Whether you brave the mall or shop online, bookstores are a treasure trove for holiday shopping. Check your list; I’ll bet most of the people on it have special interests and hobbies. Don’t have a fortune to spend? Take a gander at the calendars. They’re inexpensive, and keyed to whatever we love best. I’m recommending a few of my favorites. To purchase any of these recommendations from Amazon, just click on the name in red.
Do you know someone who loves the ocean, loves to sail, or just appreciates the beauty of a graceful sailboat? THE SEVEN SEAS caters to our fantasies about sailing away, and also depicts sheltered coves and racing vessels.
My husband loves owls of every sort, and this year I’m gifting him with the BARN OWLS by Jeannine Chappell. These sweet looking birds have heart shaped faces, are indigenous all over the country, and best of all, are world class mousers.
If you saw the Tony Award winning play “Red,” you’ll have a much greater appreciation for ROTHKO, from The National Gallery of Art. Even if his work is foreign to you, the paintings of Mark Rothko, a leading light in the abstract expressionist movement, are colorful and evocative enough to decorate any wall.
What do you buy someone with champagne taste if you’re on a beer budget? WILLIAM MORRIS ARTS AND CRAFTS DESIGNS, the Brooklyn Museum calendar, is elegant and deluxe. The ornate forms and rich color palate will easily delight the eye of even the most discerning friend.
I like to keep the 365-day calendars near my phone, and use them to both get a laugh every morning and as a message pad. For a friend who values the English language as much as I do, I’ve chosen ANGUISHED ENGLISH, Richard Lederer’s compilation of hilarious gaffs.
A lot of people have given up on sending holiday cards, but for me, online greetings aren’t the same. A great gift idea is to buy an inexpensive box of greeting cards for a friend, throw in some current stamps, and offer to spend an afternoon helping to organize an address book. My original plan was to help an elderly friend write out messages and fill out envelopes, but I’ve found this is also much appreciated by busy moms and guys on their own (“my mom always…” “It was my ex-wife who…”). My current favorites for this task all feature classic designs and “Season’s Greetings.” Don’t forget that for many Jewish friends, this is preferably to “Merry Christmas.”
AUDUBON’S BIRDS, which is, quite naturally, from the National Audubon Society, includes a cheery assortment of warblers, finches, and siskins.
NORMAN ROCKWELL THE SATURDAY EVENING POST provides a note of nostalgia. There is just no one like Rockwell to depict Santa in his various moods and poses. Charming, and guaranteed to provoke a smile.
CARL LARSSON was one of Sweden’s best loved artists, and his eight children inspired these watercolors from the turn of the century. Upbeat and animated, these pictures convey the ideal of an ideal holiday at home.
Books on compact disc are a welcome gift, especially for those who have a substantial commute to work, or who use the time they spent doing housework and other chores to devour books. I think that some of the autobiographic works read by the author are outstanding this season.
Whatever you politics may be, DECISION POINTS is a fascinating look into the mind of former President George W. Bush. The 43rd Commander-In- Chief takes us on a personal journey from his drinking days, through 9/11, and into the handing over of the keys to Barack Obama.
In a lighter vein, Nora Ephron’s I REMEMBER NOTHING is the witty reflection of one of the brightest, funniest women of our time. This is the gift to give to a friend who needs a lift, or to anyone who appreciates a good laugh while stranded on the Saw Mill Parkway.
I’ve yet to meet a writer who isn’t also a voracious reader, and Pat Conroy gives us a much appreciated look into MY READING LIFE. Like many of us, the author has been able to use his love of books not only to be entertained, but to keep his sanity under trying circumstances.
James Kaplan has captured Sinatra for us in FRANK THE VOICE. Focusing on the turbulent years from the singer’s birth in 1915, to 1954 when he made his comeback by winning an Oscar for “From Here to Eternity,” Kaplan neither idolizes nor vilifies his subject. This is an insightful look at a man who was complicated, gifted, and enigmatic. (Read Charlene Giannetti’s Review).
So…what are you waiting for? Christmas and Hanukah are just closer than you think!
Michall Jeffers is an accomplished Cultural Journalist. She writes extensively, both in print and online. Her eponymous cable TV show is syndicated throughout the tri-state area, and features celebrity interviews, reviews, and commentary. Michall is a voting member of National Book Critics Circle.
