Need some quick advice for a date in a couple days.
First off, I'd like to preface this by saying my particular personal dating history is rather... brief. And awkward. Oh so awkward. So naturally I was surprised when I landed a date with a pretty girl through eHarmony earlier this week, met her for some coffee, and we actually seemed to hit it off. Hit it off so well, in fact, that we're going to see 'Inglorious Bastards' together this Thursday evening.
My specific question, aside from general fishing about general second date advice, is this: During the course of our first date conversation, I learned a couple interesting facts about her: 1. She's a total book nerd (in fact she was reading a book as she was waiting for me in the cafe and spoke longingly about Powell's Books in Portland), and enjoys Sci-Fi/Fantasy; and 2. She loves the book 'Good Omens' by Terry Pratchett, but has never read Discworld. After I arranged the date, I swung by a Barnes and Noble and picked up a paperback copy of 'Guards! Guards!' with the thought to give it to her this Thursday. Good idea/bad idea/risky idea/better idea out there? Definitely grasping at straws here people, could use a bit of guidance, many thanks in advance.
Posts
Also i just saw Inglorious Basterds, its like 2.5 hours long, lots of dialogue in french/german, so i hope youre both into Tarentino or else you will be bored as hell (o no awkward).
Go to a zoo as third date, never fails.
The gift seems like a reasonable idea to me. It's cheap, so as long as it's not timed really really badly, she shouldn't feel like you're trying to buy her off. It's cute, basically, and that can work for good or bad.
You don't give it to her then. You give it to her right at the end of the night.
Hand it to her casually or cool and say something like "Since you've read Pratchett already I got you an awesome book that I believe you will love. Here you go." But pass it to her like it ain't no thang; not carefully considering her expression as you gingerly pull it out of a bag or have wrapped up. Though I think a used copy would be slightly better in my opinion.
You're catering to her interests; not buying her some fucking earrings in an effort to impress upon her your money-making status and ability to provide things.
I know I'd do you if I was a girl and you got me an excellent book by an author I like.
I agree with the others - give her the book, explain why you got it - no big deal and no implied expectations.
http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198006524737
Chance are it'll be fine, and you know better how she feels than we do, so go with your gut.
It IS just a book, but it's a book you THINK she'd like because you listened, which makes it more important already than just the low price tag.
Either way, I think giving a book is a good idea. It's like a more creative version of flowers.
After you give her the book just continue the conversation, don't stare at her waiting for a gushing response or anything, and it'll be fine.
That's actually all I really have to say.
EDIT: Actually, I do have more to say. Don't make the book into anything it is not. It's a book, and it's hardly much more than a "hey I like you enough to know that you should read this book!" For those of us who are bibliophiles, I will say that at least two of my relationships were begun by a lent/given book.
Really, keep it cool and low-key for the whole "giving" and don't try to make it into something big. I'd give it to her pre-movie, if this were me, as "hey this book is awesome! Now let's go watch a movie and let you think about how I just gave you an awesome book!" can lead to fun times.
2011 PAX Warmachine/Hordes Champion
Pluto was a planet and I'll never forget
edit: but it is important that you don't make it feel like homework, as a few people have said. You think she'll enjoy it - I guarantee you you'll hear about it if she does like it.
Just be casual about it, and don't bring it up to her again. Her dad might have been killed by a carrot, so it'd be awkward.
She had a great reaction to the book. Kept it low key, gave it right before we broke off for the evening, went very naturally for all parties involved. She really liked the movie, too (she had a very... visceral reaction to the scalping, though in retrospect that's probably better than the opposite reaction would've been). I'm smiling right now .
2011 PAX Warmachine/Hordes Champion
http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198006524737
Best of luck!
And she sounds like a keeper. ;D