Chanukah starts tonight and of course, the Christmas shopping frenzy has been bubbling for weeks. So what better time to start our bookish holiday gift guides? Today, New York writer Gail Farrelly offers suggestions in a guest post -- if you've seen any other great gifts, let us know. Here's Gail:
If you're like me, you may enjoy shopping online. Relatively easy and stress free. But most of all, it's fun. Here are a few "bookish" gift suggestions from my online browsing.
A librarian in your life may like to have a Shhhh! T-Shirt. If that doesn't appeal, take a look at some of the other gifts available at The New York Public Library Shop. For example, there's The Library Lion ornament. And the Doodlebag is really cute for a toddler who is artistic or a writer-in-training, just as long as the budding genius knows enough not to eat, and choke on, the chalk, crayons, and other small parts of the gift.
Any bookish curmudgeons on your list? Have I got the gift for them: A "Go to Hell, I'm Reading" T-shirt available from Murder by the Book in Houston. See the above link for other T-shirts too, in addition to totes and mugs. Call in or email your orders.
If you have a soldier in the family, check out the recently released anthology, Murder to Mil-Spec, edited by Tony Burton of Wolfmont Press. It's a collection of a dozen military-related fiction crime stories. It's created quite a buzz at mystery websites. Sales of the book benefit the wonderful charity, Homes for our Troops. The book also comes in a Kindle version.
A mystery lover might like a subscription to The Strand Mystery Magazine. It's a wonderful magazine with short stories, interviews, book reviews, and other mystery features. I always buy this for my sister who passes the issues along to me after she's read them. A twofer, now that's the holiday sprit! On The Strand website, there are numerous other mystery-related gifts as well. For example, Sherlock Holmes umbrellas and key chains.
The New York Transit Museum Store has some terrific gifts, especially for native New Yorkers. I grew up in the Bronx, as did many of my friends, so this website is a real treasure trove for us. There's a vast choice of transit memorabilia: posters, shirts, stationery, etc.. You name it, they got it.
What are your favorite gift websites? Let us know. C'mon, I'm still shopping!