Holiday Shopping

For me the best gift that you can give or receive is a book. During each holiday season I usually give at least one or two books as gifts each year. I like the challenge of finding something that they will like and have often delved deep into the belly of The Strand to find the right match.

Sometimes I think about a time when this kind of thought was requires. During Louisa May Alcott’s time books were decadent. They were hard to get, expensive and often warranted a lot of thought. Today it’s a lot easier. I wonder what the ride of e-books will do to that trend.

Some of my favorite books have been birthday or holiday presents. I received Little House on the Prairie for my eighth birthday. It sparked a reading frenzy. I received Jamie Oliver’s Meals in Minutes for my most recent birthday. That book has sparked an eating frenzy.

What’s the best book you’ve ever received as a present? Let me know in the space below and don’t forget to tell me your email. This week I’ll name two winners for the two copies of the ARC of The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker. It’s a great story about a girl who learns about self-awareness and the value of friends while experimenting with different lifestyles. I liked it because it’s a great view of the consequences of these choices and the importance of self-reliance.