So what books are you people buying as gifts?
 

I've bought a lot of books as gifts this year. My two favorites happen to be comics: the boxed set of Art Spiegelman's graphic novel Maus : A Survivor's Tale : My Father Bleeds History/Here My Troubles Began and Roz Chast's Theories of Everything: Selected, Collected, and Health-Inspected Cartoons, 1978-2006.

What books are you giving?

I gave my sister Cool Restaurants Los Angeles. There's a whole series of these from cities around the world. Not only does it have profiles and photographs of some of the swankiest restaurants, it's got recipes from the chefs, which was pretty cool.

I only bought one Christmas present this year and it wasn't a book. But I did buy a book as a gift this month.

For a new colleague who is great at his job (information architecture) but new to doing it in the banking industry.

Maus is a great Graphic Novel. Excellent stuff.

For the past year I've been evangelizing Haruki Murakami and giving his books out like Gideon give Bibles, but so far for Christmas, I've purchased no books.

House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski remasterd hardcover edition for my little brother, as well as a london travel guide. Michael is getting Pirateology, as well as Wizardology, and Dragonology. Indi is getting a freaking awesome Dinosaur pop-up book, Jade is getting a Curious George set. I got myself One Skein Wonders, a knitting book. We're book people.

I always get my dad books because he never makes a wish list, but I know he reads a lot.

I try to get him books I think he'll like, but not necessarily ones he would pick up on his own. This year I got:

The Fire: The Bombing of Germany 1940-1945 -- It's translated from German and details the Allied bombing campaign on Germany during WWII from the German perspective. My grandfather was a bombardier during WWII, so he likely was involved in some of the campaigns detailed inside.

Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate over Science and Religion

Terry Pratchett. I'm continuing a propaganda campaign to get everyone I know to read his books. I'm giving my sister The Wee Free Men along with the other two books for younger readers. They're all wonderful. And I'm giving my son Good Omens which he wrote with Neil Gaiman. I bought myself a copy since I hadn't read that one yet.

My oldest friend is a huge U2 fan, but I still love her dearly. She's getting U2 by U2, a big coffee table book with interviews by and pictures of the band since their inception.

I wouldn't call it giving as a gift, per se, but along with his actual gift (gift card to Walmart), I'm planning on sending up some of my already-read Dan Brown novels to my brother. Digital Fortress, Deception Point, Angels and Demons, and of course Da Vinci Code (though personally, I liked the first two better!). I think he'll dig the suspenseful "page turner" style. I swear, every freaking chapter (some only a page long!) leaves you on a cliffhanger.

I want you as my friend! :D

I picked up a couple of Kurt Vonnegut for the girlie, as well as 'Girl Interrupted'. The older Boy got a mystery novel and darn it I can't remember the name. J.P. something is the author....

I haven't purchased any books, but I think I may be responsible for a local sale of The Heavenly City of the Eighteenth Century Philosophers, a book Alex (if I remember correctly) recommended in the LoT book club. I had taken my daughter to the library with me, and when I asked the librarian* if they had a copy, she informed me that only as a reference material and then only at the downtown branch. I just said something to the effect that I could just get it on Amazon, but Tori told her dad about it and has been hinting in her not-so-subtle way that I will be the recipient of said book soon.


* She asked me what it was about and when I told her it was book club material she wanted to know what the hell kind of book club read this stuff. (I suspect she wanted to join). I think area clubs tend toward Oprah and the like, judging from the 'lit' pile at our branch. ****ing suburbia.

For MBC, I am getting Godless, the latest offering from Ann COulter.

For ISM, Bankrupt, by David Limbaugh.

For WB, Conservative Comebacks for Liberal Lies, by Gregg Jackson.

Merry Christmas, all.:)

Aaaaah, I'm melting! I mean, nothing like being well-read, sceagles.

I would rather let people pick ut their own material. I went to Borders yesterday (for out of town recipients) to get three gift cards. Although, I don't believe in nice tidy round amounts on gift cards so they are in the amount $41.21 each.

You'll have to talk to Susan - she loves Terry Pratchett. I've been reading his stuff of late. Currently close to finishing Small Gods.

:snap:

I don't really keep up on her books. I'm assuming that is her autobiography? :)

Whilst I can't recall all of the names, it does warm a mothers' heart to see the children excited about books as gifts. I've always given them books, whether on their list or not.

So nice that the two older ones' listed a lot of books. The Chickies was primarily books with a few Legacy Collection DVD's.

I know one book I couldn't find, 'Primal Scream'{er?}? When I asked about it the clerk told me 'Oh, that is a movie coming out'. I know this may be true but I also know my Chickie has asked for it before.

Inywho, books are our friends. That is what my brother told my girlie when she was 1 and not so good with her books and I have quoted him often.

The Audrey Hepburn Treasures

:)

This year it's been encouraging the youngers to read more so with that in mind I gave two of my favorite young folk the Lemony Snicket series. The niece got the first 12 as her middle school grad gift and book 13 was her Chritmas gift, she was muy pleased. The other youngster got the first 6 of the series, (I bought the entire set for him but he's only 8 so I didn't want to overwhelm him) and I'll gift him with the others as he is ready for more on his book shelf!

Thank god for Amazon wishlists! This year, Heather put almost 2 dozen books on hers, and made it very easy for me to handle the holiday gifty thing.

Oh, and lindyhop, we just watched the Hogfather tv movie. Heather's a Pratchett fan, and said that it was true to his Discworld vision. A thread-hijacking two thumbs up from the mousepod household!

Cookbooks (huge surprise.) But I'm even more excited about the cookbooks I received - Greek, Indian, and the one that has me cursing holiday grocery store closures: Lebanese

Well, they were unable to find the book I thought they were getting me, so instead I got the David Starkey Elizabeth bio, and Agincourt, which I am very much looking forward to reading. :)