Still making out your Christmas shopping list? Having trouble deciding what to get some of the people you need to buy presents for? Not surprisingly, as a writer, I advocate giving books.
With books, there’s no worrying about guessing wrong at size or, worse, insulting someone by buying a Large for a person who wears a Medium. There’s also no worrying about color choice or style.
Yes, it’s true that few folks are omnivorous readers, who read everything. Some people read mostly mysteries, while others prefer romances, and others prefer uncategorizable novels—non-genre. Then there are those—and I’m one—who prefer nonfiction over novels. Some who fall into this category like to read history; others (predominantly male) prefer a military theme; still others prefer to devour motivational/inspirational books, while others prefer other types of self-help. And then there’s my personal fave: humor. These choices don’t account for all the types of nonfiction, either. There are cookbooks, Bible interpretations and other religious-themed books, how-tos, and plenty more.
So if you don’t know what a person’s tastes in reading are, aren’t you right back to the same sort of dilemma as not knowing their size, color choice, or style?
No.
For one thing, you can glean hints about their interests and apply that to their tastes in reading matter. If you know an individual—female or male—loves to cook, buy them a cookbook. Does he or she have a woodshop in the basement? (Yes, “she”—I know a female woodworker!) Buy them a book on woodworking projects. Are they into current affairs? Buy a book on politics, current affairs, or a related topic—either nonfiction or a novel that deals with such matters. Are they saving toward retirement? How about a book on investing? Are they facing some sort of difficulties—financial, health, family, or otherwise—that they need to have their minds taken off, or do they simply love to laugh? Buy them a funny book. Or, if they’re facing difficulties, buy them some escapist fare—a futuristic novel, a spy novel filled with high-tech gadgetry, or a romance set in an exotic locale. And speaking of romances, if your giftee is a single woman (including divorcées and widows) who is currently unpartnered—no serious love interest—there’s a good chance she’d be receptive to a romance. (Although goodness knows many married women devour romances voraciously too.)
What about kids? Unless you’re the child’s parent, you probably don’t know what books he or she already has on their bookshelf, so you’re better off NOT buying a book in a popular series. If the child is into (depending on their age) Thomas the Tank Engine, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Harry Potter, Judy Blume books, or another popular series, chances are that they already have all the books in the series already—or, if not, and there’s one that they’re missing, that it’s already waiting for them under the tree or arriving Christmas Eve courtesy of Santa. You’re safer buying something less well known.
Have I given you enough clues to help you choose the perfect book for that problematic name on your gift list? If not, take a stab and buy them a book anyway. You just might be instrumental in helping them discover a new genre of book that makes for great reading—historical novels, police procedurals, or books about food (as opposed to cookbooks—think Ruth Reichl or Anthony Bourdain). Or you might help them discover a new favorite author.
Maybe it’ll even be me. (Hey, a gal can dream, can’t she?)
Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah…whatever you’re celebrating make it a good one.