As a voracious reader and book lover, I can never have enough books. Today we’re sharing some of our favorite picks that is sure to make the reader in your life happy. Don’t forget to enter below to win one of the items marked “GIVEAWAY.”
Travel In Someone Else’s Shoes Books
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern draws the reader in its first few pages. Celia’s father begins grooming her at a young age to help him win a competition against his rival. The two men spend years training their proteges for an ultimate duel that will leave only one of them standing. Marco and Celia inadvertantly fall in love, make the stakes even higher. (Doubleday)
In Stephen King’s 11/22/63: A Novel, protagonist Jake Epping discovers a portal that takes him to 1958. His friend Al sends him on the mission to fix present day life. All Jake has to do is return to the past and stop John F. Kennedy’s assassination. (Scribner)
Alma Katsu’s dark novel The Taker will sure draw you into the character’s supernatural world. Lanny, born in a Puritan world, will do anything to keep the love of her life near. Lanny creates an immortal bond to a mysterious man and soon draws her love into her dark, lusty life–but at what price? (Gallery Books) Read our Q&A with Alma Katsu
Books That Will Give You An Adrenaline Rush
100 Yards of Glory by Joe Garner & Bob Costas is the ultimate gift for your football fan. This coffee table book chronicles the greatest moments in NFL history with chapters like Improbable Catches and Amazing Runs. Your football fan can truly relive those great moments with included DVD of the 10-part documentary of the same title. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
The Informationist by Taylor Stevens introduces us to Vanessa Michael Munroe, who’s in the business of discovering information no one else is able to. Born to missionaries in Africa, Munroe returns to her childhood land to carry out her latest assignment. In order to solve the case, she must also face the demons of her past. (Broadway)
The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonasinga is the debut novel of the original Walking Dead back story. Fans of the television show will especially enjoy the audiobook version. Hearing the story is sure to make the hairs on your arm stand up. In fact, my husband has to break from listening after a while because he gets so creeped out. (MacMillan Audio)
The Passage by Justin Cronin is one of my favorite reads this year. Set in a post-apocalyptic Earth, humans keep a vigilant watch against vampire like creatures in order to survive. You might not want to read this book late at night. A more detailed review here. (Ballatine Books)
In A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny, Chief Inspector Gamache is called to a tiny Quebec village to solve a murder in the art world where nothing is as it seems. Can you figure out who the murderer before Gamache does? (MacMillan Audio)
Holiday Books to Make Your Heart Grow Three Sizes Bigger
Hallmark’s A Charlie Brown Christmas Recordable Storybook is a interactive, personal way to introduce your kids to a classic story. Hallmark’s line of Recordable Storybooks allows you to record yourself reading the story aloud. A Charlie Brown Christmas also features music from the animated movie as well. This is a great gift to send to a family member who lives far away, such as grandparents to grandchildren. Hallmark Recordable books are available in any of their stores. Until 12/24, save $10 off any holiday book (reg $29.95) with any purchase. GIVEAWAY. Read more below and enter to win your choice of Hallmark’s Holiday Recordable Storybooks!
The Christmas Note by Donna VanLiere is perfect when you’re feeling stressed during the holiday season. As you’re shopping for gifts, listen to this story of hope and redemption. Gretchen, mother of two, moves to a new community to be closer to her mother. One day her mysterious neighbor Melissa knocks on her door, asking for help cleaning out her recently deceased mother’s apartment. (MacMillan Audio) GIVEAWAY Win the audiobook of The Christmas Note.
Gifts for Time-Strapped Readers
420 Characters by Lou Beach is a collection of short stories that are 420 characters or less, about the length of a Facebook status. In fact, that’s exactly how he began. He penned these paragraph length stories as Facebook status updates. This book is a collection of those stories and contains his original collages. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Bruce Machart’s short stories in Men in the Making feature men who seek to prove themselves in a world that doesn’t always welcome them. Set in Texas, these 10 stories give a rare glimpse into the hearts of these hard working men. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) GIVEAWAY
Inspiration For Aspiring Writers
Literary Ladies’ Guide to Writing Life by Nava Atlas is chockful of photos, anectdotes, and inspiration pulled directly from well known women authors’ personal letters and diaries. The book is beautifully designed. Each chapter shares each author’s view on “Developing a Voice” or “The Writer Mother.” Jane Austen, Anais Nin, and Madeleine L’Engle are some of the authors featured in this book. Pick up a copy of this book for the writer on your list. (Sellers Publishing, Inc)
The Complete Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron is a classic for all creatives alike, not just writers. This version includes 3 of her works about how authors can cultivate a more creative life through daily practice. Included are The Artist’s Way, Walking in this World and Finding Water.
WIN one the items above marked GIVEAWAY!
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Giveaway ends December 12 at midnight Eastern time.
Winner will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond. From Left to Write is not responsible for any lost or misdirected prizes. I received review copies of some of these books while others were personally purchased. Affiliate links are included in this post.
, written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, is a true story of a penguin family living in New York City’s Central Park Zoo. This book has been on the top ten list of most frequently challenged books every year since 2006. That’s five years in a row, for a relatively short and sweet story about two penguins. It just so happens that Roy and Silo are a little bit different than the other couples, and need a bit of help starting their family. This assistance comes from of a zookeeper, who gives them an egg to nurture. The two male penguins show themselves to be outstanding parents and role models to Tango, their baby. The 32-page book is beautifully illustrated and is truly an enduring love story told in a very thoughtful way. My six year-old adores this one, and we love reading it to her.
series by J. K. Rowling has not actually made the list of top ten most challenged books since 2003, but I had to mention it here. These books reintroduced reading to a generation of children (and adults). They are fun, imaginative, and highly readable. I know they’ve created a huge merchandising craze (my daughter will be the ecstatic recipient of Hogwarts robes, and a Gryffidnor-colored scarf and beanie at her birthday party this weekend), but I don’t think that detracts from the books at all. Yes, they have some magic in them, and characters die…but Rowling told her stories well. And I’m all for anything that fosters a love of reading! In fact, I’m reading a chapter a night to my daughter, and I love that she looks forward to it as much as she does. She reads some of it to me, and can’t wait to get in bed to get started.
series makes the list as well, as recently as 2005. For the life of me, I can’t figure this one out, unless the complaints are of the “unsuitable for intended age group” variety. Yes, as people should guess from the title, the book has bathroom humor. It is for younger boys, however, and traditionally that is a difficult group to get interested in reading. Why not try to relate to them on their level? I’ve read a couple of these, and they made me laugh. I won’t hesitate to share these with both of my kids when they are old enough.
