My Autumn themed jigsaw puzzle wishlist

This post contains Amazon affiliate links

I've been struggling lately with browsing for jigsaw puzzles on Amazon. Firstly, many of the puzzles are from "alphabet soup" brands, complete with poorly translated descriptions stuffed with key words. Secondly lots of them look very much like AI generated images with colours that are too vibrant, fuzzy details and they just look a bit off. Now AI does have it's place in the modern world, but for me at the moment that's not in jigsaw puzzles, so I've tried to pick out puzzles from respected brands. They may be a little more expensive but I hope that they are likely to be better quality in terms of both image and construction.

Unfortunately I can't link images from Amazon, so I hope that my descriptions will be good enough to encourage you to take a closer look. If you are searching for some good quality Autumn themed jigsaw puzzles for some puzzling as the nights draw in, I hope that you enjoy looking through my selection!

Galison - Autumn in the Meadow - 1000 piece (affiliate link)

This 1000 piece jigsaw features an illustration of an overgrown footpath which passes through a vegetable patch filled with pumpkins and chickens towards a tiny cottage half hidden by floating autumnal flowers. The colours are gorgeous, and this one looks like it would be pleasantly tricky and very satisfying to put together.

Elena Essex - Sunset Valley - 1000 piece (affiliate link)

Perhaps not quite strictly Autumnal, but with a rich palette of reds and oranges this illustrated scene features rolling hills with colourful cottages nestled in between. This puzzle has plenty of interest and I think would not be too challenging once you had sorted out the different areas.

Galison - Nature in Autumn - 500 piece (affiliate link)

I love a smaller puzzle that can be completed in an evening or two, and jigsaw features images of various flora and fauna which you might see while out and about in Autumn. There's a lot of detail in the pictures and a lovely selection of colours.

Cobble Hill - Country Diary: Autumn - 1000 piece (affiliate link)

This puzzle features illustrations from The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady and so it's a group of nostalgic paintings along with handwritten inscriptions. There is a huge amount of detail in the image and it seems realistic in the types of things that you might spot in Autumn. The colours are muted in style with the vintage design, and this would be a lovely relaxing puzzle to slot together.

Galison - Autumn in the Neighbourhood - 1000 piece (affiliate link)

Another Galison puzzle with gorgeous Autumn colours, this is a street scene featuring a row of terraced houses framed by trees in their autumnal colours and decorated with wreaths and pumpkins. The houses would be really fun to put together and the beautiful smudged leaves would be a great challenge!

Galison - Autumn at the City Market - 1000 piece (affiliate link)

This Autumn scene features a city skyline with a row of lovely coloured trees across the centre, with market stalls and yellow taxi cabs in the foreground. It's a great contrast between nature and the city, and there are plenty of details to spot with the intricate stalls and the passersby. 

Christmas gift ideas for book lovers

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If you have a book lover in your life, then finding a gift for them this Christmas is easy! Just think about what sort of book lover they are (or maybe they are like me, and could fit into every category!)

Gift ideas for book lovers...

...with a large 'To Be Read' pile

I always have a pile of books that I want to read, and I enjoy having a selection that I can choose from depending on my mood. Help your book lover to keep them organised with some pretty bookends (affiliate link),  a decorative shallow basket (affiliate link) or even a large book trolley (affiliate link)!

...who like to be comfortable while they are reading

I love to read in bed, propped up on cushions with a hot water bottle by my feet. Help make your reader more comfortable with a supportive reading pillow (affiliate link), a clip on reading light (affiliate link) or a foldable bed tray (affiliate link) to keep drinks and snacks handy.

Photo credit Micheile Henderson via Unsplash

...who read while away from home

I love my Kindle (affiliate link) for reading while I'm travelling, it means that I can have a book with me for every reading mood and also access to lots of free books to download. A waterproof Kindle case (affiliate link) comes in handy for reading, whether you are the beach, by the pool, or just at home and in the bath!

...who lend out their books

Most readers enjoy sharing their books with others, but sometimes a temporary lending situation can turn into a permanent one - I've replaced books several times that have never made it back to me. I use book plates or stickers (affiliate link) for my favourite books or you could take it one step further and buy a personal library kit (affiliate link) so that no book will ever go missing again!

...who have several books on the go at once

Readers always need bookmarks! I have loads, and yet I never seem to be able to find one when I need one. You could look for a personalised one, make one, or else buy a large pack of pretty bookmarks (affiliate link) so that your reader will always have one to hand. 

Another great idea is a set of sticky index tabs (affiliate link) which can be used to mark favourite chapters or passages. 

Photo credit Kelsy Gagnebin via Unsplash

...who have a particular favourite book or author

World of Books has a dedicated Rare Books section which I love to browse - you might find a first or special edition of a book, and the prices are very reasonable. You could also look for a biography of an author that they like, or a compilation book which includes their favourite author and other similar writers. There are plenty of websites which can suggest new books based on books that you've enjoyed, and you might help them to discover a new favourite.

....who read while they are eating

Maybe it's a bad habit, but if I'm settling down with a book in some peace and quiet I'll often make myself a hot drink and a selection of snacks, or else I will read while I'm eating a meal. Choose food which can be eaten with one hand and doesn't make your fingers messy - think healthy options like nuts or dried fruit, or more indulgent treats like suger coated chocolates, mints and jelly sweets.

An adjustable book stand (affiliate link) or a simple hand book holder (affiliate link) can make reading while eating much more comfortable.

...who enjoy book reading challenges

There are plenty of scratch off posters with top books (affiliate link) which are fun to use and display, and a great way to find some reading inspiration. You can also look for a book filled with book suggestions, like 1000 Books to Read Before you Die (affiliate link) which would certainly keep even an avid reader busy!

...who want to remember what they've read

You can choose a dedicated book journal (affiliate link), or else any pretty notebook and pen can do the job. There is plenty of reading journal inspiration online, so if you are feeling crafty you could even take the time to set up some reading journal pages to get them started. If they are crafty, add some bookish stickers (affiliate link) or a set of pretty washi tapes (affiliate link).

Photo credit Ayako via Unsplash

I hope that this has given you plenty of ideas for the reader in your life this Christmas!