When I get a little money, I buy books; if any is left, I buy food and clothes. – Erasmus
The season of gift giving holidays, including our own Holiday Book Exchange, is approaching. You have an excuse to buy books! That makes this the right time to ask you for your opinions on:
- Books to give as gifts,
- Book-related things to give the book lover who has already bought the book you were planning to give them,
- Gifts that you, a book lover, can give the non-reader in your life, or
- The independent bookstore you would like to support.
Books I would love to give as gifts:
Narrowing down all the books I love to just a few is painful. Just look at all my books!
But since I can’t tell you why I should gift all the books, I’ll tell you about these three:
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. I know not everyone loved this, but I did and in a year where I’ve forgotten my birthday happened, I remember this book in detail.
Hood Feminism: Notes From the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall. I haven’t reviewed this one yet, because I am still rereading it and mulling it over. It has reframed the way I think about a lot of issues. I will give this book to anyone I think will read it.
The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan. For the romance reader in your life, this book is pure joy. It’s got some great tropes, the grumpy one loves the sunshine one, childhood friends to lovers, and the best twist on there’s only one bed ever written.
Book related things I would give as gifts:
Litographs and Out of Print have some great face masks, and everyone needs more face masks to stay healthy and stylish. I particularly like the one at Litographs with the Pride and Prejudice quote, “My feelings will not be repressed.”
BlknBkish has a design for anyone but would be particularly great for the Black women in your life.
Things I, a book lover, would give a non-reader:
I never have a good answer for this one. Perhaps a copy of the highly quotable movie, The Princess Bride?
Tell us about the indie bookstore we can support!
This has been a hard year for independent bookstores and I am happy to direct some business to them.
My local independent bookstore is BookPeople. In addition to books, they have a few books by mail boxes and subscriptions if you are looking for a splurge.
Romance focused bookstore, Love’s Sweet Arrow, in Chicago has two tiers of Surprise Boxes, which could be fun for a romance reader and take the burden off of you to pick a book.
What books are you giving this year?
Tell us in the comments!