Wintery books and last minute gift ideas
Plus the best thrillers, historical fiction, and graphic novels of the year
Hey, readers!
I think I’ve been in a bit of a reading rut this month. Maybe all that Aspen Words reading is finally catching up with me or maybe it’s the fact that I’m putting too much pressure on myself to finish the “right books” before the year is over. I recognize the arbitrariness of that deadline because, of course, I can still read 2020 releases and the books I promised myself I’d read next year, but I still let it get to me. I’ve been spending far too long each day standing in front of my bookshelves or staring at stacks trying to decide what books I need to add to my read titles before the clock strikes midnight on December 31st.
I don’t know if I’m going to be able to shake that feeling of pressure in the next couple of weeks, but I do intend to work on my overthinking tendencies in the new year, at least when it comes to my reading life. I love setting bookish goals for myself and considering how I want to make my reading life even better, and overcoming my decision paralysis when choosing my next book sounds like something that would seriously improve the quantity and quality of my reading.
I’ll share more of my goals and plans for my 2021 reading and work life in upcoming emails, but for now, let’s get into the books I did manage to read this week.
This week in books.
This week I read…
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson. I’m so glad I finally made time for this book. While I wasn’t as compelled by the stories or caught up in the emotions as I was with her last book, The Warmth of Other Suns, I did find this to be really informative and engaging. Wilkerson is a master at making history and complex sociological ideas understandable without compromising nuance. If you’re looking for broad books on how othering becomes institutionalized, Caste is a good place to start. Amazon | Bookshop
The Butcher’s Blessing by Ruth Gilligan. I’m trying to read more books by smaller publishing houses and when Tin House sent me this one I knew it sounded right up my alley. The story takes place in 1996 Ireland and orbits around eight butchers who adhere to an old tradition (perhaps superstition?) requiring them to slaughter cattle in a specific ritualistic way to avoid a curse. Their profession requires them to travel for 11 months out of the year, visiting the farms of people who still believe in the old ways and performing their rituals. While the plot of the book is driven by this superstition, it’s not a magical read…it’s extremely dark, literary, and real. The story alternates perspectives between the wife of one of these butchers, her young daughter, a non-believing farmer, and a photographer trying to capture a changing Ireland on film. This book won’t be for everyone, but if you like quiet, introspective, dreary literary fiction with a mystery at its center, I recommend giving this one a try. Amazon | Bookshop
I also finished this historical romance and am now super excited for the Netflix series. (I was warned about a problematic scene before I read it and recommend Googling or emailing me if you want to know if it’s right for you.)
Now I’m reading…
Under the Rainbow by Celia Lasky. I’m really enjoying the small-town setting in this one, and I think Lasky has created some really interesting nuanced characters. Amazon | Bookshop
These Ghosts are Family by Maisy Card. I just started this one on audio and I like it so far. It’s a complicated family story that’s also exploring immigration, cultural identity, and betrayal. Amazon | Bookshop
Three wintery books to curl up with this holiday season.
Holiday books aren’t necessarily my thing, but I do love a good wintery read. To me, a book feels like winter both if the setting has that crisp, cold feel and if the book is paced in a way that requires me to slow down. Here are three books that feel like winter and would be excellent fireside reads.
Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips. To explore the frozen tundra of Kamchatka through the stories of a community of unforgettable women. Amazon | Bookshop
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel. For the Vancouver wilderness and a slow-building mystery filled with ghosts and memories that haunt characters and readers alike. Amazon | Bookshop
In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende. For a mature love story that begins in a winter storm and spans continents and decades. Amazon | Bookshop
The best last minute gifts for bookworms.
Don’t panic if you still have some holiday shopping to do. These last minute gift ideas for bookworms can be sent straight to your recipient’s email inbox and will bring joy for months to come.
A Page 1 Books subscription. I’ve been a paying Page 1 customer for years and I always look forward to my box. When you purchase a gift subscription (of any length), your giftee gets to fill out information about their reading preferences and then enjoy books personally selected for them. The best part? If you’ve already read or own the book they send, they’ll send you a new one, no questions asked! You can get 10% off a gift subscription (or subscription for yourself) with my referral link.
A Shelf Subscription. This is another great book subscription option from The Bookshelf in Thomasville, GA. Choose the bookseller who’s taste most closely aligns with your giftee and then they’ll receive a staff pick sent out the first Tuesday of each month. The owner of The Bookshelf, Annie Jones, will be on this week’s episode of Novel Pairings and she’s offering Novel Pairings listeners 10% off Shelf Subscriptions with the code NOVELIDEA2020.
A Libro.fm membership. You all know I love Libro.fm, and I can’t think of a better gift for a book lover. The great thing about a gift membership is that the recipient gets to choose what indie bookstore they want to support. Also, while Libro doesn’t operate internationally (yet) you can give a gift membership to someone outside the U.S.
A Bookshop.org gift card. Support indie bookstores and give the bibliophile in your life the option of any book they want with a Bookshop gift card. Just click the link at the top of the home page and then choose the amount you want to give.
A local library donation in their name. Libraries need our help right now and friends of the library often get great benefits like early access to used book sales.
An Aspen Words Winter Words subscription. This wonderful package includes six virtual events with authors and a bundle of three Winter Words books of your choice. Plus half of your purchase is tax deductible as a charitable donation!
Bookish reading.
The Economist is not what I would call a go-to source for book recommendations, but that’s exactly why I enjoy perusing their best-of-the year list. There are quite a few books on this list that I haven’t seen anywhere else.
While I wasn’t a huge fan of the New York Times’ 10 Best Books of the Year, I am loving their lists by genre. So far they’ve put out their 10 Best Thrillers (although these are definitely a mix of mysteries and thrillers), 10 Best Graphic Novels, and 10 Best Historical Fiction.
If you’re looking for a great Christmasy read, Phoebe of Read & Wright is your girl. This list has a little bit of everything.
Slate put out two best-of-the-year lists: the official best books of 2020 list and the list of best books of the year for readers who want an escape.
Looking for a book for the little readers in your life? Check out Misty Copeland’s favorite books for children.
If there’s one thing I love more than a best-of-the-year list, it’s a ranked best-of-the-year list. (And I very much agree with Molly Young’s #1.)
If you are a stationary nerd who has strong opinions about writing utensils, you need to read this article about Obama and his pens.
End notes.
Watching: Mindhunter. I thought season 2 was a lot freakier than season 1, but this show is just so well-done, I had to watch the whole thing.
Listening: Aren’t we all collectively listening to evermore?
Making: Latkes. We usually host a Hanukkah party each year and while I really miss that gathering, it’s a lot easier to make latkes for two people than it is for twenty. #pandemicperks
Loving: My new Aerie waffle joggers! I have been looking for thermal waffle joggers for months, but wasn’t willing to spend a lot on them. These are on sale for $24 and are so warm, cozy, and perfect, I think I’m going to be ordering another pair! Also, while I’m promising myself I won’t be shopping, I’d be remiss if I didn’t share that sweaters are 50% off at Madewell through tomorrow!
Readers, I hope you’re enjoying some wonderfully seasonal reads for the last few weeks of the year. For questions, comments, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing fictionmattersbooks@gmail.com or responding directly to this newsletter. Michelle and I love hearing from you!
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Happy reading!
Sara
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