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The Books You Are Giving This Christmas


Spockydog

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For me, there is nothing quite as satisfying as introducing a loved one to my favourite books. Especially at Christmas. For a relatively small amount of money, you can give so much joy, as well as supporting your favourite authors.


Long Price Quartet - Daniel Abraham. I’ve been gifting this to various members of my family for the past four years. This year, it’s going to my soon-to-be brother-in-law and the father of my unborn niece. Before Game of Thrones, the TV show, he wasn’t at all into fantasy. Now he can’t get enough. He’s not yet read anything by Abraham, so this is the natural place to start.


The Farseer Trilogy – Robin Hobb. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve gifted this to someone. As a result, just about everybody in my immediate family and close circle of friends has now read it. I’m still not sure who I’m going to give it to this year, but I’m sure I’ll think of someone.


City of Stairs - Robert Jackson Bennett. Without doubt, one of the books of the year. Beautifully written, strong female protagonists, and an excellent plot. My sister’s gonna love it!


Half a King - Joe Abercrombie. This one’s going to my fourteen-year-old nephew. He loves his sci-fi, so last year I introduced him to Corey’s Expanse series (which he loved). In the past, I’ve tried, and failed, to peak his interest in fantasy. But as he’s now at an age where I feel it safe to introduce him to Abercrombie, and Half a King is just so freakin’ good, I am confident that this is the year in which I obliterate any lingering resistance to the genre. Mwah-ha-ha!


The World of Ice and Fire – GRRM, Elio & Linda. An absolutely stunning book. This one’s for me old mum. Since the show started airing, I always re-watch each episode over at her place, every Sunday after dinner. She’s always interrupting, asking questions regarding the backstory, so hopefully this will help put an end to that!


Would love to hear what others are giving this year. Perhaps a great gift idea that I’ve not yet thought of…
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I generally give books as gifts. This year some of the books I am giving are:

5 year old boy - "Little Fir Tree" by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Barbara Cooney and "The Nutcracker" by E.T.A. Hoffman, illustrated by Maurice Sendak

10 year old boy - "The Dark is Rising" by Susan Cooper and "The Four Story Mistake" by Elizabeth Enright

11 year old girl - "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott and "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E.L. Konigsburg

16 year old boy - "A Wizard of Earthses" by Ursula K. LeGuin and "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas

My mom who loves mysteries and "spy novels" - "Close Call" by Stella Rimington and "Covenant With Hell" by Priscilla Royal

I have a pile of books for my dad but have not decided yet which will go to him for Christmas and which will be saved until later next year.

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I'm getting my uncle The First Law trilogy. He was the one responsible for getting me into The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings when I was a kid, so I've been returning the favor (already got him into Ice and Fire). I figure he'll probably appreciate a series that's actually finished for a change.



Getting my dad an art book called Pearl Jam vs. Ames Bros. It's full of a ton of their tour posters all designed by The Ames Bros., a company owned by the brother of PJ bassist Jeff Ament. He's a huge PJ fan and most of his house is decorated by concert posters so this seemed right up his alley.

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My family resists my attempts to give books as gifts, to my endless dismay.



I've got a beautiful version of The Silmarillion for my SO, bought from a second-hand shop. He's also got some Horus Heresy books, and the latest Assassin's Creed.



I got Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill for my SO's mum, and a book of horror stories by various authors for his sister. They were birthday presents, though.



The Queen's Sister by Anne O'Brien is going to a friend, as it failed to interest me, and may be more his cup of tea.



I know I'm receiving a heap of books for my birthday and Christmas. The prospect both excites and intimidates me, as I ran out of shelf space a while ago. :uhoh:

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My family resists my attempts to give books as gifts, to my endless dismay.

I've got a beautiful version of The Silmarillion for my SO, bought from a second-hand shop. He's also got some Horus Heresy books, and the latest Assassin's Creed.

I got Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill for my SO's mum, and a book of horror stories by various authors for his sister. They were birthday presents, though.

The Queen's Sister by Anne O'Brien is going to a friend, as it failed to interest me, and may be more his cup of tea.

I know I'm receiving a heap of books for my birthday and Christmas. The prospect both excites and intimidates me, as I ran out of shelf space a while ago. :uhoh:

Sorry this is off topic, but does anyone have an opinion on the Horus Heresy books? I have heard they are good, but am a little daunted by the fact their are thirty of them already.

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I bought GRRM's Tuf Voyaging for my eldest. He is 15 and I hope he likes it.


I also got him The Catcher in the Rye, William Shakespeare's Star Wars by Ian Doesher and the Dark Tower series, he likes King.



The little ones (5 and 7) got The Chronicles of Narnia and some fairy tales.



Very informative thread, I'll look into some of the authors you have mentioned.


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