!!
Marion B @ 7:24 pm
This is a cool idea!
Ed Nemmers @ 8:01 pm
Sweet niblets!
shawna @ 8:40 pm
Fantastic idea!
Sherri Siler @ 9:49 pm
This gives me a great idea for my mother in law who I have no idea what to get for christmas.
Chrysa @ 10:34 pm
I loooove this idea! It's much better than the little notebook I use. Thanks for the giveaway!
Kayce C @ 11:10 pm
Count me in.
brandy wilson @ 11:52 pm
This looks great! I read a lot and this looks neat.
Gabriel J. @ 11:57 pm
I love it!!!
kathy pease @ 9:03 am
PLEASE COUNT ME IN ON THIS AWESOME GIVEAWAY
Kym E @ 9:56 am
What a great idea. Please enter me.
John Deal @ 11:55 am
This is a really good idea.
Cherie J @ 12:40 pm
Please enter me. Thank you!
Veronica Garrett @ 12:44 pm
I love the idea. Hope I win.
Rachel Storey @ 1:18 pm
What an awesome idea! I would love this! If I don't win it, it's definately going on my Christmas wish list!
Aimee C @ 1:36 pm
What a great idea! Right now I have the names of books in margins of a bunch of notebooks!
Lily Kwan @ 3:31 pm
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
Timothy Sternberg @ 3:49 pm
What a cool idea!
Brenda @ 8:47 pm
I would love to give this to my mother n law, she is an avid reader, and instead of just the occasional book I give her, I could give her this and her grandchildren could look through this some day and get a better understanding of her and see if she kept any of her favorites to pass down. great idea thanks for the giveaway
Beverly Metcalf @ 9:43 pm
That's a great idea. Thanks for having the contest!
Helen @ 10:06 pm
What a brilliant idea!
Janet @ 10:07 pm
What a neat idea. Thanks for the giveaway.
Donna K @ 11:13 pm
I would like it.
Gianna @ 11:46 pm
Please enter me
Marcia S @ 11:46 pm
I need help organizing my books–this would be great!
Heather C @ 12:08 am
This looks great! Thanks so much!
kathleen Yohanna @ 12:21 am
I would like to win this set for my daughter. She loves to read and lends out all her books. Some of her favorites have never been returned. This will help her keep track of her books.