It's November, which means the holiday list-making has begun. Here's our case for putting a book on it: a good one costs less than most gifts, it's personal in a way a store-bought trinket isn't, and a used one comes with a little history and keeps another book out of the landfill.
Below is our shortcut for the hardest part, which is figuring out which book. We've sorted it by the kind of reader you're shopping for, and every title here is one we have in stock right now, in the shop or on our website.
For the Mystery Lover
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. Ten strangers, one island, and a rhyme that keeps coming true. It's one of the best-selling mysteries ever written, and it's still impossible to put down. Perfect for someone who loves a twisty plot, and a great gateway for anyone who thinks classic mysteries are stuffy. Our copy is a mass market paperback in good condition.
For the History Buff
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. This is true history that reads like a thriller, following the building of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago alongside a killer hiding in plain sight. It's a good pick for someone who likes nonfiction but wants a story, not a textbook. We have a few copies in a range of conditions, including a very well-read, budget-friendly paperback online and a used copy you can pick up in the shop.
For the Fantasy Fan
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. If they've seen the movies but never read it, or read it once as a kid, this is a gift that feels like coming home. Ours is a hardcover in good condition (it's missing its dust jacket, but the book itself is in good shape), which makes it a nice one to give and keep on a shelf.
For the Foodie
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten. The Barefoot Contessa's memoir is a warm, funny story about starting over and following what you love. It's a great gift for the person who watches cooking shows, collects cookbooks, or hosts every holiday dinner. Ours is a hardcover in good condition.
For the Northern Michigan Reader
The Nick Adams Stories by Ernest Hemingway. Several of these stories, including "Big Two-Hearted River," are set in the woods and rivers of northern Michigan, which makes them a fun, local-feeling gift for anyone who loves this part of the world. Ours is a paperback in good condition.
For the Young Reader
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, a color-illustrated paperback with Garth Williams's classic pictures, or Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, a sturdy library-bound copy that's built to survive a lot of bedtime reading. Children's classics are some of the best gifts to give used. They're made to be read over and over, and a book that's already been loved is ready to be loved again.
For the Person Who Has Everything
One of our "pretty books." If you saw the gilded classics in our recent haul post, you know the idea: a book that looks beautiful on a shelf and a story that's worth reading. These are in the shop in Interlochen, so stop by and see them in person. They make a gift that looks like you spent a lot more than you did.
Can't Decide? Let Them Choose
If you're really stuck, we also have online gift cards, so the reader on your list can pick out their own.
A Few Ways to Make a Book Feel Like a Gift
- Write a short note inside the cover. Why you picked it, or a favorite line, is the thing they'll keep long after the wrapping is gone.
- Pair it with something small. A good bookmark, a tin of tea, or a candle turns one book into a gift set.
- Give two (or four). Right now, when you shop online and buy three books, you get the fourth free with code BUY3GET1. That makes it easy to build a stack for a whole family.
- Order early if you're shopping online. Shipping gets busy as the holidays get closer, and a little buffer helps. Shipping is free on every order, or you can pick up in the shop for free.
Shopping With Us
We stock a very large selection, in the shop in Interlochen and online, so we can usually find something for just about any reader. If you're stuck, tell us who you're shopping for, what they like, and what they've loved before. We'll put together some ideas.
Happy hunting, and happy reading.
Who's the hardest person on your list to buy a book for? Tell us about them in the comments or stop by the shop, and we'll try to solve it.