Gift suggestions

My heart leapt for joy when my almost 16 year old granddaughter called to tell me the main thing she wanted for Christmas was a leather-bound copy of “Gone with the Wind”. It almost equaled last year when she had told her other grandmother to please not give her a Kindle. So there is hope for books in our future.

We have expanded our young adult and children’s section and are ready to order and get quickly any special requests.

Tops on my list of just arrived gift books are:

Years ago a dear friend of mine asked that I not give her husband a book for Christmas as he spent that whole day reading it. But regardless of that, I’m going to offer some books I think you’ll enjoy, not only at Christmas, but forever after.

“Rules of Civility” by Amor Towles, 1937 Manhattan – a smashing debut novel, sophisticated and entertaining with a depiction of New York’s social strata, and it’s immensely appealing heroine!

Next, “The Cat’s Table” – Michael Ondaatje” set in the early 1950’s – a story about the magical, often forbidden discoveries of childhood.

Then, “Only Time Will Tell” by Jeffrey Archer – that begins I was told that my father was killed in the war”…

Daisy Goodwin’s novel is “An American Heiress” set in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1893 – Cora Cash’s mother wants to buy her daughter a European title.

In non-fiction, there is “Searching for Beauty” about Millicent Rogers, the Standard Oil heiress who traveled with thirty-five suitcases and seven dachshunds and made headlines for her famous romances and influence as a stage setter.

“Paper Blossoms” – a book of beautiful bouquets, the “French Cat” – gorgeous French felines and stunning scenery come to life. “Timelines of History” – the ultimate visual guide to the events that shaped the world. “Books: A Living History”, “The World of Muriel Brandolini Interiors”, The Louvre” with DVD, “Russian Elegance”, “Greene & Greene”, “Exotic Taste”, “Rooftop Gardens”, “Carvery Hastings”, “Oliver Messel”, “Bernard Mayheck”, “Silent Gardens”, “Country Houses of John Staub”, “Chicks with Guns”, “Etiquette”, “The French Cat”, “The Grand Bazaar”, “Timelines of History” and “The Binding Life”, “Birds of America” and probably many more.

I almost forgot a favorite: “America’s Great Railroad Stations” and “The Horses of the Aga Khan”.

Fashion and Jewelry are represented with “Boucheron”, “Tony Duquette Jewelry”, “DeBeers”, “The Crown Jewels”, “Tiaras”, “Famous Diamonds”, “Jewelry by Artists” and the “Jewelry of Van Cleef and Arpels.”

Also new are “Martha’s Entertaining”, “Emily Post Etiquette”, “Great Discoveries in Medicine”, “Pastry Paris”, “Valentino”, “Vogue”, “Christian Dior”, “Café Society” and “Life – 75 Years”.

We also have every Christmas book there is and an enormous selection of children’s books.

If you’re not sure what to give to your kids, grandkids, nieces or nephews, or if you just want to share your current literary passion with a younger person, consider giving one of these Juvenile / Young Adult favorites that we’ve paired with some of this year’s bestsellers.

Cleopatra, by Diane Stanley - A picture book biography with lush, colorful illustrations for first through third graders.

Cleopatra VII: Daughter of the Nile, by Kristiana Gregory - A fictionalized diary for elementary school readers from the Royal Diaries series.

Sphinx’s Princess, by Esther Friesner - A novel about an earlier Egyptian queen, Nefertiti, for 5^th through 8^th graders.

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer John Grisham’s new novel for 4^th through 8^th graders.

A Picture Book of George Washington, by David A. Adler - A short biography, for ages 4-8.

George Washington’s Socks, by Elvira Woodruff - A time travel adventure story for 1^st through 3^rd graders.

Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes - The Newberry-winning story of the American Revolution, for 3^rd through 6^th graders.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, by M.T. Anderson - A wonderfully written and thoroughly original Revolutionary-era Young Adult book.

A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver, by E.L. Konigsburg - A novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine by the much beloved E.L. Konigsburg, for elementary and middle schoolers.

Queen Eleanor, by Polly Schoyer Brooks - A biography for 6^th through 9^th graders.

The Gunslinger, by Stephen King - The first book in King’s dark fantasy series for pre-teens and teens.

Akimbo and the Elephants (et al), by Alexander McCall Smith - Adventures on an African wildlife reserve, for 1^st through 3^rd graders.

Precious and the Puggies, by Alexander McCall Smith - A mystery featuring the girlhood adventures of Precious Ramotswe.

Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia, by Michael Korda, check out..

Lawrence of Arabia, by Alistair MacLean - A biography for 3^rd through 5^th graders.

The Angel Experiment, by James Patterson - The first of Patterson’s action packed Maximum Ride series for middle schoolers.

Hoot, Flush, or Scat - -Hiaassen’s books for 5^th through 8^th graders feature the same combination of madcap humor, eccentric characters and eco-awareness as his novels for adults.

Listen to the Wind, by Greg Mortenson and Susan Roth - The story behind Three Cups of Tea retold for children, with fantastic collage illustrations.

National Velvet, by Enid Bagnold - The classic story of fourteen-year-old Velvet and her quest to win the Grand National.

Where the Broken Heart Still Beats, by Carolyn Meyer - A deeply-felt novel about Cynthia Ann Parker for middle and high schoolers.