Büchergilde Abobox

Book subscription boxes have been around for a few years now, and a quick search shows there’s quite a wide range on offer. I had the chance to test the current Büchergilde Abobox, and since I’d never tried a book box before, I was curious what readers can expect and what it feels like to unpack such a surprise box. As the Büchergilde offers some beautiful books, I was excited to see which title I’d find in my box.

Book subscription boxes all follow the same concept: at fixed intervals, subscribers receive a box with a surprise book and a few thematically matching goodies. Like the chosen literature, the boxes vary widely—so each delivery is a fresh surprise. You can take a look at what past Büchergilde boxes contained here. The Büchergilde Abobox ships every three months, costs €39.90, and can be canceled at the end of any month.

I’m a very picky reader and quite selective in my choices. Lately I’ve been wandering rather aimlessly through the world of literature, so a subscription box fits nicely. You don’t know what you’ll get—an advantage and a drawback at once. If the book isn’t your thing, it’s a miss; on the other hand, you might stumble on a real gem you’d never have picked up otherwise.

I have several Büchergilde books on my shelves and last tried a membership a few years ago. I also blogged about it back then. The Büchergilde has been around for almost a hundred years and specializes in beautifully produced editions and classics. I own some truly great B. Traven classics via the Büchergilde as antiquarian copies, but I also have a number of very nice editions published in recent years. At the same time, the overall selection means an ongoing membership isn’t always worth it for me, so I pause now and then until there are enough books to justify a new subscription. I keep an eye on the Büchergilde, and especially for older classics I’m very fond of their editions.

The box itself arrives in simple black, stickered with the Büchergilde Abobox logo. Well padded, it contained the following book and extras.

The theme of the box is the book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Matching it are a carabiner mug, a deck of cards, and the classic book-nerd tote bag. The Büchergilde magazine is, of course, included. All in all, a coherent package that fits together nicely and definitely whets the appetite for the book.

I read the book quite a while ago, but as a plain dtv paperback that wasn’t particularly attractive. I was therefore delighted with this truly splendid and high-quality edition. It’s a beautiful book—the purple hue looks lovely on the cloth binding, and it feels substantial in the hand. I did wonder why it’s so thick, since the dtv paperback has just 127 pages. A quick leaf through explains it: there are numerous illustrations by Philip Waechter that suit both the style and the story very well. I’m often on the fence about the Büchergilde’s illustrated editions—some I find really beautiful, others not at all, as the drawing style can feel too minimalistic and modern. But here it works perfectly. More detailed illustrations would impose too much interpretation on the story. The level of abstraction in these drawings is just right and conveys the atmosphere in a nicely balanced way. The endpapers are also handsomely illustrated. Overall, everything is executed solidly and tastefully.

To achieve a heftier volume, the top and bottom margins have been made very generous so that each page is only half filled with text. In other words, to give the book a more substantial feel, things have been stretched a bit. It’s a handy size and looks more appealing as a result, but you should be aware that in terms of content it’s still a short book with a very compact story.

I also really like the typography—it fits the overall design beautifully, especially the page numbers and their color. The page numbers “travel” across the book from left to right, a very cool detail. The paper feels notably smooth. But the real highlight for me is the colored thread sewing, which is simply wonderful. These days it’s rare to get a book with sewn binding; even with the Büchergilde that’s not guaranteed for every title. Here it’s done with a light gray thread—and I have to say, that’s a delight.

I remember the story itself as well worth reading—very well written in style—but for me it’s more of a small literary treat in between. I definitely want to read more Steinbeck, and if you’d like to get to know the author, Of Mice and Men is an excellent place to start. This Büchergilde edition is, without question, the most beautiful version of the book you can get.

The playing cards are classic and charming—I like them. There’s an instruction sheet for laying patience (solitaire), which one of the characters in the workers’ barracks also plays. Anyone who remembers older Windows versions will recognize Solitaire right away. Overall, a neat idea. The mug is fine; I don’t really need it, and I suspect it will end up dangling from one of the kids’ backpacks sooner or later.

Back to the central question: is a box like this worth it? The book costs €28, leaving €11.90 for the extras and the service of curating and shipping the box. That’s a fair calculation. I suspect that if you stay subscribed, sometimes you’ll get something you can’t use at all, and other times something you’ll love or find very useful. In the end, it falls into the category of “nice things” and is also good for the soul. A subscription box is best as a treat for yourself—for the little jolt of happiness when opening a surprise. I really enjoyed my box; unboxing it was fun. Budget-conscious readers or those who are very particular about their reading may find it less appealing.

I also like the cadence—every three months is neither too often nor too seldom. And as a subscriber you can freely shop from the catalog, just like with a standard membership, which is a pleasant perk.

Conclusion: For me, the Büchergilde Abobox was a hit. The book is gorgeous and will have a permanent place on my shelf. The extras are a nice, atmospheric bonus, and the unboxing and surprise effect are genuinely fun. A beautiful book, tastefully presented—after all, we read with our eyes, too. I also like the Büchergilde box’s cadence: a box every three months is a solid idea. You do need to consider whether you enjoy surprises and are happy to read something chosen at random—and whether the Büchergilde’s selections appeal to you. If both are true, the subscription is a good deal and an easy recommendation.