It’s easy to forget that the darkest time of the year is when the Earth is at its closest point to the sun. The cold days and long nights draw us inward as we reflect on the year and bring our loved ones in close. The glittering ice and twinkling lights remind us that the sun shines near and warmth surrounds us. We find it in the embrace of loved ones, the excitement of children and the flood of goodwill and thoughtful giving that abounds in December.
Is there anything more thoughtful than the gift of a book? I may be biased, but books have a way of connecting us through shared experience and conversation. When you pick out a book for someone, not only are you giving something that reflects their interests or stage in life, but you are also sharing a small piece of yourself with them. Maybe you discovered a new author this year, or read a book that resonated with you, and by sharing it, you open a window for connection. Maybe you just want to give a very busy person the gift of time. A basket filled with a book, a jar of tea and warm socks is the perfect excuse to put everything else aside and claim a couple quiet hours for oneself.
Whatever your reason for giving, the conversations that come from the exchange of books are a connecting experience, and bookstores are always here to help you find the next perfect gift for yourself or someone you love. Below are a few recommendations to get you started, but we encourage you to shop in person this year at your favorite local bookstore. We work hard all year long to make it to December, and saying hi to all our customers during the holidays is a highlight of our year.
Nonfiction is sensitive right now. Some readers want books of revolution and resistance; others want comforting reflection, historical interest or how-to books on everything from sourdough to beekeeping.
“The Message” by Ta-Nehisi Coates is part essay, part travelogue, and examines the urgent need to untangle ourselves from the destructive myths that shape our world and get to the truth of matters.
“The Center of the World” by Allen James Fromherz is a sweeping history of the Persian Gulf from the Stone Age to the present day and shows us that the contradictions that define our modern age have always been present.
“What If We Get It Right” by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a provocative and joyous science book that maps an inspiring landscape of possible climate futures.
In “Born of Fire and Rain,” M. L. Herring gives a passionate tribute to the Douglas-fir forests of the Pacific Northwest, anchoring their sense of importance, ecology and survival in a world of upheaval.
“Ghosts of Panama: A Strongman Out of Control, A Murdered Marine, and the Special Agents Caught in the Middle of an Invasion” by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll Jr. tells the story of Special Agent Rick Yell, who puts himself and his family in danger when Bush is making the decision to invade Panama in 1989.
Cookbooks are a favorite gift during the holidays and there is no shortage of new favorites this season. If you’re gifting to someone that loves a good cooking show as well, try “Matty Matheson: Soups, Salads, Sandwiches,” whom you will recognize from “The Bear.” Or pick up the new cookbook from Martha Stewart, aka our favorite person in the billionaire felon category. “Martha: The Cookbook: 100 Favorite Recipes, with Lessons and Stories from My Kitchen,” celebrates her landmark 100th book.
Fiction feels all mixed up this year. There has been an enormous surge in readers seeking cozy and comforting books in all genres. Even the literary landscape is changing, with readers interested in books that focus less on war-torn communities and time periods, and more on characters set on a journey of change and growth.
In “Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney, two grieving brothers struggle to avoid estrangement while navigating their careers and relationships. Sally Rooney is a master of writing intimacy and personal stories without cliché or sentimentality.
“Godwin” by Joseph O’Neill is a tale of family and migration as well as an international adventure story that implicates the brothers in the beauty and ugliness of soccer, the perils and promises of international business and the dark history of transatlantic money-making.
“Martyr!” by Kaveh Akbar is a masterpiece of language and the most unique book I’ve read in years. Art, addiction, displacement, martyrdom and belonging are major themes in this extraordinary novel that explores how we find meaning in our lives.
“The Magnificent Ruins” by Nayantara Roy is a stunning debut perfect for book clubs. After unexpectedly inheriting a family estate, one woman returns to India to face secrets and resentments that haunt her past.
“Playground” by Richard Powers is a pillar of 2024 fiction and a must read. Reading a new Richard Powers novel is such a lift as you reach to understand the interwoven connections he builds between characters and context. In “Playground,” Powers examines our shared humanity between the last wild places and the future of technology and the environment.
“Long Island Compromise” by Taffy Brodesser-Aknern is an exhilarating novel about one American family, the dark moment that shatters their suburban paradise and the wild legacy of trauma and inheritance.
“Lazarus Man” is Richard Price’s first new book in almost a decade. When a five-story tenement collapses in East Harlem, intertwining stories of several characters unfold, starting with a man who survived the catastrophe after being buried for days.
I am completely out of space to discuss children’s books (and so much more adult), but you can find our entire holiday gift guide on our website at roundaboutbookshop.com. Shopping for books is all about the anticipation, encapsulating the moment of infinite possibilities and discoveries. The magic of throwing your heart wide and broad into the giant universe and seeing where it lands. But the reading… the reading is all about moving inward, claiming an unapologetic quiet place in the world and undivided time with yourself. You deserve it, and everyone on your list this year deserves some time with a book.
I wish all our readers a very wonderful holiday season full of good memories and great books.
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