Gifts for readers

We pull up our sleigh at another holiday season, that time of year when meetings grow short on discussion and long on celebration—and that’s OK. Since it’s a season for giving, here are some suggestions for books and recipients. But first, how about sharing?

Want to brighten a soldier’s day? Send an e-reader. Seriously. Look up ebooksfortroops.org for the directions on shipping a used Kindle to a soldier. To make it on time—and because many folks aren’t just dripping with spare Kindles—send a donation directly to the organization, at its site. Many of these used Kindles are going to Afghanistan.

Or, send books to the troops. Register at booksforsoldiers.com for the specific requests soldiers have made for reading materials, and obtain an individual mailing address for shipping your book, DVD, or other item. Operationpaperback.org ships books to soldiers as well—gently used and new books are welcome. You can find them on Facebook.

Finally, booksfortroopscp.webs.org routes books to soldiers. You can send a check or money order for $12.50 to this organization to ship a box of donated books. Address: Books for Troops, 152 Oak Brook Commons, Clifton Park, N.Y. 12065.

OK, now let’s have some fun closer to home.

Group trip: A holiday house tour of the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford is available between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, part of a city-wide annual house tour. Details are at http://www.gentryoung.com/mthht_home.php.

Twelve gifts for readers … There is no excuse—none, kapeesh?—for a blank shopping list when it comes to book lovers.
These ideas range from several inexpensive gift-exchange items to pricier pleasures for your reader friends. Consider, if you will, these choices:

1. Book marks and book plates—an art form of sorts, available in bookstores, gift shops, paper-product stores, or online.

2. Framed quotes from favorite writers.

3. Calendars dedicated to the works of famous authors like Dickens, Shakespeare (“Authors are My Rock Stars” 2013 calendar), and more.

4. A book light, for those not reading with back-lighted e-readers (which are really nice waiting for the feature to start in a theater, or in the car waiting for a late commuter).

5. A tidy notebook for recording books read during the year, amazingly handy to keep.

6. Tote bags for carrying those armloads of books to the library.

7. Cups with famous writers’ portraits on them, and a pound of coffee or tea.

8. Book stands or magnifiers, available in a wide range of prices, styles and sizes.

9. Bookends, metal or wood.
10. Book-related games like “Liebrary,” “Literary Trivia,” “Trivial Pursuit Book Lovers Edition,” “Balderdash” or “Ex Libris.”

11. And, of course, the coveted holiday gift for all readers: a gift card.

12. The best book light you can afford, for reading during power outages. There’s not much else to do.

This isn’t an extensive list, but it’s a good start. Time is another good gift for the reader—being left to enjoy a favorite book without interruption can be a blessing. Readers, of course, should not go overboard on this one, attempting to read 12 out of 24 hours a day.

Good reads, anyone? The National Book Club Awards call attention to two books, one fiction, one nonfiction, that will provide plenty of discussion for groups.

Louise Erdrich, whose unique, lyrical voice relates the Native American experience in contemporary times (read “Love Medicine” for a good introduction), won for “The Round House.” It’s the story of a traumatized North Dakota Ojibwe woman, her family and her culture.

Katherine Boo won in nonfiction for “Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity.” It relates the stories of people who seek peace, power or freedom in Mumbai’s percolating economy.

The clubs are reading:
“The Greater Journey, Americans in Paris” by David McCullough—Simon Fairfield Public Library in Douglas, 6:30 p.m., Dec. 11.
“The Bostonians” by Henry James—Worcester Public Library, 7 p.m., Dec. 5.

“Little Bee” by Chris Cleave—Fitchburg Public Library, 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., Dec. 12.

Focus on crime writers: Nick Oldham, Anne Perry and Mary Higgins Clark Christmas titles—MacKay Library, N. Chelmsford, 6:45 p.m., Dec. 26.