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Lost in the Forest (of Holiday Shopping)
December 5, 2010
WIN! WIN! WIN! In addition to our gift guide, we have as a very special event this week: Holiday Giveaways. Donations of books have been made by generous authors and publishers. Would you like to win one? If so, send me an e-mail letting me know which item you’d love to have, who you plan to gift it to (you can include yourself), and why. Don’t try to write what anything fancy; I am just looking for honest answers in your own words. I will contact everyone who enters no later than December 11 with the results and ask for the winners’ mailing addresses. Though only one prize will be awarded per person, you may specify up to three separate ones that interest you. (I apologize to our international readers, but due to high postage costs we can only mail to U.S. addresses.)
The Fat Man: A Tale of North Pole Noir by Ken Harmon. Thanks to Dutton, we have two copies of this enticing satire of Christmas stories to give away. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is cutesy; it is wonderfully serious noir.
The Templar Salvation by Raymond Khoury. Here is an opportunity to win a copy—we have two to give away thanks to Dutton—of this long-awaited sequel to The Last Templar. Be among the few to get a free copy of this book.
Viking Books has donated a copy of a book to be released in early February—A Discovery of Witches by debut novelist Deborah Harkness. It’s the smart, sophisticated story of a witch and a vampire who overcome their differences to investigate a lost alchemical manuscript (Ashmole 782). What the winner will receive in December is a gorgeous set of buttons boasting allegiance to each of the magical species in the novel (“I’m a Witch,” I’m a Vampire,” I’m a Daemon”) as well as one that poses the book’s nagging question, “Where is Ashmole 782?” The book will be mailed in January, shortly before its official release date on February 8.
Thanks to author Shirin Yim Bridges, we have, for children ages 9-12, The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Real Princesses. This is a spectacular collection of six books about six real-life princesses: Hatshepsut of Egypt, Artemisia of Caria, Sorghaghtani of Mongolia, Qutlugh Terkan Khatun of Kirman, Isabella of Castile, and Nur Jahan of India. Each book is beautifully written and illustrated. Included is a pronunciation guide, a bit of geography, a timeline, the princess’s history, the dynasty, what she wore and ate, and more. Except for the two copies of Isabella of Castile, I have one copy of each book. This series will be split so that seven winners have the opportunity to enjoy a book. If you have a “princess preference” let me know, and I’ll try to get you that one.
And now, onto the third in our five-part series: the Booklovers’ and Readers’ Gift Guide. This week we are beginning our categories with Horror Lovers and ending with Maps.
Horror Lovers:
With all kinds of gifts for mystery lovers it occurred to me that there are also literary gifts for horror lovers. One is this Bone Chillers Ice Cube Tray, which allows you to make ice in the shapes of skulls and crossbones. Skulls and crossbones can also be found on plates—yes, appetizer plates if that doesn’t ruin your appetite. But if not, this skeleton apron and the oven mitt might be appropriate too.
A bit of an oddity but perhaps compelling for the female fan of horror would be these Zombiez Mini Slip-on Shoes with the eyes that never quit, or for either gender, the Blood & Skulls Lo-Top Sneaker. There’s also this “I Hunt Vampires” bumper sticker. Two books that will make your horror-lover’s eyes glow in gratitude include Monsterology: The Complete Book of Monstrous Beasts and Encyclopedia Horrifica: The Terrifying Truth! about Vampires, Ghosts, Monsters, and More. But my favorite gift would be this: a toy theater using Edward Gorey’s set and costume designs for his Broadway production of Dracula.
Jewelry:
This category may appeal more to women than men, but there is something in here for everyone. Earrings come in a variety of styles that are perfect for readers including these glasses, or these honoring Pride and Prejudice. You can also find Tibetan Paper Book earrings and mini-book earrings.
There are also a variety of charming bracelets. Jane Austen fans will find this handcrafted charm bracelet to be particularly beautiful, and there’s also this charming cuff bracelet. Count Dracula, anyone? Author Eudora Welty is honored with a bracelet of her own.
If you love banned books, show the world your opinion with this banned books bracelet, pin, or necklace.
Pins also offer opportunities to show off your literary tastes. For writers, this typewriter will be perfect. Or for the cat-and-booklover person (who also loves Edward Gorey), this cat on books pin would likely be the ultimate gift. Library fans will surely adore this pin. For those who want to celebrate reading, what besides a book better? If you are like me, someone has already probably given you something with this quote on it, but if not—this pin says it all. Or you can let the world know you agree with Snoopy, If you prefer to hang out with authors, how about Agatha Christie, Sylvia Plath, William Blake, or Virginia Woolf.
Old typewriters may not be much missed by those who had to use them, but there is a definite affection for their looks. This typewriter bracelet brings all the good back with none of the bad. Even more typewriter stuff? How about this book locket or a pin?
Bookish necklaces abound! These 7-bbok necklace is both beautiful and unusual as is the Autumnal 11-book one. For those looking for equally entrancing but less expensive options, check out the crimson leather book necklace and this 1907 leather postcard one. Book club people are the perfect recipients for this pendant with its amusing message.
For her as well as for him, these handmade marbleized book jewelry pieces that are made using the ancient combed dye techniques of marblers from centuries past—earrings, a lapel pin, or a tie tack—are exquisite.
For the man who loves Scrabble, how about a set of cufflinks made with actual Scrabble pieces or if he prefers crossword puzzles, these crossword cufflinks would be fantastic. And if he loves fishing nearly as much as reading, how about this perch or pike tie pin? Or if he years to be the novelist of the year as he writes at night, these pencil cufflinks would surely be the right gift.
Does life sometimes happen while you are turning pages? Then you and Alberto Manguel agree. Oh, Scrabble and reading!
Journals:
Blank books or journals are great places to keep lists of books you’ve read or want to read, or to make notes, or even just to vent a bad day out of your system. To that end, journals have become ubiquitous in many shops, including bookstores. But here you’ll find some of the more unique or unusual ones that your recipient probably has not seen on her way to the check-out register.
Into the exquisite category would surely fall the Generatio Journal is a brilliant recreation of one of the many lavishly painted and gilded pages of the Book of Kells, one of the most beautiful illustrated manuscripts in the world. There’s also this marble-edged Italian leather journal, this old leather embossed journal, the embossed foil leather journal, the marbleized butterfly bookplate journal, the marbleized Eiffel Tower one, the Shakespeare Pocket Journal, and the Poet’s Notebook.
People who are honored with journals created in their name include Dorothy Parker, Leonardo da Vinci , Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, and Edgar Allan Poe.
In the “unusual” category, the PooPoo Paper journal would have to fall. As you may have guessed (or hoped not to guess) the paper in this book is made from . . . well, poop from elephants. They get it from various conservation parks and dry it, rinse it, wash it, and are then left with “the fibres from the vegetation that the elephant didn’t digest.” No smell, they promise.
For those seeking a journal specifically to record their book-related thoughts, the New York Times offers this book lover’s journal. Another reader’s journal is this Books I’ve Read one. There’s also this particularly lovely reading journal, this practical Books to Check Out journal, and My Bibliophile. A journal that looks like an old library renewal slip would be a lovely gift for anyone whose childhood was dominated by those.
The ultimate in recycling books might just be these reinvented journals, whose blank pages are interspersed with pages from original books and even graph paper.
Magazine Subscriptions:
A subscription to a bookish magazine is always a great gift for a reader, but before you do you might want to be sure your recipient enjoys the material the magazine publishers. Among my recommendations—and this still misses a lot—are New York Review of Books, Paris Review, Books & Culture, Horn Book, Bookmarks, Granta, Jane Austen’s Regency World, Prairie Schooner, Alimentum, Kenyon Review, Narrative, The Sun, Utne Reader, Glimmer Train, and many more.
Make It Yourself:
In this category are links to some “how-to” sources as well as ideas for things you can easily put together. You don’t necessarily have to follow my ideas as they are presented (though you are welcome to do so), but can use them for jumping-off points for your own ideas. After all, you are the one who knows your gift recipient the best. At any rate, have a wonderful time with them.
- Replace a paper copy of a beloved story with a special edition, perhaps a first or second edition with an original dust jacket, or a re-issue with wonderful illustrations.
- Make a Book Basket. There are a number of companies that offer these, but they are so easy to make it’s ridiculous to pay the amounts of money they are asking. If you want to do this you need to determine your theme. Is it a literary genre such as mystery, science fiction, romance, biography, history? Or is it geared to a specific event, hobby, passion, or circumstance? Knowing your theme will make it easier to select the basket’s content. Second, find a basket, pail, box, or other type of container. Any pretty basket or box will do, but if you want to enhance your theme why not seek out something that relates to that. For example, if you wanted to put together a mystery basket, wouldn’t a coffin-shaped box be a great start? Third, determine how much you have to spend. What you will want to include are books, ideally between two and seven. They could be all hardcovers, all paperbacks, or a mix of hardcovers, trade paperbacks, and mass market paperbacks. You can even include audio books on CD, either purchased or homemade. Fourth set off the books with a few literary accessories. This is where you play up the theme you set by the choice of books. Some suggestions:
You are the Caffeine of My Life:
A selection of unusual coffees and the book Uncommon Grounds all wrapped up in a coffee bag tote.
You, Teas, You!:
A selection of rare teas, a literary mug, and a beautiful copy of Portrait of a Lady by Henry James with that wonderful opening: “Under certain circumstances, there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”
Serenity Spa:
Handmade soap, lotion that you made, library-scented perfume, a bath caddy, and a books candle along with a new book in her favorite genre.
Books & Bedtime:
A special nightshirt/oversized t-shirt, a reading pillow, a vintage book lamp (that you make), and maybe a cat or two for lap warmth and accompanying purrs. Oh, and a new book.
- Take some old books and make original book art for your recipient’s walls, or make vases out of old books. Both of these are relatively easy projects that almost anyone can do. A more complicated project is actually one that is not designed as a project—the book planters made by Gartenkultur of Italy. They sell these, but their store is closed so it might be worth studying these pictures and trying to make it yourself.
- Those fabric book covers you often see are not difficult to make either. Here are instructions for making one version. You can even make a lovely hand-bound book or a purse from a recycled book. Simple books—good for first-time do-it-yourselfers—can be made following these instructions, or if you are feeling ambitious and have a child how about a pop-up book?
- Built-in bookcases can be very expensive, but there are plenty of instructions for those who would like to make some themselves.
- Create a custom reading area in the recipient's home with the furnishings that person already has or add one or two new items. Some places to consider are by a window, in a corner of the backyard, or tucked into a small unused corner of the bedroom, living room, or even the dining room. Where you choose is limited only by the set-up and by your imagination, and can be as simple as putting out a comfortable seat, adding good lighting and a small table, and surrounding it with flowers.
- Plan a Reader's Tour for your recipient. Whether you use your own city or one you to which you will travel, and regardless of whether it is a few hours or several days, you can give that reader the experience of a lifetime. Use Google to look for independent bookstores, used bookstores, nonprofit book sales, and maybe even rare book dealers. Seek out any antiquarian book fairs or other literary or author festivals. Will any bookstores or other places be holding any author signings? Are there any wonderful libraries worth visiting, or museums that focus on books, or that hold book collections you can visit? How about hotels that focus on books? Restaurants? Can you find a book club that is meeting and would be willing to have you join them? If you are a member of LibraryThing or another book discussion group, can you arrange to meet up with another member to share a lunch over a book discussion?
Maps:
Literary interests span time and the world. One absolutely stunning map that will be of special interest to English literature lovers is this hand-lettered Map of Literary Britain and Northern Ireland that features the names of 181 writers.
Map fans will surely appreciate having the ability to carry one around them,, especially when it is in the form of a watchband. This Map Fragments Watch is one-of-a-kind (and therefore not exactly like pictured), but each watch is quartz battery-operated and contains four map charms.
And that’s it for this week. If you missed my previous letters, you can still see them here: Part I (Address Books through Bumper Stickers), and Part II (Calendars through Home).
Upcoming Book Festivals:
Unfortunately, there are no book, author, or literary festivals until January, 2011.
The Pub House:
It used to be that university presses focused on publishing titles that were likely to be more of interest to the academic community than the general consumer market. Not any more. They are certainly worth seeking out for novels, short stories, poetry, nonfiction, and other works. Among the “names” is Harvard University Press, which still does publish works of academic interest, but also has a wide and fascinating variety of books in forty-two categories from architecture to travel. It’s hard to pick just three to highlight, but among their newest books are My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams, a collection of intimate letters that spanned nearly forty years and both their personal relationship and the state of the nation. Fresh: A Perishable History is the story of six common foods from our refrigerators and how our preference for having them “fresh” has influenced factors from early twentieth-century refrigeration to today’s genetically modified crops. Travel and adventure fans will find the new and enticing Mean and Lowly Things: Snakes, Science, and Survival in the Congo—the story of a woman’s trips into the remote swamp forests of the northern Congo to collect reptiles and amphibians in an effort to create a list of species that exist there. Her mud-spattered diary provides the basis for the book in which she learned far more than she anticipated including the right way and the wrong way to get a baby cobra out of a bottle.
Imaging Books & Reading:
With all the traveling going on this month, it is likely that a lot of reading will be going on as well to pass the time. But what happens if you combine the two?
Of Interest:
Are you a bibliophile? Books have written about that, mostly in a humorous tone, but now this site makes it easy to identify yourself as one—with seventy-five signs ranging from “you actually completed an English degree” to “You really, really, really, really, really, really, really like books.” If you read this entire thing, yes, you probably “really, really, really, really, really, really, really” are one.
Until next week, read well, read often and read on!
Lauren
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