Memoirs
A PROMISED LAND BY BARACK OBAMA
This memoir is the perfect gift for politics junkies or anyone in your life who misses our former president! It’s a thoughtful and beautifully written book, I really can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t like to receive this gorgeous book as a gift! I think it would be a fun pick for a friends or family mini book club discussion around the dinner table (or via Zoom)! Read my review here.
KNOW MY NAME BY CHANEL MILLER
I really can’t stop recommending this book, its an incredible memoir penned by the victim in the Stanford campus rape case, who is not only a fantastic writer, but also a courageous survivor and victim’s advocate. Heartbreaking but life-affirming, I think it’s required reading for young women who have the mental an emotional space for it! Read my review here.
GROUP BY CHRISTIE TATE
I think this memoir would make a really unique gift for anyone in your life who is interested in mental health and therapy, or really anyone who enjoys a great human story. This memoir details one woman’s experience in group therapy, and deals with a lot of the issues everyone faces when entering adulthood. A great gift for the young adult in your life!
Cookbooks
THE FRENCH LAUNDRY, PER SE BY THOMAS KELLER
This is a gorgeous gift for any foodie in your life, especially anyone who has had a chance to visit one of world-renowned chef Thomas Keller’s restaurants. This book is the gold standard for thoughtful and sophisticated home cooks.
HALF BAKED HARVEST BY TIEGHAN GERARD
This cookbook is a perfect gift for anyone in your life starting to explore cooking. These recipes by the popular food blogger Teighan Gerard (@halfbakedharvest on Instagram) are super delicious and not too challenging, many of them have become favorite meals for my loved ones!
COCONUT & SAMBAL BY LARA LEE
This is a gorgeous cookbook for anyone looking to dive into some lesser known culinary traditions. Filled with delicious traditional Indonesian recipes and stunning photography of Indonesia, this is the perfect gift for the chef in your life looking to be transported and inspired!
Classics
BELOVED BY TONI MORRISON
I personally would love a thoughtful gift like a couple of Toni Morrison’s novels, and there are so many to choose from. For the purpose of his post, I’ve picked my all time favorite novel, this stunning tale of a mother’s sacrifice that includes magical realism and some of the best prose you can find anywhere. Anyone looking to expand their classic library would love this!
THE WHITE ALBUM BY JOAN DIDION
This essay collection would be a perfect gift for anyone enamored with 60s style, California culture, or cool girls. This collection is a compelling and witty indictment of American culture, written by one of the most talented writers I’ve ever read. Any friends or family who are frequently sending you cool articles or think pieces would be the perfect recipients of this collection.
MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN BY SALMAN RUSHDIE
This incredible novel that combines historical fiction and magical realism is a landmark achievement of fiction writing. A great entry point for anyone missing Salman Rushdie’s novels in their classics collection, I can’t think of a more fascinating novel to gift to the fiction-lover in your life! Read my review here.
Award Winners
INTERIOR CHINATOWN BY CHARLES YU
This novel, the National Book Award Winner for Fiction winner for this year, is one of the most unique novels I’ve read in a long time.Written like an action movie script, this witty and incisive novel is an indictment of Asian cultural stereotypes and the pigwonholing of Asian identity. Perfect for the movie lover in your life as well! Read my review here.
SHUGGIE BAIN BY DOUGLAS STUART
This Booker Prize winning novel is a heartbreaking story about a young boy in Scotland, growing up with his alcoholic mother, all while coming to terms with his sexuality in a repressive environment. A gorgeous novel about a complicated mother and son relationship, and a great gift for anyone looking to discover new literary talents.
HAMNET BY MAGGIE O’FARRELL
This year’s Woman’s Prize for Fiction winner is a perfect gift for any Shakespeare buff in your life. This gorgeous historic novel is based off of the little known life of Shakespeare’s son who didn’t survive childhood, whom O’Farrell imagines as a plague victim and the inspiration for the play Hamlet. The novel really focuses on Hamnet and his mother, and is an atmospheric and gorgeous family story. Read my review here.