 |  |  |  |
Books make great gifts. If you need to give a Christmas gift, or are wondering which books to put on your own Christmas list, here are some suggestions:
“The Silent Patient” is a psychological thriller par excellence! Anyone who enjoys a story with a lot of layers and a little madness should read this book by Alex Michaelides. I can’t wait to read his newest book, “The Maidens.”
“Local Woman Missing,” by Mary Kubica is another book perfect for readers who like to solve the mystery, but don’t mind having everything they thought they knew about the story turned upside down by the end.
If a reader on your Christmas list enjoys a mystery with an eerie quality, “The Thirteenth Tale” by Diane Setterfield is a good choice. A couple of reviews likened it to gothic classics “Jane Eyre,” “Wuthering Heights,” and “Rebecca.” That might have been hyperbole, but it is a masterfully written book that readers may want to reread to find the clues they missed during the first reading.
I have a huge crush on Dave Grohl. So it’s not surprising that I bought a copy of his new autobiography, “The Storyteller” for myself, and my daughter sent a copy for my birthday. If you have ever seen him give an interview, you understand the appropriateness of that title. Judging by the fact that he’s on the television every time I turn around - on everything from commercials to “The Morning Show” on Apple TV - it seems that everyone else may be catching on to my infatuation. If you have a Dave Grohl fan on your list, this book is a must. If you have a music fan on your list this book is a must. If you have someone who has never heard of Dave Grohl, Nirvana, or Foo Fighters but enjoys a well-written and entertaining autobiography, this book is a must.
I was captivated by the introduction, and was going to share an excerpt here. Then, I was moved by the book jacket and wanted to share portions from it. I feared that before I knew it, I would be sharing the entire book. I narrowed it to three sentences from the book jacket, ‘“The Storyteller’ is brimming with life, humor, and Dave’s clear-eyed perspective on fame. We know Dave Grohl as one of our most treasured musicians. Now, ‘The Storyteller’ introduces him as a gifted writer.” I also think the cover art for this book is perfect. Even if I had never heard of Dave Grohl, and certainly couldn’t identify a picture of him, I think the quiet photo on the cover would have captured my attention and caused me to open the book.
At first glance neither the title nor the cover of “Cloud Cuckoo Land” appealed to me. However, on second glance, when I read it was by the author of “All The Light We Cannot See,” I was more than willing to give it a chance. “All The Light We Cannot See” is one of my favorite books in recent years. I was hooked by the summary on the book jacket, and on third glance, I could see what had been right in front of me. The image on the cover is a book. And what a book it is! “Cloud Cuckoo Land,” written in Anthony Doerr’s captivating style, is “a soaring story of children on the cusp of adulthood in worlds in peril, who find resilience, hope - and a book.” The readers on your Christmas list will be happy to find this book under the tree.
If you have a reader who enjoys a compelling story, Amor Towles’ new book, “The Lincoln Highway,” is filled with Americana and diverse characters. A plan to drive from Nebraska to California to make a fresh start becomes a saga worthy of Homer. This book has joined Towles’ other books “A Gentleman in Moscow” and “The Rules of Civility” (previously reviewed here) as some of my favorites. It (or any of Towles’ books) would be a welcome gift.
Wishing you Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!
by Nancy Carstens
“The Silent Patient” is a psychological thriller par excellence! Anyone who enjoys a story with a lot of layers and a little madness should read this book by Alex Michaelides. I can’t wait to read his newest book, “The Maidens.”
“Local Woman Missing,” by Mary Kubica is another book perfect for readers who like to solve the mystery, but don’t mind having everything they thought they knew about the story turned upside down by the end.
If a reader on your Christmas list enjoys a mystery with an eerie quality, “The Thirteenth Tale” by Diane Setterfield is a good choice. A couple of reviews likened it to gothic classics “Jane Eyre,” “Wuthering Heights,” and “Rebecca.” That might have been hyperbole, but it is a masterfully written book that readers may want to reread to find the clues they missed during the first reading.
I have a huge crush on Dave Grohl. So it’s not surprising that I bought a copy of his new autobiography, “The Storyteller” for myself, and my daughter sent a copy for my birthday. If you have ever seen him give an interview, you understand the appropriateness of that title. Judging by the fact that he’s on the television every time I turn around - on everything from commercials to “The Morning Show” on Apple TV - it seems that everyone else may be catching on to my infatuation. If you have a Dave Grohl fan on your list, this book is a must. If you have a music fan on your list this book is a must. If you have someone who has never heard of Dave Grohl, Nirvana, or Foo Fighters but enjoys a well-written and entertaining autobiography, this book is a must.
I was captivated by the introduction, and was going to share an excerpt here. Then, I was moved by the book jacket and wanted to share portions from it. I feared that before I knew it, I would be sharing the entire book. I narrowed it to three sentences from the book jacket, ‘“The Storyteller’ is brimming with life, humor, and Dave’s clear-eyed perspective on fame. We know Dave Grohl as one of our most treasured musicians. Now, ‘The Storyteller’ introduces him as a gifted writer.” I also think the cover art for this book is perfect. Even if I had never heard of Dave Grohl, and certainly couldn’t identify a picture of him, I think the quiet photo on the cover would have captured my attention and caused me to open the book.
At first glance neither the title nor the cover of “Cloud Cuckoo Land” appealed to me. However, on second glance, when I read it was by the author of “All The Light We Cannot See,” I was more than willing to give it a chance. “All The Light We Cannot See” is one of my favorite books in recent years. I was hooked by the summary on the book jacket, and on third glance, I could see what had been right in front of me. The image on the cover is a book. And what a book it is! “Cloud Cuckoo Land,” written in Anthony Doerr’s captivating style, is “a soaring story of children on the cusp of adulthood in worlds in peril, who find resilience, hope - and a book.” The readers on your Christmas list will be happy to find this book under the tree.
If you have a reader who enjoys a compelling story, Amor Towles’ new book, “The Lincoln Highway,” is filled with Americana and diverse characters. A plan to drive from Nebraska to California to make a fresh start becomes a saga worthy of Homer. This book has joined Towles’ other books “A Gentleman in Moscow” and “The Rules of Civility” (previously reviewed here) as some of my favorites. It (or any of Towles’ books) would be a welcome gift.
Wishing you Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!
by Nancy Carstens
RSS Feed