I have been scouring the web to find the best books for my bookish friends so I thought I would return the favor. Since there were so many great releases this year I am going to split up my Holiday Book Gift Guide into several posts (will link them all together for convenience).
There were a lot of really great YA books released this year. Here are just a few that I enjoyed and perhaps a fantasy loving friend would enjoy as well.
If they like....
...Fey, then The Iron King series, by Julie Kagawa, is a great choice. In 2010, the second book in the series, The Iron Daughter, was released. This is one of my favorite series to date, check out my review, along with a review of the first book in the series, The Iron King.
...Vampires, then I've got two great series' to check out...
This year, the fifth book in the Blue Bloods series, by Melissa de la Cruz, Misguided Angel was released. Also, the second book in The Drake Chronicles Series, by Alyxandra Harvey, Blood Feud was released. Both of these books have unique histories of vampires and are set in modern times. Be sure to check out my reviews:
...
Mermaids
I recommend Siren, by Tricia Rayburn. This book has amazing characters and an added element of mystery that I absolutely fell in love with. Check out my
Review.<
A book may not zip when it moves, bop when it stops or whir when it stands still, like the whatsit in Tom Paxton's song The Marvelous Toy, but it can be just as wondrous.
Every year, as I prepare this list, I am bowled over by how many wonderful books came out that year, and it's always hard to pick favorites. I pile up the books I'm especially fond of, then send each through a filter of sorts in my head.
I try to imagine myself as a child, picking each one up for the first time and reading it through, and I ask myself whether, like a marvelous toy, it could become my heart's delight, the kind of book I'd never forget.
In some cases, a book sneaks up on me and only after letting it sit do I realize how much I loved reading it, and in other cases, it's like the marvelous toy in the song and it pops the first time I read it.
This year I don't include books I reviewed earlier in the year, simply because it would be too many for one list, but I am just as fond as all of those, and would encourage you, if you haven't read earlier reviews, to see what you think.
Books such as Laura Amy Schlitz's The Night Fairy, Ingrid Law's Scumble and Rosemary Wells's On the Blue Comet were a dream to read, and I couldn't put down The Sable Quean, the 21st book in the Brian Jacques's epic series.
There are also many fall novels that I haven't yet had a chance to read, but that I'm expecting to be fantastic too, and I will be spending cozy evenings this holiday reading as many I can after our boys are tucked in their beds.
These are just a few of those certain gems and I hope you'll seek them out too: Factotum (the final book of the Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy), Behemoth (the second book in Scott Westerfield's steampunk trilogy) and Ultimate Magic (the last book in T.A. Barron's Merlin's Dragon trilogy).
This year, in my desire to share a lot of the little things I loved about each book on the list, I wrote more lengthy summaries, so instead of lists of 10 books each, I've showcased some books on their own and created smaller lists for others.
In total, there are 40 categories, 64 books. Skip around, click what looks good or read a bit now and more later. Though some are holiday specific, most make great gifts all-year.
I hope you
Dear Holiday Spirit(s):
We’re approaching the end of 2010, a year filled with work, work…and did we mention, more work? Seeing as we’ve all been on our best behavior, please take a look at the wish list we’ve compiled with some of our favorite artists and friends. It’s much BIGGER than last year’s list and excited to share it with you. Please say you’ll bring some of these goodies our way!
Yours Truly,
Grain Edit + Friends
1. Bang! lamp by bitplay inc.: When you fire a shot at the lamp with the included gun, the light turns off and the lampshade falls to the side, showing that it’s been hit. Super cool!
2. iPad
3. Groove Merchant 20 Year Anniversary shirt designed by Freddy Anzures (Apple/Wax Poetics) for Props.
4. Harris Tweet iPad Case
5. Charcoal water pitcher
1. Mike Leigh’s Naked. A powerful film from one of my favorite directors. I’d actually take any of the films from Iron & Wine’s or Wes Anderson’s top 10 favorite films list.
2. I love the portfolio of Austin-based design Ryan Rhodes. Everything in there is top-notch. This Vans shirt is no exception; it has been calling my name for a long time. “Ethan! Wear me! I’m a medium, too!”
3. I’ve been in the market for a new pair of glasses for some time. It’s a daunting task, searching for specs. After stumbling upon this pair, the NEBB (shown in crystal), I was quite taken with it, along with the rest of Moscot’s catalog.
4. If Christmas had a color, no doubt it would be Pantone 354. If my iPhone had a color, I’m hoping it’s Pantone 354. Now all I need is an iPhone! See these beautiful cases at Engadget.
5. My Polaroid SX-70 has sat quietly and sadly alone these past few years, due to the extinction of Polaroid film. Thanks to the Impossible Project, instant film is back again! I’ll take 3 packs of Color Shade, please!
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