In My Mailbox (19)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, in which book bloggers post about the books they've bought, borrowed or received in the past week.

Merry Christmas! I got exactly what I wanted this Christmas: books! I recieved A Game of Thrones by George R. Martin, Lonely Planet's guide to New York City, The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordano, Emma by Jane Austen, The Invention of Huge Cabret by Brian Selznick and How to Be an Explorer of the World by Keri Smith.

I was lucky enough to not only get Harry Potter: Page to Screen, but I also found a perfect place for it! I was afraid for a moment I'd have nowhere to put this beautiful (and very big) book, but there is just enough room on top of one of my shelves. I'm really looking forward to reading and reviewing this monstrous book!

These magnetic bookmarks from my stocking are perfect for me! I also got a Deathly Hallows bookmark, Harry Potter Ultimate Edition DVD's for 4 and 5, a Keep Calm and Carry On mug, chocolates, a wallet, a memory card, a lock for my suitcase and some gift certificates. 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas, and feel free to post the link to you own IMM in the comments. 

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas Eve and I decided to do my first non-book related post! As it's Christmas, I thought it would be fun to blog about what my family does for Christmas and hopefully others can comment with their Christmas plans. I really wish my family had some sort of book-related Christmas tradition, like reading A Christmas Carol together, but no such luck. Today is mostly filled with cleaning and cooking and getting ready for tomorrow. Tonight we'll eat appetizers for dinner (mini quiches, cheese tray, finger foods, etc) and then we'll go for a walk and watch It's a Wonderful Life. Tomorrow we get up early and open presents. Then we go to church and afterwards we'll probably spend most of the day relaxing and straightening up a bit. My grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins will come in the mid-afternoon. There are 21 of us in total, which is much smaller than my mom's family. For dinner we have turkey, salmon, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, brusselsprouts, a broccoli casserole, cabage salad, beet salad and rolls. Dessert is mincemeat tarts, cheesecake brownies, Christmas pudding, my aunt's cheesecake and some of my assorted candies and cookies. I'm really hoping to be able to post my IMM tomorrow, but who knows. 

I hope everyone has a great day tomorrow, whether you celebrate Christmas or not, and hopefully there will be a lot of book shaped packages under our trees! 

Review: Knit the Season

Title: Knit the Season (Friday Night Knitting Club #3)

Author: Kate Jacobs

Publisher: Putnam Adult 

Publication Date: November 3rd, 2009
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary

This review contains spoilers for the previous books in the series.

Tis the season to knit and be merry! The Friday Night Knitting Club are back for this festive third instalment. Dakota Walker, the co-owner of the Walker and Daughter knitting store, is now twenty and in school working towards becoming a pastry chef. Christmas is the time for family to come together, but Dakota is offered a prestigious Christmas internship that would mean missing family Christmas in Scotland. While Anita is trying to plan a New Year’s Eve wedding, Catherine is blissfully in love with an Italian widow. KC is enjoying the single life, while Lucie and Darwin struggle with raising their growing families. As the very different members of the knitting club struggle with the many changes occurring as Christmas approaches, they will never forget Georgia Walker, the woman who started everything and brought them all together.

I never wrote a proper review for The Friday Night Knitting Club, which I read a few months ago. I was drawn to the premise, since I like to knit and I enjoy books about people coming together. I also like to fantasise about owning my own shop (books not knitting,) so I was drawn to a novel about a young mother starting a business based on her passion. I thought that it was filled with too many life lessons and heart to heart conversations, and the writing had some flaws. Overall, I would rate it at 2.5 out of 5 stars. I bought the third book in the series (thinking it was the second) because it was on discount and I was looking for a holiday book to read. As Christmas approached, I kept putting off reading Knit the Season. I finally got to it today (December 22nd) and I enjoyed it more than the first book. While I probably should have read Knit Two before reading the third book, it was easy enough to understand what was going on. There was considerably less knitting in this book, and I think we only saw one of the club’s meetings. This book focused mainly on Dakota, with very little focus on KC, Lucie and Dawin. In the first book, Dakota was only 12. While I thought she was spoilt, she was quite young so I felt I couldn’t hold it against her. Now Dakota is 20; only a year younger than me and the same age as my brother. While I might forget what 12 year olds are like, I know what the average 20 year old is like and I thought Dakota was a bit immature and very selfish. Everything had to be about her, and the other characters helped encourage this. The Friday Night Knitting Club is made of several very different women, bonding over a shared passion. Strangely, I didn’t connect to any of the characters. There were ‘Georgia flashbacks’ throughout the book, and they felt awkward and unnecessary. All of that aside, this was a quick read that kept me engaged and wanting to keep reading until the last page. It was fun and I think fans of the series will enjoy this addition. It would actually make a good end to the series, although I’m not sure if the author intends to keep writing about the Walker and Daughter knitting shop or not. As a Christmas book, Knit the Season doesn’t offer anything special, although I did like that it also showed Chanukah celebrations. Knit the Season shows Christmas both in New York and Scotland, which was interesting. Fans of the series will enjoy this festive novel, which shows these friends trying to make the most of their lives, one stitch at a time.

3/5

Review: Home for the Holidays (Mother-Daughter Book Club)

Title: Home for the Holidays (Mother Daughter Book Club #5)
Author: Heather Vogel Frederick
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
Publication Date: October 4th, 2011
Genre: Junior Fiction, Realistic Fiction

As the Christmas season begins in Concord, snowflakes and magic are in the air for the mother-daughter book club. The girls are sophomores in high school and have now been friends for what feels like forever. For the first half of the school year, the club is reading the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. They’ve managed to do the impossible: find a series that Emma hasn’t read! This Christmas is bittersweet: none of the girls are going to be home for the holidays this year. Megan and Becca are going on a cruise with their families. Becca’s father has just lost his job, but her family’s pride is stopping them from sharing their troubles with their friends. Cassidy is going back to California, where her family is considering moving. Jess’ ski trip to Switzerland was canceled when she broke her leg, but her and Emma are going to a German lodge in New Hampshire instead. The girls have pledged to always put friends before boys, but they still find themselves feuding due to boy related drama. Becca is jealous of the fact that her longtime crush Zach likes tomboy Cassidy. Megan and Becca turn their efforts to gain the attention of a handsome crewmember into a feud that ruins their Christmas. Emma finds herself distrusting Jess when she seems to get along too well with another boy, despite the fact that she’s dating Emma’s brother. And a secret Santa fiasco does nothing to help their friendships. When many of the girls wish they had stayed home for the holidays, they will have to do their best to try and have the sort of friendship that Betsy and Tacy have.

When I heard that there was going to be a Mother-Daughter Book Club for the holidays, I assumed they would be reading A Christmas Carroll by Charles Dickens. I was completely wrong: the girls are actually reading the ten books in the Betsy-Tacy series. Before reading this, I had only heard of the series from the movie You’ve Got Mail. I’d been meaning to read them, but this book gave me the push I needed to go directly to the library and take out Betsy-Tacy. I read Home for the Holidays with no knowledge of the books they were reading, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the novel. They book club discussion isn’t too sophisticated, so you can follow it with no prior knowledge of Betsy-Tacy. While in Pies & Prejudice it could be annoying to be told these facts about Jane Austen that I already knew, this time around it was entirely new information and I ate it up. This book starts at Thanksgiving and ends at New Year’s. It is the first book in the series to be told from Becca’s perspective as well. Becca is the newest member of the book club and a former queen bee. She bullied Emma in middle school, but their relationship has improved since then, although the girls still call her their frenemy. One of the discussion questions at the end of the book is whether Becca being one of the narrators changed your opinion of her. To be honest, I’ve only read Pies & Prejudice and Becca didn’t have a large role in that book. However, I knew a lot of girls like Becca when I was fifteen or so, and I thought she was realistic, if a bit unlikable at times. The other girls are much the same as ever. What I like most about this group of girls as that instead of sitting by passively they make things happen, especially when a friend is going through a tough time. They are all very driven girls who have found their passions, despite how young they are. These books are mainly character driven and don’t have a plot that’s easy to describe: the story is mainly about their relationships with each other, with boys and with their families. Although you wouldn’t guess it from reading the description, I find these books hard to put down and I practically devour them. Home for the Holidays captured the holidays perfectly, with help from references to the Betsy-Tacy books. I love the holiday traditions the girls start based on the books. It was a great addition to the series and I wish more than ever that these books were around in my younger years. I need to read the earlier books in the series. Nothing is better than reading about girls who love books as much as I do!

4/5

Bookish Gifts For the Lover of Everything Christmas

Jingle bells, mistletoe, Santa Claus and snow.... Some people are crazy about Christmas. While they might have more ornaments and ceramic Santas than one person can ever need, there's still something you can give your holiday loving friend that will make them merry and bright.

1. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan 
Dash just isn’t a Christmas person. This year, he’s managed to take advantage of his parents’ divorce by telling each of them he’s spending the holidays with the other, so he can be alone. Among the bookshelves of the Strand in New York, Dash finds a red moleskine notebook challenging him to a series of dares. Lily, the owner of the notebook, loves everything Christmas and even organized her own choir group. The notebook was her brother’s idea, in efforts to find her the perfect guy. As Dash and Lily get to know each other through writing in the notebook, they embark on an adventure throughout Manhattan. Although there is undeniably a special magic between the two of them on paper, what will happen when they actually meet? Is meeting worth the risk, or should they keep things on the page? Full review here.

2. Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle

It’s the night before Christmas and Gracetown is hit by a snowstorm. Jubilee is sent to her Grandparent’s house in Florida when her parents are arrested at a sale for pieces of a Christmas village. When the snowstorm causes Jubilee’s train to break down, she takes refuge at a waffle house with other passengers, and ends up spending Christmas with the perfect stranger. Tobin and his friends intended to spend Christmas Eve watching James Bond movies, but instead rush to the waffle house for the chance to spend the snowstorm with some stranded cheerleaders. Meanwhile, Addie just wants to get back together with her ex-boyfriend Jeb and finds herself searching town for a friend’s teacup pig. When the world becomes a winter wonderland, new love and second chances seem to be in the air. Full review here.

3. The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Holidays by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht

You better watch out, because Santa Claus is coming to town and there are a million things that could go wrong. What if the tree falls down or someone gets mistletoe poisoning? And what are you supposed to do if there's no one to kiss on New Year's Eve? This is the book to help get you through the holidays scar free! From extinguishing a burnt turkey to stopping a runaway one-horse sleigh, The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook will help you know what to do no matter what happens. 

4. Letters From Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien 

Most children write letters to Father Christmas, but John, Michael, Christopher and Priscilla Tolkien were fortunate enough to receive many letters in return. Between 1920 and 1943, J.R.R. Tolkien would write letters to his children from Father Christmas. Father Christmas recounts stories to the children, including the misadventures of the North Polar Bear. From falling through Father Christmas’ roof, to setting off the Northern Lights that shatter the moon into four pieces, the North Polar Bear is always getting into trouble. Throughout the years, the North Pole goes through a goblin war and experiences some wartime difficulties all while preparing presents for children everywhere. Full review here.

5. Dave Cooks the Turkey by Stuart McLean 
When Dave promises his wife Morley that he will take care of the Christmas turkey that year, he doesn't fully understand what that entails. It's not until he's in bed on Christmas Eve that Dave realizes taking care of the turkey meant buying it as well. From one disaster to another, Dave barely manages to put a grade B turkey on the table for his family. This is a very funny short story by CBC radio's Stuart McLean which is told every year on his radio show, The Vinyl Cafe. It is his most popular story, and even a Christmas tradition for some families. 

Review: A Christmas Carol

Title: A Christmas Carol
Author: Charles Dickens
Publisher: Puffin Classics
Publication Date: 1843
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy

Ebenezer Scrooge only loves one thing, and that’s money. He hates anything that brings cheer and happiness to others, so he naturally despises the whole Christmas season. One Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by his dead partner, Jacob Marley. Marley has been dead for years and was just as selfish as Scrooge. His spirit is now forced to wander the earth in chains, and has come to warn Scrooge that the same fate awaits him if he continues living the way he has been. Three spirits are going to visit Scrooge: the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come. As Scrooge is given the chance to wander through his past and future, he comes to see himself in the same way that others see him.

If you’re going to read one holiday related book this Christmas, then make it A Christmas Carol. I’m quite certain that everyone is familiar with this story. Even if you haven’t seen the film, so many TV shows have done A Christmas Carol themed episodes that everyone knows the tale of Scrooge and the three ghosts. Like most people, I am very familiar with the plot and have seen many adaptations, from Mickey Mouse to Doctor Who. Because of this, it didn’t hit me until midway through how original and genius the idea behind this story is. I’ve seen so many retellings that I momentarily forgot that someone actually dreamed this story up. I love the style of narration, the plot, the overall message and how the story presents the festivity of Christmas. This novella is an allegory about poverty in Victorian London, with the infamous Scrooge representing the greed of the rich. A Christmas Carol is very short and could be a good introduction to Charles Dickens. While it’s not his best work, it does capture a lot of the great things about his writing, while being short and easy to understand. As a Christmas story, this is as good as it gets. There are so many retellings for a reason: A Christmas Carol is a timeless story that captures the spirit of the holidays. No matter how many movie adaptations you’ve seen, the book has a special magic that will make you feel like you’re learning of Scrooge’s redemption for the first time.

5/5

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”

Review: Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares

Title: Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares
Author: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Publisher: Ember
Publication Date: October 26th, 2010
Genre: YA, Realistic Fiction

Dash just isn’t a Christmas person. This year, he’s managed to take advantage of his parents’ divorce by telling each of them he’s spending the holidays with the other, so he can be alone. Among the bookshelves of the Strand in New York, Dash finds a red moleskine notebook challenging him to a series of dares. Lily, the owner of the notebook, loves everything Christmas and even organized her own choir group. The notebook was her brother’s idea, in efforts to find her the perfect guy. As Dash and Lily get to know each other through writing in the notebook, they embark on an adventure throughout Manhattan. Although there is undeniably a special magic between the two of them on paper, what will happen when they actually meet? Is meeting worth the risk, or should they keep things on the page?

I love Christmas so much and there doesn’t seem to be enough YA books about the winter holidays. Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares is a YA Christmas book, and that was what lead me to picking it up. This is Rachel Cohn and David Levithan’s third book together. I loved Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist but wasn’t so keen on Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List. All of their three books share a New York setting and feature alternating narrators. I wasn’t sure what to expect with Dash and Lily, since Naomi and Ely was a let down for me. At first, I couldn’t stand Dash’s pretentious narration. However, the interesting concept kept me reading. I’m not sure if I got used to Dash’s snobbery or if it was toned down later, but he stopped bothering me as I kept reading. Midway through, I thought Dash was alright, and while Lily would be perfect for him, I didn’t think he’d be perfect for her. By the end, I could look past his snarly demeanor and love him for his loyalty. I liked Lily from the start, but had this nagging feeling that she was exactly like someone I used to know. Someone who also likes Salinger, singing Christmas carols and wearing beat up chucks and thick black glasses. Someone who acts just like her…. Then it hit me: Lily reminds me of me at sixteen. For this reason, I really took to her and loved the chapters from her perspective. The story was fun and original. While Lily originally leaves the notebook beside a copy of Franny and Zooey with a scavenger hunt for the finder, later Dash and Lily pass the notebook back and forth while giving clues to where the other person should leave it. Their dares take them throughout New York City, and I thought the writers fully utilized an amazing setting. It made me want to visit New York at Christmas (and the Strand!) The plot may not sound that interesting, but the way it was carried out was perfect. There were times when I actually laughed out loud (code crimson) and there were so many adorable parts. This book captured the magic of Christmas and made me forget that it was still fall when I read it.

Christmas festiveness? Check. Great setting? Check. An entertaining and engaging plot? Check. Adventure, fun characters and some mild flirtation through a notebook? Check, check, check. Despite a few minor annoyances in the beginning, I loved this book. Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares was an amazing holiday read that left me smiling.

4.5/5

“It's only a game if there is an absence of meaning. And we've already gone too far for that.”

Bookish Stocking Stuffers

Any book lover will be happy to find any of these gifts in their stocking Christmas morning, or to receive them as a Secret Santa gift.

1. Magnetic Poetry I'm not going to lie, I stole this idea right out of The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. In the book, Charlie and his friends do the version of Secret Santa where you receive a small gift every day for a week. Charlie receives a number of things, including magnetic poetry. Fun for writers and readers alike! They also have magnetic poetry for early readers, Shakespeare lovers, romantics and cat lovers. The romance version was very popular in residence when I was in school.

2. Wooden Cat Bookmark Bookmarks are probably the most obvious small present for readers. You can never have too many, they're useful and (usually) very cute!

3. Desktop Notepad This very cute notepad will make your work desk neat and nice looking.

4. Moustache Paperclips Is it just me or are moustaches very popular lately? These paperclips are cute and practical!

5. Magnetic Bookmarks There are enough of these little clip on magnetic bookmarks that it will be difficult to lose them all. There is also a different version here.  

6. Thumb Thing for Reading This handy little thumb thing helps you read more comfortably, and hold your book with one hand.

7. Pocket Moleskines I love these! I carry one with me wherever I go, just in case I think of something clever on the bus. They come with two in slightly different shades in the same colour.

Bookish Gifts For the Pre-Teen

Kids who are middle school age can be tricky to buy for. Here are some books for the ones who love to read and for the ones that (usually) don't.

1. The Mysterious Benedict Society Box-set by Trenton Lee Stewart
When Reynie Muldroon sees a newspaper advertisement looking for gifted children, he is one of the many children who take a series of challenging tests to determine if they have what it takes. In the end, Reynie is one of the four children selected, along with Sticky, Kate and Constance. Mr. Benedict created the tests to find capable children who are willing to help him save the world. The foursome will have to go under cover at The Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened to stop the scheming Mr. Curtain. As the four children encounter the unimaginable evil taking place at The Leaning Institute, they will have to rely on one another and their own special talents to save the day. Thus begins The Mysterious Benedict Society series. The series is told in three books: The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey and The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma.

2. The Invention of Hugo Cabret  by Brian Selznick 

Read the book than watch the movie! From Goodreads: "Orphan Hugo Cabret lives in a wall. His secret home is etched out in the crevices of a busy Paris train station. Part-time clock keeper, part-time thief, he leads a life of quiet routine until he gets involved with an eccentric, bookish young girl and an angry old man who runs a toy booth in the station. The Invention of Hugo Cabret unfolds its cryptic, magical story in a format that blends elements of picture book, novel, graphic novel, and film. Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Brian Selznick has fashioned an intricate puzzle story that binds the reader like a mesmerist's spell."

3. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood

When Miss Penelope Lumley graduates from Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, she immediately applies for a position as a governess at Ashton Place. When the advertisement specifies that “experience with animals is strongly preferred,” Penelope assumes that the children have ponies, or another sort of animal. Instead, she is greeted by the three children that Lord Ashton found in the forest. The children appear to have been raised by wolves, and are now the Ashton foster children. Named Alexander, Beowulf and Cassiopeia Incorrigible, the children enjoy chasing squirrels, baying at the moon and climbing trees. Though Miss Lumley knows she has her work set out for her, she sets out at once to teach the children language, poetry, etiquette and mathematics. After considerable improvement, the children must prepare for Lady Constance’s Christmas dinner party. How will children who act like animals be able to act maturely at a respectable gathering? As Miss Lumley attempts to raise the three Incorrigible children, she also tries to understand the many mysteries of Ashton Place. Full review here.

4. Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

Liesl has been locked in her attic bedroom by her stepmother ever since her father became ill months ago. A few days after his death, Liesl encounters a ghost in her bedroom. The ghost, Po, is neither male nor female and both at the same time. When Po goes to the Other Side to look for Liesl’s father, he learns that he doesn’t feel he will be able to move to the Beyond until his ashes are scattered with his wife’s. Liesl and Po set out to bring the box holding his ashes to the house where Liesl grew up. Meanwhile, Will, the Alchemist’s apprentice, is making an important delivery and accidentally misplaces the most important magic in the world. The Alchemist has created a complicated spell that involved bottling the sun. Due to his magic, the whole world is a dull grey colour. Will’s mistake leads him to join Liesl and Po in their quest. As the children and the ghost set out to help Liesl’s father move on, they inadvertently bring colour back to their world. Full review here. 

5. Clothbound Children's Classics

These beautiful clothbound hardcovers are a great addition to a growing library. These editions are available for Peter Pan, Anne of Green Gables, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Wind in the Willows, The Secret Garden, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Black Beauty and The Call of the Wild. 

Bookish Gifts For Nerds, Geeks, Fanboys and Fangirls

Whether you know a full time or casual nerd, there’s always something for their geeky soul.

1. Geek Wisdom: The Sacred Teachings of Nerd Culture edited by Stephen H. Segal This book features clever explanations of popular quotes loved by nerds everywhere. From Goodreads: "Geek Wisdom takes as gospel some 200 of the most powerful and oft-cited quotes from movies (“Where we’re going, we don’t need roads”), television (“Now we know—and knowing is half the battle”), literature (“All that is gold does not glitter”), games, science, the Internet, and more. Now these beloved pearls of modern-day culture have been painstakingly interpreted by a diverse team of hardcore nerds with their imaginations turned up to 11. Yes, this collection of mini-essays is by, for, and about geeks—but it’s just so surprisingly profound, the rest of us would have to be dorks not to read it. So say we all."

2. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green This is John Green's most often overlooked book, and also the nerdiest. With math equations, tons of interesting facts and a boy genius as the protagonist, An Abundance of Katherines is a must read for anyone slightly geeky. Colin Singleton has only ever dated girls named Katherine. And he has always been dumped by each Katherine he dated, nineteen times in total. After graduation and his nineteenth breakup, Colin and his best friend embark on a roadtrip where they go on a detour to see the grave of Franz Ferdinand and end up finding jobs. Colin is trying to make a theorem that will predict the outcome of any relationship. Can romantic relationships be broken down into a mathematical formula and is Colin destined to always be the dumpee? 

3. The Geek’s Guide to World Domination by Garth Sundam Written for lovers of trivia. From Goodreads: "Finally, here’s the book no self-respecting geek can live without–a guide jam-packed with 314.1516 short entries both useful and fun. Science, pop-culture trivia, paper airplanes, and pure geekish nostalgia coexist as happily in these pages as they do in their natural habitat of the geek brain."

 

4. Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci Illustrated by Bryan Lee O’Malley, this book includes short stories written by Cassandra Clare, John Green, Libba Bray, Scott Westerfeld and David Levithan. From Goodreads: "Acclaimed authors Holly Black (Ironside) and Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof) have united in geekdom to edit short stories from some of the best selling and most promising geeks in young adult literature: M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, John Green, Tracy Lynn, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Wendy Mass, Garth Nix, Scott Westerfield, Lisa Yee, and Sara Zarr.With illustrated interstitials from comic book artists Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O'Malley, Geektastic covers all things geeky, from Klingons and Jedi Knights to fan fiction, theater geeks, and cosplayers. Whether you're a former, current, or future geek, or if you just want to get in touch with your inner geek, Geektastic will help you get your geek on!"

4. The Scott Pilgrim Series by Bryan Lee O'Malley Videogame and comic references galore! Plus, lots of epic battles. You can buy the first book, Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life, here or splurge on the full series here. As the series starts, twenty-three year old Scott Pilgrim’s life is pretty awesome. He lives in Toronto with his roommate, Wallace Wells, and he’s currently in-between jobs. Scott spends his time playing bass in his band, shopping at goodwill, playing video games and listening to music. Scott is also dating Knives Chau, who is only seventeen. Things become complicated when he meets Ramona Flowers, who is literally the girl of his dreams. Cool and mysterious, Ramona is the opposite of Knives, and Scott can’t stay away. Unfortunately, if Scott wants to date Ramona he will have to defeat her seven evil ex-boyfriends. Will Scott, the ultimate slacker, be able to fight to be with the girl he loves? Full reviews for  volume one,  volume two, volume three, volume four, volume five and volume six.

5. Star Wars Moleskines From Chapters.ca: "The Star Wars saga has furnished Moleskine with fantastic material to commemorate both sides of the Force: memorable quotes, Space-scapes, and battle scenes."

Bookish Gifts For Young Readers

While you can have too many toys or stuffed animals, you can never have enough books! And unlike clothes, picture books are harder to outgrow.

1. Little Miss Austen: Pride and Prejudice by Jennifer Adams This counting book is so cute that I want one! Jennifer Adams has also written Little Master Shakespeare, Little Miss Bronte and the upcoming Little Master Carroll. From Goodreads: "With the perennial popularity of classic writers like Jane Austen and William Shakespeare, Baby Lit™ is a fashionable way to introduce your toddler to the world of classic literature. With clever, simple counting text by Jennifer Adams, paired with stylish design and illustrations by Sugar’s Alison Oliver, Little Miss Austen and Little Master Shakespeare are a must for every savvy parent’s nursery library."

2. The Elephants and Piggie Books by Mo Willems
I read at my library with kids ages six to nine, and they all love Elephant and Piggie. Gerald and Piggie couldn't be more different but they're best friends all the same! I love Happy Pig Day the most. It's Pig day and Piggie couldn't be more excited, but Gerald is feeling left out. Luckily, he discovers that Pig Day is for everyone! These books are simple but fun and sweet as well. Mo Willems is also the writer of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, which I'd also recommend.

3. Home for Christmas by Jan Brett
Rollo is a wild troll who hates doing his tedious chore work. When Rollo decides to run away, he spends time with families of owls, bears, moose and otters. However, nothing can compare to his own family, so Rollo decides to return home for Christmas and learns that nothing is better than family. This book is beautifully illustrated, with a great deal of attention put into the small details. Jan Brett is also the author of The Mitten, Gingerbread Baby, The Wild Christmas Reindeer and (my favourite) Trouble with Trolls.

4. The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories by Dr. Seuss
Seuss scholar Charles Cohen found a buried treasure when he uncovered several lost stories by Dr. Seuss. While some of these stories influenced his later works, they all are unique and witty in a away you can only find in Dr. Seuss' books. These seven stories were written for magazines, so they are all very short. They use the zany rhymes that Seuss is known for. While you may have thought you had read all of Dr. Seuss's books, there is one more that you won't want to miss!

5. The Balloon Tree by Phoebe Gilman
When Princess Leora's father leaves for a tournament in a neighbouring kingdom, he tells her to send balloons into the air if anything goes wrong. When the evil Archduke takes over the kingdom, he locks Leora in a tower and pops all the balloons in the kingdom. When she escapes, she meets a wizard that tells her a spell that will fill the kingdom with balloons if she can find just one. They only problem is, there doesn't seem to be a single balloon left in the entire kingdom! Will Leora be able to find the last balloon so that she can make a balloon tree and save the kingdom?

6. A Porcupine in a Pine Tree: A Canadian 12 Days of Christmas by Helaine Becker
This one is likely only for Canuck kids, I'm afraid. This is the Twelve Days of Christmas with a Canadian twist. From Mounties to the Toronto Maples Leaves, this book captures everything Canadian. With cute illustrations, this is a very funny book and great for the holidays. Alas, I'm not sure if non-Canadians will find this worthwhile.

Bookish Gifts For the 2012 High School Graduate

If you know an upcoming graduate then you’re in luck! It might seem to early to get them college themed gifts, but me and my friends got tons of things like this for Christmas that year. Gifts are easier to find if they intend to go to university or college, but some of these gifts are good for anyone living on their own for the first time.

1. The College Humour Guide to College A friend of mine found this book in her dorm room while packing up after our first year. It was very funny- probably would have been helpful to have at the beginning of the year though, not the end. From Goodreads: "From beer pong to final exams, from instant messaging to hooking up with people whose last names are a complete mystery, The CollegeHumor Guide to College is the bible to getting through college with minimum work and maximum fun. The authors, six recent graduates from colleges around the country, fill readers in on how to do their own laundry, how to pick the best (easiest) professors, and how to tell if someone has an STD just by looking at them. From the creators of the smash-hit website, The CollegeHumor Guide to College is perfect for anybody who can make it past twelfth grade, and an incredibly mean gift for those who can't."

2. The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into In College by Harlan Cohen This was given to me for my eighteenth birthday and it’s the best guide to college I’ve ever come across. It's helpful and hilarious. This book touches on practically any and every problem you might encounter while at school. From what to expect, dealing with homesickness, roommates, making friends, joining clubs, handling your classes, studying, college relationships, financial  problems and the things they don't tell you in the brochure, this book covers it all.

 

3. The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: College by Joshua Piven, David Borgenicht and Jennifer Worick From Goodreads: "The college years are a time of noble pursuit of knowledge, self-betterment—and unending peril! Students are at risk from the moment they receive their acceptance letters. Fortunately, the authors of the phenomenally best-selling Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbookseries have come to the rescue, offering all-new, hands-on, step-by-step instructions for surviving the worst that higher education has to offer, on campus and off. Learn how to identify a party school, engineer a hookup, survive "the spins," and escape a stadium riot. Discover the best way to sleep in class, pass a test you haven't studied for, avoid the "freshman fifteen," and pull an all-nighter. With practical advice for avoiding laundry and identifying unsafe institutional food, along with an appendix of excuses for missed deadlines and a back-up diploma, this is truly required reading for all college students—and a perfect high school graduation present."

4. College Cooking: Feed Yourself and Yours Friends by Megan and Jill Carle From Goodreads: "You have a midterm tomorrow and a fierce growl in your stomach. Your roommate just nabbed your last cup o' ramen. Do you: (A) Ignore your stomach and brew another pot of coffee? (B) Break out the PB&J? (C) Order pizza—again? (D) Make a quick trip to the grocery store? The answer's D, and College Cooking is the only study guide you'll need.Sisters Megan and Jill Carle know all about leaving a well-stocked kitchen to face an empty apartment fridge with little time to cook and very little money. They practically grew up in their parents' kitchen, but even that didn't prepare them for braving the supermarket aisles on their own. That's why they wrote COLLEGE COOKING—to share the tips and tricks they've learned while feeding themselves between late-night studying, papers, parties, and other distractions."

5. The Ultimate Student Cookbook: From Chicken to Chilli by Tiffany Goodall From Goodreads: "More than 100 easy recipes for terrific food on a student's budget. Written by a chef who lived away from home on a limited budget while she was a culinary arts student, The Ultimate Student Cookbook enables college and university students to enjoy fresh and healthy food every day.Recognizing the pressures and realities of student life, these more than 100 delicious recipes."

6. U Chic: College Girls Guide to Everything by Christie Garton  From Chapters.ca: "From the day you set food on campus until the day you wear a cap and gown, get advice from a source you can trust: the expert team of all-star college students and recent grads behind U Chic. This indispensible college resource has everything you need to know.

Bookish Gifts For the Artist

Help encourage their creative flare with these gifts!

1. The Guerilla Art Kit: Everything You Need To Put Your Message Out Into The World by Keri Smith By the author of Wreck this Journal and How to Be an Explorer of the World. From Goodreads: "The Guerilla Art Kit shows how small artistic acts can start a revolution. Keri Smith, noted author of Living Out Loud and the blog Wish Jar Journal, uses her unique drawing and handwriting style to help anyone find and release their inner artist or activist. This visually exciting activity book full of step-by-step exercises, cut-out projects, sticker ideas, and more has both fun assignments and handy tips to help you unleash your creative energy into the streets, where you can really make an impact. From the quick exercises leaving books for strangers to find, chalking quotes on the sidewalk to the more involved making a 'wish tree,' guerilla gardening, or making your own stencils The Guerilla Art Kit contains everything you need to put your message out into the world."

2. A Sketchbook  Sometimes the obvious gift is still the right one. You can go with this simple one, or you could find a sketchbook that suits their taste here.

3. Moleskine Professional Portfolio This portfolio is durable and has large pockets and is made of acid free cardboard. It is high quality and is a professional portfolio for the serious artist. You can also find moleskine sketchbooks, which are based on the notebooks used by artists such as Vincent Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso.

4.  Let’s Make Some Great Art by Marion Deuchars From Goodreads: "In this interactive coloring and activity book, Marion Deuchars takes the broad canvas of art and fills it with drawings and activities that engage with what art can be, how it can be made, what it can mean for you and what it has meant for people through the ages. Aimed at children aged eight and older, the emphasis is on fun and making the creation of art an integral part of the way you express yourself."
 

 5. The Louvre: All the Paintings, photographed by Erich Lessing From Goodreads: "An historic publishing event! Endorsed by the Louvre and for the first time ever, every painting from the world's most popular museum is available in one stunning book. All 2,981 paintings on display in the permanent painting collection of the Louvre are presented in full color in this striking, slipcased book. Comes with an enclosed, supportive DVD-ROM." Or, you could get Treasures of the Louvre by Michel Laclotte, which is a cheaper alternative. 

Gifts For the Harry Potter Fan

The one thing you can guarantee about a Harry Potter fan is that they will always be a Harry Potter fan.

1. Tom Riddle's Diary Voldemort's soul not included. From ThinkGeek: "Are you a lonely witch with a crush on an older wizard? And on top of that, you're a ginger? From a huge family of gingers? And you're the baby and the only girl? Yeah. We get how that goes. Well, maybe not the ginger part. If you're looking for a diary you can use to talk to the Dark Lord, or perhaps one you could stab with that basilisk fang in your underwear drawer, we have the diary for you! This replica of Tom Marvolo Riddle's diary looks like the one from Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets. The inside is blank, so you can start your own relationship with Voldemort." 

2. Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff scarves Whatever your house, you can show your house (and school) pride with one of these scarves. Or, you could make your own. 

3. Dear Mr. Potter, edited by Lily Zolan A collection of letters from fans to the boy wizard. Featured writers include Evanna Lynch, John Green, Melissa Anelli, Andrew Sims and Eric Scull.

4.   Make a personalized Hogwarts acceptance letter You could simply type it in green ink and age the paper by dipping it in tea. I’ve done this for a friend and I melted red crayon for the envelope seal. I also happened to have an ‘H’ stamp.

5. Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey by Bob McCabe From Goodreads: "Harry Potter: Page to Screen opens the doors to Hogwarts castle and the wizarding world of Harry Potter to reveal the complete behind-the-scenes secrets, techniques, and over-the-top artistry that brought J.K. Rowling’s acclaimed novels to cinematic life. Developed in collaboration with the creative team behind the celebrated movie series, this deluxe, 500-plus page compendium features exclusive stories from the cast and crew, hundreds of never-before-seen photographs and concept illustrations sourced from the closed film sets, and rare memorabilia. As the definitive look at the magic that made cinematic history, Page to Screen is the ultimate collectible, perfect for Muggles everywhere."

6.  Harry Potter: Film Wizardry by Brian Sibley I own this and I love it! It includes letters by Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint, never before seen pictures and stories, your own Maurader’s Map, Educational Decrees, an issue of the Quibbler, your own letter to Hogwarts and more. I highly recommend this book, especially if you can't afford Harry Potter Page to Screen. 

5. A Time Turner You can buy the plastic one I have here, or you can splurge here.

 

8. Harry Potter Merchandise Share your love for your favourite house or character with one of these Harry Potter T-Shirts  from Hot Topic, or from the Wb Shop. The Wb Store has everything, from ornaments to iPhone cases. You can also find a huge selection of toys, wands and anything you can think of at Barnes and Noble. 

Bookish Homemade Gift Ideas

Homemade gifts are easier on your wallet and are often more thoughtful than store bought gifts. Plus, they can be fun to make! 

1. A Bookish Clock. Unfortunately, to do this you have to be comfortable partially destroying a book. You could try and find a journal, if you're concerned.

2. A tote bag for books. You could simply buy a tote bay and iron on transfer paper at a craft store. You can also find iron on letters, if you wanted to put something like “Read More Books” on it. Martha Stewart offers templates and instructions here.

3. A Cover for an e-reader. If you’re uncomfortable with ruining a book, you could use a journal instead. You can also see some pretty homemade examples here.

4. A Hogwarts scarf! My Mom knitted me a Gryffindor scarf for Christmas last year and I loved it! Turns out I'm in Ravenclaw, but I wear it anyways. You can see a sewn version here, or the knit pattern my Mom used here.

Review: Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien

Title: Letters from Father Christmas 

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Publication Date: 1976
Genre: Children’s Fiction, Christmas, Fantasy

Most children write letters to Father Christmas, but John, Michael, Christopher and Priscilla Tolkien were fortunate enough to receive many letters in return. Between 1920 and 1943, J.R.R. Tolkien would write letters to his children from Father Christmas. Father Christmas recounts stories to the children, including the misadventures of the North Polar Bear. From falling through Father Christmas’ roof, to setting off the Northern Lights that shatter the moon into four pieces, the North Polar Bear is always getting into trouble. Throughout the years, the North Pole goes through a goblin war and experiences some wartime difficulties all while preparing presents for children everywhere.

Tolkien was clearly a wonderful father as well as a genius. This book is a compilation of the letters he wrote over 23 years to his four children from Father Christmas, beginning when the eldest was 3. The letters and the artwork are creative and beautifully done. The stories and the characters Tolkien created were perfectly charming, especially the North Polar Bear. These letters captured the magic of Christmas and made me feel like I was nine again. I think this is a wonderful read for all ages at Christmas time. I loved hearing the different tales and mishaps that occurred that year at the North Pole, and reading the side notes from the Polar Bear. The drawings were lovely- I’m so jealous of the Tolkien children for receiving these letters in the mail. I wish I had read this book sooner; I don’t know how I didn’t hear about it before now. Letters from Father Christmas made me love Tolkien even more than I already did, which I didn’t think was possible.

5/5