image via British Vogue

One of the most thoughtful gifts my boyfriend ever gave me was a DVD of "Breakfast at Tiffany's," a copy of the book, and then a necklace from the store -- opened in that order.

Now that we're all a bit more grown-up, I've found a fantastic Valentine's Day gift along those same lines: a limited-edition, first-run copy of the Capote classic with one of the most gorgeous and flawless book covers I've ever seen in my life. (It's bound in pink leather with an embossed, art-deco silhouette of Holly Golightly. Enough said.)

Sure, it's a breathtaking £2000 from The Shop at Bluebird, which is London's equivalent to Collette. But for the girl who loves literature, style and Audrey Hepburn, it's also a gift that could never go wrong.

For the past few years, I've been keeping annual lists of the books I've read. This year is no different. I wish I would have read more in 2008, but writing tipped the balance. (And if only things like work and graduate school and friends and "Summer Heights High" didn't get in the way, I would probably read books all day long.)

So check out my list here. Maybe it can save you from a not-so-great read or encourage you to pick up something I loved.

image via babblingdweeb, flickr