Gifting Books?
If you're rolling your eyes at the idea of giving a book for a gift, we get you.
It's not flashy, big or an"official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time"(Please see a Christmas Story if you're not sure on that ref). It seems a bit boring to give a book, but we're here to change your minds. For a little background on us, we both worked at Barnes & Noble for well over 5 years. We have a pretty good history on what books can make you a Santa rockstar. So, fear not, we wont be advising you to buy dictionary's for the entire fam (yes someone did do that to their family).
Classics. We'll start this list for the classic reader, going with Classic books. There's a list, a very long list we might add, of classic novels. But do you know there's Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions of classic reads? Meaning we can't do all the work for you, but if you do some sleuthing and find your readers favorite classic novel. Buying them a collectible addition would be the perfect gift to their ever growing library. These additions are beautiful but not a huge budget breaker for those wondering the cost. They range from Little Women to Star Wars and we can't recommend them enough.
Dad. Dads, we're pretty sure they have plenty of socks (no offense, all adults need them), and if you want to step up your gifting game we're here to help. Enter the grilling section of a book store. There's a ton of grilling books out there, that'll make your Dad the super griller of the neighborhood. Which you can take a small amount of credit for after gifting one of these books. If you're Dad's not a huge griller how about a 007 fan? Did you know Bond films were actually novels written by Ian Fleming? They're even better than the movies if you ask us, and would be perfect for the Bond fan.
Mom. Mom's are the hardest to buy for. They pretty much have everything they need it seems and how to do you give a wow gift? No, we're skipping Martha Stewart (she's cool though) this year and going with a bit more for mom. Going with the times, find a subject she loves or wants to know more about and start there. You can go with RBG and My Own Words for an inspiring story for an inspiring mom in your life or Michelle Obama's Becoming. There's an endless supply of bio's from powerhouse women lately that definitely are great reads.
The History Buff. We're huge history buffs so we have a few aces our sleeve in this area. If the history buff in your life hasn't read or own a copy of Sapiens: A Graphic History: The Birth of Humankind, this is your gift. It's a bit dry but it's one of the most impressive books we've read in-while that covers human kind. It's an eye opening account of areas most text books skip of our own history. The research, beautifully worded chapters and pure resources that went into just the first novel is astounding. If your history buff has this read, you're in luck because there's also vol 2 &3. Harari is just a fantastic history writer that we can't help stop gushing about, or will those on the receiving end of this gift.
Kids. I know kids love toys. Running downstairs on Christmas morning, there's nothing better than a heap of toys next to the Christmas Tree. We're not saying to pass on the toys by any means, but adding a book or two is always key. Barnes & Noble's site is a great place to start that you can even sort via age group to search. Classics like Corduroy, Harold and the Purple Crayon, or Madeline never go out of style for gifts. Story time with family is a beloved memory that kids cherish forever, even as an adult. Giving a book to read that the whole family enjoys or even remembers themselves being read too is a perfect gift. HINT: Some classics even now come with adorable push toys as sets that will make you the super Santa every kids dreams!
Mystery Sleuths. We're huge true crime fans and love a good mystery novel. There's tons of series and fun reads to enjoy for mystery fans. So where to start? We suggest going with the mystery queen herself, Agatha Christie. From who done its, famous detectives, and classics she's written it all and well. If you've found yourself going I hated her novel And Then There Where None in school, don't fret. John le Carre is a perfect mystery writer we love just as much. His George Smilie spy series makes a great gift and are fantastic reads.
Sci-Fi. Sci-Fi is a tricky genre to be honest. You have series most hate or love. It's a tough gift to pin point but it's possible to make it perfect. You'll definitely need to find out if they have a preferences (if you can), but we'll go big regardless. Game of Thrones, if you haven't been living under a rock, you know the ending of the HBO series was a bust. However did you know it's actually a book series that's not finished yet? The books are massively filled with crazy details the show missed and hopefully George RR Martin will complete the series soon (we're hoping and still waiting ourselves on it). Starting with the first and second book in the series, make a terrific gift for most readers. Just beware these books are high in page counts so if a long read isn't your favorite book readers choice, this might be a skip. Another must read for sci-fi fans is Dune. It's name'd one of the best sci-fi novel must reads for every reader. Plus with the recent movie coming out soon, it'll be seeing a new resurge in popularity. Checking Barnes and Noble's sci-fi section online or in the store is a great idea for gifts if those don't seem like must haves for you're sci-fi reader.
Non-Book lovers. Yup, we can even cover the non readers in this article. Why? Well, unless you're a normal Barnes and Noble goer you might not know about the bargain section of the store. Yes, we know this means going into your local store but it's worth the trip (masks on please). The bargain section is filled with tons of great deals and also coffee table books perfect for anyone. They range from WWII to dogs, literally it's a mishmash of anything goes. At times you can also find hard cover classics for great deals, kits to build random things to calendars. You never know what you might find but it's a bargain hunt that's fun for anyone willing to spend some time digging around.
Crosswords, Sudoku and More. For the puzzle lovers in your life Barnes and Noble is the place to be. Literally, there's books on books of crosswords, sudoku and more. New York Times has books of crosswords, there's themed puzzles and even bargain deals usually offered each year. It's the perfect gift for the puzzler lover in your life who will have many to choose from.
We've saved this last but not least, a book subscription. This one isn't for the budget lovers but for the book reader it can be the perfect gift. Now we'd suggest going Shop Around the Corner for this one. Meaning, search for a local book shop and see what they offer. 2020 is the year to shop local, help the small businesses in your area and books are no exception. After living in London we've had subscriptions from John Sandoe and Daunt Books that are absolutely terrific but a little pricey. Book Riot has an awesome list of stateside book stores with subscriptions that they now offer with the pandemic. These are definitely worth a look with contactless option, that ship right to your book worms door. It's an old idea coming back into the limelight, that's a great one time price for a year round gift that gives once a month. Making you a Santa, 12 times a year, all year long.
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