Lists
by Powell's Staff, November 29, 2017 9:25 AM
Even holiday-hardened booksellers know the feeling: Standing in the center of a room, miles of bookshelves stretching in every direction, a long list of people to buy gifts for, each colorful display demanding our attention... The endless possibilities are what endear us to bookshops, but around the holidays even pleasurable shopping can feel overwhelming. Luckily, Powell's is full of avid readers, all of whom are happy to help us find that perfect book. This year, before you find yourself staring down the aisle with shopping anxiety, take a look at the suggestions below. We've compiled a list of what Powell's staffers are giving this year to the readers in their lives — and recommending for the readers in yours. Because when it comes to choosing the right book, everyone needs a bookseller.
Code Girls
by Liza Mundy
To: My daughter, a firefighter and pioneering woman too.
From: Mom
Mrs. Fletcher
by Tom Perrotta
To: My novel-loving friend, who enjoys a wry take on changing social mores.
From: Jake
The Dark Net
by Benjamin Percy
To: Thriller readers and conspiracy theorists who love good writing — and want to read an action scene set in our Rare Book Room!
From: Nova
The Dark Dark
by Samantha Hunt
To: Your sister who loves fantastic, slightly under the radar lit.
From: Jill
High-Proof PDX
by Karen Locke
To: Anyone who wants an inside guide to Portland's amazing, thriving distilling scene.
From: Bash
Chuck Klosterman X
by Chuck Klosterman
To: Internet-obsessed pop culture lovers.
From: Ashleigh
Into the Water
by Paula Hawkins
To: My best friend, who always wants to read the most popular books and loved The Girl on the Train.
From: Kim
In the Midst of Winter
by Isabel Allende
To: My sister, who’s deeply interested in Hispanic culture, human rights, and profound human stories — and loves a good romance to boot.
From: Naomi
From Here to Eternity
by Caitlin Doughty
To: Your smart, funny aunt who has a touch of the morbid about her.
From: Tessa
The Golden House
by Salman Rushdie
To: My fiction-loving friend, who lives abroad and is always grateful for a peek into modern American life.
From: Joseph
A Good Cry
by Nikki Giovanni
To: My grandma, who loves reading about people from different backgrounds (and appreciates a good cry!).
From: Frances
Magpie Murders
by Anthony Horowitz
To: My mom, who loves a twisted, witty, and intelligent mystery.
From: Leah
No Is Not Enough
by Naomi Klein
To: My friends who are constantly checking their iPhone newsfeeds.
From: Rhianna
The Planets
by Nirmala Nataraj
To: My dad the astronomy buff. But also my artist friend, whose colorful pottery reminds me of celestial bodies.
From: Charlotte
Narrow River, Wide Sky
by Jenny Forrester
To: My good friend, who appreciates gorgeous writing and moving portraits of fascinating women.
From: Gigi
The Refugees
by Viet Thanh Nguyen
To: My sister-in-law, who wants to read more diverse fiction and appreciates subtlety in writing.
From: Rae
She Persisted
by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger
To: All of the feisty and spirited kids in my life, both girls and boys.
From: Molly
Strange Weather
by Joe Hill
To: The dad who needs to branch out a bit from Stephen King.
From: Tessa
Spineless
by Juli Berwald
To: Anyone who loved The Soul of an Octopus or is otherwise obsessed with aquatic invertebrates.
From: Jill
The Stranger in the Woods
by Michael Finkel
To: Anyone who wants to know what it’s like to live as a modern forest-dwelling hermit.
From: Jaime
Uncommon Type
by Tom Hanks
To: My cousins who love playful, modern short stories.
From: Dana
What Happened
by Hillary Rodham Clinton
To: Anyone who was left scratching their head after the 2016 election.
From: Jake
Waiting for the Punch
by Marc Maron and Brendan McDonald
To: My friend, who knows the weirdest facts about famous people but is always hungry for more.
From: Xander
Ungrateful Mammals
by Dave Eggers
To: My graphic artist friend, who takes himself too seriously but still thinks poop jokes are funny.
From: Kate
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