Holiday Book Bag

Remarkable Reads Ready To Unwrap!

Spoiler Alert! I love to read. Which, if you visit this blog with any degree of regularity, should come as zero surprise.

Giving a book as a gift is a deeply intimate experience for the giver or the receiver, and when all the stars align, for both. You are in essence giving someone the world, an opportunity to explore something new, to learn, to be still and consider what exists outside themselves. To find new heights or depths of emotion. To laugh, to cry, the feel the deep beat of their heart and the rush of their blood without the nuisance of exercise.

While I would not recommend that anyone in their right mind give me an actual physical book, they make very special presents for less voracious readers. For that reason, I have gathered for you lists tailored to a wide mixture of people you may have in your life. Each individual book recommended is accompanied by a quick note from the book jacket, so you have a taste of what you are getting. I have read many of these, and for those not read, I have extensively researched in order to award my stamp of approval. I have put my top three picks at the start of each list, otherwise these are in no particular order!

Have a wonderful, joyous and magical holiday season.

The Brainiac:

For the deep thinkers and the brain stormers…

Reader Come Home: The Reading Brain in A Digital World – Maryanne Wolf

Considers the future of the reading brain and our capacity for critical thinking, empathy and dependency on digital technology.

The Library Book – Susan Orlean

A love letter to a beloved institution and the investigation into one of its greatest mysteries.

Brief Answers to The Big Questions – Stephen Hawking

A book every thinking person worried about humanities future should read.

She Has Her Mothers Laugh: The Powers, Perversions and Potential of Heredity – Carl Zimmer

Original perspective on what we pass on from generation to generation. We don’t just inherit genes, but things from outside of our bodies.

The Emotionary: Dictionary of Words That Don’t Exist for Feelings That Do – Eden Sher

When you can’t find a word to articulate how you are feeling…make one up!

Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World – Adam Grant & Sheryl Sandberg

Examines how people can champion new ideas and leaders can forge new paths.

Art of Gathering – Priya Parker

How we meet and why it matters. A new approach to transform the ways we spend our time together.

Power of Why – Amanda Lang

How curiosity and asking the right question fuels innovation and drives change.

Messy – Tim Harford

How the power of disorder can transform our lives.

The Champion:

For the caregivers, change makers and truth tellers…

When Breath Becomes Air – Paul Kalanithi

Inspiring and exquisite memoir that finds hope and beauty in the face of insurmountable odds and in the search for the answer to “What makes a life worth living?”

Born A Crime – Trevor Noah

Insight blended with humor to depict the harsh realities of growing up as a mixed-race youth in a racist society.

Hunger – Roxanne Gay

Using her own emotional and psychological struggles with food and her body, the author delves into our shared anxieties and pleasures.

Everything Happens for A Reason – Kate Bowler

A meditation on sense making when there’s no sense to be made, on letting go when we can’t hold on.

I am I am I am: 17 Brushes with Death – Maggie O’Farrell

A memoir told entirely adjacent to near death experiences, as the saying goes, it’s at those moments we are never closer to life.

Small Fry – Lisa Brenman Jobs

Frank, smart and endearing story of growing up as the daughter of the renowned Steve Jobs.

Love Warrior – Glennon Doyle

Inspiring account of how we are all born to be warriors; strong, powerful and brave.

A House in the Sky – Amanda Lindhout

How a woman’s curiosity led her to one of the world’s most remote places and how that turned into a harrowing fifteen months of captivity.

Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies – Michael Ausiello

A poignant and funny memoir of love, loss and other four-letter words.

The Connoisseur:

For those looking for the picture that is worth a thousand words…

Boundless Books – Postertext

Fifty literary classics transformed into works of art.

The Art of Bill – Ezra Croft

Illustrated collection of Bill Murray…at the Last Supper, as a Knight, as Superman.

Your Favourite Seuss – Dr. Seuss

All the stories are included along with the illustrations, accompanied by an essay from someone who’s life was changed by the tale.

Iconic Magazine Covers – Ian Birch

The stories behind the most innovative and controversial covers as told by those who created them.

The Lost Words – Robert Macfarlane

A beautiful collectible for a lover of words and art.

Art Matters – Neil Gaiman

How imagination can change the world, a creative call to arms.

Broad Strokes – Bridget Quinn

Women who made art and history. An exploration of their lives and careers.

My Ideal Bookshelf – Thessaly LaForce

The books we choose to keep can say a lot about who we are and how we see ourselves. In this book, leading cultural figures share the books that matter most to them.

Bibliophile: An Illustrated Miscellany – Jane Mount

Brings together literary people, places and things through illustrations and unique details.

The Discophile:

For those who love all music, not just disco…pun intended

Dust & Groves – Eilon Paz

A beautiful coffee table book with a look into the world of vinyl collectors in their most intimate space – their record rooms.

Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin

50 years since their formation, the remaining band members collaborate on this definitive volume. Spectacular!

50 Years of Rolling Stone – Rolling Stone

A decade by decade exploration of music and history as seen through the lens of this iconic magazine.

Booze & Vinyl: A Spirited Guide – Andre Darlington

Match a great record with a perfectly mixed cocktail. Two worlds destined to be together!

Women Who Rock – Evelyn McDonnell

Most complete and up to date history of the influence, evolution and importance of women in music.

Your Favourite Band Is Killing Me – Steven Hyden

What music rivalries reveal about the meaning of life. Beatles vs Stones…

Love Is A Mix Tape – Rob Sheffield

Life and loss lived one song at a time. Using listings of fifteen of his favourite playlists, the author portrays the power of music.

27: The Legend & Mythology of the 27 Club – Gene Simmons

A deep dive into the stories of legendary musicians who lost their lives at 27 years old. At the pinnacle of their careers. Beautiful drawings!

Photography – Ringo Star

From behind the drums to behind the lens. Ringo Starr opens up his archives to share memories of childhood, The Beatles and beyond.

The Escapist:

For those who love getting lost in a world of fiction…

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine – Gail Honeyman

Our main character struggles with appropriate social skills, verbally restraining herself, and loneliness. See full Cracking the Spine Review.

Elevation – Stephen King

A riveting, eerie and moving story about a man who’s mysterious allfliction brings a small town together. See full Cracking the Spine Review.

The Woman in The Window – A.J. Finn

A Hitchcockian thriller about an agoraphobic woman who believes she witnessed a crime in a neighbor’s house.

Little – Edward Carey

Wry, macabre, unforgettable tale of an ambitious orphan who transforms herself into the legendary Madame Tussaud.

Lake Success – Gary Shteyngart

A narrator that is narcissistic, self-deluded and deeply stressed, runs away from home in search of a simple life. Hilarious!

The Outsider – Stephen King

An unspeakable crime. A confounding investigation. An upstanding citizen is charged and fast tracked to a conviction.

Women Talking – Miriam Toews

Eight women will gather together in their Mennonite community for the days work and have their secret conversation recorded.

See What I Have Done – Sarah Schmidt

This novel recasts the story of Lizzie Borden, showing the intimate story of a volatile household and a family devoid of love.

Little Fires Everywhere – Celeste Ng

Riveting story following the intertwined fates of a picture-perfect family and the enigmatic mother and daughter that upend their lives.

Bachelor Girl – Kim Van Alkemade

Inspired by a true story, this novels finds a millionaire bequeathing something mysterious to an unknown actress.

Less – Andrew Sean Greer

Who says you can’t run away from your problems? You are a failed novelist about to turn fifty, faced with a damned if you do, damned if you don’t choice.

The Great Alone – Kristin Hannah

A desperate family seeks a new beginning in the near isolated wilderness of Alaska only to find the personalities more unpredictable than the environment.

The Foodie:

For the lovers of all things edible…

Whiskey in A Teacup – Reese Witherspoon

Be invited into the actress’s world, where she infuses the southern style, parties, traditions and recipes she loves with contemporary flair and charm.

Yum & Yummer – Greta Podleslei

Recipes that will blow your mind but not your diet, with humorous tidbits included.

Pretty Fun (and/or Pretty Happy) – Kate Hudson

Creating and celebrating a lifetime of tradition, as presented by a joyful lady!

Set For The Holidays – Anna Olson

Recipes to bring comfort and joy. From starters to sweets, for the festive season and almost every other day.

Giada’s Italy – Giada De Laurentis

Lavish exploration of the chef’s food roots and the traditions that define la bella vita.

Oh, She Glows Every Day – Angela Liddon

Quick and satisfying plant-based recipes and tips for health.

Tea: History & Varieties – Kevin Gascoyne

Comprehensive volume covering the world of teas.

My Last Supper – Melanie Durea

Fifty great chefs describe their final meals with interviews and recipes.

Feast: Recipes from A Canadian Road Trip – Lindsay Anderson

Two friends, five months, one car, ten provinces…over 100 Canadian recipes.

The Kiddies:

For a truly beautiful, unique and undiscovered storybook experience…

The Stinky Cheese Man – Jon Scieszka

Fun and fairly silly spoof of the fairytale. A must have for kids of all ages!

Consider Love – Sandra Boyton

A sweet and playful ode to love in its many forms.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore – William Joyce

A modern masterpiece on the love of reading, showing that in today’s world of traditional books, eBooks and apps, it’s the story we truly celebrate.

The Day the Crayons Quit – Drew Daywalt

As a boy goes to colour he finds that his crayons have revolted! Question is, what are their terms to get back to work?

Dear Girl – Amy Krouse Rosenthal

A remarkable love letter written for the little girl in your life. A reminder that she is powerful, strong, valuable and one of a kind.

The Most Magnificent Thing – Ashley Spires

A charming book about an unnamed girl and her bff, a dog.

The Mischievians – William Joyce

Where’s my homework? Who took my socks? Find the answers to these questions and so many more.

The Wall in The Middle of The Book – Jon Agee

A foolish knight is certain that his side of the wall is the safe side in this clever book.

She Persisted – Chelsea Clinton

Stories of women who changed the world and the tiny feminists and mini activists ready to follow in those footsteps.

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls – Elena Favilli

Stories of extraordinary women presented in a style that transforms them into fairytales.

We Are All Dots – Giancarlo Moori

With gentle wisdom and visual originality, this deceptively simple book makes the case that compassion is the solution to humanities challenges.

Wee Hee Hee – Wee Society

A collection of pretty funny jokes, pictures and giggles!

The Tweens:

For teens and and in-betweens…and possibly the rest of us…

Furyborn – Claire Legrand

Original fantasy that follows two unique and independent young women, centuries apart, who hold the power to either save their world, or doom it.

Scythe – Neal Shusterman

Two teens must learn the art of killing. In a world with no hunger, disease, war, misery or death, Scythes are trained to the only ones that can end a life.

A Very Large Expanse of Sea – Tahereh Mafi

Powerful and heart wrenching novel about fear, first love and the devasting impact of prejudice.

Dumplin’– Julie Murphy

Our central character, a quote “big girl” and the daughter of an ex reigning pageant queen decides to take on her small-town beauty contest.

Bridge of Clay – Markus Zusak

Story of five brothers who bring each other up in a world run by their own rules. The bridge plays a role both literal and figurative.

Darius The Great Is Not Okay – Adib Khanram

Darius doesn’t think he will ever be enough, not in America or Iran. His clinical depression certainly isn’t helping matters.

One of Us Is Lying – Karen McManus

Five students go to detention, only four leave alive. High school thriller that’s a cross between Gossip Girl and Breakfast Club.

Hole in The Middle – Kendra Fortmeyer

What if the empty space was what made you whole? Morgan was born with a hole in her middle, after years of hiding it, she decides to bare it in a very public way.

This Story Is A Lie – Tom Pollock

A teen math prodigy with an extreme anxiety disorder finds himself caught in a web of lies and conspiracies.

Dear Martin – Nic Stone

A good kid on the right track finds himself in the crosshairs of gang violence and ends up in handcuffs due to the colour of his skin.

Leah On the Off Beat – Becky Albertalli

In this sequel to Simon vs the Homo Sapien Agenda, we follow his best friend as she grapples with changing friendships, senior year angst and first love.

A Winters Promise – Christelle Dabus