Even though we may still be recovering from our Thanksgiving food comas, the holiday season has officially begun. Lights, parties, gifts. It’s that time of year again. And what better gift to give this season than a book? New ideas, new worlds, new friends, all at the turn of a page. Below are some suggestions for great books to give this year.
For the trendsetter:
Surely one of the biggest books of this year will be Michelle Obama’s recently released memoir, Becoming. Get this for that person who likes to keep their finger on the pulse of all the latest culture. Oh yeah, and for anyone who would love to read the story of one of the most iconic women of our era.
For the romantic adventurer:
Do you have a friend who dreams about thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail or “just getting away from it all”? The harsh but beautiful Alaskan setting of The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah is the book for them. Not for the faint-of-heart, this novel tells the story of the Allbright family. The father, Evan, moves the family to Alaska to try and chase away the demons of his POW days in Vietnam. As an only child, Leni must navigate life between the tumultuous relationship of her parents and the unforgiving wilderness of the Great Alone.
For the Hamilton-obsessed:
Is there someone you know who has read the entire Rob Chernow biography and still listens to the Broadway soundtrack on repeat? Then they need My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie. This fictionalized account focuses on the untold story of Alexander Hamilton’s wife, Eliza Schuyler. She’s more than just a wronged woman; she’s the founder of an American legacy. Remember that last song in the musical?
For the bookworm:
For a bookworm, what’s better than a book about books? Get the bibliophile in your life The Library Book by Susan Orlean. This nonfiction read centers around the 1986 fire at the Los Angeles Public Library, a blaze that destroyed hundreds of thousands of books. Orlean uses this tragic and mysterious event as a jumping-off point into a larger discussion of libraries and their impact from past to present.
For the young social activist:
From marches to Supreme Court cases, teenagers are becoming more and more vocal about their political beliefs. Is there a budding activist in your family? Get them Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults) by Bryan Stevenson. Stevenson has adapted and updated his original book, Just Mercy, for the younger reader. The book explores his experiences working in the US justice system and the issues of mass incarceration and excessive punishment. As a bonus, proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Equal Justice Initiative.
For the financial analyst by day/Hollywood gossip by night:
Know someone who reads The Wall Street Journal and Us Weekly? Well, then Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World by Tom Wright & Bradley Hope was tailor-made for them. This nonfiction book delves into the 1MDB financial scandal and the man behind it all, Jho Low. This scandal reaches into every corner of the elite world, from Goldman Sachs to Leonardo DiCaprio to Christie’s auction house. It is a truly shocking read.
For the person missing HGTV’s Fixer Upper:
Fixer Upper may be off the air, but Chip and Joanna Gaines are still a powerhouse presence in the lifestyle world. For the farmhouse chic fanatic in your life, get Joanna Gaines’s cookbook, Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering. The recipes highlight seasonal produce and herbs from the famous Gaines garden, but, like the family, they are down-home and approachable. Simple and sophisticated, the Magnolia way.
By Tina Ollenburg (Charlotte)
Tina is a lifelong book fanatic. She works in client management for a print and marketing company. She has been a member of her local WNBA chapter for five years. In her free time she blogs about books, writes fiction, and performs improv comedy with several local troupes.She wrote a blog series, “I Want Michiko’s Job,” where, over the course of one year, she read and reviewed every book Michiko Kakutani reviewed for the New York Times. You can follow her on Instagram and Medium @tinaisreading.
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