Every family has one, and if you’re reading this, it’s probably you: the person who buys books for every gift-giving occasion. And hey, there’s no shame in that. It’s better than being the one who regifts tins of stale popcorn every year.
With the holidays coming soon, it’s time to head to your local bookstore to make your selections. It can be tricky to match family and friends to books they’ll love. Here are eight 2022 books that the people in your life will love unwrapping and digging into on a cold winter night.
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For the teenager who would prefer to be looking at a screen during dinner (or any time): Look, we have no clue about TikTok, the phenomenally popular video hosting service – we’re still trying to figure out MySpace. But if you know someone who can’t get enough of the app, you can turn it to your advantage by giving “As Cooked on TikTok” (Clarkson Potter, $19.99) which collects the sometimes bizarre recipes that have taken the platform by storm: pancake cereal, level-up layer cake, ramen lasagna and more. And if you refrain from making fun of him while he’s choreographing a new dance, you might even get to partake of the results.
For the dad who would rather be watching the History Channel (or ESPN) than “It’s a Wonderful Life”: Comedian John Mulaney once observed that dads nationwide seem to be obsessed with reading a certain period of 20th-century history: “All of our dads are cramming for some World War II quiz show, and I can’t wait to watch it.” If that describes your father, you can’t go wrong with Buzz Bissinger’s “The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II” (Harper, $32.50), the true story of the U.S. Marine Corps 4th and 29th regiments, which boasted an unusually high number of college football stars. It’s a fascinating story, and it’s from the author of “Friday Night Lights,” who definitely knows what he’s talking about.
For the foodie co-worker who already has enough kitchen gadgets: Bob from accounts payable is a nice guy, but he doesn’t need another egg cuber or shrimp deveiner. What he might love, though, is “My First Popsicle: An Anthology of Food and Feelings” (Penguin, $26.00). Edited by “Girls” star Zosia Mamet, the book collects essays on food and memory from contributors including Patti LuPone, Tony Hale, David Sedaris, and Patti Smith. The anthology is thoughtfully curated — and it’s much less expensive than a Vitamix blender.
For the niece who prefers Brahms to BTS: Sure, you could get her a CD featuring music by her favorite composer, but she doesn’t have a CD player. (Nobody her age does.) So consider a copy of Brendan Slocumb’s literary thriller “The Violin Conspiracy” (Vintage, $17.00) instead. The author’s debut novel follows a Black violin prodigy who not only has to deal with racism in the world of classical music, but also the theft of his prized Stradivarius. It’s a page-turner that boasts some truly beautiful writing.
For the mother who might appreciate a new twist on a classic: If your mom thinks they just don’t write books like they used to, she might appreciate being proved wrong with a reimagining of a classic H.G. Wells novel. Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s “The Daughter of Doctor Moreau” (Del Rey, $28.00) tells the story of Carlota Moreau, growing up in Yucatán with her genius father and the half-human, half-animal beings he’s created. It’s part fantasy, part love story, and nearly impossible to put down.
For the daughter who has decided that not all of the bands you like are totally embarrassing: She complained about having to listen to “Sugar Magnolia” on road trips when she was younger, but your plan to subliminally turn her into a fan of Jerry Garcia’s guitar solos must have worked — now she’s wearing tie-dye and discussing her favorite bootlegs on online forums. She’ll probably appreciate Mark A. Rodriguez’s coffee table book “After All Is Said and Done: Taping the Grateful Dead, 1965-1995” (Anthology Editions, $50.00) which features interviews with Dead fans who taped their shows, and a whole lot of impressive visuals. Page through it together, and there’s nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile.
For the sister who likes romance novels almost as much as her Peloton: It’s always nice to have something to read when you’re recovering from a workout and nursing your Gatorade, and Amy Lea’s “Set on You” (Berkley, $16.00) is an appropriate choice — the book follows Crystal Chen, a fitness influencer who finds herself falling for a firefighter that works out at the same gym as her. Bonus: If your sister likes what she reads, she won’t have to wait long for the sequel — “Exes and O’s” (Berkley, $16.99) comes out in January.
For the newest member of your family who you can’t wait to introduce to books: One of the kindest things you can do for a young person is share your love of reading with them. If there’s a little one in your clan, it’s a good bet they’ll fall in love with Zahra Marwan’s “Where Butterflies Fill the Sky: A Story of Immigration, Family, and Finding Home” (Bloomsbury, $18.99). The author’s debut children’s book tells the true story of her family, who moved from Kuwait to New Mexico when she was a little girl. With beautiful illustrations by Marwan, it’s a touching story that teaches kids that family is family, no matter where they live.