Holiday gift giving guide (for the booklovers in your life)

November 12, 4:04 PMSeattle Books ExaminerDanielle Dreger-Babbitt

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In case you haven't noticed, the holiday season is rapidly approaching.  Even though I just threw out my pumpkin it seems like every store I walk into has Christmas music playing.   I'm might not be one of those people who start decorating for December before Thanksgiving, but I am one of those who like to have all thier shopping wrapped up by then.  If you're like me, then you only have 15 days to buy all of your gifts (for those of you who are a little less anal-retantive you have 44 days left until Christmas, 45 days until Kwanzaa, and 43 days until Hanukkah begins).

To streamline your giftgiving this year, I've created a list of appropriate books for the loved ones in your (and mine) life.  (For those of you who happen to know me, don't be surpised if you get one of these titles.  If you want to be surprised, stop reading now!).

The Best Books For:

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Your mom: I See You Everwhere by Julia Glass and Small Town Christmas by Debbie Macomber

Your mother-in-law:  Pilgrims by Elizabeth Gilbert and The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food by Judith Jones

Your dad (who doesn't really like to read but you want to buy him a book anyway): The Given Day by Dennis Lehane, The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie (of T.V.'s House), and Dilbert 2.0: 20 Years of Dilbert by Scott Adams

Your brother:  Breakdowns:  Portriat of the Artist as a Young %@&*! by Art Spiegelman, and State by State:  A Panoramic Portait of America by Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey

Your sister:  Playing with Fire by Kate MacAlister, Martha Stewart's Cooking School:  Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook by Martha Stewart, and The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell

Your teenage daughter or neice (who has already read Twilight):  Nickand Norah's Infinate Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham, or some of these Graphic Novels

Your teenage son or nephew:  Stormbreaker (or any of the Alex Rider series) by Anthony Horowitz, Silverfin (or any of the Young James Bond series) by Charlie Higson, Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing Traitor to the Nation Volumes I and II by M.T. Anderson

Your adult daughter or daughter-in-law:  The Opposite of Love by Julie Buxbaum, I Was Told There'd be Cake by Sloane Crosley, and Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evonavich 

Your son or son-in-law:  No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach by Anthony Bourdain, American Lion:  Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham, and Just After Sunset by Stephen King

Your daughter or son (who still reads picture books):  Those Darn Squirrels! by Adam Rubin, Old Bear by Kevin Henkes, and The Cow That Laid an Egg by Andy Cutbill

Your tween daughter:  Warriors series by Erin Hunter, Pieces of Georgia by Jen Bryant,  and The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer

Your tween son:  Brisingr by Christopher Paolini, The Calder Game by Blue Balliett, and Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson

Your grandmother:  The Knitting Circle: A Novel by Ann Hood

Your grandfather:  The Snowball:  Warren Buffett  and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder and Call Me Ted by Ted Turner

Your aunt (who used to be a librarian):  Dewey:  The Small-Town Library Cat who Changed the World by Vicki Myron

Your best friend (female):  Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot, The Sookie Stackhouse Box Set by Charlaine Harris, and I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence by Amy Sedaris

Your best friend (male):  The Bro Code by Barney Stinson, Survive!  Essential Skills and Tactics to Get You Out of Anywhere- Alive by Les Stroud, and anything by David Sedaris

Your petsitter:  I Can Has a Cheezburger?  A LOLcat Colleckshun by Professor Happycat

If by chance the person you're shopping for has read everything on my list or none of these titles sound right, I suggest buying a gift certificate to a bookstore (bonus if it's a used or independent  bookstore).  Happy Shopping!

For those who are shopping early, make sure to check out the Friends of the Seattle Public Library Holiday Booksale at Magnuson Park this Saturday from 9-5.