Written by contributor Jee W
Buying books as gifts for others can be tricky, especially if you don’t know their favourite genres or interests. The safest bet when buying books for book lovers, in my opinion, are finding those that inspire and are aesthetically pleasing. Give this list a gander and who knows, you might want to add one (or two) to your own list too!
World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Nezhukumatathil had lived in Kansas, Arizona, New York and Ohio, and uses this experience to write her essays in this book. It consists of personal essays and nature writing, complete with dreamy illustrations. The author used her knowledge about the flora and fauna to write about love, belonging and identity. She wrote that “A catalpa can give two brown girls in western Kansas a green umbrella from the sun.”; the fireflies reminded her of her family, her mother especially, whose continuous blinking, “as if to say: I am still here, you are still here, I am here, you are still here, I am, you are, over and over again.”, and peacocks, “remind you of a home you will run away from and run back to all your life.” Full of heart, funny and insightful, these essays remind us about the importance of embracing and celebrating our differences.
Mythopedia: An Encyclopedia of Mythical Beasts and Their Magical Tales by Good Wives and Warriors
In Mythopedia, readers are introduced to mythical and magical creatures from The Americas, Europe to Africa, Asia and Oceania. This beautifully illustrated encyclopaedia of mythical creatures covers tales, myths and legends from around the world. Meet Anansi the Spider God from Africa; Shenlong the blue-scaled Chinese Dragon of the clouds, wind and from Asia; Cerberus a Greek legend that was a three-headed guard dog of the underworld; Tiddalik the thirsty frog who’s one of the many creatures found in the ancient stories of Australia’s Aboriginal peoples, and so many more. These cultural folklores are bound to pique and spark your sense of wonder and imagination, both adult and children alike.
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
When published, readers all around the world fell in love with the boy, the mole, the fox and the horse. As of writing, there are already almost 36,000 5-star ratings on Goodreads and counting. The friendship between the boy, the mole, the fox and the horse represent love, kindness and hope. And the simple, heartwarming, tender, yet thought-provoking quotes about peace, vulnerability and humanity will lift your soul – something the world desperately needs now. And the illustrations are simply stunning!
Ex-Libris: 100+ Books to Read and Reread by Michiko Kakutani
The author, a former chief book critic of The New York Times, is also the author of the 2018 bestseller The Death of Truth: Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump. In Ex-Libris, readers will bound to find something that’s thought-provoking, inspiring, and eye-opening. The author covers novels and memoirs by some of the most famous and talented authors such as Dr. Seuss, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Joan Didion. It also reviews classics like The Great Gatsby, and The Odyssey, Where The Wild Things Are, and books that cover current issues and topics such as democracy and tyranny, 9/11 and the war on terror. This one is also richly and gorgeously illustrated. A keeper for sure!
Footnotes from World’s Greatest Bookstores: True Tales and Lost Moments from Book Buyers, Booksellers, and Book Lovers
If you love bookstores, you will get to vicariously visit famous bookstores around the world. This collection of 75 evocative paintings and colourful anecdotes invites you into the heart and soul of each bookstore with all its charms, quirks and stories. Read stories from famous people like Deepak Chopra, Dave Eggers, and Neil Gaiman and their connection to some of these bookstores. This is a love letter to bookstores around the world that’s sure to charm readers of all ages.
