Holiday gift guide Books hold the answer

By THE BOOKWORK SEZ

Special to The Vindicator

Shopping is easy.

You do it at least once a week, just because. It’s fun, relaxing, enlightening, and social. You love to shop… except when you have to shop for a gift for someone and you don’t know what to buy. Gah.

In that case, how about a book? How about one of these books:

FICTION

Who doesn’t want a thriller for midwinter reading? For sure, your giftee will, and “The Jaguar’s Children” by John Vaillant is the one to wrap. It’s the story of Hector, who’s being smuggled into America from Mexico when the truck he’s in breaks down. He’s sealed inside and the smugglers have left but he has a cellphone and your giftee will have a page-turner. Wrap it up with “A Free State” by Tom Piazza, a thrilling novel of a former slave who, in conjunction with the leader of a minstrel troupe, concocts a dangerous ruse so that he can make music on-stage with white performers. Oh, did I say that a slave hunter is on his trail?

For the historian who needs a little fiction now and then, “Viet Man” by D.S. Lliteras may be the thing to wrap up. It’s the story of a warrior, after he comes home, and the memories of battle that he struggles to forget. Wrap it up with “The Guyana Contract” by Rosalind Kilkenny McLymont, a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller about a high-powered female executive whose new work assignment seems suspiciously underhanded – a feeling she especially gets when she learns that a man from her past is involved, too.

No doubt, there’s a tender heart on your gift list – someone who’s always sunny and smiling. “100 Days of Happiness” by Fausto Brizzi is the book you want to give her (or him?). It’s the story of a down-and-out man who learns that he’s going to die, so he spends his last 100 days on Earth doing good for the people around him. Wrap it up with “The Best Advice in Six Words,” edited by Larry Smith. What a really great gift idea! (Count ’em – there’s six!)

If your giftee would love the gift of laughter, then wrap up “Formerly Fingerman” by Joe Nelms. It’s the story of a guy who’s down-and-out and, coincidentally, at the top of a list of witnesses for a murder trial – except he didn’t really see the murder. Wrap it up with “You Could Be Home By Now” by Tracy Manaster, the story of a young couple, an older retiree and a viral news story that should’ve never seen the light of day.

Mystery lovers who like a touch of the frontier will thank you profusely when you give “The Last Midwife” by Sandra Dallas. It’s 1880 and the midwife of a small mining town is accused of the murder of a baby – but though she’s been privy to too many things, murder isn’t one of them… Wrap it up with “Mothers, Tell Your Daughters” by Bonnie Jo Campbell, a delightful book of stories.

How could I not include a zombie book on my gift list? There’s no way I couldn’t – so why not wrap up “Posi+ive” by David Wellington, a post-apocalyptic novel of zombies, insane road warriors and a new world in the making. Wrap it up with the young adult novel “The Six” by Mark Alpert. It’s the story of a teen whose disease has stolen his mobility, but he’s found an alternative: a virtual world where he always wins. Problem is, so does the program.

If there’s a historical-novel lover on your list, then “The Reluctant Midwife” by Patricia Harman is a winner. It’s the story of a midwife working in West Virginia during the Great Depression, her challenges and the women she cares for. Pair it with another historical novel, “The Courtesan” by Alexandra Curry, the story of a little girl who is sold to a brothel in China, 1881. She grows up to be the wife of a well-traveled man who takes her places she’s never been.

The crime buff on your list will absolutely love unwrapping “Charlie Martz and Other Stories” by Elmore Leonard. It’s a collection of previously-unpublished short stories, written in the early years of Leonard’s career. It’s a little bit of mystery, a little bit of western and a whole lot of goodness. Pair it with “Bull Mountain” by Brian Panowich, a story of crime, family, honor, and moonshining.

GENERAL NONFICTION

Music lovers know what they like, and I’ll bet yours will like “Playboy Swings” by Patty Farmer. It’s the story of how an iconic men’s magazine (and the empire that sprang from it) changed the way we find, enjoy, and listen to music. Wrap it up with “The Song Machine” by John Seabrook, a book that examines why we listen to and love the music we can’t get out of our heads.

Is there a lover of All Things Southern on your list? Then wrap up “Southern Living: 50 Years: A Celebration of People, Places, and Culture.” This heavy, huge compilation of half a century of the iconic magazine is jam-packed with photos, short articles, photos, pictures and… did I say “photos”?

If Beatlemania has hit someone on your gift list, then the gift to give this year is “The Complete Beatles Songs” by Steve Turner. This large-sized book is full of lyrics from the Fab Four, as well as stories of how the songs came to be, and plenty of photos of John, Paul, George and Ringo. It could be the Ticket to Ride this holiday. Wrap it up with “Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Zoe Cormier. It’s a scientific book about our impulses and what makes us par-tay!

For the Person Who’s Read Everything, maybe something quirky is what you need. “Patternalia” by Jude Stewart might be just the thing: It’s about polka dots, stripes, plaid, houndstooth, graph paper, wallpaper and all kinds of patterns, their history, usage and why they catch our eyes. How fun is that? Wrap that creative book up with “Knitting Pearls,” edited by Ann Hood. It’s an anthology about knitting, creativity, crafting, mothers and daughters and love.

The gardener on your list will plant her fanny down and read, once you’ve given her “The Reason for Flowers” by Stephen Buchmann. It’s all about flowers, their history, the places they’re grown – even the critters that help them bloom. Wrap it up with a pair of garden gloves and a pretty trowel.

The giftee you know who loves things that go STOMP in the night will also love opening “The Bigfoot Book” by Nick Redfern. It’s a book about large, hairy creatures: Yeti, Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Little Red Men, and other critters you don’t want to meet on a dark and stormy night.

No doubt, the fashionista on your list will be overjoyed to unwrap “That’s What Fashion Is” by style-maker Joe Zee. It’s a little memoir, a little how-to, and a whole lot of ideas and gossip. What’s not to love, especially when you pair it with “Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic” by Jennifer L. Scott, a genteel book on looking, dressing, and acting elegant.

The grammarian in your life will love owning “The Handy English Grammar Answer Book” by Christine A. Hult. It’s a nice reference book, ready-made for a quick look-up and argument settler. Double your giftee’s pleasure by adding “Check These Out” by Gina Sheridan, a book about books.

I also liked “Part of Our Lives: A People’s History of the American Public Library” by Wayne A. Wiegand. It’s a great look at libraries and the people who founded and nurtured them. For deeply passionate book lovers, this is THE gift.

If there’s someone single on your gift list this year, do you dare to give “Date-Onomics” by Jon Birger? This book offers real statistics and an explanation of why boy-meets-girl is sometimes just a fairy tale – and how she can make it Happily Ever After. Wrap it up with “Spinster: Making a Life of One’s Own,” a look at being and staying happily single, written by Kate Bolick.

The pop-culture lover on your gift list will absolutely love poring over “The Must List” by the editors of Entertainment Weekly. It’s filled – just jam-packed – with lists that will bring back memories, remind your giftee of songs and fashions, fads, celebs and things we used to do back in the day.

If there’s someone on your list who loves scary movies, dark corridors and spooky stories, then “Scream: Chilling Adventures in the Science of Fear” by Margee Kerr will be an excellent choice. It’s a book that explains why we love getting goosebumps (or don’t), and how – believe it or not – being scared is good for us. And if science-y books are what your giftee loves best, add “The Superhuman Mind” by Berit Brogaard and Kristian Marlow. It’s a book about how to get the most brain-power from your noggin.

Got new parents (or parents-to-be) on your gift list this year? Then wrap up “The Science of Mom” by Alice Callahan. Based on scientific research, this book will help parents to know what advice is right and what could be wrong for their baby. Wrap it up with a box of diapers for a very needed gift.

Does your giftee (heart) New York? Then “City On a Grid” by Gerard Koeppel is a must-give this year. It’s the story of how the City That Never Sleeps became what it is; specifically, how swampy fields – a farming area, basically – became the Big Apple in only a few centuries. Toss “Life in New York” by Laura Pedersen – a personal love story to the Big Apple – in the box and make it merrier.

No doubt, there’s a MAD Magazine fiend on your list, so “Spy vs. Spy: An Explosive Celebration” from the MAD mag folks (foreword by Lewis Black) is a can’t-miss gift. It’s absolutely filled with classic cartoons, posters and everything you loved about that gleefully revenge-filled cartoon. If you can, put “The Art of Horror,” edited by Stephen Jones, in the box, too. It’s a huge coffee-table book jam-packed with posters, drawings, stories and shivers.

No doubt, there’s someone on your list who needs something light this holiday, so wrap up “The Snoopy Treasures: A Celebration of the World Famous Beagle” by Nat Gertler. It’s a look at everybody’s favorite dancing dog, from his origins to the ways we love him today. Hint: Wrap it up with tickets to the new movie. I also liked “Simon’s Cat: Off to the Vet and Other Cat-astrophes” by Simon Tofield. It’s a cartoon-filled book that will have cat lovers nodding in complete recognition.

For the person on your gift list that you’ve known forever, “The Class of ‘65” by Jim Auchmutey could be the just-right thing to put under the tree. It’s a story of racism, classism, not fitting in, as well as growing up and realizing that attitudes should – and can! – change.

Is there a hockey fan tucked away on your gift list? Good, because the thing to give is “The Handy Hockey Answer Book” by Stan Fischler. It’s a fun-to-read, easy-to-grasp book that’s all about your giftee’s favorite sport. It’s a gift that’ll stick.

HISTORY

For the historian on your list, you can’t go wrong with “Black Earth: the Holocaust as History and Warning” by Timothy Snyder. This huge, comprehensive book takes a long, hard look at the years leading up to World War II, as well as the Holocaust itself and its aftermath, and how it still resonates today.

Want to hear a whoop of pleasure when the gifts are opened? “A Little History of the United States” by James West Davidson will make that happen. It’s a lively, not-so-little look at the little ways that people from all walks of life, cultures, backgrounds and incomes came together to make a nation.

For the political animal on your gift list, what could be better than “War Plan Red” by Kevin Lippert? This little volume explains that, though the border between the States and their neighbor to the north is one that’s barely noticed, the relationship that Canada has had with the U.S. (and vice versa) wasn’t always so amicable; in fact, once upon a time, there were thoughts of invasion!

BIOGRAPHIES AND MEMOIRS

What do you give to your best friend? If that’s a question you’ve been asking, then “Five Years in Heaven” by John Schlimm is the perfect answer. It’s a book about the friendship between a 30-something man and an eighty-something nun who teaches him a thing or two – as he’s also teaching her. Another great story to give is “White Eskimo” by Stephen R. Bown. It’s the tale of Knud Rasmussen and the exploration of the Arctic.

Who hasn’t dreamed of running away to join the circus? No doubt, your giftee has and “Love in the Elephant Tent” by Kathleen Cremonesi is the right book to wrap. It’s the story of an administrative assistant who leaves her life behind to start a new one as a dancer in a circus. But adventure isn’t all she finds, and that’s a jumbo story. Pair it with “American Ghost” by Hannah Nordhaus, another unusual story: Nordhaus writes about her family, particularly her great-great-grandmother’s ghost.

If your giftee is young enough to know how to get to Sesame Street, but old enough to read grown-up books, then “Becoming Maria” by Sonia Manzano is the gift to give. This memoir is about growing up in New York, dreaming of one thing and getting another, and about big hearts on the small screen. Another book to look for and to give to the person who loves bios about performers: “Becoming Beyonce: The Untold Story” by J. Randy Taraborrelli.

COOKING / FOOD

The mixologist on your list will truly enjoy “Cocktail Noir” by Scott M. Deitche, an all-things-gangster look at speakeasies, gin joints, hooch, authors who write about them and recipes. Mystery fans will like it, too. Also look for “Best Food Writing 2015,” edited by Holly Hughes. Your foodie will love you for it.

Also for the mystery fan who loves to cook: “Goldy’s Kitchen Cookbook” by mystery writer Diane Mott Davidson. It’s a sort-of-semi anthology of the recipes that have been featured in Davidson’s whodunits, as well as a few other dishes you can make. The only mystery is what to make first.

PETS AND ANIMALS

The lover of felines doesn’t want to unwrap just any old “cat book,” which is why you’ll want to find “Wild Cats of the World” by Luke Hunter, illustrated by Priscilla Barrett. Filled with pictures, drawings, and pages of information, this gorgeous book is probably exactly purrfect.

So your giftee shares a home with pets. But what about the streets? “Feral Cities” by Tristan Donovan is a book about the creatures that make their homes on our roads, our alleys, and maybe even our homes – in a good way, and in a bad way. Wrap it up with “The Intimate Bond: How Animals Shaped Human History” by Brian Fagan, for a well-rounded look at how well we’ve gotten along with those who share the planet.

Can your giftee teach an old dog new tricks? Apparently so, as you’ll both see in “The Secret History of Kindness” by Melissa Holbrook Pierson. It’s a book about how dogs – and other animals – learn and how a trainer can facilitate the link between canine and human. Give. Sit. Or wrap it up with “Buster: The Military Dog Who Saved a Thousand Lives” by Will Barrow, as told to Isabel George.

The rescue worker on your gift list will love “My Old Dog” by Laura T. Coffey, photos by Lori Fusaro. It’s a book filled with pictures of furry seniors and happy stories. The person who also loves unusual pets will truly enjoy opening a box with “Flash” by Rachel Anne Ridge in it. It’s the story of a homeless donkey, his life, and his humans. You won’t be able to resist the cover.

For the newlywed who got a ready-made (furry) family, wrap up “Stepdog: A Memoir” by Mireya Navarro. It’s the story of a woman who fell in love with a man, but not with his dog. You know where this is going – or not. Wrap it up with “Stepdog: A Novel” by Nicole Galland, a love story of a boy, a girl, and a dog who goes missing.