Table Talk

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 Some family members won’t be there. Others are coming, regardless of whatever’s going on in the country. Still others are sending their regards and a box of presents — which is something you might do, too. And here’s the good news: books are easy to wrap, easy to box, and THE BOOKWORM Roupenian, a collection of creepy, odd tales that doubles as a gift of shivers. Can’t go wrong if you pair it with “The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home” by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor. Doesn’t the title tell you everything you need to know? easy to ship. Why not try one of these SEZ Lovers of family-drama-type novels will 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 sisDoes anybody need another book about a natural disaster? Ha, of course they do! So that’s why you should look for “The 2084 Report: An Oral History of the Great Warming: A Novel” by James Lawrence Powell. Yes, it’s set in the future. You can ters and a big lottery pay-out that will make all their dreams come true. Or not. Pair it with “Betty,” by Tiffany McDaniel, a lovely novel of family and what happens when you learn things about them you don’t want to know. hope so, anyhow.... The giftee who loves a good historical mystery will Surely, there’s someone on your gift list who’s wished at some point this year that they could be cloned. Wrap up “The Mirror Man” by Jane Gilmartin with a “careful what you wish for” note. Wrap it up with “The Operator” by Gretchen Berg, the story of a woman who wishes she’d never overheard what she did. relish “The Streel: A Deadwood Mystery” by Mary Logue. Set in Deadwood, S.D., this story sees a teenage Irish immigrant whose brother is involved in a kerfuffel and she’s got to clear his name. The problem? He has a gold claim and it ain’t no small thing. Historical mystery lovers will also love “The Day Lincoln Lost” by Charles Rosenberg, a thriller-type novel that asks “What if...?” For the giftee who loves to be surprised, wrap up “The Book of Hidden Wonders” by Polly Crosby. It’s the story of a girl whose father entertained her with a story in which she’s a character, and it becomes a big bestseller. Good for her, right? Or not so much. Wrap it up with “The Falling Woman” by Richard Is there someone on your list who craves a good scare? Then look for “Demonic Foes” by Richard Gallagher, MD. He’s a psychiatrist who specializes in the paranormal, particularly in demonic possession. You can feel the shivers from here. 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 The person on your list who loves a good family drama will want “The Lost Orphan” by Stacey Halls under the tree this year. It’s the story of two women will help your giftee take a big and much-needed breath. Wrap it up with “How Babies Sleep” by Sofia 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 No doubt, there’s a historical fiction fan on your list, so there’s no doubt that you’ll want to wrap up “Bonnie: A Novel” by Christina Schwarz. Yep, it’s a fictionalized tale of Bonnie Parker, and how she became one of the early 20th-century’s most iconic outlaws. Wrap it up with “The Big Finish” by watched his life’s work as it literally shattered. What he did was astounding, and a great lesson for 2020. Wrap it up with another book on what’s underwater: “Monsters of the Deep” by Nick Redfern. This book is more cryptozoology than biography, but for fishing fans, that’s fine. 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 If you’ve got a big reader on your list, it’s hard to find something they haven’t already seen. That’s why you should wrap up “Layoverland” by Gabby Noone. It’s the tale of a woman who lives a life she’s not proud of, so when she dies, she goes to purgatory. There’s a chance for her to go to heaven, but it involves helping the guy who killed her. Pair it with a look at masculinity and what it means to “be a man” in the 21st century. Wrap it up for your son or son-to-be, who’ll get there someday. Wrap it up for Dad, to thank him for the guidance, paired with “The Toughest Kid We Knew” by Frank Bergon, a story of the “New West,” California, and life in small 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