The book I am writing: The Life of Sir Nicholas White, by Nicholas Whyte.
The book I love most: The Lord of the Rings, I'm afraid!
The last book I received as a gift: Of Blood and Honey, by Stina Leicht, kindly sent to me by the author. (Unless one counts Bookmooch, in which case it's Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, sent from Massachusetts.)
The last book I gave as a gift: Adventures in Kate Bush and Theory by Deborah M. Withers, a Valentine's day present for my wife. (Again, unless one counts Bookmooch, in which case it was Raven's Gathering, by Keith Taylor, sent to Pennsylvania ten days ago; or work-related gifts, in which case I gave a copy of Independent Diplomat, by Carne Ross, to someone I had a meeting with this morning.)
The nearest book on my desk: I'm working up some election stuff at present, so the two books on the desk are Rallings and Thrasher's Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies (2007) and Brian Walker's Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1918-92.