Reading Recommendations for gift giving
She pinched the stocking from the toe to the top, where her white suspender tapes were stitched. It was full of nice knobs and lumps, and a flat thing like a book stuck of the top. She drew it out — it was a book, just what she wanted most. She sniffed at it, and liked the smell of the cardboard back with deep letters cut in it. She ran her fingers along like a blind man and could not read the title, but there were three words in it…
“A County Child” by Alison Uttley
Art by Lucy Davey
I love to give books for Christmas. And one of the things I most love to do is recommend books. I do this in casual conversation, in my librarian day job, more in-depth as part of Four Rooms’ services, and would also like to announce that I’ll giving bibliotherapeutic recommendations via video in a new blog feature starting in 2011, called Shelf Help. But right now, I want to recommend a few books that I think are wonderful for gift giving this year…hope you will be inspired!
For The Classics Lover
These readers are lucky this year: there are a few amazing new translations by the stars of the translating world available now. My suggestions?
Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak, translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky
A Russian classic reinterpreted by the dynamic duo of Russian translation, who received wide acclaim when Oprah chose their translation of Anna Karenina for her book club. Their War & Peace was last year’s triumph, and this one promises to be just as wonderful.
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, translated by Lydia Davis
Davis put out a new translation of Proust’s In Search of Lost Time which is quite an accomplishment, and was highly regarded. Now she’s released this Madame Bovary just in time for Christmas! Great option for any French literature fans.
For a Tween
Against the Odds by Marjolijn Hof, translated by Johanna H. & Johanna W. Prins
A little something different for those 10-14 year old readers who are ready for something both philosophical and amusing, this is the realistic tale of Kiki, a Dutch girl whose father works as a humanitarian doctor in war-torn countries, and her attempts to skew the odds of his being hurt.
Spellhunter and Wayfarer by R.J. Anderson
Known as Knife and Rebel in the UK, these two books tackle a fairy world unlike many others… in the first, a world of tiny female fairies who live in an old oak tree must try to keep their community. the Oakenwyld, alive — in the second, the next generation of fairies must seek out any other fairies still existing in the British Isles and try to rejuvenate the Oakenwyld.
For Mothers and Others
Cool Water by Dianne Warren
This just won Canada’s Governor General’s award for fiction, for very good reason. One of my favourite books of 2010, this is a story of the intertwining lives of the residents of a small prairie town. It is beautifully written and has a plethora of characters to follow, at least a few of whom you are sure to fall in love with. A gorgeous read.
The Charming Quirks of Others by Alexander McCall Smith
As the latest in McCall Smith’s Isabel Dalhousie series, this novel carries on with the philosophizing and small daily interactions of Isabel’s Edinburgh life. Highlighting McCall Smith’s particular style and his love for Scotland, this would be a lovely gift to give along with some shortbread and/or Scottish marmalade.
For those Hard-to-buy-for Men in your life
Zero History by William Gibson
If he has been a fan of William Gibson for a while, he will certainly want this latest novel. The third in a loose trilogy, it can still be read alone. It features shadowy corporations, arms dealers, fashion, former rock stars and extreme sports enthusiasts/spies. All overlaid with Gibson’s particular futuristic style.
The Elephant’s Journey by José Saramago
A more literary tale, but one that is brief and idiosyncratic. In 1551, the king of Portugal needs to give a gift to Maximilian, heir to the Hapsburg throne. Rapidly casting his mind around for a unique and symbolic gift, he decides to regift an Indian elephant that has been languishing in his own court, sending the elephant and his handler (along with numerous Portuguese soldiers) overland to Vienna. The story is circuitous and rambling, like the journey, and yet is utterly charming. And even if you’re not entirely sure he’ll like it, at least you are not regifting an elephant!
For the Poetry Lover
Lost Gospels by Lorri Nielsen Glenn
An exquisite book of poetry, I read this earlier this year and was moved by its simplicity and its striking images of mundane life made transcendent. Glenn writes poems about flowers, history, a dress… but adds in such depth and fresh vision that the subject seems like something new. There is also a central section addressed to French philosopher Simone Weil. The very title reflects the intersection of history, nature and philosophy as Glenn reveals the divinity in human life and our natural world.
Kaleidoscope by P.K. Page
This newly published collection of the works of the great Canadian poet will appeal to those who are already fans…and serve as a wonderfully accessible introduction to those who are new to her poetry. She writes with a straightforward yet original style, and this wide-ranging collection from her long life in poetry will have something for everyone.
For the Mystery Lover
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
This is the first in a series, of which the third is just upcoming. It features Flavia De Luce, 11 year old chemistry whiz and is an entertaining ‘cozy’ mystery full of humour and English charm. There are to be 6 books in the series, so get them started now and you’ll have a few more years of Christmas presents sewn up!
The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig
A special Christmas themed entry into the long-running Pink Carnation series, this is an engaging and amusing Regency tale of fate, crossed messages and True Love. Featuring Turnip Fitzhugh, favourite of many readers, the story brings him a pretty and also self-sufficient wife through the machinations of spies and counterspies, and a convenient Christmas pudding. Extremely fun reading!
Shareable Problem-Solving Picturebooks
Boris and the Wrong Shadow by Leigh Hodgkinson
This is a laugh-out-loud story about Boris, a cat who wakes up from a nap to discover that he has the shadow of a mouse, making him the target of mockery from all the other animals. He tracks down the mouse who has switched shadows with him and they must work out an agreement for shadow repatriation. Very entertaining.
The Pirate and the Penguin by Patricia Storms
A delightful book by Toronto writer and illustrator Patricia Storms, this book features (not surprisingly) a pirate and a penguin…neither of whom is satisfied with their circumstances, until they come up with a clever solution.
The Thingamabob by Il Sung Na
Korean author/illustrator has put together a charming book about an elephant who comes across a red thingamabob, and must try to puzzle out just what is that he has got hold of, and what exactly it is useful for. Experimentation and asking advice from other animals leads him to the understanding of what the red thingamabob is good for.
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