Posted Thursday May 14th 2009
by Nikesh

Being a serial charity shop book-buyer, I come across customised books, usually a dedication or a doodle, and very occasionally a one-word unrepeatable review of the book. It's often from a lover or dear one, something that says something about the gifter and the giftee. One such dedication I've come across was in a secondhand copy of American Psycho that I bought from Barnados in Brixton.

Sean,
I hear this book is the exact mix of anti-capitalism and excessive violence that you love so much.
Enjoy.
Happy 16th birthday!
Love, grandma

Everytime American Pyscho catches my eye on my shelf, I wonder how Sean turned out after his 16th birthday. We are linked together through the thinnest of strands but I feel like that private glimpse into his life has bonded us forever. So I've compiled my five favourite repeatable charity shop book customisations for you, that either I've stumbled across or have been told about:

> War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy- Happy birthday! Thought you could do something constructive with all that time you spend on the loo. Love, mum

> Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by JRR Tolkien (after Frodo has destroyed the ring)- You can probably save yourself another week's reading by inserting the words 'and they lived happily ever after' here. Nothing much happens for the next 100 pages. Believe me!

> Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray- Maybe I should have bought you this before we got married. Happy anniversary!

> The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown- Your sister said you were a fan of religious mysteries and evil monks. Ergo this seemed perfect!

> Join Me! by Danny Wallace- I read this and really felt like joining a cult afterwards. If you know of one please email me on.... [email removed]

Add your own if you have any!