This year our list includes CDs and DVDs in addition to books for adults and children. If you have questions or need more suggestions, just Ask Us!
Books for Adults:
Nonfiction:
 Ansel Adams in the National Parks: Photographs from America’s Wild Places,
Ansel Adams
(Landscape Photography)
Gorgeous photos from the dedicated environmentalist and renowned artist, including many never previously published.
 How to Cook Everything: 2000 Simple Recipes for Great Food,
Mark Bittman
(Cookbook)
Inspiring recipes and easy-to-prepare dishes come from the widely-known "Minimalist" food writer at the New York Times.
 Promise Me: How a Sister’s Love Launched the Global Movement to End Breast Cancer,
Nancy Brinker
(Biography)
This deeply moving biography is both a tribute to a beloved sibling and the story of how her death inspired the founding of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure health charity and events.
 The Great Typo Hunt: Two Friends Changing the World, One Correction at a Time,
Jeff Deck
(Spelling & typing errors, Road Trip)
Taking a road trip through the United States correcting typos is a lot more fun than you might think.
 Audrey 100,
Ellin Fontana.
(Pictorial works, Audrey Hepburn)
Features 100 of the most memorable Audrey Hepburn images and comes with a print suitable for framing.
 The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right,
Atul Gawande
This brief book offers an eye-opening view of how skipping a step can lead to considerable complications no matter your field. From his own research and experience.
 Outliers: The Story of Success,
Malcolm Gladwell
This entertaining book from the bestselling author looks at extreme success. What factors enter into any one person’s extraordinary success?
 Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making It Work,
Tim Gunn
(Etiquette)
This is a great etiquette book from the host of Project Runway. It’s fun, it’s dishy, and it’s all good advice on how to “make it work.”
 Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness,
Lyanda Lynn Haupt
(Birds)
An urban ornithological expedition to defend the honor of the crow provides lots of interesting history, as well as thoughtful musings on the relationship between humans and nature. Illustrated with lovely black and white woodcuts.
 Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime,
John Heilemann
(Presidential politics)
Heilemann looks back at the historic election year 2008.
 Nomad: From Islam to America – A Personal Journey through the Clash of Civilizations,
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
(Memoir)
The author of Infidel describes the difficulties of adjusting to American life. Ali also entreats America to be vigilant and not underestimate the threat of radical Islam.
 Lost Rights: The Misadventures of a Stolen American Relic,
David Howard
(Stolen artifact, American History)
One of the 14 Bill of Rights original copies, belonging to the state of North Carolina, was stolen during the Civil War. This is the story of its restoration to the rightful owner.
 Exercising Your Soul: Fifteen Minutes a Day to a Spiritual Life,
Gary Jansen
(Spirituality)
Fifteen minutes seems doable with the variety of exercises outlined by Jansen.
 War,
Sebastian Junger
(Modern warfare, Military)
Fascinating coverage of the subject of war in general, from a troops-eye view, with lots of good background/reference to various studies about why troops on the ground do what they do. One of the soldiers that Junger covers became the first living Medal of Honor recipient since Viet Nam. Junger describes the incident leading to that honor in great detail.
 The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements,
Sam Kean
(Science & History)
For the scientifically inclined, this book describes chemistry for the layperson. This fascinating history about the periodic table features interesting background about the element’s (sometimes accidental) discovery and other eccentric trivia.
 Anne Lamott’s books on faith are all memorable, reflective, humorous, and uplifting. Try any or all of these (Spirituality):
Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith
Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith
Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith
 $5 a Meal College Cookbook: Good Cheap Food for When You Need to Eat,
Rhonda Lauret Parkingson
(Cooking)
These quick, easy, and cheap recipes will break the dining hall monotony and add nutrition to the college student’s diet.
 Nigella Kitchen: Recipes from the Heart of the Home,
Nigella Lawson
Lawson offers recipes from a variety of cuisines along with some invaluable kitchen tips.
 Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen,
Christopher McDougall
(Running)
Quite a story about the athletes from the Tarahumara Indian tribe of Mexico’s Copper Canyon.
 Warm Knits, Cool Gifts: Celebrate the Love of Knitting & Family with More Than 35 Charming Designs,
Sally Melville
(Knitting)
Someone on your gift list might love to create these lovely gifts (or have YOU knit them).
 Secretariat: The Making of a Champion,
William Nack
(Horse Racing)
This is an update of Nack’s book about a most extraordinary race horse.
 The Backyard Bird Lover’s Ultimate How-To Guide: More Than 200 Easy Ideas and Projects for Attracting and Feeding Your Favorite Birds,
Sally Roth
The title says it all. This book will not disappoint.
 The Bread of Angels: A Journey to Love and Faith,
Stephanie Saldaña
(Biography)
One woman's search for faith, love, and the meaning of her life in the place she least expects to find it.
 Wildflower: An Extraordinary Life and Untimely Death in Africa,
Mark Seal
(Biography)
The mesmerizing story of the captivating life and shocking death of world-renowned naturalist Joan Root.
 Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception,
Charles Seife
(Mathematics)
There is an art in playing with numbers, as the reader will discover in this book. Examining surveys and global warming statistics and election results, it will make you wonder whether a number is actually “absolute.”
 The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet,
Alicia Silverstone
(Health, Vegetarian cooking)
In addition to delicious recipes, Silverstone provides encouragement, information, and resources that will be of interest to anyone wanting to move towards a more plant-based diet.
 Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes
Stephen Sondheim
(Musicals, Music Appreciation)
A collection of Sondheim songs, some never published, along with all things Sondheim and threatre.
 You’re the Umpire: 139 Scenarios to Test Your Baseball Knowledge,
Wayne Stewart
(Baseball)
A must for the baseball aficionado and dedicated ump-basher on your list.
 Manhunt: The Twelve-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer,
James L. Swanson
(History)
The hunt for John Wilkes Booth provides history and thrills.
 97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement,
Jane Ziegelman
(History, Food)
97 Orchard is a tenement building on New York’s Lower East Side. Ziegelman helps us to peek in the windows at the lives of immigrants who lived there and their gastronomic specialties.
Fiction:
 Tell Me Another Morning: An Autobiographical Novel,
Zdena Berger
(Holocaust)
This autobiographical novel was published in 1961, 16 years after the author was liberated from Auschwitz. It is a fictionalized chronicle of her time spent in three concentration camps. Harrowing? Yes. Heartbreaking? Yes. Hopeful? Very much so. Beautifully written and recommended for older teens through adult.
 South of Broad,
Pat Conroy
(Southern Life)
This novel of complex family and friendship is set in Charleston, South Carolina.
 A Visit from the Goon Squad,
Jennifer Egan
One has to have some acquaintance with the music scene of the 1980s and early 90s to really appreciate this dark, disturbing, yet deeply funny novel. This is a sure bet for those in need of a little Punk nostalgia.
 Good to a Fault, Marina Endicott
(Caregiving)
A car accident leads claims adjuster Clara Purdy into caregiving for a homeless family, whose mother is dying of cancer. Lots of surprises in this endearing novel.
 Under Heaven,
Guy Gavriel Kay
(Historical Fantasy)
Readers of historical fantasy are not the only ones who will enjoy this engrossing read about court intrigue and honor; try it for those like historical fiction and/or epic movies set in ancient China (think "Hero").
 Let the Great World Spin,
Colum McCann
(Immigrants, New York City)
The 1974 high wire walk by Philippe Petit and the consequences precipitate the action in this novel about life and loss and immigrants in New York City.
 The Geometry of Sisters,
Luanne Rice
(Family and Loss)
After her husband drowns and her oldest daughter runs away, Maggie Shaw moves what remains of her family from Ohio to Newport, Rhode Island in order to make a living.
 The Help,
Kathryn Stockett
(African American Women, Civil Rights)
The action occurs during an intense time during the Civil Rights Movement and chronicles the everyday work and home lives of black housekeepers.
 The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder,
Rebecca Wells
(Southern Women)
It’s not about the Ya Yas, but the story of Calla Lily Ponder, who leaves her small Louisiana hometown for New Orleans and a fresh start in life.
Books for Young Adults
 Mockingjay,
Suzanne Collins
(Science Fiction, Survival)
The last book of the Hunger Games trilogy, this would make an excellent gift for series fans.
 Half Brother,
Kenneth Oppel
(Human/Animal Communication)
This Junior High/Young Adult novel would also appeal to adults. Half Brother is about the struggles and misconceptions of raising animals in a human setting/lifestyle. Here are a few words to help you understand what the book is about: Love, Laughter, Human Relationships, Animal Relationships, Bonds, and Boundaries.
• Find more suggestions at The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books - Guide Book to Gift Books, An Annotated List of Books for Youth 2010.
Books for Youth
 Let’s Count Goats,
Mem Fox
(Picture Book)
This charming picture book will entertain and educate the little ones, and has enough goofy fun left over for parents, too.
 The Ruins of Gorlan (and others in the Ranger’s Apprentice series)
John Flanagan
(Junior High Fiction, Fantasy)
The first of the series, The Ruins of Gorlan tells of 15-year-old Will. On Choosing Day, Will is apprenticed to a Ranger, and that is just the beginning of his incredible adventures.
 Henry Hikes to Fitchburg,
D.B. Johnson
(Picture Book)
It is thirty miles to Fitchburg, and, unlike his friends who work for train fare, Henry Thoreau walks the whole way. His path takes him through fields and woods and more.
 Monsters Eat Whiny Children,
Bruce Eric Kaplan
(Picture Book)
Bickering, whiny siblings Henry and Eve are kidnapped by a monster who plans to eat them. But before that can happen the two learn to get along, and escape. Fun for whiny children and adults alike.
 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth,
Jeff Kinney
(Junior High Fiction)
As good as the other books in the series and just as much fun for adults as the intended audience of middle school students, it will make you laugh out loud.
 Peekaboo, Blueberry!
Barney Saltzberg
(Board Book)
This engaging board book for infants and toddlers teaches about various body parts and features Blueberry the bunny. Children will enjoy lifting the flaps to reveal the body parts and other surprises. There is even a doorbell to ring!
 Gallop!
Rufus Butler Seder
(Board Book)
A fun Scanimation rhyming board book.
• Find more suggestions at The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books - Guide Book to Gift Books, An Annotated List of Books for Youth 2010.
DVDs
Emma
Charming BBC production based on the Austen novel, starring Romola Garai.
Life
Narrated by David Attenborough, this is a visually stunning BBC series from the producers of The Blue Planet and Planet Earth. Not only gorgeous, it has a great musical score and manages to be both exciting and educational. A newer version is narrated by Oprah Winfrey.
The Pacific
The HBO miniseries about the real life journeys of three U.S. Marines through the Pacific Theater during World War II and their return home.
Robin Hood
Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett star in this version of the famous 13th century legend.
Sherlock, Season 1
The BBC has reimagined Sherlock Holmes and John Watson in present day London. Holmes describes himself as a gifted “sociopath.” John Watson is an injured veteran of the Afghanistan conflict. The action never lets up in this surprising adaptation. If you have a fan of Arthur Conan Doyle and/or Masterpiece Mystery! on your gift list, you will want to consider this 3-disc set.
The 39 Steps
This BBC adaptation of the John Buchan novel was originally produced in 2008 and just released on DVD this year. Available at Amazon.
CDs
Crazy Love,
Michael Buble
Features two original songs and original renderings of eleven standards, including “Cry Me a River” and “Stardust.”
Jasmine,
Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden
A lovely musical conversation between two esteemed musicians.
The Promise,
Bruce Springsteen
As good as the reviews, this would be perfect for the Springsteen fan or a fan of rock history.
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