AUTHORS, AUTHORS
Well-known writers share the books they'll be giving their loved ones this holiday season
Happy holidays to all, and to all a good read. Or at least, that's the idea, but first you need to settle on some good titles to gift. For inspiration, we asked authors from a variety of genres to share what books they plan to give their family and friends this year.
RUMAAN ALAM Author of Leave the World Behind
A book isn't one-size-fits-all; it's nearer Cinderella's slipper, just right for a certain, particular reader. The book I've given to others probably more than all others is Lorrie Moore's Birds of America — a masterpiece, surely. I try to think about what the recipient might like to read or think about, but when I give a book as a gift, I'm most often doing so because it's a book I love. Thus, a selfless act is revealed to be almost selfish, though I have trouble imagining a reader who didn't fall in love with Moore's stories.
ANN PATCHETT Author of The Dutch House
In a world that has felt more than a little shabby, I find I'm drawn to books that are both brilliant and well made this year. Louise Erdrich is my favourite author and her most recent novel, The Night Watchman, is my favourite Erdrich book. It's rich, deep, complex, loving, human and humane. It will remind us of who we are capable of being.
JANET EVANOVICH Author of Fortune and Glory: A Stephanie Plum Novel
I'm a cookbook junky. I love to read about food and the culture surrounding it. This year, I'm gifting an old favourite and a new favourite. The old favourite is The Tuscan Sun Cookbook, by Frances and Edward Mayes. The photographs are wonderful, and the philosophy is worth taking to heart. My new favourite for 2020 is Heroes' Feast, the official Dungeons & Dragons cookbook by Kyle Newman, Jon Peterson and Michael Witwer. I love this book just for the fun of it. It's beautifully illustrated, and as an added benefit, the recipes are actually doable.
JODI PICOULT Author of A Spark of Light
For the holidays, I'm going to give multiple copies of The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, and The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab, the two best novels I read since the pandemic hit. The first one reignited the pilot light of hope inside me and the second completely absorbed me enough to make me forget the real world. Both are excellent gifts for anyone you love this year.
ANDREW CHILD Author of The Sentinel: A Jack Reacher Novel
My most frequent choice this year was Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby, a fresh take on urban noir with a unique emotional pitch and a truly memorable cast of characters. For the holidays, however, I like to change the tone and aim for something happier and more uplifting.
With this in mind, the book I put under the tree most often is The Eighty-dollar Champion, by Elizabeth Letts. It's a true story, beautifully written, meticulously researched and brimming with the kind of grit, determination and triumph against all odds that is guaranteed to warm your heart.