Merry Christmas! Gift List!
Okay, okay - I know I said that my previous post was going to be the last you heard from me this year, but I must go back on that promise (threat?). It is officially December, which aside from being the month of my birth, is also the month of gift giving, which makes it the best month of the year. To me, there are few joys more joyful than the joy of giving - particularly when you really hit the mark with whatever it is you’re giving. I consider myself something of an aficionado when it comes to this process - the hunting, finding, and giving of the perfect gift.
It’s important to be able to recognize your strengths, and this is one of mine. Recipients of my gifts have been known to weep tears of joy, and that’s not an exaggeration. This year, as a gift to you, dear reader, I’ve decided to share my gift for gift giving by giving you a (hopefully very useful) gift list. I don’t know how many more times I can say gift before it becomes annoying instead of being funny and charming, so without further ado, here are the books you should give as gifts this Christmas:
For anyone (and everyone):
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
This is my go-to for anyone and everyone who asks me for a book recommendation. If you haven’t read it, you must! Donna Tartt is so good. SO good. The Secret History was published in 1992 and is widely regarded to have set off the “dark academia” trend in the literary world - think charismatic professor, tight-knit group of beautiful, wealthy, seemingly untouchable students, simmering secrets, and intrigue. It’s a longer book, and I wouldn’t call it a breezy read, but it’s never tedious. I can’t imagine any person not enjoying this book, so it makes a great gift for anyone (even people who have read it before. I recently reread and it was both just as good as I remembered it and better)!
For the literarily inclined:
This book does not make a great gift for anyone. Know your audience. It’s long and it was written in the late 19th century, so the language and syntax can take some getting used to. That being said, Middlemarch is the best novel ever written in the English language. With a narrow lens, it tells the story of a small community in rural England and all of the characters that live within it. With a wider lens, it considers a wide range of social, political, religious and philosophical questions. The most striking thing about the novel is that it shows that no matter how much we think we’ve evolved, we really are basically the same creatures we were 200 years ago. If you have someone in your life that’s bookish, this could be a good one for them. If they actually read it and actually finish it, not only will they be forever indebted to you, but you will also know for sure that they love you.
For the book lover:
84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
This one is short and sweet. It is the collected letters exchanged over the course of many years by Author Helene Hanff in New York City and Frank Doel, manager at London Bookstore, Marks & Co - located on, you guessed it, Charing Cross Road. What starts with a simple inquiry for a specific book (Helene’s first letter in 1949) turns into a deep and lasting friendship. We get to know them as they get to know each other. It’s like cross between historical records and a novel, and it shows the incredible power of books to bring people together. Yes!
For your mom:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer
Obviously I’m generalizing here, and you know your mom better than I do, so don’t blame me if she hates it. This is a great book all around, and would be good for anyone, and good for book lovers, and good for fans of historical fiction. But it’s also one of those books that you read, and you’re like, “yeah, I feel like ~moms~ would like this one.” It takes place in the aftermath of WWII, primarily on the small Channel island of Guernsey, which was occupied by Germany, and it’s about the strength of the human spirit. Really interesting history, really great story, AND really lovable characters. There’s a Netflix movie which is also cute and well done!
For the New Yorker:
I’m having to stop myself from starting each of these little blurbs with “this book is so good.” This one is though. It’s long, but so worth it. Reading this book made me realize how little I know about the history of my beloved city. It is a sweeping epic, tracing the lives and lineage of 3 or 4 families (I can’t remember exactly - Kathryn, you have my copy of this book!) through the years starting in Mannahatta (prior to Dutch settlement), stretching all the way to 9/11. It’s entertaining but also extremely well researched and thus, educational. Great for anyone who lives or has lived in, loves or has loved, dear, unbeatable NYC.
For the fantasy fan:
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
I picked this book up from a “new in hardcover” table without ever having heard of it, which can be a risky move, but in this case, it paid off. We follows Addie LaRue through her day-to-day life in present day New York, interspersed with flashbacks to her childhood in 1714 France. Whaaaat?! Yeah, Addie is immortal. ALSO, no one can remember her beyond a single encounter. You may be wondering - how does a woman end up immortal and practically invisible? A deal with the devil, of course. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a story where mostly everything looks the same, but the rules of existence are slightly bent (i.e. time travel, magic, spirits & higher beings).
For the true crime junkie
The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker
This is not a true story, but it feels like one, hence it serving as my recommendation for fans of true crime. Our narrator, Marcus, is a young writer in search of inspiration. When his mentor, Harry Quebert is accused of the decades old, unsolved murder of a 15 year old girl, Marcus is sucked into the investigation. The results of his investigation become his next book, which is The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair. I read this one several years ago, but I still remember it well. It’s also translated from French, and I love a book in translation - the language is always so intentional, which adds an extra layer.
For the nature lover:
The Overstory by Richard Powers
I am not the only one thinks The Overstory is an enchanting book. Among other nominations and awards, it won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2019. It’s hard to fully encapsulate - it is sweeping and wide reaching, tracing the lives of many different characters in a complicated network of connections. Ultimately, though, it’s about trees - their power and importance, and what we stand to lose if we lose them. It’s not depressing though, or at least I didn’t find it to be so. I felt like I learned a lot, and I was also entertained. What more could you ask for?
For the love lover:
A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare (#1 in the Spindle Cove Series)
For the person in your life who loves Bridgerton and may or may not be on #smuttok, look no further. Honestly, anything by Tessa Dare would be great - she’s fabulous - but the Spindle Cove series, starting with A Night to Surrender, is my personal favorite. It’s about a small seaside resort dedicated to hosting young ladies who don’t quite fit the mold. They may be sent there by their families who don’t know what to do with them, but it becomes their welcome safe haven. The dashing military men that share the village aren’t bad either. Tessa Dare was the first real romance author I ever read, and I HIGHLY recommend.
For the poetically inclined:
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
Every human, but DEFINITELY every American citizen should be required to read Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. Period! “Song of Myself” is…it’s hard to put into words how good and important it is. Every time I read it I end up weeping. Not tears of sadness or tears of joy, something else entirely that I can’t really explain. There’s nothing else like it. Everyone should experience writing that powerful. Essential for anyone who enjoys poetry or is a human being.
A Christmas book:
Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
Not much to say here. David Sedaris is a master, and this collection of stories is a masterpiece. “Six to Eight Black Men” is still the hardest I’ve ever laughed while reading a book, and if that doesn’t entice you to pick up a few copies of this (one for you, a couple for friends) then I don’t know what will.
So there! Merry Christmas & happy gift giving to all. All of these books are linked above but you can also find them here (and help me fund my book buying habit) For the LOVE of GOD, do NOT order your Christmas books from Amazon. Buy in person from your local bookstore (good for the soul), or if online is more convenient for you, use bookshop.org.