It’s time for our annual holiday gift giving recommendations! Check out all of the picks on display in the front corner of the store across from the wine bar!
Poetry
Goldenrod by Maggie Smith
I’ve never been a big poetry person, but after hearing many wonderful things about Maggie Smith, I was excited to give her poetry a try. It’s very accessible and reader-friendly without feeling like an instapoet’s random musings at all. I’m excited to read more of her work!
Sarah
From the award-winning poet and bestselling author of Keep Moving and Good Bones, a stunning poetry collection that celebrates the beauty and messiness of life.
With her breakout bestseller Keep Moving, Maggie Smith captured the nation with her “meditations on kindness and hope” (NPR). Now, with Goldenrod, the award-winning poet returns with a powerful collection of poems that look at parenthood, solitude, love, and memory. Pulling objects from everyday life—a hallway mirror, a rock found in her son’s pocket, a field of goldenrods at the side of the road—she reveals the magic of the present moment. Only Maggie Smith could turn an autocorrect mistake into a line of poetry, musing that her phone “doesn’t observe / the high holidays, autocorrecting / shana tova to shaman tobacco, / Rosh Hashanah to rose has hands.”
Slate called Smith’s “superpower as a writer” her “ability to find the perfect concrete metaphor for inchoate human emotions and explore it with empathy and honesty.” The poems in Goldenrod celebrate the contours of daily life, explore and delight in the space between thought and experience, and remind us that we decide what is beautiful.
Why I Wake Early by Mary Oliver
Why I Wake Early is one of my favorite collections of poetry, hands down. Capturing the beauty of how the natural world reflects upon our everyday lives through the power of mornings and more, Mary Oliver does a breathtaking job at revealing truths both about ourselves and nature. This is a must read, even if you’ve never even heard of Oliver before; there’s just too much beauty to be found between these pages.
Christopher
The forty-seven new works in this volume include poems on crickets, toads, trout lilies, black snakes, goldenrod, bears, greeting the morning, watching the deer, and, finally, lingering in happiness. Each poem is imbued with the extraordinary perceptions of a poet who considers the everyday in our lives and the natural world around us and finds a multitude of reasons to wake early.
Essays
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
This collection takes a close look at very specific topics humans have influenced and combines them with Green’s personal life. It is abundantly clear that a considerable amount of research went into this book. A truly compelling read, this book offers readers a chance to reflect on life and learn more about the world in a way that does not feel overwhelming. For a non-fiction book, it reads as smoothly as Green’s previous fiction works.
Athena
The Anthropocene is the current geologic age, in which humans have profoundly reshaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his groundbreaking podcast, bestselling author John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale—from the QWERTY keyboard and sunsets to Canada geese and Penguins of Madagascar.
Funny, complex, and rich with detail, the reviews chart the contradictions of contemporary humanity. As a species, we are both far too powerful and not nearly powerful enough, a paradox that came into sharp focus as we faced a global pandemic that both separated us and bound us together.
John Green’s gift for storytelling shines throughout this masterful collection. The Anthropocene Reviewed is a open-hearted exploration of the paths we forge and an unironic celebration of falling in love with the world.
The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison
Beginning with her experience as a medical actor who was paid to act out symptoms for medical students to diagnose, Leslie Jamison’s visceral and revealing essays ask essential questions about our basic understanding of others: How should we care about each other? How can we feel another’s pain, especially when pain can be assumed, distorted, or performed? Is empathy a tool by which to test or even grade each other? By confronting pain—real and imagined, her own and others’—Jamison uncovers a personal and cultural urgency to feel. She draws from her own experiences of illness and bodily injury to engage in an exploration that extends far beyond her life, spanning wide-ranging territory—from poverty tourism to phantom diseases, street violence to reality television, illness to incarceration—in its search for a kind of sight shaped by humility and grace.
Classics
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The perfect read for any age, the Alchemist is a story of determination and following your heart. A boy who desires to see the world sets off in pursuit of his personal legend to discover the pyramids of Egypt, but along the way he discovers so much more. Throughout his story the boy meets a king, a merchant, a thief, an alchemist, and the love of his life; each one with a different lesson to teach him. This book encouraged me to keep pushing towards my goals in life, even when it seems like everything is against me. It also teaches you to listen to the omens, the language of the universe, and you’ll never be lost on your journey.
Jaclyn
A special 25th anniversary edition of the extraordinary international bestseller, including a new Foreword by Paulo Coelho.
Combining magic, mysticism, wisdom and wonder into an inspiring tale of self-discovery, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations.
Paulo Coelho’s masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago’s journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.
Island by Aldous Huxley
An off-beat classic from the author of Brave New World; Aldous Huxley puts his signature dystopian twist on a utopian novel. A book that will make you think hard about the society we’ve chosen to create and the strange norms we’ve accepted. Island is a book you won’t quickly forget, deeply philosophical, Huxley has a knack for making you look around and question everything you thought you knew.
Jaclyn
The final novel from Aldous Huxley, Island is a provocative counterpoint to his worldwide classic Brave New World, in which a flourishing, ideal society located on a remote Pacific island attracts the envy of the outside world.
In the novel Huxley considered his most important, he transports us to the remote Pacific island of Pala, where an ideal society has flourished for 120 years. Inevitably, this island of bliss attracts the envy and enmity of the surrounding world. A conspiracy is underway to take over Pala, and events are set in motion when an agent of the conspirators, a newspaperman named Faranby, is shipwrecked there. What Faranby doesn’t expect is how his time with the people of Pala will revolutionize all his values and—to his amazement—give him hope.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
After over 150 years, LITTLE WOMEN is still able to resonate with its readers. The antics and adventures of the March sisters not only make the book compelling but relatable as well. It’s clear why this book has had 4 movie adaptations in the last 90 years. I read this in preparation of the 2019 movie and was absolutely blown away. This edition contains both LITTLE WOMEN and GOOD WIVES (the whole story!).
Athena
Louisa May Alcott’s classic tale of four sisters in a deluxe hardcover edition, with beautiful cover illustrations by Anna Bond, the artist behind world-renowned stationery brand Rifle Paper Co.
Grown-up Meg, tomboyish Jo, timid Beth, and precocious Amy. The four March sisters couldn’t be more different. But with their father away at war, and their mother working to support the family, they have to rely on one another. Whether they’re putting on a play, forming a secret society, or celebrating Christmas, there’s one thing they can’t help wondering: Will Father return home safely?
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The classic story you already love, but with beautiful folkloric illustrations! This gorgeous book is sure to be the perfect gift for yourself or the Jane Austen lover in your life!
Becky
Experience this amazing reimagining of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen’s classic story of love and misunderstanding—featuring the colorful and contemporary illustrations of Alice Pattullo.
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice has stood the test of time as one of her best novels. Biting commentary, romance, and misunderstanding abound in this classic story. Pride and Prejudice follows the romantic adventures of Bennett sisters, Mr. Bingley, and his dour friend Mr. Darcy. Pattullo’s full-color, folkloric, multi-faceted pieces of art breathe new life into this engaging, romantic novel, making it a collectible for book and art lovers everywhere.
The Classics Reimagined series is a library of stunning collector’s editions of unabridged classic novels illustrated by contemporary artists from around the world. Each artist offers his or her own unique, visual interpretation of the most well-loved, widely read, and avidly collected literature from renowned authors. From The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and from Edgar Allan Poe to the Brothers Grimm, collect every beautiful volume.
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy
The first and most successful in the Baroness’s series of books that feature Percy Blakeney, who leads a double life as an English fop and a swashbuckling rescuer of aristocrats, The Scarlet Pimpernel was the blueprint for what became known as the masked-avenger genre. As Anne Perry writes in her Introduction, the novel “has almost reached its first centenary, and it is as vivid and appealing as ever because the plotting is perfect. It is a classic example of how to construct, pace, and conclude a plot. . . . To rise on the crest of laughter without capsizing, to survive being written, rewritten, and reinterpreted by each generation, is the mark of a plot that is timeless and universal, even though it happens to be set in England and France of 1792.”
Graphic Novels
The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
A beautiful love story full of magic, selkies, and environmental activism, THE GIRL FROM THE SEA is a fairytale for the modern day. Both words and illustrations combine to pop this story right off the pages as two girls come together to be themselves and find the perfect place for them to belong. A heartbreaking, but hopeful fantasy romance you won’t want to put down!
Marielle
From the author of The Witch Boy trilogy comes a graphic novel about family, romance, and first love.Fifteen-year-old Morgan has a secret: She can’t wait to escape the perfect little island where she lives. She’s desperate to finish high school and escape her sad divorced mom, her volatile little brother, and worst of all, her great group of friends…who don’t understand Morgan at all. Because really, Morgan’s biggest secret is that she has a lot of secrets, including the one about wanting to kiss another girl.Then one night, Morgan is saved from drowning by a mysterious girl named Keltie. The two become friends and suddenly life on the island doesn’t seem so stifling anymore.But Keltie has some secrets of her own. And as the girls start to fall in love, everything they’re each trying to hide will find its way to the surface…whether Morgan is ready or not.
Always Human by Ari North
I truly enjoyed this book, the artwork was great, the story was great, everything was just fantastic! I absolutely adore Sunati and Austen, both in their relationship and each of them individually as characters. Always Human is a wonderful light sci-fi romance that is all too relatable to the world we live in now. Awesome!
Marielle
First serialized on the popular app and website WebToon, Always Human ran from 2015-2017 and amassed over 76,000 unique subscribers during its run. Now reformatted for a print edition in sponsorship with GLAAD, Always Human is a beautifully drawn graphic novel about a developing relationship between two young women in a near-future, soft sci-fi setting. Always Human is drawn in a manga-influenced style and with an incredible color palette that leaps off the page!
In the near-future, people use technology to give the illusion of all kinds of body modifications-but some people have “Egan’s Syndrome,” a highly sensitive immune system that rejects these “mods” and are unable to use them. Those who are affected maintain a “natural” appearance, reliant on cosmetics and hair dye at most to help them play with their looks.
Sunati is attracted to Austen the first time she sees her and is drawn to what she assumes is Austen’s bravery and confidence to live life unmodded. When Sunati learns the truth, she’s still attracted to Austen and asks her on a date. Gradually, their relationship unfolds as they deal with friends, family, and the emotional conflicts that come with every romance. Together, they will learn and grow in a story that reminds us no matter how technology evolves, we will remain . . . always human.
Rendered in beautiful detail and an extraordinary color palette, Always Human is a sweet love story told in a gentle sci-fi setting by a queer woman cartoonist, Ari North.
Cook Books
Celebrate with Kim-Joy by Kim-Joy
How do I love Kim-Joy? Let me count the ways! There are two Bake Off alum cookbooks on this display and while Nadiya’s is most accessible for the everyday chef, Kim-Joy’s cookbooks tend to be best suited to those with a big of baking experience already under their belt. Give this book as a gift to your pandemic baker friend who has their own sourdough starter and waxes on about their new holiday Madeleine pan.
Sarah
Let Kim-Joy and her signature cuteness brighten your celebrations. From birthday cakes to year-round events, all occasions are covered!
The 60 sweet recipes are bursting with color, imagination and fun and there’s something for everyone, no matter what their baking skills.
Big occasions include birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Christmas, weddings; and there are plenty of other celebrations too – Graduation Day, New Year’s, new baby, Pride, Thanksgiving, Day of the Dead, Pancake Day and many more.
Vegan and gluten-free alternatives are provided so that no one needs to miss out!
This joyful collection of recipes includes all the step-by-step photography, clear instructions and words of positivity you need to learn to bake and decorate just like Kim-Joy.
Let’s Make Dumplings! By Hugh Amano & Sarah Becan
A fun-filled, information-packed romp through the magnificent world of Eastern dumplings, anchored by chef Hugh Amano’s rich Japanese heritage and artist Sarah Becan’s dynamic illustrations. Along with the recipes is some short history of each style of dumplings and fillings can be easily adapted – my husband and I even made some of them vegan for our friends and family and they couldn’t tell the difference!
Sarah
An accessible and easy-to-follow comic book cookbook for bringing Asian dumplings into the home kitchen, with recipes for savory and sweet dumplings, dipping sauces, riffs, and more—from the authors of Let’s Make Ramen!
Chef Hugh Amano and comics artist Sarah Becan invite you to explore the big little world of Asian dumplings! Ideal for both newbies and seasoned cooks, this comic book cookbook takes a fun approach to a classic treat that is imbued with history across countless regions. From wontons to potstickers, buuz to momos, Amano’s expert guidance paired with Becan’s colorful and detailed artwork prove that intricate folding styles and flavorful fillings are achievable in the home kitchen.
Let’s Make Dumplings! includes dumpling lore; a master folding guide that familiarizes readers with popular styles, like the pleated crescent of a potsticker or the 4-pointed star of a crab rangoon; and a series of cooking directions to choose from, such as steaming or pan-frying. The recipes range from savory Gyoza to sweet Cambodian Num Kom; from classic Baozi to riffs such as Sesame Chicken Dumplings.
Whether it is the family-style eating experience of stacked steamer baskets filled with succulent shumai and plump xiaolongbao or the interactive process of working together to fold hundreds of jiaozi for a celebration, Let’s Make Dumplings! captures the deep level of connection that dumplings bring to any gathering and shows you how to re-create it in your own home.
Bake From Scratch by Brian Hart Hoffman
After a ten year baking hiatus, I resumed my former favorite hobby as the pandemic stretch through last winter. This book walks the line between Kim-Joy and Nadiya and elevates some well known baking staples, from a basic chocolate birthday cake to a thorough introduction to basic breads. You will quickly come to love the accessibility and beautiful photography of this wonderful book and once you’ve mastered it, you’ll be please to learn there is a new volume every year, 2022 will see the release of volume 6.
Sarah
This collection of recipes from the first year of Bake from Scratch magazine features endless inspiration for home bakers.
From the essential brioche and rye bread to a classic 1-2-3-4 cake with seasonal flavor variations and easy French g teaux, this hardcover, high-quality cookbook with lush photography for every recipe is the go-to resource for those looking to bake artisan goods at home.
Time to Eat by Nadiya Hussain
Having been an avid Bake Off fan for a few years now, I’ve come to love and adore everything that Nadiya, a previous winner, has gone on to do. From hosting cooking shows to writing Little Women inspired diverse fiction, is there anything she cannot do? This cookbook of hers is my favorite and incredibly accessible, even for the timid home cook. The recipes are flavorful and most of the British specific ingredients can be omitted or have easy American substitutes.
Sarah
From the host of the beloved Netflix series Time to Eat and winner of The Great British Baking Show come over 100 time-smart recipes to tackle family mealtime.
Nadiya Hussain knows that feeding a family and juggling a full work load can be challenging. Time to Eat solves mealtime on weeknights and busy days with quick and easy recipes that the whole family will love. Nadiya shares all her tips and tricks for making meal prep as simple as possible, including ideas for repurposing leftovers and components of dishes into new recipes, creating second meals to keep in the freezer, and using shortcuts–like frozen foods–to cut your prep time significantly.
In Time to Eat, Nadiya teaches you to make recipes from her hit Netflix show, including Peanut Butter & Jelly Traybake, Instant Noodles, Egg Rolls, and zesty Marmalade Haddock. Each recipe also notes exactly how long it will take to prepare and cook, making planning easy. Helpful icons identify which recipes can be made ahead, which ones are freezer-friendly, and which ones can be easily doubled.
All Under Heaven by Carolyn Phillips
Cooking is one of my absolute favorite things in the world! I simply love having all of my friends over and throwing a dinner party with everything made from scratch and All Under Heaven is one of my must have cook books. It break’s down the cuisine of China into several different regions so that you can experiment with all kinds of cooking. This is a great book for beginners with easy substitutions and for experts with a pantry list in the back!
Drew
A comprehensive, contemporary portrait of China’s culinary landscape and the geography and history that has shaped it, with more than 300 recipes.
Vaulting from ancient taverns near the Yangtze River to banquet halls in modern Taipei, All Under Heaven is the first cookbook in English to examine all 35 cuisines of China. Drawing on centuries’ worth of culinary texts, as well as her own years working, eating, and cooking in Taiwan, Carolyn Phillips has written a spirited, symphonic love letter to the flavors and textures of Chinese cuisine. With hundreds of recipes–from simple Fried Green Onion Noodles to Lotus-Wrapped Spicy Rice Crumb Pork–written with clear, step-by-step instructions, All Under Heaven serves as both a handbook for the novice and a source of inspiration for the veteran chef.
Gift Books
Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson & Jay Cooper
As a huge fan of British mystery shows like Father Brown and Midsummer Murders, I loved this book the moment I laid eyes on it. It’s the perfect gift book for your quirky friend or, like me, your mother in law who introduced you to your new favorite cozy mystery obsession!
Sarah
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Considering a trip to a quaint English village? You’ll think twice after learning about the countless murderous possibilities lurking behind the bucolic façades, thanks to this illustrated guide from #1 bestselling author Maureen Johnson and illustrator Jay Cooper—perfect for fans of cozy mysteries.
A weekend roaming narrow old lanes, touring the faded glories of a country manor, and quaffing pints in the pub. How charming. That is, unless you have the misfortune of finding yourself in an English Murder Village, where danger lurks around each picturesque cobblestone corner and every sip of tea may be your last. If you insist on your travels, do yourself a favor and bring a copy of this little book. It may just keep you alive.
Brought to life with dozens of Gorey-esque drawings by illustrator Jay Cooper and peppered with allusions to classic crime series and unmistakably British murder lore, Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village gives you the tools you need to avoid the same fate, should you find yourself in a suspiciously cozy English village (or simply dream of going). Good luck! And whatever you do, avoid the vicar.
Reading Quirks by The Wild Detectives
Who hasn’t peeked over the shoulder of the person reading next to them on the subway, curious about the book in their hands? Who doesn’t secretly love skipping the party to stay home and read? Who hasn’t daydreamed of catching the eye of a future significant other as you discover from across the room that you’re reading the same book?
If you’re a reader, you know you’ve been there, and probably in so many other weird places as well, right? That’s what happens with readers, they have these strange traits, these particular ways, that separate them from the rest.
Reading Quirks explores, in 72 lighthearted four-frame cartoons, all these weird things readers do, from the existential dilemma of picking your next read to the frustrations of watching an overzealous dog-earer in action. The series was written and created by a bookstore in Dallas, The Wild Detectives, originally as a social media campaign–a way to connect with other readers over a shared understanding of what it means to be crazy about books. Laura Pacheco’s adorable illustrations introduce a cast of endearing characters, whose flaws and obsessions range from disarming good nature to mischievous playfulness.
Reading Quirks is a witty and light-hearted ode to the immense pleasure of reading and its resulting byproduct: neurosis.
I Really Needed This Today by Hoda Kotb
This is an enjoyable inspirational book which is broken down into 365 quotes, one for each day of the year. Hoda, after each quote, writes a personal account of how it relates to her life or someone that she knows. I recommend this title for anyone who is a fan of Maria Shriver or Rachel Hollis.
Pam
From New York Times bestselling author and beloved Today show co-host Hoda Kotb comes an inspiring collection of quotes that offer wisdom, courage, and hope—the perfect gift for Mother’s Day!
Several years ago, Today show co-host Hoda Kotb began posting a variety of quotes on her Instagram page. Some were penned by a favorite writer; others offered a dose of love or laughter. She thought the quotes were meaningful only to her, but soon a funny thing started happening—reactions poured in from thousands of people who were just as moved. The quotes weren’t only providing inspiration to Hoda, they were comforting and connecting people. So many of their comments read, “I really needed this today,” a phrase that inspired the book’s title.
In I Really Needed This Today, Hoda not only shares 365 sayings and quotes, she writes about the people and experiences that have pushed her to challenge boundaries, embrace change, and explore relationships to their fullest. Written with her signature wit and warmth, this book is the ideal companion to tuck beside your bed or to bring with you on-the-go to keep you motivated, recharged, and inspired each day.
Change is the Only Constant by Ben Orlin
I love all things pop-math. As a former math teacher and currently still nerdy math lover, I love when authors and creative minded people take complex math concepts and make them relatable and understandable for all people. Change is the Only Constant is more than just a math book, so much more. And it’s really not a book simply for those who love math – Ben Orlin’s intention is always to bring math to all people who like cute line doodles like those on the cover. Have you ever wondered what mathematical principles can be found in your life everyday? Oh so many. Or how math influences everyone from novelists to shopkeepers? Or just how math helps scientists and mathematicians predict how our population and climate will change? Then Math with Bad Drawings and, more importantly, Change is the Only Constant is for you!
Sarah
The next book from Ben Orlin, the popular math blogger and author of the underground bestseller Math With Bad Drawings.Change Is The Only Constant is an engaging and eloquent exploration of the intersection between calculus and daily life, complete with Orlin’s sly humor and wonderfully bad drawings.
Change is the Only Constant is an engaging and eloquent exploration of the intersection between calculus and daily life, complete with Orlin’s sly humor and memorably bad drawings. By spinning 28 engaging mathematical tales, Orlin shows us that calculus is simply another language to express the very things we humans grapple with every day — love, risk, time, and most importantly, change. Divided into two parts, “Moments” and “Eternities,” and drawing on everyone from Sherlock Holmes to Mark Twain to David Foster Wallace, Change is the Only Constant unearths connections between calculus, art, literature, and a beloved dog named Elvis. This is not just math for math’s sake; it’s math for the sake of becoming a wiser and more thoughtful human.
Creativity by John Cleese
The legendary comedian, actor, and writer of Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, and A Fish Called Wanda fame shares his key ideas about creativity: that it’s a learnable, improvable skill.
“Many people have written about creativity, but although they were very, very clever, they weren’t actually creative. I like to think I’m writing about it from the inside.”—John Cleese
You might think that creativity is some mysterious, rare gift—one that only a few possess. But you’d be wrong. As John Cleese shows in this short, practical, and often amusing guide, creativity is a skill that anyone can acquire.
Drawing on his lifelong experience as a writer, Cleese shares his insights into the nature of creativity and offers advice on how to get your own inventive juices flowing. What do you need to do to get yourself in the right frame of mind? When do you know that you’ve come up with an idea that might be worth pursuing? What should you do if you think you’ve hit a brick wall?
We can all be more creative.
John Cleese shows us how.
Towne Book Center 