In my book-loving opinion, some of the greatest gifts you can give others are books! But picking out the right book can be tricky, so here are some recommendations for buying your loved one just the right book.
And if you’re wondering where to buy books, check out my blog post about 8 sites (that aren’t Amazon) where you can purchase books!
General Book Idea Suggestions
So you’re considering buying a book for someone, but you’re not sure which book to get them. Even if this person isn’t an avid reader, there may still be many amazing book options for them. Here are some ideas to get you started with brainstorming:
- What are their interests? Do they skew more towards fiction or non-fiction?
- If they watch movies and TV shows, what genres do they enjoy?
- If they are an avid reader, might they have a wishlist of books they want?
If someone prefers more “practical” books, then buying them a non-fiction book may be a better route. There are many useful reference books a person may enjoy, such as:
- Cook books
- Instructional or how-to books (such as beginner’s guide to knitting, how to start your own business, etc.)
- Reference books (such as astrology source books, Marvel character encyclopedias, tree/bird identifying guides, etc.)
- Travel guides
- DK has an amazing line of The __ Books, such as The Philosophy Book, The Mythology Book, etc., which summarize information and pair it with amazing visuals (browse encyclopedias and dictionaries from DK)
- Also check out Yuval Zommer’s fact-filled children’s books
Or, perhaps someone may prefer a book visually pleasing to flip through or a good “coffee table book,” such as:
- Photography books
- Infographics
- Local historical photo compilations
- Architecture collections
On the other hand, for those who prefer fiction and stories, comics and graphic novels are a great medium that blend visuals and prose. Some types of comics to consider are:
- Standalone graphic novels
- Comic adaptations of novels (such as Dune, The Great Gatsby, Octavia Butler’s The Parable of the Sower, etc.)
- Comic strip collections (such as Calvin and Hobbs, Dilbert, etc.)
A loved one may also appreciate a favorite classic childhood book, such as The Giving Tree or Where the Sidewalk Ends.
Or, maybe you can create your own personal photo book for a loved one using a site like Snapfish!
Clearly, there are many options when it comes to choosing a book for someone. Keep reading to peruse some specific book recommendations!
If they like… Science fiction
To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
Very short, compelling narrative voice, and chronicles a four-member team’s journey exploring planets
Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Published in 1915, this short novel depicts life in an all-female utopia after a couple of male explorers find their secluded society
Read Slanted Spines’ book review
Severance by Ling Ma
Speculative fiction about a pandemic
If they like… Graphic novels
Pilu of the Woods by Mai K. Nguyen
For a middle grade audience, wholesome and lovable, about two girls reconciling with their emotions in the woods, depicted in a unique and gorgeous art style
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
Seminal and easy-to-access work exploring “what is a comic?” and how comics create meaning and interactions with readers
Unflattening by Nick Sousanis
Very philosophical and meta, wicked cool drawings
Feelings by Manjit Thapp
Beautiful illustrations in a delightful color scheme which depict the narrator’s emotions as affected by the seasons
If they like… Memoir
Gender Queer by Mai Kobabe
Memoir depicted in graphic novel format about the author Mai’s childhood and experience arriving at e/eir/em pronouns
Across that Bridge by John Lewis
Lewis’s experience leading the Civil Rights movement and their philosophy on non-violence
Read Slanted Spines’ book review
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
Nontraditional memoir told in short sections about the author’s experience with her abusive ex-girlfriend; very literary
Know my Name by Chanel Miller
The memoir of the survivor from an internationally known rape trial–beautifully, eloquently, and heartbreakingly written
Barely Functional Adult: It’ll All Make Sense Eventually by Meichi Ng
Told partially in paragraphs and partially in comic, this book shares some of Ng’s lessons learned in life
Read Slanted Spines’ book review
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Hilarious, highly insightful, and truly wild tales from Trevor Noah’s childhood and young adult years living in South Africa
Just Kids by Patti Smith
A glimpse into Patti Smith’s life in New York City during the 60’s and 70’s and her friendship with Robert Mapplethorpe, including pictures; excellent writing
They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
Comic-style depiction of George Takei’s experience as a child during the Japanese imprisonment camps in WWII era U.S.; appropriate for a young adult age audience
If they like… Non-fiction
The Comfort Book by Matt Haig
Kind and loving reminders, told in very brief chapters
White Tears/Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad
Historical and cultural context for the way women of color are systemically treated on a global scale
Read Slanted Spines’ book review
Being Peace by Thich Nhat Hanh
Brief and peaceful introduction to mindfulness
Eating the Sun: Small Musings on a Vast Universe by Ella Frances Sanders
Reflections on interesting scientific facts interspersed with quirky paintings
Read Slanted Spines’ book review
Disability Visibility edited by Alice Wong
Collected essays by a range of people experiencing disability
Read Slanted Spines’ book review
If they like… Historical fiction
The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
One Vietnamese family’s account of their lives leading up to the Viet Nam War and their aftermath
The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins
Narrator Frannie is writing from a jail cell of her childhood growing up on a plantation in Jamaica and how she came to work in London. She was arrested for waking up covered in blood the morning after her employers were murdered, but she has no recollection of what happened.
Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia
A generational tale of women from a Cuban family line and their lives in Florida, alongside another line of Mexico-born mother-daughter who are separated by ICE
Read Slanted Spines’ book review
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
A generational saga of two family lines descending from a common ancestor in Ghana
Read Slanted Spines’ book review
If they like… Literary fiction
Literary fiction is regular fiction but with a greater emphasis on quality writing
Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi
Twin daughters of an ọgbanje born in Nigeria, and their consequent disconnection and reconnection across countries
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
A young person is killed in Nigeria, and this novel tells the story of his life and those left to grapple with the loss
Read Slanted Spines’ book review
Ghost Forest by Pik-Shuen Fung
A daughter’s emotional reconciliation with her late father, told in brief vignettes
Read Slanted Spines’ book review
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
A Vietnamese son’s letter to his mother about his childhood, relationship with his matriarchs, and his queer identity
If they like… Magical realism
Bestiary by K-Ming Chang
Generations of Taiwanese women living between the mainland and America; a girl grows a tail
Parakeet by Marie Helene-Bertino
Leading up to the narrator’s wedding, the narrator drifts among Long Island; her grandmother comes to her in the form of a parakeet
People from my Neighborhood by Hiromi Kawakami
Connected short vignettes into the absurd people and events within the narrator’s town
Read Slanted Spines’ book review
Peaces by Helen Oyeyemi
An engaged couple board an entrancing train with their pet mongoose
If they like… Fun, drama, and romance
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
A woman experiencing chronic illness makes a bucket list of activities, and butts heads with her apartment’s maintenance man, but soon sparks fly. This or the author’s other books about Chloe’s sisters: Take a Hint, Dani Brown or Act Your Age, Eve Brown
Read Slanted Spines’ book review
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Sensational story of fictional celebrity Evelyn Hugo and the secrets behind her seven marriages as told to a reporter in modern day New York
Read Slanted Spines’ book review
Dial A For Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Meddelin’s mother and four aunties set her up with a blind date whom she accidentally kills; as she and the aunts try to cover up the murder while organizing a wedding for a wealthy couple, humor and romance ensue
For more book lists from Slanted Spines, browse here.
For more book reviews from Slanted Spines, browse here.
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