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www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
THE LAND — DECEMBER 11/DECEMBER 18, 2020
Books are still a great gift in a topsy-turvy year The holidays this year are going to be The short-story lover will enjoy “Cat … well, unique. Person and Other Stories” by Kristen Roupenian, a collection of creepy, odd Some family members won’t be there. tales that doubles as a gift of shivers. Others are coming, regardless of whatevCan’t go wrong if you pair it with “The er’s going on in the country. Still others Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives are sending their regards and a box of in Your Home” by Joseph Fink and presents — which is something you Jeffrey Cranor. Doesn’t the title tell you might do, too. And here’s the good news: everything you need to know? books are easy to wrap, easy to box, and THE BOOKWORM easy to ship. Why not try one of these Lovers of family-drama-type novels will SEZ great books for that person who can’t whoop when they open “Louisiana Lucky” make it to your table this holiday season? By Terri Schlichenmeyer by Julie Pennell. It’s the tale of three sisters and a big lottery pay-out that will Does anybody need another book about a natural disaster? Ha, of course they do! So that’s make all their dreams come true. Or not. Pair it with “Betty,” by Tiffany McDaniel, a lovely novel of why you should look for “The 2084 Report: An Oral family and what happens when you learn things History of the Great Warming: A Novel” by James about them you don’t want to know. Lawrence Powell. Yes, it’s set in the future. You can hope so, anyhow.... The giftee who loves a good historical mystery will relish “The Streel: A Deadwood Mystery” by Mary Surely, there’s someone on your gift list who’s Logue. Set in Deadwood, S.D., this story sees a teenwished at some point this year that they could be age Irish immigrant whose brother is involved in a cloned. Wrap up “The Mirror Man” by Jane kerfuffel and she’s got to clear his name. The probGilmartin with a “careful what you wish for” note. lem? He has a gold claim and it ain’t no small thing. Wrap it up with “The Operator” by Gretchen Berg, Historical mystery lovers will also love “The Day the story of a woman who wishes she’d never overLincoln Lost” by Charles Rosenberg, a thriller-type heard what she did. novel that asks “What if...?” For the giftee who loves to be surprised, wrap up Is there someone on your list who craves a good “The Book of Hidden Wonders” by Polly Crosby. It’s scare? Then look for “Demonic Foes” by Richard the story of a girl whose father entertained her with Gallagher, MD. He’s a psychiatrist who specializes a story in which she’s a character, and it becomes a in the paranormal, particularly in demonic possesbig bestseller. Good for her, right? Or not so much. sion. You can feel the shivers from here. Wrap it up with “The Falling Woman” by Richard Farrell, a book about a woman who supposedly died The new or about-to-be parent on your gift list in a plane crash — only she didn’t, but she wants to will love having “Calm the H*ck Down” by Melanie stay “dead.” Dole. It’s filled with common-sense parenting that will help your giftee take a big and much-needed The person on your list who loves a good family drama will want “The Lost Orphan” by Stacey Halls breath. Wrap it up with “How Babies Sleep” by Sofia under the tree this year. It’s the story of two women Axelrod, PhD. And wish them a nighty-night. and one little girl, and a secret that won’t be able to It’s been an unusual year. So show your giftee that be kept for long. Pair it with “The End of the Day” it’s possible to buck up and survive by wrapping by Bill Clegg, a novel of friendship, relationships, “Why Fish Don’t Exist” by Lulu Miller. It’s the story and the resolution of long-buried secrets. of an early 20th century scientist and the day he watched his life’s work as it literally shattered. No doubt, there’s a historical fiction fan on your What he did was astounding, and a great lesson for list, so there’s no doubt that you’ll want to wrap up 2020. Wrap it up with another book on what’s “Bonnie: A Novel” by Christina Schwarz. Yep, it’s a underwater: “Monsters of the Deep” by Nick fictionalized tale of Bonnie Parker, and how she Redfern. This book is more cryptozoology than biogbecame one of the early 20th-century’s most iconic raphy, but for fishing fans, that’s fine. outlaws. Wrap it up with “The Big Finish” by Brooke Fossey, a novel about two outlaws that you’d Here’s an idea from dad to son or the other way never put together and their great escape. around: “A Better Man” by Michael Ian Black takes a look at masculinity and what it means to “be a If you’ve got a big reader on your list, it’s hard to man” in the 21st century. Wrap it up for your son or find something they haven’t already seen. That’s son-to-be, who’ll get there someday. Wrap it up for why you should wrap up “Layoverland” by Gabby Noone. It’s the tale of a woman who lives a life she’s Dad, to thank him for the guidance, paired with not proud of, so when she dies, she goes to purgato- “The Toughest Kid We Knew” by Frank Bergon, a story of the “New West,” California, and life in small ry. There’s a chance for her to go to heaven, but it involves helping the guy who killed her. Pair it with towns and ranches of today’s West. “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig, the story of a Armchair scientists will be happy to see “The possible place that offers a re-do of life. It’s a spot Handy Physics Answer Book, Third Edition” by between living and dying, but it’s not what your Charles Liu, Ph.D. beneath the tree. This Q-and-A giftee thinks it is... format is easy to read, easy to browse, and fun to
use. Wrap it up with another science-y book: “The Human Cosmos: Civilization and the Stars” by Jo Marchant, a book about how looking at the night sky makes us human. Do you have a person on your list who has a serious case of wanderlust? Then wrap up “Spirits of San Francisco: Voyages Through the Unknown City” by Gary Kamiya, drawings by Paul Madonna. It’s an easy-to-browse book of things to look for when you’re looking for somewhere different to visit. Pair it with “The Change: My Great American, Postindustrial, Midlife Crisis Tour” by Lori Soderlind, the story of one woman, one elderly dog, and a road trip to remember. The DIY woman on your gift list (and the one who craves self-sufficiency) will love having “Girls Garage” by Emily Pilloton. It’s a super-helpful book about using tools, fixing things, understanding do-itherself language, tackling projects, and getting it DONE. There’s someone on your list who loves gardening, and will love to see “The Language of Butterflies” by Wendy Williams under the tree. It’s the story of butterflies, why we love them, what scientists are learning about them, and how the world would be the lesser without them. Is your political animal a little sorry to see the election over? Then wrap up “Fight House” by Tevi Troy, a book about the back-stabbing, fang-baring tumultuousness and rivalries inside the White House in the last century or so. Pair it with another great history book: “Union: The Struggle to Forge the Story of United States Nationhood” by Colin Woodard. For the lover of sports, sort of, “Loving Sports When They Don’t Love You Back” by Jessica Luther and Kavitha A. Davidson is the right book to wrap up. It explores and discusses all the sports-related things that make your giftee take pause: loving teams that lose, racist mascots, paying for that new stadium, owners who are unethical... You can’t possibly go wrong when you wrap up “We Are Santa: Portraits and Profiles” by Ron Cooper this Christmas. It’s a book filled with Santas from around the eastern and central sides of the country, and how they became Jolly Old Elves. Release dates change, titles change, nothing’s set in stone, and books can get canceled. If you need help finding these titles or something like them, raise a flag, wave your hand, and throw yourself at the mercy of your favorite friendly bookstore owner or librarian. If you don’t have a favorite, it’s imperative that you treat yourself to a favorite bookstore owner or librarian today because they know all the secrets of the literary universe. They are, indeed, magical beings when it comes to books. Season’s Readings, y’all! v
