The Christmas haul.

One thing I find almost as interesting as reading itself is how and for whom people buy books. As any type of shopping except book-shopping makes me break out in hives, I am solidly in the camp of people who give only two types of presents: books, or cash. As I am also too uncoordinated and color-blind (not really, but I have never understood which colors "go" with other colors) to wrap presents, this works out: books are easy to wrap, and cash only requires a card.

I also have longstanding agreements with most of the people close enough to me to buy me presents, that we needn't buy one another presents. The point of this long, somewhat boring anecdote is that I rarely receive books as gifts. But when I do, they mean something to me, even if I don't like the book. I have a shelf of "gift books" that I have been given and will most likely never give away. This is rare, for me. I have no compunction about getting rid of stuff, even gifted stuff. If you give me a Christmas ornament or other tchotchke the chances are good it will be in the bag of stuff for Goodwill before the year is out. I don't do it to be mean. I do it because I only have one box of Christmas stuff, and I'm going to keep it that way; and I also do it because I hate dusting around knickknacks.

But: the books I keep. Because I love looking at my gift shelf and trying to figure out why the various gifters thought I would enjoy the book given, and further, why I did or did not love the book (and because books are easy to dust). All of that said, I got only one book for Christmas, and it's a keeper: Mr. CR gave me Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes. He wrote in the accompanying card, "Now you have your very own copy!" It was the perfect gift. (It was also amusing that he borrowed a Christmas card off of me to give back to me.)

I had a wonderful holiday and hope very much you did as well. Did any of you get or give books? Do tell. We're all just killing time at work until the New Year's holiday anyway, aren't we?

Comments

[Care]

I bought Julie & Julia for a friend and she loved it (and even better, is giving it back to me to read!) and I received The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by J.S.Foer - but these were gifts I bought for myself, wrapped and put a FROM-Hub sticker on.

Happy New Year!

[Katharine]

I did give a book to my in-laws "the cheesehead night before xmas" nabbed it a booksale one day. they loved it. This year the funds were tight so my family got gingerbread men instead of books, but normally it is my gift of choice. I have the same issues with wrapping and love when I don't have to do it. Happy New Year CR!

[Eva]

Merry Christmas! I read Something Wicked This Way Comes last year for the first time, and I loved it. :) This year, I only got two books, both from my sister: Le Divorce and The Annotated Edition of Pride and Prejudice. I'm very excited about both of them!

When I'm giving books, my favourite part is writing a note to the receiver inside. There aren't many gifts you can do that with.

[Citizen Reader]

Care,
Ah, the gift that keeps on giving--a book that you can borrow back! Let me know what you think of The Historian--I've been meaning to read it for years!

Katharine,
Ah, booksale presents. They're the best. Economical and fun! And I'll bet your family was very happy with their gingerbread men presents; yummers! Happy new year to you too, love.

[Jessica]

I bought books for everyone this year, for the first time. Strangely, they seemed to be better received than my gifts usually are. I don't know if this means I'm good at choosing books for others, or unusually bad at choosing other types of things!

I am just like you when it comes to holiday decorations and gifts. I had already given three pairs of unfortunate Christmas socks away as a white elephant gift by the time the 25th rolled around. I think there was less than a week's turnaround before they were back out the door. Unfortunately, they were followed by two additional pairs. I have no idea where the tradition of giving me scary Christmas socks came from, but I have no compunctions about divesting myself of them as quickly as possible. I'm also bric-a-brac-free; I got rid of my one box of Christmas ornaments a month or so ago and it felt so great I wondered why I hadn't done it sooner.

[Citizen Reader]

Eva,
Merry Christmas to you too! I'm so glad you loved the Ray Bradbury--I dare you to read it again next October and see if you love it all over again!

That is so funny about the notes inside--once I wrote a note to my niece in her gift book and my sister was shocked that I wrote in a book. Of course I would never scrawl all over a first edition or anything but in paperbacks? With their great pulpy paper they're just begging to be written in! And, ooh, the annotated P and P. I am majorly jealous.

[Brian]

Got Sarah Vowel's The Wordy Shipmates, which I can't wait to read. I asked for this one - I get too nervous when people buy books they think I'll like - all the obligation, and my tastes are too quirky for most to figure out. I also got the amazing book on the graffitti artist Banksy, which is not a read as much as a peruse. I really love having it around!

I have to get to Bradbury this year...

[Roberta]

I am the Aunt Who Gives Books, which is more and more fun as my brother's four kids get older. I tend towards expensive yet fragile treats like the pop-up 20,000 Leagues Beneath the Sea or the new DK Human Body book with a heart that really beats! Next year chapter books, woo hoo!

This year I looked everyone firmly in the eye and said "no presents'. Ben got enticing new ways to kill zombies and DC characters.

Cara, I'm so glad you have your own copy of Something Wicked! I confess I still love the movie. Jonathan Pryce is so creepy, especially when he rips out the pages of Jason Robard's life one by one.

[Citizen Reader]

Brian:
Ooh, The Wordy Shipmates. I'm something ridiculous like number 450 on the library waiting list for that one. Let me know how it is, okay? And I know just what you mean about the perusal books--I love to check out the big art and photography books from the library just to dip into them at random around the house. Delicious.

Roberta, dearest cara,
Or is that redundant? Either way I'm going with it.
I'm the book aunt too! I think we are soulmates. I'm all about the pop-ups--especially the Robert Sabuda ones--which I invariably enjoy more than the receiver. I hope you and Ben had a wonderful Christmas, zombie-killing and all.

Ooh, a Something Wicked movie. I've got to see that.

[Craig]

Those who know me best know a book token will provide happiness long after the Christmas decorations are taken down.

[Citizen Reader]

Jessica,
Well done on buying books for everyone. Way, way better than Christmas socks, wouldn't you agree?

Craig,
That's the other thing about a book gift; a lot of times it demands a bit of personal knowledge about the recipient of the gift. Those who know you best are also most ideally suited to not only know books will make you happy, but also which books might be a good match. What a great gift.

[The Laundress]

Clever Mr. CR! He knows what you like, fine trait in a partner.

I give Border's or Amazon gift cards to far-away relatives -- not as good as indy bookshops and not necessarily redeemed for reading material, but good enough.

Bought niece and nephew graphic novels at my favorite local comic book store. These are ALWAYS well-received, especially the ones I think their parents wouldn't approve of...

tl

[Brandon]

One of my all-time favorites.

Ironically, I didn't get any books this year. In fact, I didn't get ANYTHING this year. But my new kitten, Zoe, got quite a haul. My mom got her a bed, a bunch of toys, and a $50 gift card to Petco. And one of my co-workers got her some more toys and a $10 gift card to Petco.

Merry fuckin' Christmas, Zoe. :)

(And to top things off, Zoe doesn't even sleep in the soft, warm, plush bed *I* bought her. No, no. She prefers the simple one my mom bought her. She's laughing at me, I know it.)

[Venta]

Welcome back, C.R.

This year I gave everyone books. It seemed simpler, and books are what I would like to receive. The list is too long, but I did use several of your suggestions: Holidays on Ice; Not That You Asked: Rants, Exploits and Obsessions and Pretending You Care (I LOVE the paragraph about slackers!!!).

We're only beginning to get mail delivery because of snow, so I'll let you know if I receive those much loved books!

[Citizen Reader]

Laundress,
Mr. CR indeed does do good work. We'll keep him on for another year. And good on you for buying niece and nephew presents that the parents might not otherwise approve of or find! It's definitely the aunt's prerogative to provide a slightly wider worldview.

Brandon,
Congratulations on your kitty! (And good on your kitty for making her own haul.) Welcome to the wild world of cat ownership, which you'll find probably just as exhausting as maintaining a relationship with a human female. But when they sit on you and purr, man, there is nothing better in the world. Happy new year!

Venta,
I'm so glad some choices listed here made you happy. I totally hope you receive "Pretending You Care," as it was one of the more interesting things I read this year and I think you'll like it. Good luck in your newly snowy climate out there--sheesh. I'll hope for a new year for you with less snow.

[Sarah Nagle]

I usually don't like the books I'm given, and so I don't give them either. I SUGGEST a whole lot - that's my gift! I took books to my parents last week; both my mom and dad read one and are now looking for more by the various authors. So I "give" that way, and don't purchase unless it's specifically on their list.

I asked for and got the trade pb of THE REST IS NOISE. I intend to read it this year. Plus, what's so cool is that the author has a great Website with accompanying audio clips. I may not like the music but I want to read the book. Alex Ross just won the first GUARDIAN book prize for it.

No one gave me the one CD I asked for, though . . . so I'll just have to buy it.

[Citizen Reader]

Sarah,
I can't say I've loved every book I've ever been given, but they are still my favorite gifts, and I love puzzling over why someone thought a particular book might be a good match. They are the best gifts ever, period.

I know you "give" me a lot all year long with stupendous suggestions from your wide reading knowledge, as well as in the way of BBC and movie recommendations (particularly those involving Red Hot Dickie).

Oh, "The Rest is Noise." I tried so hard to read that book and I didn't understand a word of it!! I'll have to try the web site. And, did anyone give you any cash that you could obtain your wanted CD with? I hope so! Happy new year, doll.

[Brandon]

I've had her for about a month, and I'm not sure if she's a dog or a cat. She infuriates me. Everytime I get home from work, I find she's chewed something up. Not clawed--CHEWED. She's already ruined four--count em, FOUR--pairs of headphones, and tonight, it was my wi-fi cord. She even got into the bathroom and chewed on the toilet paper roll. Come on, man--she's not supposed to chew!

If you have any tips on having a cat around, they'd be much appreciated. I'm losing patience with her, and I'm low on patience by nature. She's getting worse and worse. The only reason I don't get rid of her is because I hate the idea of having spent money for absolutely nothing. But it might come down to that. For all her purring, I truly can't stand her anymore.

[Citizen Reader]

Hey, Brandon, did I call it that your human/kitty relationship was going to be exhausting? As I have only owned the one house kitty (nobody notices when farm kitties chew on things) I have limited experience to share. My kitty was never a chewer, but she was a scratcher and still has her front claws. For the most part I just tried to provide her with a scratching post, put tape on the furniture sides I couldn't spare (like packing tape, which felt smooth to her paws) and said goodbye to one chair she destroyed. So it's a mix, I think, of removing opportunity and providing alternatives. (Some people swear by squirting them with water when you catch them doing something bad, but I could always hear my cat scratching at 2 a.m., and by the time I got up to squirt her, she'd moved on.) First step would be put anything wires or fuzzy (like headphones) where she can't get them, and try to set very clear rules for what she can't be on (like the kitchen table, etc.). That sounds like a drag but maybe you'll only have to do it until she ages a bit. Is she very young? Secondly, can you get toys and other things she CAN chew on and leave them around? Try lots of different things (and not only "cat toys," I have an old string friendship bracelet that my cat loves to chew on), and maybe she'll just go to them as alternatives. I'd also ask the vet or a pet store what they recommend. Either way I wish you luck--they can add a layer of filth and complexity to your home, but if you get to a good place with them, they are really nice to have around.

[The Laundress]

Wise advice, CR. Hope it works out for you Brandon. Baby cats, like puppies and little people can be maddening but also have special gifts and rewards to share. My big cat likes to chew on a "Tire-biter" brand dog toy, purchased for and never used by large bulldogs. Big Orange Kitty sprawls out on an extra-large dog bed, gnaws his Tire-biter and finds peace. It is sweet. Maybe try that product? So you have a weird kitten. Shop in the doggie aisle at Petco!