Give the Gift of Reading
Books have always been one of my favorite Christmas gifts to give and receive. What could be better than giving someone a way to learn something new or have an adventure without leaving home?
Here are some of my favorite books from this year that would make great gifts, along with a classic Christmas story everyone should read. Happy holidays and happy reading!
The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780 by Rick Atkinson (Crown, April 2025)
The second installment of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Rick Atkinson’s look at the American Revolution examines the middle years of the war from 1777 to 1780.
Many of these lesser-known battles and attempts at diplomacy shaped America’s future as patriots were called to sacrifice even more in their quest for freedom from British rule.
Start with the first installment, The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777, for a riveting look at the fight for democracy and the demands it makes on every American.
The Names by Florence Knapp (Pamela Dorman Books, May 2025)
If you’ve ever wondered whether our names have power, pick up Florence Knapp’s debut novel. Spanning 35 years, The Names explores the alternative lives of Cora, her daughter, Maia, and her son based on each of three names she considers for him when registering his birth. Through the what-ifs Knapp poses, she examines domestic abuse, the ties that bind families and the possibility of healing and breaking free.
Memorial Days: A Memoir by Geraldine Brooks (Viking, February 2025)
On Memorial Day 2019, foreign correspondent Geraldine Brooks gets a call that upends her world. Her partner of more than three decades, fellow correspondent Tony Horwitz, has collapsed and died on a Washington, D.C., sidewalk at age 60. Three years after dealing with the immediate aftermath of Horwitz’s unexpected death, Brooks heads to a remote island off the coast of Australia to grieve and to write this powerful memoir as tribute to their life together and the road she travels to regain her footing.
Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations by Alton Brown (Gallery Books, February 2025)
Food scientist Alton Brown has had a diverse career. In Food for Thought, he shares his views on the culinary world, his favorite meals and more. It’s a fun look into the life of one of my favorite Food Network stars and a must-read for anyone who appreciates food or enjoys cooking.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
This classic Christmas tale about the spirit of giving should be in everyone’s home library. I read Dickens’ short story each Christmas and usually watch a film version of it too (Bill Murray’s Scrooged is one of my favorite adaptations). If you’d like to gift it to someone, grab one of the illustrated versions. Arthur Rackham’s illustrations add life to Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.
