December 12th, 2007
Wrapping Up Your Shopping: At the Bookstore
From the time I read about the adventures of Dick, Jane and Spot, I was in love. To me, there was nothing better than going to the bookstore, and looking for the newest Nancy Drew or Trixie Belden book. It was comforting to browse through books and imagine the adventures and far away places….
As an adult, a bookstore is still a place of comfort. Sometimes, I run in and find a specific book I am searching for….and other times, I am happy to grab a cup of coffee and simply wander the aisles. I love exploring during the holidays for the sheer variety of gift sets and coffee table books. Typically, I wrap up my holiday shopping while I’m appreciating the comfort of coffee and hardbacks.
Sometimes, it’s hard to sort through the sheer volume of choices, so I thought I’d share a few of the treasures I’ve found in my explorations. You can make a trek to your favorite bookstore…or simply “click and buy” (thanks to the wonderful Amazon.com!)
For Photo lovers:
Through the Lens: National Geographic’s Greatest Photographs: An amazing collection of more than 200 photos from the pages of National Geographic. I subscribe to National Geographic and loved seeing some of my favorite images…as well as ones that I’ve missed. Mostly, the book is filled with amazing color…with just the right amount of black and white photos to contrast….
Soul of the Heights: 50 Years Going to the Mountains (Falcon Guides). Soul of the Heights is the photographic autobiography of Ed Cooper. Most of us have never heard of Ed Cooper, but in the world of mountaineering, he is a pioneer. Besides climbing in the 1950’s and 1960’s, Ed took amazing photographs. I was just awestruck by the author…and his photos simply took my breath away.
For the Food Lover:
Nigella Express: 130 Recipes for Good Food, Fast Want a gourmet type meal…without hours in the kitchen? Nigella Lawson to the rescue! Lawson has a penchant for pulling together something incredibly tasty…without too much fuss. Rather than organized by typical sections like desserts and appetizers, the book is organized by meal or mood.
There are also photos for each recipe, which is a bonus…and the majority of the recipes are easy to use…and delicious. A lovely gift.
Molto Italiano: 327 Simple Italian Recipes to Cook at Home The recipes of Mario Batali are more complex than the ones in the Nigella Lawson book, but they are simply incredible. The book contains 350 recipes…soups, antipasti (many vegitarian), pasta, fish, chicken and so much more! The intro is well worth the read, so don’t pass it by….
A great edition to the kitchen of anyone who loves spending time in it!
For History Lovers:
David McCullough’s wonderful book about the pivotal year in US History has been abridged a bit, but enhanced in a beautiful illustrated edition. This is a great item for a history buff as it includes letters, maps and artwork. Among the items to bring the year “home” is a replica of a letter from George Washington to Martha about his commission and and a note to the mother of a Prisoner of War.
A truly wonderful gift for a historian.
The War: An Intimate History, 1941-1945
This is a companion book to the PBS series by Ken Burns and Geoffrey Ward about World War Two. There is a true face to the war, covering four families in four towns. I’ve talked to a couple of Veteran’s who feel this is a beautifully done book.
I thought of several dozen categories of books to recommend for gifting… and certainly have opinions on a plethora of fiction and non-fiction….books for toddlers and teens….inspirational tomes and side-splitting tales, but I decided to stick to categories that appeal to both book lovers as well as non-book lovers.
Do you have a favorite gift book this year?
