Holiday Book Gifts for 2015 Part 1

Every year it's getting harder to buy  for your book nerd family members and friends unless you know exactly what they want. And usually they have eight hundred plus books in their Kindle making them sigh with a mournful face while whispering, "I for real, seriously, totally (insert a word like that) don't know what book I want" leaving you with that awful, what do I buy this person??? They are the impossible readers. So I found a few books here and there under many sites with the blaring:  "Great Gifts" for 2015. 

I had bought myself  Pioneer Girl as seen above. It's huge, like, text book huge and quite lovely if you are a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan. I think I have read every book out there explaining her life over and over but this book is solid. A huge sit down and read what you want to read anywhere in the book kind of book, like say, a text book! Your recipient will be quite happy with your gift. Forever.

The roots of the Texas Stoneware. Hard to get book (as it said on one website) but worth it if someone you love likes a bit of history on stoneware, personally, I would love to have this book. Recommended by the NYT book critics.
 

I JUST looked this book up, Jenny Lawson hails it among other writers (in advance) so it must be good, it must be funny and I am going straight to her blog to check her out. Every year a book lover must receive one funny book for the holidays. It's usually the first book I will read in desolate January when life seems like the Grinch has sucked out all the twinkle lights and sparkly cookies for the rest of time. I will definitely hint hint hint for this one to arrive in my stocking. (Though I must confess, I am becoming weary of snark but sometimes.. just some.. times... you need it.)

This audio collection seems to be a pretty good deal for when you are gathered around the fire while the gloom in the winter is hanging over you like death. You know, those moments in life where you feel like you are in the early forties gathered ye all together freezing to death, hungry, in your stone hut listening to a family member tell everyone a five hundred mile story on war and loss? Yes, this is it. I think it's great. I wish I had a longer commute to work (not really but for this, yes.) And that description above? I think I have lived through a few of those family gatherings.

Pic from Bloomies, full credit there. This is an adorable book. A baby touchy feely book about being an owl. Love the stuffy toy too AND the cover. (I am sucker for book covers that's just how it is.)

I have no idea what this is about. None. I will look it up right now....... this is what Amazon had to say...

Rajiv Joseph is one of today’s most acclaimed young playwrights. The winner of numerous awards, including an NEA Award for Best Play and a Whiting Writers Award, he is an artist to watch. This volume gathers together for the first time his three major works to date.

Included herein are his latest play, Gruesome Playground Injuries, which charts the intersection of two lives using scars, wounds, and calamity as the mile markers to explore why people hurt themselves to gain another’s love and the cumulative effect of such damage; Animals Out of Paper, a subtle, elegant, yet bracing examination of the artistic impulse and those in its thrall, which follows a world-famous origamist as she becomes the unwitting mentor to a troubled young prodigy, even as she must deal with her own loss of inspiration; and Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, a darkly comedic drama that looks on as the lives of two American soldiers, an Iraqi translator, and a tiger intersect on the streets of Baghdad.

I would read this. Yes.

This is a gorgeous book. A special needs child opens up the world to a giant who refuses to have children in his garden. You. Can't Go. Wrong. Here.

First of all, I adore the cover. Second. It's a family drama and to be honest, it's not the best book to give at the holidays, never mind,  but know this! It's on sale for Kindle! (TBR for sure.)

This is fabulous, and I think it would be a perfect gift. I will copy the Amazon description here (I am pressed for time, I apologize.) 

This historic volume showcases tribal cultures around the world. With globalization, these societies are to be prized for their distinctive lifestyles, art and traditions. They live in close harmony with nature, now a rarity in our modern era. Jimmy Nelson not only presents us with stunning images of customs and artifacts, but also offers insightful portraits of people who are the guardians of a culture that they--and we--hope will be passed on to future generations in all its glory. Nelson's large-plate field camera captures every intricate detail and fine nuance for posterity. What's more, this splendid pageantry is set against a vivid backdrop of some of the world's most pristine landscapes. English/German/French edition.

Just a few books to start your list for giving to those that are hell to buy for. I used to go to B and N when they had fabulous coffee table books during the holidays. I always found one for every single book lover I know. I wish they still had zillions out there but sadly, they don't. So it's a big job looking for them online, but Amazon, B and N and other big places do have a nice collection. Moving on to my fourth week of my new job which is keeping me from online life, and from reading but not from keeping my nose into what is up around the book world. Have a good one!

What's happening this month! TBRs, Grisham and Totes!

 The  TBR book pile is getting bigger and bigger and bigger. What to read next has become quite a chore. Almost finished The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz, which I have tons to write about when it comes to this book. Good and not so bad but not so good, well, really good and some meh stuff. 

But what to read next during the most busy time of the year??? 

I picked out Gray Mountain by John Grisham. It has been a long time since I have read one of his books, it's time.  Plus, no offense to Mr. Grisham, but he is a perfect read during a busy time. PLUS it's a drug store paperback! My favorite.

Shameless plugging of my friend's direct sales business. My friend R got into thirty-one which is totes and bags and purses and all kinds of really neat stuff. I was fortunate enough to book a party and had another friend book a party off of mine so I received lots of credits. One thing I adore is a bag I got for work but would happily use it as a book bag at any time. It has loads of pockets, fits iPads (probably a smallish laptop) and hardbacks, paperbacks and a couple of Kindles. Click the "thirty-one" link and it should take you right to the tote. Good quality and I am a FUSS over bags, though I collect tote bags like some collect Star Wars paraphernalia. Check them out, book a party! My friend R is truly one of the best consultants and gives one hell of a Facebook Event party. 

Link to my friend Robin, my hirty-one consultant:
http://www.mythirtyone.com/rwms70

So that is where I am in the book world. And in the book tote world as well (though the tote is going to be used for work too.) I fully intend to get more reviews out but with job hunting it's a bit hard to fit in time for blogging let alone getting a book finished!

Have the most happiest of Halloweens if I don't get back here any time soon! 

Book Group Luncheon July 2015

http://www.theaviaryrestaurant.com/

What a wonderful time we had at the book group luncheon!  Long drive (worth it!) due to Friday holiday travel, but once my husband and I met a part of our book group, it was one of the most magical moments. To share online, a love of books and  friendship, then meet these very people, men and women, it's an experience like nothing else. I have met one dear friend, Robin, from Oklahoma twice, we have been online friends since 1999 and it was the best visit. This time I stayed with another friend, Anne, who has been my online friend since 1999 as well. Seeing both women on Real Time was amazing!

So. Much. Fun. 

We did talk about books at the luncheon, believe it or not. Then some of us, a smaller group, went to a used bookstore after, I was the only one who did not buy a book, I was too excited to concentrate! 

So that was our big hit of this year. I am still job hunting (we won't go there.. it's exhausting) but this tiny trip though big in magic and fun, was what we needed. 

On the trip two friends/members gave me a book each, I will list them below. I also found the book store in Mystic, Connecticut (it's not hard to miss, but I did, three times) and bought a couple of books there. I will post them too.

P.S. We went to The Aviary (link below their website pic) wonderful food and ambiance. They sure can tolerate a bunch of very happy book group members as well. Highly recommended if you are ever in Swansea, Massachusetts. 

A book passed on by my friend, Paula.

A gift from my friend, Anne.

A pass on from Anne. (Reading this now)

Two from the bookstore in Mystic, Connecticut

So my TBR list has grown once again, but from a "literary weekend" for which I am not only excited about as it was my first, but have books to remember with such sweet meaning~


Thank you to my book friends and members, you made a dream come true by participating with exuberance on the book group and in real life, thank you so much! Love to all of you!

Passing on our legacy... in a stocking.

The magic of book/bookish gift giving at Christmas! Being a book lover and giver yields wondrous bookish things. It's those books and bookish gifts that makes my holiday the most special, especially the giving part. I do my very best to give books to family and friends, even if they are not readers, and all these neat things? Many will fit right into a stocking.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/165942108/book-lovers-christmas-stocking-a-custom

How fabulous is that? 

And no. I don't know that person but she makes some pretty cool things.

My mom gave me a butterfly made out of book pages (try not to groan, I know this makes people crazy.) It is  beautiful and has a prime spot on my tree. Here is a close up:

Thank you, Mom.

My daughter had her Scholastic Book Fair a couple of weeks ago and these books are what she picked out:

For a long time I had filled out the order sheet  for her, as she has Cerebral Palsy. . I  found out a few years back that she wanted to pick out her own books. I felt such elation, this was a child who wasn't supposed to talk, see, or hear. She does all three (a bit too much most of the time, but who is complaining?) 

I am not digressing, I needed to share that. (smile.)

Scholastic Books are a cheaper way to stock up on holiday book gifts for the kids you know. And the selection is always spot on for any age/kid's taste.

http://www.scholastic.com/home/

We like to have our book piles on floors or standing up against things here in our home, visual accessibility is a high priority. We can each grab a book at any time, look at them and think of the person that gave us that book and sit back with a nice hot cup of tea and read.

And how many of those books were gifts? Lots!  I can list off ten people who had given me some of those books. 

There are also socks. Yes, Socks. My friend, Anne, found a place that sells socks for the book lover. Check them out!

(Great stocking stuffers!)

http://store.bookriot.com/collections/socks

So, we covered book decorations, children's books, piles of gift books that were given to me, and socks. Socks!

A good start to your list making.

The holiday (all of them represented) is a perfect time to buy book items for the stocking, no matter how small or large it may be. As in each person's life, a book should be presented to them by you so they have a chance to say, "I may like this. I may not." Each time you give a book or bookish gift, they may not cave or maybe they will come back to you and say, "Hey, that Nelson DeMille you gave me? I read four of his other books since then, thank you, and those socks? Perfect!"

And you will weep.

Trust me. You. Will.

I have one more blog to write and then it's a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa. I wish you all the best for your holidays, with good family, good friends, good food, good conversations and most of all, good books! May you be blessed always. ~Cheryl

One Book and One Series (I would hand out like candy)

How to find a book lover-nerd a book for the holidays:  Well, good news, here are some "book hacks" to find that friend the perfect book because in the past, I have blown it by guessing.  I gave a Stewart O'Nan book to a friend who likes  Anything Zombies, think about that, O'Nan, Zombies. I know she tossed the book to the bottom of a pile and it remains there praying for an unobtrusive  O'Nan reader to rescue it.

Either join a book group with all your friends then you will be in the know. OR Goodreads,  you can silently scout around their TBR list. Pinterest is another favorite, most book lovers have a TBR board to make things even easier. 

The Interwebz is a wonderful place to find out what people want, especially book nerds.

So here are two ideas just to get you started:

The Storied Life of A.J. Fickry is a favorite. I will put the description here from Goodreads:

(I am pressed for time, forgive..)

On the faded Island Books sign hanging over the porch of the Victorian cottage is the motto "No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World." A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner, is about to discover just what that truly means.

A. J. Fikry's life is not at all what he expected it to be. His wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. Slowly but surely, he is isolating himself from all the people of Alice Island-from Lambiase, the well-intentioned police officer who's always felt kindly toward Fikry; from Ismay, his sister-in-law who is hell-bent on saving him from his dreary self; from Amelia, the lovely and idealistic (if eccentric) Knightley Press sales rep who keeps on taking the ferry over to Alice Island, refusing to be deterred by A.J.'s bad attitude. Even the books in his store have stopped holding pleasure for him. These days, A.J. can only see them as a sign of a world that is changing too rapidly.

And then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore. It's a small package, but large in weight. It's that unexpected arrival that gives A. J. Fikry the opportunity to make his life over, the ability to see everything anew. It doesn't take long for the locals to notice the change overcoming A.J.; or for that determined sales rep, Amelia, to see her curmudgeonly client in a new light; or for the wisdom of all those books to become again the lifeblood of A.J.'s world; or for everything to twist again into a version of his life that he didn't see coming. As surprising as it is moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is an unforgettable tale of transformation and second chances, an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love.

I loved this book. I loved the characters, all of them. I felt it was a well executed plot and though  I have found people who were not impressed (that's okay) there are those of us (many) who love this story, it's a whole-book-love, no complaints kind of read. For me, the best parts of the book was A.J. Fickry's life in his bookstore, his thoughts on books and the people who surround the business or buys them. He is right out there with such a concentrated bluntness  (said by him or thought by him) and I had a good chuckle over the  realities of the reading world.

My advice: give it as a gift, the book nerd will love you forever. 

Another book (Series) I would give out to my Sci Fi Friends. Just because they have to read this series.

Books one through four, five underneath...

 

I took one of those great Facebook leaps and made friends with David Simpson. I have known him a long time (as well as his lovely wife, Jenny) and I cannot tell you how much fun it is to be a friend of someone not only writing a series but going under all kinds of great things to make it a movie. Plus he is one of the coolest authors, he LOVES his fans and will keep up with us no matter how busy he is. He's a gem.

I had picked up Post Human first, and loved it. It's fast paced, it's A.I., people and it's just damn good. Each book brings so much more and I highly recommend them not just because he is my friend but because he is a great author. I will link the books/descriptions via Goodreads here:

 https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3162779.David_Simpson?from_search=true

I hope that link works! I will spend one blog strictly on his books later on.

I will also bring more great holiday books to pass on, it's the holidays, we all could use a bit of help when it comes to buying books for our friends.And it's one of the hardest times for me to sit down and read, so I find writing to be the fix (a very temporary one!)

  

Holiday Book Buying

It can nearly impossible at times to buy a book lover a gift. Sure, a gift card is much appreciated (more than anyone knows) but sometimes, you just want to give a book that means something more.

A couple of years ago a close co-worker gave me this children's book. It's called The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce, illustrated by Joe Bluhm. 

 Beautifully written and illustrated I highly recommend this for someone you know that will unwrap, hug the the craziness out of the book and then leave you alone to read it, straight away.  I was also overcome with appreciation and gratitude that my friend understood me well enough to know I would love this. 

Since the holidays are coming, and you probably know plenty of book lovers (or you wouldn't be reading this) take a look at what is out there in the children's section. I would also ask (without giving yourself away) what books your friend(s) liked as a child or teen. Ask them if they still have a copy. Buy it used or new. It doesn't matter, (see last blog) it's the thought (and it's a HUGE thought) that counts. And they will adore you forever, as I do my friend. 

Description from Amazon: 

Book Description

Publication Date: June 19, 2012 | Age Level: 4 - 8 | Grade Level: P - 3

The book that inspired the Academy Award–winning short film, from New York Times bestselling author and beloved visionary William Joyce.

Morris Lessmore loved words.
He loved stories.
He loved books.
But every story has its upsets.
Everything in Morris Lessmore’s life, including his own story, is scattered to the winds.
But the power of story will save the day.
Stunningly brought to life by William Joyce, one of the preeminent creators in children’s literature, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is a modern masterpiece, showing that in today’s world of traditional books, eBooks, and apps, it’s story that we truly celebrate—and this story, no matter how you tell it, begs to be read again and again.

Happy Shopping.

Buy it: for you and your friends!

Book Gifts and Bookmarks

My Canadian friend sent me this book the other day. When I took it out of the mailing package I squealed with joy, not only because it was from her (she has wonderful taste in books and I love her) but that it was used. I loved getting used books as gifts. You are sharing a story you love by passing it on. I looked over the front and back covers, peeked inside and noticed  "Jessie" written in pencil on the first page upper right corner. Who is Jessie? Did she like the book? My friend told me she has handed copies of this book out to other friends. which makes it very special. To love a story so much that you find yourself handing it off to many people who in turn, you pray, hand copies off to more story lovers. 

My friend gave me a bookmark as well (a hedgehog, long story on that one) which made the surprise complete. Throwing in a bookmark is the loveliest idea. My grandmom, Gan, used to buy already cut bookmarks and yarn (for the tassel bit) and paint flowers on them to hand out to everyone she knew. They are like gold and since she made so many I had a pretty good stash that has ended up all over the world sent to people I love. Bookmarks are personal, and when a friend nails it, it's a treasured gift.

I have also used cards (intact or just the cover), receipts, newspaper clippings, cardboard, ribbon, jute, bills, and  many bought bookmarks over the years I wish I could gather them all up for photo but  they are holding court in many books, waiting for me to return.

One of my best finds after a used book store haul was a yellowed receipt from Barnes and Noble. Whoever left this receipt bought terrific reads. I wondered who it was, did they have a latte  and languish over their soon to be purchases or did they buy those books in a mad fury as we all do every once in a while. No matter, it was my bookmark in that particular book for the duration. 

I find that book gifts from loved ones seem to resonate with me more than any "new" item on the planet. I appreciate everything that has ever been given to me, but books and bookmarks rank at the top of my list. I treat them as if they were emeralds.

What are your favorite bookmarks and what else do you use to mark a page?

Photos by me, and afghan/floral bookmarks made by my Gan.