For fun, we asked 14 authors what books they plan to give away for the holidays. And then we turned around and asked ourselves. Read on for staff selections. What books did you give away this year?
This is pretty oddball, but I’m giving a copy of Comic Con: 40 Years of Artists, Writers, Fans, And Friends (Chronicle) to my teenage son who loves comic books and hopes to attend Comic Con himself one day. The book is a large-format, illustrated look at the history of the show.
—Lynn, Editor
My dad is a huge fan of literary fiction, so I’m giving him John Irving’s Last Night in Twisted River (Random House) and E.L. Doctorow’s Homer & Langely (Random House). Irving and Doctorow are two of his favorite writers and I know he is excited about their new books
—Abby, Fiction Editor
I’m giving The Lacuna (HarperCollins) to my mom, who loves both Mexico and art history, and The Education of a British-Protected Child (Knopf Doubleday) by Chinua Achebe to my dad, who loves both postcolonial writers and childhood memoirs.
—Kate, Nonfiction Editor
I’m giving City of Thieves (Penguin) by David Benioff to my grandfather. This book has been a hit with everyone I’ve recommended it to, including my brother, who hadn’t read a book in years before I loaned him my copy. My grandfather loves novels about World War II and has visited St. Petersburg, where the novel is set, so I think he’ll enjoy this one.
—Trisha, Web Editor
My 18-year-old sister just started college in New York (1,300 miles away from home!), so I’m giving her a copy of Ann Packer’s The Dive from Clausen’s Pier (Random House). I think my sis will appreciate the story of a young woman’s search for independence—plus, Packer does great descriptions of NYC.
—Eliza, Assistant Web Editor
I loved City of Thieves!
I gave my daughter Eleanor Estes’ books: Ginger Pye and Pinky Pye — she loved them!
I got a $100 gift Certificate from Santa for Barnes and Nobel — I’m sky high!
Great list… My friend gave me a great memoir titled, “bipolar bare:my life’s journey with mental disorder- a memoir” by Carlton Davis. She knows that I have been on a kick of reading memoirs… I have to admit that the thought of reading about memoir about living with bipolar disorder really intrigued that I started the book at like 9:00 a.m. and couldn’t put it down… finished at 10:00 p.m. Following the author on his travels was a real roller coaster ride from- the depths of the drug addict’s hell to the creative soul’s high. It was an awesome book!