Shopping for a bibliophile? We’ve got your back. From stocking stuffers to show stoppers, the Curbside staff shares their holiday picks for an impeccable holiday gift guide.
Managing Editor Naomi Huffman pairs a fine wine with a fitting vessel: Write Like a Motherfucker mug
“I proudly drink my morning matcha from this mug, which is a nice reminder that I'm capable of writing words both bloody and beautiful. Pour yourself another cup of coffee or tea (or whatever spirits move you most in the morning) and read the Dear Sugar column by the inimitable Cheryl Strayed that birthed the phrase.”
2013 Fiction Red wine from Field Recordings
“If you, like me, buy your wine by the label, you won't be disappointed with Fiction. It's a smooth, lush, red blend that is delicious (and here we've reached the end of my wine knowledge) with everything. At $18 a bottle, it's one to savor, or to enjoy with a table full of people you love, or to sip alone in your bed at night with take-out and Scandal.”
Dark House Press Editor-in-Chief Richard Thomas came up with a fittingly macabre suggestion: pencils made from the ashes of your loved ones. “The perfect holiday gift!”
Events & Programming Manager Catherine Eves moonlights as a part-time nanny and picture book authority. She’s been regaling young readers with The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers:
“The Children LOVE books, and I love reading books with The Children, especially this one, with impeccable illustrations and crayons with vibrant personalities. Of course Blue is complaining about only coloring seas and skies, and of course Pink is such a little asshole you just want to crack him in half.”
Publicity Assistant Megan Kirby is looking for any way to make her apartment smell fictional:
“I must be an adult now, because I asked for nice candles for Christmas. This winter, read by the glow of Frostbeard Studio's literary-scented candles. I've got my eye on "Sherlock's Study" (pipe tobacco and cherry wood), "Trashy Romance Novel" (Sex on the Beach), and "Don't Panic!" (fresh towels). Alas, they seem to have discontinued their "Dumbledore's Office" candle. We can only assume it smelled like lemon drops and roasting phoenix.”
Summer '14 intern Claire Gillepsie suggests something for those who like to wear their bookshelves on their sleeves. Litographs turns the full text of famous novels into designs for t-shirts, posters and tote bags. They also have some excellent literary-themed temporary tattoos if you’re looking to scandalize your parents on a holiday trip home with a Jane Austen sleeve.
Intern Jake Scott hits us with what he calls “the MOST unoriginal of all suggestions but often overlooked”: Bananagrams.
"A speedier twist on Scrabble, Bananagrams challenges players with transforming lettered tiles into coherent and intersecting word grids…as fast as you can This simple, yet fast-paced word game will have players cursing the Cro-Magnon limitations of their vocabularies, but it’s a perfect way to liven up the most forced of family gatherings and pairs wonderfully with adult refreshments."
Cram a few more books on your 2014 reading list before the New Year. Summer ’14 intern Connor Goodwin flaunts his indie tastes with two recent titles: On Immunity by Eula Biss and Faces in the Crowd by Valeria Luiselli.
Director of Publicity & Content Strategy Ben Tanzer recommends Two Small Birds by David Newman, a novel about what it means to chase poetry in a working class world.
Designer Alban Fischer recommends two artists books by the late Ray Johnson, who expertly combines words and images for some truly stunning tomes from Siglio Press: Not Nothing & The Paper Snake.
Last but not least: Associate Editor (and master of our e-zine) Joey Pizzolato suggests some luxury reads over at The Folio Society, perfect for building up the library of your dreams. He’s personally eyeing a particularly sharp copy of Catch-22.
“Not only is Catch-22 my all-time favorite book, but it’s also a book I reread every year around the holidays. With a new introduction from Malcolm Bradbury, and newly commissioned illustrations from Neil Packer, nothing would make a better gift, in my mind. Their prices may be a little steep (anywhere from $50-150), but that's what make them a great gift—they aren't something I could go out and buy everyday on a writer's budget. Plus, Folio has hundreds of different titles, making it nearly impossible not to find the perfect title for any book lover. I know, this might sound like a cleverly placed Sponsored Advertisement, but I promise no bibliophile would sneeze at finding one of these in their stockings!”