christmas book gift guide
books to gift every kind of person for christmas, from non-readers you want to force into reading, to avid bookworms
I love giving gifts and I love books, so naturally I had to put together a little gift guide for the readers (or those you want to force to be readers) in your life. I’ve tried to make this as comprehensive and exhaustive as possible, but feel free to message me on my Instagram if you want help with a specific recommendation for something particular, and I’ll try my best to do so!
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for the friend…who only reads on their commute to work
Ever since I started working, I have been very short on time, meaning that I’ve mostly just been reading on the bus and on the subway to the office. Short stories are perfect for these phases in life because it’s a terrible feeling to stop in the middle of a good chapter.
some more picks:
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez
Dubliners by James Joyce
Nine Stories by J.D Salinger
Self Help by Lorrie Moore
The Trouble with Happiness by Tove Ditlevsen
Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson
for the friend…who you are trying to force into being a reader
Many of my friends are not readers, and they often tell me that they look on my bookstagram unsure what book to start with. These are some books I bought them—they are not necessarily ‘easy’ reading, but I think all of them capture the beauty of books and the reason why I have loved reading for my entire life. I adore these books because they sort of feel magical, in a way.
some more picks:
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
Bluets by Maggie Nelson
These Precious Days by Ann Patchett
Franny and Zooey by J.D Salinger
Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion
I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
Chess Story by Stefan Zweig
for the friend…who loves, adores, dies by their classic books
I get it! Classic books are wonderful. I’m a lit major graduate, and best believe I had classic literature shoved down my throat for three years—I enjoyed most of them too. But here are some underrated ones that I think are absolute timeless gems.
some more picks:
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa
Stoner by John Williams
Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Summer by Edith Wharton
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
for the friend…who prioritizes aesthetics and beautiful prose
Beautiful prose is one of the main things I look for in a book. I love the feeling of opening a book and being absolutely enchanted by how magically and wonderfully someone is able to create melodies and lyrics out of words. And of course, I love pretty things, so naturally, beautiful prose as well.