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If you’re worried about your pocket getting picked at 168, or your favorite department store is just too crowded, then a bookstore may just be the next best place to shop for gifts this Christmas. Here are some recommendations:

For your dad: The Camel Club by David Baldacci (P349)
Does your dad like mystery? Suspense? Action? Then you’re in luck, because The Camel Club has all of the above, with a little bit of comedy and romance thrown in for good measure. It’s the story of four men—all eccentric in one way or another (think nerds, obsessive-compulsive types, etc.) who also happen to be conspiracy theorists and believe that the US government is hiding more than what the public believes. When they stumble upon a dead body, they find themselves entangled with Arab terrorists, nuclear weapons, and a plan to assassinate the President of the United States. There are many historical tidbits thrown in here and there, which make the story even more interesting but in no way makes you lose track of the main plot. The twist at the end is totally unexpected but highly satisfying. Overall, it’s an intense read, and if this gets made into a movie, your dad will definitely be one of the first to line up for tickets.

For your mom: Life Swap by Jane Green (P489)
Vicky Townsley is living the glamorous single life in London but she feels there is something missing. On the other side of the Atlantic is Amber Winslow, happily married but strangely unhappy as well. And so the two women embark on an adventure that’s as inspired as it is fantastic: they decide to swap places for a month—living in each other’s homes, wearing each other’s clothes—to see if the grass really is greener on the other side. It’s obvious from the get-go how the story will end, but the two women’s journey, including their thoughts, musings, and realizations, are still great too read because they reflect precisely what every woman (single or married) goes through. Many times throughout the novel I found myself saying, “Yes, this was/is exactly how I felt/am feeling.” It’s a book I’m sure all women can relate to, and one where there’s a lesson to be learned no matter what kind of woman you are.

For your young niece or nephew: Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer (P750)
Artemis Fowl is a wealthy twelve year old child prodigy slash criminal mastermind. Still following me? He is also one of the few humans who has come into contact with fairies; that’s right—little winged people with special powers who live underground because they fear human persecution. Got it so far?

Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony is the fifth and latest book in a series that follows the adventures of Artemis, Holly Short (the fairy whom Artemis initially kidnaps but later on befriends), and assortment of other lovable characters, including a talking horse and a skilled butler/bodyguard named, well, Butler. In the Lost Colony, Artemis and Holly team up to stop demons from attacking humankind, traveling between dimensions, employing all sorts of high-tech gadgetry, and basically using their wits to save the day (naturally!). This may be a children’s book, but more in a James Bond meets Harry Potter meets Peter Pan kind of way. Trust me, your niece or nephew will be asking you to buy all the other Artemis Fowl titles by the time he gets through with this one!

For your best friend: The Pact by Jodi Picoult (P349)
I love Jodi Picoult and am currently starting collection of all her novels. Every book deals with a burning family or relationship issue (school violence, rape, etc) but told in a style that’s not hokey or heavy-handed. The Pact is one such example: Chris and Emily have known each other since childhood, and when they grow up, their relationship blossoms from one of best friends to romance, to the delight of both their. One night, however, a call comes from the hospital—seventeen-year-old Emily has been shot, and Chris was found by the police to be holding the gun. Chris says he and Emily were going to commit suicide together, but the police don’t believe him. So what really happened? The answer will shock you and may even displease you, but there’s no denying that The Pact is a page-turner right from chapter one to the epilogue. It’s more than just a teen love story, it’s also talks about parent-child relationships and leaves is with the burning question: how well do we really know our family? Oh, and for the legal buffs, there’s some suspenseful courtroom action here as well.

For your boyfriend or hubby: Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield (P349)
I’m sure your guy—like many other guys—enjoyed the movie 300, which is why I’m also sure that he will doubly enjoy Gates of Fire, which is a more comprehensive look at Spartan society and culminates in the kickass Battle of Thermopylae. There is a detailed description of the agoge—the military training program which all Spartan boys must go through, which makes our ROTC look like child’s play. There are also many action scenes that showcase the heroics of familiar 300 characters like King Leonidas and Dienekes (he was the one who said “Then we will fight in the shade”), as well as other Spartan warriors. If this were a movie, it would be non-stop action, so give your guy a break if he forgets to call you when he should.

Prices quoted are those sold at Fully Booked. Books are also available at other leading bookstores.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 3rd, 2007 at 6:00 am and is filed under Media (Books, CDs, DVDs, Movies). You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.