Gifting Books

Holiday gift giving can be a fun but occasionally stressful process; trying to find the right present for every person on your list can be difficult. Books make great gifts because they cover so many different subjects and genres – there is something for everyone. Here are some ideas of books, some newer and some published in years past that would still make for a great gift. 

For the die-hard Texan or new-to-Texas person in your life:

Being Texan by the editors of Texas Monthly (nonfiction) – The Lone Star State is a larger-than-life place known for its sprawling cities, trailblazing innovators, and traditions. In this collection, the editors of Texas Monthly highlight the people, customs, land, culture, and cuisine found in the state. Featuring essays, reportage, recipes, and recommendations from the magazine’s contributors, Being Texan explores the varying landscapes, life as a Texan, underappreciated episodes of Texas history, and Texas arts community. In addition to making a fabulous holiday gift, this compilation would go well on a guest-room nightstand for visitors to pick up while they are staying in your home.  

For the nature lover or as a hostess gift: 

The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer (nonfiction) – Braiding Sweetgrass author Robin Wall Kimmerer returns with another book about learning from the natural world, in this case the serviceberry. In this little gem (in both length and size), Kimmerer asks how we can learn from the plant world by examining the serviceberry’s relationship with nature, which includes interconnectedness, reciprocity, and gratitude.

A copy of the book, which follows Danny’s lengthy photography career, including more than 200 images of legendary musicians. (Photo Courtesy of Transparent Clinch Gallery)

For the music lover:

Danny Clinch: Still Moving by Danny Clinch, foreword by Bruce Springsteen (nonfiction) – For years, Danny Clinch has been a well-known photographer of the music scene, photographing a whole host of artists from Johnny Cash to Tupac Shakur. His photos have graced hundreds of album covers and have also appeared in publications such as Vanity Fair, SPIN, and Rolling Stone. They are often the images people associate with a particular musician. Still Moving follows his lengthy career with more than 200 images of the most iconic musicians of all time, along with his personal stories and a foreword from Bruce Springsteen. 

The book can be purchased on Amazon, or an autographed copy can be purchased from his website. transparentclinchgallery.com/products/still-moving

For the Taylor Swift fan:

Invisible Strings: 113 Poets Respond to the Songs of Taylor Swift edited by Kristie Frederick-Daugherty (poetry) – In this anthology of original poems, Kristie Frederick-Daugherty, a poet and professor who is writing a dissertation examining how Swift’s lyrics intersect with contemporary poetry, decided to bring together a group of poets to pay homage to Taylor Swift. Mirroring Swift’s ability to send her fans down rabbit holes decoding her lyrics from to the clues she sprinkles in her wake, this group of writers channels the same vibes by inviting the readers to actively participate as well. The audience can decode which song each writer is alluding to from the Easter eggs in their works. 

For the person who likes books with older protagonists:

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley (fiction) – When the city council proposes selling the local community center where a seniors’ social club meets, the Social Club joins forces with the parents of the daycare housed in the center to fight back. Pooley crafts a tale filled with entertaining characters, each with their own unique backstory, who come together to accomplish a goal while all sorts of hilarity ensues. The focus on older characters and intergenerational relationships makes this one a standout.

For the true-crime lover:

Broadway Butterfly by Sara DiVello (true-crime fiction) – This meticulously well-researched and riveting debut novel takes place in 1923 New York City and chronicles the unsolved murder of flapper Dot King. The crime riveted New York City, and female reporter Julia Harpman doggedly worked the case, hoping to get a leg up on her male coworkers. DiVello keeps the story moving along and weaves together the various storylines effectively and seamlessly. She also includes a postscript that details what happened to all of the characters after the hubbub over the crime faded away.

For a quirkier gift:

Loneliness & Company by Charlee Dyroff (speculative fiction) – This debut novel set in near future New York stars a young woman who finds herself tangled in a secret government project combating loneliness and how she finds meaning and connection in a world beset by isolation. Loneliness & Company is another great exploration of the loneliness epidemic that is taking hold in our world today and how technology contributes. For fans of tales about the importance of community and interacting with each other.

FOR THE FICTION FAN Looking for some gift ideas for the holidays? After Annie by Anna Quindlen is a great book for those who enjoy compelling stories. Quindlen’s novel explores the myriad of ways people experience grief. (Photo: Cindy Burnett)

For the person who like compelling stories:

After Annie by Anna Quindlen (fiction) – When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her children, and her closest friend are left to find a way forward without the woman who has been the lynchpin of all their lives. Quindlen’s exploration of the myriad of ways people experience grief is what makes this book a standout as well as serving as a reminder that you can move on from grief without leaving the departed behind. This will appeal to fans of character-driven books about human resilience and healing.

For the person who likes creepy stories:

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer (thriller/mild horror) – Eve is home by herself when Thomas and his family knock on her front door and explains that he grew up in the home Eve and her partner, Charlie, recently purchased. As soon as the family enters the home, strange things start happening, including the disappearance of the family’s youngest child somewhere within the dwelling, and the family refuses to leave. The eeriness factor is off the charts; We Used to Live Here is dripping with dread, tension, and a fun creepiness factor. 

FOR THE ROMANTIC In The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood, a recently deceased woman meets “the one” in the afterlife waiting room, scoring a second chance at life and love if she can find him on earth before 10 days are up. (Photo: Cindy Burnett)

For the romantic:

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood (romantic comedy with magic realism) – A recently deceased woman meets “the one” in the afterlife waiting room, scoring a second chance at life (and love!) if she can find him on earth before 10 days are up. The premise and implementation of this one are so entertaining as is the London setting, and the shoutouts to other romance authors and novels added to the fun. 

For the historical fiction lover:

Can’t We Be Friends by Denny S. Bryce and Eliza Knight (historical fiction) – This novel explores the boundary-breaking, genuine friendship between Ella Fitzgerald, the Queen of Jazz, and iconic movie star Marilyn Monroe. Highlights are the authors’ take on what the friendship between these iconic women could have looked like and how they supported each other. 

For the person who loves feel-good stories:

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston (fiction) – 82-year-old Frederick Fife is facing crushing debt when he inadvertently stumbles into the life of another man. This utterly delightful book demonstrates what a difference a kind person makes in the lives of others, and readers will be wanting a Frederick in their lives. The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife hits all the right notes; it is funny, hopeful, poignant, touching, and engaging. 

For the adventurer:

Dixon, Descending by Karen Outen (fiction) – Two brothers, Dixon and Nate Bryant, seek to become the first Black Americans to summit Everest. After things go horribly awry, Dixon returns home a changed man, constantly replaying his decision to climb the mountain. Outen’s accounts of climbing Everest are engrossing, and her depiction of grief and the many different forms it takes are compelling and insightful. 

For the armchair traveler:

May the Wolf Die by Elizabeth Heider (mystery) – This gripping debut mystery is set in Italy, following a female detective haunted by her family’s past and tasked with untangling the city’s organized crime and the modern U.S. military presence there. The Naples setting and strong sense of place make this timely mystery a standout. Hopefully, it will be the start of a series.

For your friend or relative in a book club:

Scandalous Women by Gill Paul (historical fiction) – Scandalous Women tells the story of Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann, two dynamic, groundbreaking writers renowned for their scandalous and controversial novels, and the fictionalized friendship they developed. Paul documents the barriers these women shattered as well as how they both changed the world of publishing. 

For the mystery lover:

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager (thriller) – In the latest thriller from Riley Sager, a man must contend with the long-ago disappearance of his childhood best friend – and the secrets lurking just beyond the safe confines of his picture-perfect neighborhood. Fans of Sager’s older books will welcome his return to a non-paranormal plot with a more realistic ending. I love his focus on relationships and trying to return home as an adult. There is a good amount to ponder in this one.

For the fine arts enthusiast:

The Swans of Harlem by Karen Valby (nonfiction) – Valby’s exhaustively researched book chronicles the forgotten stories of the five main female dancers who danced with the Dance Theatre of Harlem long before Misty Copeland became famous. It focuses on racism and discrimination, friendship, resilience, and a beautiful and special sisterhood. 

Editor’s note: Book reviewer Cindy Burnett also writes our weekly Page Turners column. She hosts an award-winning book podcast entitled Thoughts from a Page Podcast www.thoughtsfromapage.com, runs the Instagram account @thoughtsfrompage, and regularly speaks to groups about books.