Better-Late-Than-Never Gift Guides

For the bookish, the writerly, the hungry, and others -- my tried-and-true holiday best

I’m taking my best shot at helping you with your holiday shopping. . .

We can’t wait to bring you more of The New Canon, written by Lauren Stack — but for the next week or three, I’ll be subbing in, to bring you some ideas for gifts. As I say frequently, books themselves make the best gifts, but sometimes you want to provide a more practical present, add on something trendy, or just send something delicious.

This week, five lists of five gifts each:

For the avid reader:

The Book Lover’s Reading Challenge, because I can’t resist something with so many little envelopes and packets to open. Once a desky maiden, always a desky maiden.

The Banned Books Puzzle not only highlights the books most frequently (and ludicrously) banned — it’s designed by the one-and-only Ideal Bookshelf creator, Jane Mount.

That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones is a testament proving librarians are rock stars, as well as frontline warriors in the fight to keep education, information, and storytelling alive in our schools and communities.

The Books Are Magic ball cap from superstar novelist and bookstore owner Emma Straub, is still available. . . in just four colors. I’m too late, you’re too late, snag one before they sell out!

Barefoot Dreams throws are the softest, lightest, easiest-to-wash, and go ahead, look at all of the choices at that link. Then do what I do — see what’s available for MUCH MUCH less at Nordstrom Rack.

For the inveterate writer:

Craft in the Real World: Rethinking Fiction Writing and Workshopping by Matthew Salesses should be on the desk or shelf of every writer you know, whether they’re in academia, business, education, freelance. . . if you think you know the rules of workshop, allow Salesses to share the history of how MFA culture began.

"Strange Ideas and Impure Thoughts" journal comes from a company a dear friend introduced me to, The Mincing Mockingbird, and you might wind up buying a lot of things from them. You’ve been warned.

Unreliable Narrator sticker is also from The Mincing Mockingbird. It’s just a tiny little lagniappe (is that redundant times two?) to slip in with a gift card for a fellow struggler in the writing mines.

Literary Insults Chart I find it impossible to resist. The zing-zip infographic will give me a lift (and perhaps a new bit of snark) each time I look at it.

My favorite fountain pen is, alas, a version of the linked one that is out of stock, The Kaweco Liliput Brass Wave. But the plain Liliput Brass is also pleasing, and readily available. I’m lefthanded and the medium nib suits me very well, plus Kaweco offers little cartridges in lots of different colors.

For the overworked (teachers, nurses, besties, new parents, more):

The Kenko Back Cloud is a newer version of a back/neck rest I once had called The Archimedes Wedge (or something like that). Anyone who does a lot of typing, reading, monitoring, carrying, and the like will appreciate the chance to have their cervical spine cradled softly, but with stability.

Really easy, and really delicious, instant coffee can be yours from Intelligentsia. Single-serve packets! STRONG coffee! These are de rigueur for your next retreat, workshop, or residency.

Chukar Cherries single-serving packets, a set of 12, will make a healthy-snack-addict out of your giftee.

Barefoot Dreams socks. . . well, see above. At least the linked set of three is on sale right now!

The best sleep mask is this Nidra one. It leaves your eyes and lashes and sinuses alone.

For cooks and bakers:

Perfectly unusual and delicious jams from Taiwan: Irwin Mango, Mulberry, Passionfruit Pumpkin, and Red Guava. They’re not cheap, but they’ll surprise and delight.

My favorite spoonula will forever be this Le Creuset wooden model. Again, not cheap, but they least much, much longer than most wooden spoons, and they can be used on all sorts of pans.

Penzey's Spices Gift Card allows you to support a company that puts all of its money where YOUR mouth is — mmmm, their hot-chocolate mixes. . . — and puts all of its marketing efforts (and some of its money, too) into progressive causes. Penzey’s has everything. If they don’t have what you’re looking for? Try this NYC mainstay.

A life-changing apron, that’s what this Hedley & Bennett smock is. I dislike aprons that hang from or tie at the neck, and I couldn’t tie them around my waist for a few years while I was recovering from a shoulder injury. Slip these well-made smocks over your head, put your arms through the crossed straps, and there you are, a sturdy piece of kitchen attire that won’t irritate you as you slice and stir.

Mise-en-place bowls can be found in many sizes, from ones that hold less than a teaspoon on up to ones that hold gallons. . . but for most of us, just having a stack of good old Pyrex custard cups (four for $10! You’ll rarely need more than a dozen total), perhaps a set of four packaged with a Penzey’s gift card?

For dedicated eaters:

Fly By Jing Chili Crisp has its own place in our refrigerator now. It’s the best one that is readily available. Plus, they have great gift sets.

Tony's Chocolonely is a chocolate I would eat simply due to its fair-labor policies. Fortunately, it’s also extremely delicious.

Trader Joe's Dried Coconut Strips are also extremely delicious, and you don’t have to order them from Amazon; I just wanted to provide a link. Get to your nearest TJs and buy a few bags at a time.

Rao's Frozen Meatballs in Sauce would make a terrific meal-kit gift along with some fancy dried pasta, a modest hunk of real Parm, and a fresh basil plant. That is how good this frozen-food product is. Unless you are someone who has been making Italian meatballs since you were a child, you cannot do better than these.

Boulder Potato Chips came to my attention from a longtime college bestie who is very mindful about what she eats. If she’s going to nosh on some chips, they’d better be good. These fabulous crunchy treats are cooked in olive oil, and it makes a huge difference.

If you’ve got a favorite gift, gift guide, or the equivalent of Drew Magary’s annual Hater’s Guide to the Williams-Sonoma Christmas Catalog, drop it in the comments! Happy shopping. . . (Next week: Kids, tweens, pet humans, resistance warriors, and more!)