Showing posts with label books as gifts. Show all posts
Bookworm Gift Guide: Subscription Boxes
04 December 2015
The subscription box has taken off, ya'll. You can get subscription boxes of sample-sizes beauty products, dog toys and treats, runner goodies, you name it. Below are a few of my favorite bookish subscription options (all of which would make excellent gifts for the bookworm you don't know how to shop for this holiday season...):
Out Into the World: Graduation Season Reading
03 June 2014
Originally published in the May 27, 2014 issue of Shelf Awareness for Readers. Reprinted here with permission. If you don't already receive it, sign up here to receive a bi-weekly dose of readerly goodness in your inbox.
Neil Gaiman's speech from Philadelphia's University of the Arts, Make Good Art, is perfect for any grad pursuing a creative career, be it writing or sculpture or film; the message speaks to the creative process, but the book itself is downright beautiful, with highly stylized fonts and layouts presenting Gaiman's already highly creative ideas. George Saunders's moving speech from Syracuse University is also available for this year's grads to read and cherish in Congratulations, by the way: Some Thoughts on Kindness.
Lean In offers insight and wisdom for women entering the workforce for the first time, and Sheryl Sandberg's updated edition, Lean In for Graduates, provides even more. The new edition features expanded sections on résumé writing and building, interviewing and negotiating, and making the most of one's first job. Continuing the theme of Gaiman's Make Good Art, Sandberg's graduate advice also centers on being true to one's self.
For those still pondering what "true to one's self" really means, Picador's School of Life series offers a wealth of practical tips for making the most of the one precious life we have. For grads who want to make a difference in the world, there's How to Change the World by John-Paul Flintoff; those uncertain of their next step might appreciate Roman Krznaric's How to Find Fulfilling Work. Either volume, along with Daring Greatly by Brené Brown, would make the perfect graduation gift, encouraging those embarking on new adventures to do so with courage and self-assurance, even when the world can seem a scary place.
Graduation season is upon us, and with it, commencement speeches. With any luck, every graduate will be moved by his or her commencement speaker to look at the big, daunting world and go forth with confidence; for those not so lucky, a few favored speeches of recent years are available in print.
Neil Gaiman's speech from Philadelphia's University of the Arts, Make Good Art, is perfect for any grad pursuing a creative career, be it writing or sculpture or film; the message speaks to the creative process, but the book itself is downright beautiful, with highly stylized fonts and layouts presenting Gaiman's already highly creative ideas. George Saunders's moving speech from Syracuse University is also available for this year's grads to read and cherish in Congratulations, by the way: Some Thoughts on Kindness.
Lean In offers insight and wisdom for women entering the workforce for the first time, and Sheryl Sandberg's updated edition, Lean In for Graduates, provides even more. The new edition features expanded sections on résumé writing and building, interviewing and negotiating, and making the most of one's first job. Continuing the theme of Gaiman's Make Good Art, Sandberg's graduate advice also centers on being true to one's self.
For those still pondering what "true to one's self" really means, Picador's School of Life series offers a wealth of practical tips for making the most of the one precious life we have. For grads who want to make a difference in the world, there's How to Change the World by John-Paul Flintoff; those uncertain of their next step might appreciate Roman Krznaric's How to Find Fulfilling Work. Either volume, along with Daring Greatly by Brené Brown, would make the perfect graduation gift, encouraging those embarking on new adventures to do so with courage and self-assurance, even when the world can seem a scary place.
What's missing from above? What's your favorite book to give as a graduation gift?
Redux: Bookish Gift Bows
11 December 2013
This post originally ran last year, but it seemed fitting to re-post it for the holiday season. Now you have ways to wrap all those books recommended in last week's book gifts recommendation posts:
Just in time for the holidays! Because we all know that no matter how early we finish our shopping (or how late we start it), there's always the wrapping to follow. Modified from original instructions in Playing With Books, I've been trying my hand at some handmade bows made out of book pages:
Let me begin by saying this: I am not a particularly crafty person. I do not have a lot of patience for small, difficult things. Like knitting. I hate knitting. And anything that involves threading a needle. I like shortcuts. I like crafts that involve minimal steps, minimal supplies, minimal tools. If I can do this, you can do this.
To start, you'll need:
Step 0: Take a deep breath. You are about to cut pages out of a book. My only recommendation for making this easier is to go to your local library and buy a book out front that you intend to cut up, which prevents forming any attachment to it. I chose The Naming of Names, a book about the history of plant names, because it had nice typesetting and a luscious, creamy paper stock, and is a subject about which I have zero interest. So.
Step 1: Cut 9-12 strips of book pages, approximately 3/4 in x 7-9 inches (you can be flexible in the size of your strips, but you'll definitely want them all to be consistent). If you cut longer strips, you'll most likely need more strips to fill in the bow. Longer strips = taller bow. Shorter strips = less required, but smaller final product.
Step 2: Place a small piece of double-sided sticky tape (or a small circle of single-sided sticky tape) in the center of the strip. Fold one end down, and twist end 180 degrees before affixing to the tape. Think of the twist in the Breast Cancer Awareness ribbons. Do that. Make sure that when you do this, you don't cover up all of the tape, as you need some to stick down the other end, too.
Step 3: Do the same thing on the other side. Note: If you don't think in 3 dimensions, as I don't, you might have to twist it a few different ways to figure out how to get the ends to align in the middle like this. You're not alone.
Presto digito! You have a book bow. Happy Wrapping!
---
Just in time for the holidays! Because we all know that no matter how early we finish our shopping (or how late we start it), there's always the wrapping to follow. Modified from original instructions in Playing With Books, I've been trying my hand at some handmade bows made out of book pages:
Let me begin by saying this: I am not a particularly crafty person. I do not have a lot of patience for small, difficult things. Like knitting. I hate knitting. And anything that involves threading a needle. I like shortcuts. I like crafts that involve minimal steps, minimal supplies, minimal tools. If I can do this, you can do this.
To start, you'll need:
- Tape (preferably double-sided tape, but you can use single sided if that's what you have on hand. I did, and it worked fine. Just be prepared to roll lots of little tape circles so you can mimic double-sided tape.)
- Scissors
- A book you are willing to cut up (this is the hardest part, I promise).
Step 0: Take a deep breath. You are about to cut pages out of a book. My only recommendation for making this easier is to go to your local library and buy a book out front that you intend to cut up, which prevents forming any attachment to it. I chose The Naming of Names, a book about the history of plant names, because it had nice typesetting and a luscious, creamy paper stock, and is a subject about which I have zero interest. So.
Step 1: Cut 9-12 strips of book pages, approximately 3/4 in x 7-9 inches (you can be flexible in the size of your strips, but you'll definitely want them all to be consistent). If you cut longer strips, you'll most likely need more strips to fill in the bow. Longer strips = taller bow. Shorter strips = less required, but smaller final product.
Step 2: Place a small piece of double-sided sticky tape (or a small circle of single-sided sticky tape) in the center of the strip. Fold one end down, and twist end 180 degrees before affixing to the tape. Think of the twist in the Breast Cancer Awareness ribbons. Do that. Make sure that when you do this, you don't cover up all of the tape, as you need some to stick down the other end, too.
Step 3: Do the same thing on the other side. Note: If you don't think in 3 dimensions, as I don't, you might have to twist it a few different ways to figure out how to get the ends to align in the middle like this. You're not alone.
Step 4: Repeat step 3 over and over and over again.
Step 5: Place a small square of tape in the center of one of the loops, and place another inside it perpendicular to the first one. Place another piece of tape inside this next one, and keep layering loops on top of each other, varying the angle of the strips. They'll naturally push themselves up into a bow shape as you get taller and taller.
Step 5: Place a small square of tape in the center of one of the loops, and place another inside it perpendicular to the first one. Place another piece of tape inside this next one, and keep layering loops on top of each other, varying the angle of the strips. They'll naturally push themselves up into a bow shape as you get taller and taller.
Presto digito! You have a book bow. Happy Wrapping!
---
Playing with Books: The Art of Upcycling, Reconstructing and Reimagining Books | Jason Thompson | Quarry Books | 9781592536009 | $24.99 Paperback |152 pages | April 2010 | Buy from an independent bookstore near you
Gift Guide: Literary Gifts That Keep On Giving
10 December 2013
Every year, the holiday shopping frenzy seems to get bigger and bigger. As Brett Arends points out in this interesting (if overtly religious) MarketWatch article, we can no longer even expect to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal without being inundated with the calls to shop, shop, shop.
So this holiday season, I'm trying to take a step back from the the buy-buy-buy mentality to try to give-give-give-give. Here are a few easy ways to give back to the literary community this holiday season, whether you shop til' you drop or... not:
Out of Print Clothing (and gifts and jewelry): For every purchase made on Out of Print's site, one book is donated to a community in need through the site's partner, Books for Africa. And they have awesome bookish goodies, from t-shirts to fleeces to necklaces to tote bags to journals.
AmazonSmile: From the AmazonSmile "About" page:
FirstBook: FirstBook is an organization committed to obtaining access to new books for children in need. You can shop the FirstBook Gift Catalog, selecting from sets of books or more general support funds, in the name of your gift-ee, or you can make a donation directly to the organization in honor of your gift recipient. Now through December 31st, all donations will give triple the number of books to children in need due to a matching offer.
Reach Out and Read: Reach Out and Read serves 4 million children annually, according to their website, with 5,000 program sites nationwide (in all 50 states). They distribute new books to children and advice to parents on the evidence-based benefits of reading aloud. You can donate directly on their site and make the donation in the name of your gift recipient--and they currently have a match that will double all donations made (up to $250,000).
So this holiday season, I'm trying to take a step back from the the buy-buy-buy mentality to try to give-give-give-give. Here are a few easy ways to give back to the literary community this holiday season, whether you shop til' you drop or... not:
-----------------
Out of Print Clothing (and gifts and jewelry): For every purchase made on Out of Print's site, one book is donated to a community in need through the site's partner, Books for Africa. And they have awesome bookish goodies, from t-shirts to fleeces to necklaces to tote bags to journals.
-----------------
AmazonSmile: From the AmazonSmile "About" page:
"AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization. You can choose from nearly one million organizations to support."Amazon may not be the best friend of indie bookstores across the country, but if you're already shopping on Amazon, this is a simple, no-brainer way to make your purchase give back--and you can select your charity, allowing you to customize your donation. The list of participating charities is loooong, and includes regional and national organizations.
-----------------
FirstBook: FirstBook is an organization committed to obtaining access to new books for children in need. You can shop the FirstBook Gift Catalog, selecting from sets of books or more general support funds, in the name of your gift-ee, or you can make a donation directly to the organization in honor of your gift recipient. Now through December 31st, all donations will give triple the number of books to children in need due to a matching offer.
-----------------
Reach Out and Read: Reach Out and Read serves 4 million children annually, according to their website, with 5,000 program sites nationwide (in all 50 states). They distribute new books to children and advice to parents on the evidence-based benefits of reading aloud. You can donate directly on their site and make the donation in the name of your gift recipient--and they currently have a match that will double all donations made (up to $250,000).
Gift Guide: Books for Geeks
09 December 2013
I'm wrapping up posts gift books with one of my personal favorite categories--books for geeks. As Eric Smith points out in the introduction to A Geek's Guide to Dating, "Being a geek means a lot of things... What was once a derogatory terms for a socially inept person has now been taken back by a community proud to wear the title. A community comprised by people just like you and me. We're eccentric, enthusiastic, intelligent, and, occasionally, kinda awkward."
And the good news is there are a ton of books just perfect for us geeks, no matter what geek variety we may be.
Up first, the already-quoted A Geek's Guide to Dating, by Eric Smith. While this one may need to be gifted carefully--you don't want to imply to someone that he/she is incapable of landing a date on his/her own--it's a clever, witty, and informative guide to dating for today's geeks, whether they be computer geeks, math geeks, Star Wars geeks, and so on. Plus, it's packed with obscure geek culture references that read like insider baseball for the non-baseball geek types. Buy here ($14.95).
Bonus: Geek Out is a trivia game made for the geekiest of the geeks, pitting players' knowledge of geek culture, trivia, and lists against one another. The kicker? No internet allowed, which means "correct" is determined by player consensus. Buy here ($19.95).
William Shakespeare's Star Wars, by Ian Doesching: Sure, yeah, I already included this one in my recommended gift books for Shakespeare fans. But this book swings both ways, and any Star Wars fan is sure to appreciate the quirky cleverness of the Star Wars story told in Shakespearean verse. Buy here ($14.95).
Darth Vader and Son, by Jeffrey Brown: Star Wars-fanatic dads with sons now have the perfect bedtime story to read every night on repeat. Buy here ($14.95).
Jedi Path and Book of Sith by Daniel Wallace: Let your well-loved geek find his or her inner Jedi (or Sith) with classic Star Wars training manuals. Buy here ($19.95) and here ($19.95).
Bonus: Steep some Star Wars-themed tea with a Death Star-shaped tea infuser (buy here, $19.99) in an Imperial mug (buy here, $9.99).
Stellar Cartography, by Larry Nemecek: Ten large-format maps of the Star Trek universe, fully illustrated and downright beautiful. Buy here ($79.99).
Star Trek Federation: The First 150 Years, by David A. Goodman: The price tag on the deluxe edition of this book is steep but worth it. The gorgeous, illustrated hardcover sits on an electronic display stand for added intrigue, presenting the first 150 years of the Star Trek Federation in great detail. Buy here ($99.99).
Bonus: Take the Star Wars tea one step further with Captain Jean Luc Picard's favorite beverage: Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. Buy here ($14.99).
The Feast of Ice and Fire, by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel, Sariann Lehrer, George R.R. Martin: The dishes from Martin's imaginative series brought to life. Yummm. Buy here ($35.00).
Game of Thrones: A Pop-up Guide to Westeros, by Michael Komarck, Matthew Christian Reinhart: Five spreads unfold to create an elaborate, illustrated map of Westeros. Let the geeking out commence. Buy here ($65.00).
Bonus: Track down some Game of Thrones-labelled beer (yes, it really does exist) and add one of these amazingly amazing (they are that amazing) horn mugs, and your Thrones-loving fan can eat, navigate and drink like a true citizen of Westeros. Find a beer retailer near you, and buy the mug here ($52.95).
The Annotated Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll (with annotations by John Tenniel and Martin Gardner): Give the curioser and curioser something to satisfy their curiosity with the text of Carroll's beloved stories coupled with annotations on the wordplay, mathematical riddles and other hidden tidbits. Buy now ($29.95).
Alice in Tumblrland, by Tim Manley: Alice and other fairy tale characters have found their way into the 21st century, land of Tumblrs and Twitters and internet dating. Buy now ($20.00).
Bonus: Out of Print's line of Alice goodies are all wonderful, but their new jewelry products feature a necklace with Alice herself jumping after the white rabbit. Buy now ($32.00).
And the good news is there are a ton of books just perfect for us geeks, no matter what geek variety we may be.
-----------------
Up first, the already-quoted A Geek's Guide to Dating, by Eric Smith. While this one may need to be gifted carefully--you don't want to imply to someone that he/she is incapable of landing a date on his/her own--it's a clever, witty, and informative guide to dating for today's geeks, whether they be computer geeks, math geeks, Star Wars geeks, and so on. Plus, it's packed with obscure geek culture references that read like insider baseball for the non-baseball geek types. Buy here ($14.95).
Bonus: Geek Out is a trivia game made for the geekiest of the geeks, pitting players' knowledge of geek culture, trivia, and lists against one another. The kicker? No internet allowed, which means "correct" is determined by player consensus. Buy here ($19.95).
-----------------
William Shakespeare's Star Wars, by Ian Doesching: Sure, yeah, I already included this one in my recommended gift books for Shakespeare fans. But this book swings both ways, and any Star Wars fan is sure to appreciate the quirky cleverness of the Star Wars story told in Shakespearean verse. Buy here ($14.95).
Darth Vader and Son, by Jeffrey Brown: Star Wars-fanatic dads with sons now have the perfect bedtime story to read every night on repeat. Buy here ($14.95).
Jedi Path and Book of Sith by Daniel Wallace: Let your well-loved geek find his or her inner Jedi (or Sith) with classic Star Wars training manuals. Buy here ($19.95) and here ($19.95).
Bonus: Steep some Star Wars-themed tea with a Death Star-shaped tea infuser (buy here, $19.99) in an Imperial mug (buy here, $9.99).
-----------------
Stellar Cartography, by Larry Nemecek: Ten large-format maps of the Star Trek universe, fully illustrated and downright beautiful. Buy here ($79.99).
Star Trek Federation: The First 150 Years, by David A. Goodman: The price tag on the deluxe edition of this book is steep but worth it. The gorgeous, illustrated hardcover sits on an electronic display stand for added intrigue, presenting the first 150 years of the Star Trek Federation in great detail. Buy here ($99.99).
Bonus: Take the Star Wars tea one step further with Captain Jean Luc Picard's favorite beverage: Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. Buy here ($14.99).
-----------------
The Feast of Ice and Fire, by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel, Sariann Lehrer, George R.R. Martin: The dishes from Martin's imaginative series brought to life. Yummm. Buy here ($35.00).
Game of Thrones: A Pop-up Guide to Westeros, by Michael Komarck, Matthew Christian Reinhart: Five spreads unfold to create an elaborate, illustrated map of Westeros. Let the geeking out commence. Buy here ($65.00).
Bonus: Track down some Game of Thrones-labelled beer (yes, it really does exist) and add one of these amazingly amazing (they are that amazing) horn mugs, and your Thrones-loving fan can eat, navigate and drink like a true citizen of Westeros. Find a beer retailer near you, and buy the mug here ($52.95).
-----------------
The Annotated Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll (with annotations by John Tenniel and Martin Gardner): Give the curioser and curioser something to satisfy their curiosity with the text of Carroll's beloved stories coupled with annotations on the wordplay, mathematical riddles and other hidden tidbits. Buy now ($29.95).
Alice in Tumblrland, by Tim Manley: Alice and other fairy tale characters have found their way into the 21st century, land of Tumblrs and Twitters and internet dating. Buy now ($20.00).
Bonus: Out of Print's line of Alice goodies are all wonderful, but their new jewelry products feature a necklace with Alice herself jumping after the white rabbit. Buy now ($32.00).
Tomorrow: Gifts that keep on giving.
Gift Guide: Tried-and-True
06 December 2013
I always love to get creative with books as gifts, but sometimes the tried-and-true reads are the safest bet. A few of my favorite books to gift, regardless of occasion:
Tiny Beautiful Things, by Cheryl Strayed: Writing as "Sugar" in the "Dear Sugar" advice column for The Rumpus, Strayed's collection of advice is less about the advice and more about finding a friend on the pages. She offers up a near-perfect balance of kick in the pants, shoulder to cry on, and downright hilarity for advice ranging from "My son is gay, now what?" to "I hate my parents, and they hate me," to "I've never been in love." Her stories are peppered with her own experiences, which only makes them all the more colorful and endearing. Buy here ($14.95).
Bonus: Wrap Tiny Beautiful Things together with Strayed's memoir, Wild, about her solo hiking trip on the Pacific Crest Trail. Buy here ($14.95).
Traveling with Pomegranates, by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor: Kidd is perhaps best known for her wildly successful novel, The Secret Life of Bees, or maybe The Mermaid Chair. But before novels, she wrote non-fiction about religion and spirituality. In Traveling with Pomegranates, she returns to her non-fiction start, this time with the help of her daughter, as they recall the shift in their relationship as Ann grew into an adult herself. It's a touching, moving story about mothers and daughters, finding faith in the least likely of places, and the power of travel to shift out perspectives. Buy here ($15.00).
Bonus: Wrap Traveling with Pomegranates with The Secret Life of Bees (buy here, $16.00), or give a gift card to your local indie so the receiver can be first in line to purchase Kidd's newest novel, The Invention of Wings, when it hits shelves in January (pre-order, $27.95).
Going Bovine, by Libba Bray: When 16-year-old Cameron is told he's sick and is going to die, he sets out on the road trip of a lifetime, accompanied by a punk angel named Dulcie and a video-game obsessed dwarf. It's as quirky and wacky and weird as it sounds, but it's also thoughtful and thought-provoking. Buy here ($10.99).
Bonus: I'm not sure it's possible to be a teenager and not fall for one (or all) of John Green's books.
Blue Blazes, by Chuck Wendig: For fantasy readers who think they've read it all, or for those new to urban fantasy and wondering where to start, Wendig's Blue Blazes is funky enough to appeal to the urban fantasy fanatic and smart enough not to be distracted by its own world-building. Buy here ($7.99).
Bonus: Throw in a copy of Chuck Wendig's Blackbirds, and you'll give your reader not one but three books to love, as it has a sequel already and a third book coming out this December (though Wendig himself assured me that each book can also stand on its own). (Buy here, $7.99).
How to Find Fulfilling Work, by Roman Krznaric, and How to Change the World, by John-Paul Flintoff: Independently, both of these books are fascinating, insightful--if slim--volumes on their respective subjects. But combined, they can force us to rethink how and why we work at the jobs we have, and how we want to be remembered. Perfect for anyone facing a quarter- or mid-life crisis, or those soon-to-be or recent college grads facing the big wide world for the first time. Buy here ($16.00) and here ($16.00).
Bonus: These two volumes are part of Alain de Botton's School of Life series. Add How to Stay Sane, and, if appropriate for the receiver, How to Think More About Sex, and you'll have your self-help junkie hooked on this little series as new volumes are released. Buy here ($16.00) and here ($16.00). Or branch out of this series with the hilarious but also informative How Not to Be a Dick: An Everyday Etiquette Guide. Gift carefully, though, lest someone take offense. Buy here ($16.99).
------------------
Tiny Beautiful Things, by Cheryl Strayed: Writing as "Sugar" in the "Dear Sugar" advice column for The Rumpus, Strayed's collection of advice is less about the advice and more about finding a friend on the pages. She offers up a near-perfect balance of kick in the pants, shoulder to cry on, and downright hilarity for advice ranging from "My son is gay, now what?" to "I hate my parents, and they hate me," to "I've never been in love." Her stories are peppered with her own experiences, which only makes them all the more colorful and endearing. Buy here ($14.95).
Bonus: Wrap Tiny Beautiful Things together with Strayed's memoir, Wild, about her solo hiking trip on the Pacific Crest Trail. Buy here ($14.95).
-----------------
Traveling with Pomegranates, by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor: Kidd is perhaps best known for her wildly successful novel, The Secret Life of Bees, or maybe The Mermaid Chair. But before novels, she wrote non-fiction about religion and spirituality. In Traveling with Pomegranates, she returns to her non-fiction start, this time with the help of her daughter, as they recall the shift in their relationship as Ann grew into an adult herself. It's a touching, moving story about mothers and daughters, finding faith in the least likely of places, and the power of travel to shift out perspectives. Buy here ($15.00).
Bonus: Wrap Traveling with Pomegranates with The Secret Life of Bees (buy here, $16.00), or give a gift card to your local indie so the receiver can be first in line to purchase Kidd's newest novel, The Invention of Wings, when it hits shelves in January (pre-order, $27.95).
----------------
Bonus: I'm not sure it's possible to be a teenager and not fall for one (or all) of John Green's books.
----------------
Bonus: Throw in a copy of Chuck Wendig's Blackbirds, and you'll give your reader not one but three books to love, as it has a sequel already and a third book coming out this December (though Wendig himself assured me that each book can also stand on its own). (Buy here, $7.99).
------------------
Bonus: These two volumes are part of Alain de Botton's School of Life series. Add How to Stay Sane, and, if appropriate for the receiver, How to Think More About Sex, and you'll have your self-help junkie hooked on this little series as new volumes are released. Buy here ($16.00) and here ($16.00). Or branch out of this series with the hilarious but also informative How Not to Be a Dick: An Everyday Etiquette Guide. Gift carefully, though, lest someone take offense. Buy here ($16.99).
Next Week: Gift Books for Geeks
Gift Guide: Hobbies and Habits
05 December 2013
There's no shortage of books on each and every hobby out there--from reading to knitting to cooking to skiing to sailing to running to underwater basket-weaving. Here are a few of my top recommendations for some common hobbies this year:
xo Orpheus, edited by Kate Bernheimer: Fifty well-known writers re-tell classic tales from Greek mythology, combining the contemporary writing landscape with time-honored storytelling traditions. Buy here ($18.00). And as an added bonus, throw in the first edition of stories in the same vein: My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me. Buy here ($18.00).
The Novel Cure, by Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin: What do you get the booklover who already has everything? How about the best kind of self-help book: one that offers book recommendations as medication for any mood or ailment. Buy here ($26.95).
Writers Between the Covers, by Joni Rendon and Shannon McKenna Schmidt: Give readers a peek inside the covers--and the bedsheets--of the writers they love with this account of the "scandalous romantic lives of literary casanovas, coquettes and cads." Buy here ($15.00).
Bonus: Not sure how to pick a book for the booklover in your life? Why not let a bookseller choose for you. RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth, NH offers the services of Liberty Hardy, their "Velocireader," who will send your booklover a paperback book a month (for one month, six months, or a whole year) based on reading tastes. Buy here ($20-$200).
The Kinfolk Table, by Nathan Williams: The traditional cookbook gift is big, chunky, clunky--think Joy of Cooking, How to Cook Everything, or The Silver Palate Cookbook. Williams' collection of recipes for "small gatherings" is the opposite of those, drawing on input from over 40 contributor to celebrate the simplicity of unfussy entertaining. Buy here ($35.00).
The Flavor Thesaurus, by Niki Segnit: This book is as useful as it is beautiful, with stunning graphic design accompanying flavor pairings that will delight the newbie chef and well-trained foodie alike.
Bonus: A personalized embosser allows your favorite foodie to emboss recipe cards, labels, and tags with statements like "From the Kitchen of Kerry M" when sharing their instructions or finished products (think canned, jarred, or pickled foods). Buy here ($39.95). And as an added extra, throw in an extra embossing plate to let them mark their cookbook library as their own. Buy here ($19.95).
Running Like a Girl, by Alexandra Heminsley: Heminsley's account of her experience training for the London marathon is simultaneously hilarious and inspiring, and her tips and advice will appeal to new and pro-runners alike. Buy here ($25.00).
Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall: A book that will make even the most avid runner's weekly mileage feel paltry, but will inspire any reader to lace up those shoes (or not, if you prefer barefoot running) and get out there. Buy here ($15.95).
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, by Haruki Murakami: A look at writing, running, and how the two overlap, from one of literary fiction's most esteemed authors. Buy here ($14.95).
Bonus: A gifted Audible subscription gives your bookish runner 3 months, 6 months or 12 months of audiobook credits that they can redeem for entertainment-while-running. Buy here ($45-$150). And ear warmers with built-in headphones mean you don't have to choose between keeping your ears warm and keeping your mind entertained on long winter runs (at least for those of us in colder climates). Buy here ($35, currently 50% off).
-----------------
xo Orpheus, edited by Kate Bernheimer: Fifty well-known writers re-tell classic tales from Greek mythology, combining the contemporary writing landscape with time-honored storytelling traditions. Buy here ($18.00). And as an added bonus, throw in the first edition of stories in the same vein: My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me. Buy here ($18.00).
The Novel Cure, by Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin: What do you get the booklover who already has everything? How about the best kind of self-help book: one that offers book recommendations as medication for any mood or ailment. Buy here ($26.95).
Writers Between the Covers, by Joni Rendon and Shannon McKenna Schmidt: Give readers a peek inside the covers--and the bedsheets--of the writers they love with this account of the "scandalous romantic lives of literary casanovas, coquettes and cads." Buy here ($15.00).
Bonus: Not sure how to pick a book for the booklover in your life? Why not let a bookseller choose for you. RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth, NH offers the services of Liberty Hardy, their "Velocireader," who will send your booklover a paperback book a month (for one month, six months, or a whole year) based on reading tastes. Buy here ($20-$200).
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The Kinfolk Table, by Nathan Williams: The traditional cookbook gift is big, chunky, clunky--think Joy of Cooking, How to Cook Everything, or The Silver Palate Cookbook. Williams' collection of recipes for "small gatherings" is the opposite of those, drawing on input from over 40 contributor to celebrate the simplicity of unfussy entertaining. Buy here ($35.00).
The Flavor Thesaurus, by Niki Segnit: This book is as useful as it is beautiful, with stunning graphic design accompanying flavor pairings that will delight the newbie chef and well-trained foodie alike.
Bonus: A personalized embosser allows your favorite foodie to emboss recipe cards, labels, and tags with statements like "From the Kitchen of Kerry M" when sharing their instructions or finished products (think canned, jarred, or pickled foods). Buy here ($39.95). And as an added extra, throw in an extra embossing plate to let them mark their cookbook library as their own. Buy here ($19.95).
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Running Like a Girl, by Alexandra Heminsley: Heminsley's account of her experience training for the London marathon is simultaneously hilarious and inspiring, and her tips and advice will appeal to new and pro-runners alike. Buy here ($25.00).
Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall: A book that will make even the most avid runner's weekly mileage feel paltry, but will inspire any reader to lace up those shoes (or not, if you prefer barefoot running) and get out there. Buy here ($15.95).
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, by Haruki Murakami: A look at writing, running, and how the two overlap, from one of literary fiction's most esteemed authors. Buy here ($14.95).
Bonus: A gifted Audible subscription gives your bookish runner 3 months, 6 months or 12 months of audiobook credits that they can redeem for entertainment-while-running. Buy here ($45-$150). And ear warmers with built-in headphones mean you don't have to choose between keeping your ears warm and keeping your mind entertained on long winter runs (at least for those of us in colder climates). Buy here ($35, currently 50% off).
Tomorrow, tried-and-true gift books.
Gift Guide: The Classics Lovers
04 December 2013
With the holidays upon us, I'll be highlighting a few of my go-to gift books this week and next. Up first: gift ideas for the classic-lover in your life. Since most devoted bookworms already own the obvious classics from their favorite authors, the following are ideas for expanding beyond another edition of collected works in favor of more fun and quirky gift ideas.
The Sonnets and A Lover's Complaint: Sure, these works are most likely included in the edition(s) collected works that your Shakespeare lover already owns, but nothing will make a bookworm's heart race like a Coralie Bickford-Smith clothbound Penguin edition. Buy here ($22.00).
William Shakespeare's Star Wars, by Ian Doescher: Shakespeare + Star Wars = The Perfect Geek Gift. Well, the perfect geek gift for any scifi/literary geek in your life. And as an added bonus, if it's a hit--Doescher has two more Shakespeare-inspired Star Wars tales coming out from Quirk Books in 2014 (The Empire Striketh Back, March 2014; The Jedi Doth Return, July 2014). Buy here ($14.95).
Bonus: Let the Shakespeare lover in your life wear his/her passion with a snuggly fleece from Out of Print. Buy here ($42.00).
Patrick Stewart's adaptation of A Christmas Carol: This is a story that cries out to be narrated and told out-loud--perhaps that's why there are as many movie adaptations of it as there are--and what better way to hear it than to have Patrick Stewart read it to you? Sure, it's an abridged version (heart be still), but it is based on Stewart's own adaptation of the novel as a one-man stage production. And also, Patrick Stewart. Buy the CDs here ($14.95). (Side note: If you're looking for an unabridged edition on audio, the Jim Dale narration is excellent.)
The Man Who Invented Christmas, by Les Standiford: Subtitled "How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits," Standiford's book is an engaging, interesting dive into Dickens' career and our Christmas traditions through the lens of one of the most-adapted Christmas classics we know. Buy here ($14.99).
Bonus: Snuggle up to listen to the story, read about its history, or watch a movie adaptation under a "Bah! Humbug!" blanket. Buy here ($39.95).
The Real Jane Austen, by Paula Byrne: A deep dive into the "small things" that comprised Austen's life--and shaped her witty, insightful prose. Buy here ($29.99).
A Jane Austen Education, William Deresiewicz: How six Jane Austen novels changed one man's life--stories sure to resonate with any Austen fan, and maybe even help them see something new in the texts they've missed in past reads. Buy here ($14.99).
Bonus: Bundle up in an infinity scarf printed with text from Persuasion. Buy here ($42.00). Or give your Austenite something to tote around all those books with a Pride and Prejudice tote. Buy here ($18.00).
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The Sonnets and A Lover's Complaint: Sure, these works are most likely included in the edition(s) collected works that your Shakespeare lover already owns, but nothing will make a bookworm's heart race like a Coralie Bickford-Smith clothbound Penguin edition. Buy here ($22.00).
William Shakespeare's Star Wars, by Ian Doescher: Shakespeare + Star Wars = The Perfect Geek Gift. Well, the perfect geek gift for any scifi/literary geek in your life. And as an added bonus, if it's a hit--Doescher has two more Shakespeare-inspired Star Wars tales coming out from Quirk Books in 2014 (The Empire Striketh Back, March 2014; The Jedi Doth Return, July 2014). Buy here ($14.95).
Bonus: Let the Shakespeare lover in your life wear his/her passion with a snuggly fleece from Out of Print. Buy here ($42.00).
------------------
Patrick Stewart's adaptation of A Christmas Carol: This is a story that cries out to be narrated and told out-loud--perhaps that's why there are as many movie adaptations of it as there are--and what better way to hear it than to have Patrick Stewart read it to you? Sure, it's an abridged version (heart be still), but it is based on Stewart's own adaptation of the novel as a one-man stage production. And also, Patrick Stewart. Buy the CDs here ($14.95). (Side note: If you're looking for an unabridged edition on audio, the Jim Dale narration is excellent.)
The Man Who Invented Christmas, by Les Standiford: Subtitled "How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits," Standiford's book is an engaging, interesting dive into Dickens' career and our Christmas traditions through the lens of one of the most-adapted Christmas classics we know. Buy here ($14.99).
Bonus: Snuggle up to listen to the story, read about its history, or watch a movie adaptation under a "Bah! Humbug!" blanket. Buy here ($39.95).
------------------
The Real Jane Austen, by Paula Byrne: A deep dive into the "small things" that comprised Austen's life--and shaped her witty, insightful prose. Buy here ($29.99).
A Jane Austen Education, William Deresiewicz: How six Jane Austen novels changed one man's life--stories sure to resonate with any Austen fan, and maybe even help them see something new in the texts they've missed in past reads. Buy here ($14.99).
Bonus: Bundle up in an infinity scarf printed with text from Persuasion. Buy here ($42.00). Or give your Austenite something to tote around all those books with a Pride and Prejudice tote. Buy here ($18.00).
Tomorrow: Book recommendations for hobbies and habits.
On Giving: World Book Night
25 April 2012
And so I found myself on Monday evening with 20 copies of a perfectly lovely, perfectly delightful book, and despite my nerves, was determined to give them all away. And I did. I started at a gas station, catching people while they waited for their tanks to fill. Then I moved onto the grocery store (I needed milk), and gave my last few copies to the staff of a smoothie shop. I was, in hindsight, somewhat foolish to be so nervous. Once people realized I wasn't actually selling anything (by the end, I had a pitch that had some key phrases in it: "free book," "no hitch," "not selling anything," "all yours," "love of reading"), most were extremely grateful to be receiving a free book.
I had one woman -- and only one -- give me a flat-out "No," and four who turned me down only because they'd already read the book (one of these even turned around and helped me convince yet another woman that it was a fantastic story, and that she should read it, especially because it was free).
Will I do it again, if I have the opportunity? Absolutely. I'll be more prepared next time around -- both because I have a better idea of what to expect, and because I won't leave myself with no plan again -- and hopefully find people even more excited to receive a free book. And in the meantime, I feel good that I got to be a part of something so much larger than myself and my 20 books, an event that really helped spread literature around the world. And I'll sleep easier after seeing how many people were excited about free reading material -- perhaps the book isn't really dying, after all.
Delight of the Soul (Quote of the Day)
12 September 2010
"Liber delectation animae." -Latin for Books, the delight of the soul. An inscription on the ceiling of the Librarian's Ceremonial Office, the previous office for the Librarian of Congress. Located in the Thomas Jefferson Building.
For more quotations and inscriptions from the Library of Congress buildings, check out On These Walls, a beautiful book of photographs and captions exploring those gorgeous halls of books. (Note: the book would make an excellent gift for any booklover or library enthusiast you may know). You can also hear the author speak about the book in this NPR spot.
Last-ditch Holiday Shopping Efforts
16 December 2009
Still struggling for gift ideas for the bookworm on your list? Never fear, Books On the Nightstand, a weekly podcast and blog, has compiled a list of book suggestions for everyone on your list. Much less intimidating than the 4,000 "Best Books of 2009" lists that are floating around out there...
See the full holiday book-buying guide here, and look for an independent bookseller near you at IndieBound.
See the full holiday book-buying guide here, and look for an independent bookseller near you at IndieBound.
Early Holiday Shopping?
17 November 2009
I promised myself I wouldn't post anything about the holidays until after Thanksgiving, but this one was good enough to sneak through the embargo.
From today's Shelf Awareness, a link to a bookstore's blog on eight good reasons to get your holiday shopping done at their store early this year. Most apply to bookstores across the board - enjoy!
1. We have not yet started playing Christmas music.
2. That feeling of self-righteousness over starting so early translates into treating yourself to something as well.
3. You can make a list of all the things you want, so that you can hint liberally at Thanksgiving.
4. If there’s a hardcover you’ve been eyeing, you have time to read the whole thing before giving it away.
5. We have free gift wrapping. By Christmas, you’ll forget what it was you bought. Aren’t surprises great?
6. It’s much easier to stick to your budget when we aren’t serving you eggnog like we do the week before Christmas.
7. All versions of The Night Before Christmas are still in stock. You won’t have to settle for that one weird one left over on Christmas Eve.
8. You’ll bring smiles and joy and a twinkle to the eye of your favorite local, indie bookseller.
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