Holiday Books and Thoughts
Shopping for books at the holidays is different from buying books at other times of year. Choosing for others is not the same as choosing for ourselves. We think about our loved ones’ sensibilities, remembering what they like, considering how they see the world, and pondering what will bring them pleasure. Below are a handful of recommendations in several holiday shopping categories.
About First Words
The first words of a book set the tone for what’s to come. The writer aims to draw you in immediately–to care about their characters, fall in love with their voice, and be curious about what will happen next. The First Words newsletter will offer recommendations we hope you’ll love–some new titles but also a lot of our favorites from recent years (and sometimes from long ago).
For many of our recommendations, we’ll pull out the first line and consider why the writer started here. What can we learn about what kind of book this is from its very first words? What expectations are set up? What keeps us reading? We hope this will give you a deeper sense of the book than a quick plot summary or teaser would, helping connect you to the right book at the right time.