Hi everyone! I hope that you’re well and staying safe!
I wouldn’t say it feels especially festive or cheery over here in London. The city has been shrouded in an impenetrable layer of fog for four consecutive days and it remains eerily quiet. While I normally would have set up decorations by now, this year the closest thing I have to a string of warm, twinkling fairy lights is the harsh, headache-inducing glow my phone casts when I’m scrolling through Instagram with bloodshot eyes at 2am. If you’re in the same boat, then I think this post might help! Spilt Milk’s resident reader, Chloe, has returned with a second edition of Book Bites that will be sure to bring some holiday cheer! In today’s post, Chloe suggests books to gift this season, though you certainly don’t have to be celebrating to find it useful (there are some damn-good books listed that I already plan to buy for myself!). If after reading this you still haven’t found the right book to suit your predicament (perhaps you have a friend who is nursing a broken heart, or maybe you drew the relative who doesn’t believe climate change is real in Secret Santa), Chloe is here to help! Leave your questions and conundrums in the comments section below and Chloe will find a solution!
Happy reading,
Arielle
Hi friends! It's Chloe, and I'm back for round two of Book Bites, Spilt Milk's hub for guaranteed fresh - at least in my humble opinion - book recommendations.
Last month I was hanging on tight to Halloween with my list of spooky autumnal reads, but here in Canada, there's no doubt about it: winter is coming (insert Game of Thrones meme here) and the holiday season is upon us. I wanted to dedicate this month's post to sharing a handful of books that make great gifts for friends and family. If you're not celebrating, these are still excellent books you should consider panic-cramming into your "to-read" list for 2020.
Buying books for other people can be tricky, from the shockingly-problematic authors (cough *J.K. Rowling*) to just plain bad writing. Here are some foolproof suggestions to make it a little easier to give the people you love the gift of literature:
1. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants - Robin Wall Kimmerer
What it's about: Professor, scientist, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer spends her professional life navigating the relationship between scientific knowledge and traditional Indigenous teachings. From school field trips to harvesting maple syrup, this beautifully-written book of essays challenges readers to think differently about humans and our relationship with the Earth.
Gift it to… the person who is constantly trying to convince you that gardening is "good for the soul," even though you have personally killed at least 15 plants in your lifetime. This book fundamentally shifted the way I see the world (no joke) and is something I objectively think everyone should read, but the philosophical environmentalist in your life is guaranteed to love it.
2. The Hating Game - Sally Thorne
What it's about: In addition to being arch-nemeses, Lucy and Joshua both work as executive assistants for co-CEOs at a book publishing company. Their hatred for one another only grows when a promotion is up for grabs that only one of them can win...but is it possible that they don't hate each other so much after all? Almost definitely - this is a romance - but who cares? This book is adorable!
Gift it to… the friend who can quote Love Actually in their sleep. The Hating Game is a perfectly crafted rom-com in book form. It's both sickeningly adorable and laugh-out-loud funny, and is single-handedly responsible for convincing me that I liked romance as a genre. Give this to the person who loves love - you won't regret it.
3. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood - Trevor Noah
What it's about: Born in the midst of apartheid South Africa, the origin story of The Daily Show's Trevor Noah is pretty distinct from that of most mainstream comedians. Born a Crime packs a punch, seamlessly blending memoir, history, and maternal love letter - all underpinned by the humour that the author is known and loved for. I laughed, I cried, I learned. This book is *chef's kiss*.
Gift it to… um, anyone? Seriously, this is one of the books that I've recommended the most, and has been loved by everyone I've had the pleasure of sharing it with (unless they're lying to spare my oversensitive feelings - it's possible). Gift this book widely: to your mom or your work Secret Santa who you've spoken to twice.
4. Heartstopper #1 - Alice Oseman
What it's about: "Boy meets boy" in the first volume of the relationship between Nick and Charlie, two British boys who meet in grammar school. This graphic novel flawlessly illustrates the sweet and uncertain beginnings of young love, complicated by the struggles of coming - and being - out in high school. There's a lot of great queer young adult fiction out there, but this one is really special.
Gift it to… the most obvious choice is any LGBTQ+ person - (particularly those who are younger!) who you want to give a little love to, but allies and romance-fiends alike will also adore this because it's just so dang cute. This is also a great option for anyone looking to get into comics/graphic novels - the artwork is gorgeous.
5. The Poet X - Elizabeth Acevedo
What it's about: A novel told in verse (think long-form poetry), The Poet X tells the story of Xiomara, a teenager of Dominican parents growing up in Harlem. Grappling with family, identity, sexuality, and religion, Xiomara begins to find herself through slam poetry in this stunning coming-of-age debut.
Gift it to... your favourite feminist, especially if they also happen to be a lover of language or words. While technically a young adult book, I wouldn't put an upper age limit on this one - it's a beautiful story that deserves to be heard far and wide.
Here's hoping this list takes a bit of the stress out of your holiday shopping (or at the very least, gives you some inspiration for your end-of-2020 reading). Is there someone you're still stumped on? Let me know - we'll come up with the perfect book together!
Happy reading and happy gift-giving - and don't forget to shop local, if you're able! 🎁
- Chloe
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