Unexpected Gifts of Imagination: Adult December Booklist From KCLS

Gifts are not always found wrapped in paper and ribbon on special occasions. Rather, gifts can come at any time during the year in many different forms. In this list, the ‘gifts’ I find in the books are as varied as the discovery of a magical ability, a new friendship, a reward a long time coming, a loving relationship or a pretty object made out of something mundane and every-day. May all of our lives be enriched with unexpected gifts.

Adult:

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley. Flavia de Luce is the youngest of three sisters growing up in 1950s England. Her passions are chemistry and poisons and she spends most of her time tinkering in her inherited laboratory. One morning Flavia hears a strange noise coming from the family garden. Going out to investigate, Flavia discovers a dying man, who manages to gasp out a single word before he expires in the cabbages. Flavia could not be more delighted by this interesting event and immediately sets out to solve the mystery of the murdered stranger. Flavia is a spunky, interesting and very well written heroine. Her most recent (and holiday themed) mystery is I Am Half-Sick of Shadows.

Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hern. In a fantastical version of feudal-era Japan, youth Takeo witnesses the death of his entire village at the hands of a cruel warlord. After his escape, Takeo is adopted by a different warlord – the noble Lord Otori. It is within the household of Lord Otori that Takeo discovers he was born to a special tribe of assassins, all of whom inherit supernatural abilities. As he learns to control his gifts, Takeo must seize his destiny as the man who will overthrow the warlord who slaughtered his family and step into a position of power in his world. This is the first book in a trilogy.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. In the year 2044, real life is horror on earth. Like most of the world’s population, Wade Watts spends any free time in OASIS – an online virtual paradise. By chance, Wade discovers across a puzzle (the first in a series) left behind by the legendary creator of OASIS. It is said that whoever solves all the puzzles will win treasures beyond imagination. Now Wade is in a fight for his life as he races against ruthless players from across the globe to be the ultimate champion.

Griffin and Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence by Nick Bantock. This book begins with a postcard. A woman named Sabine sends a gorgeous postcard to artist Griffin, commenting on a change he made to a work. Griffin is stunned – not only has he never met this Sabine, she has seen artwork of his that he has never shown to another soul. Soon the two form a wonderful connection that begins to blossom into a long distance relationship. The first in a trilogy, Griffin and Sabine is a book made up of letters, some of which the reader can actually take out and read.

Nonfiction:

The Repurposed Library: 33 Crafts That Give Old Books New Life by Lisa Occhipinti. This book is a great read for bibliophiles and e-reader fans alike. Occipinti presents readers with 33 do-it-yourself projects that all use, you guessed it, books. This volume is accompanied with instructions and gorgeous photographs of finished projects. Any of these unique craft projects (I’m absolutely making the kitchen implements holder) would make a great gift.

The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean my Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin. Gretchen Rubin was married, with a rewarding career and two wonderful children. However, she had a thought while riding the subway. Life is short – time to focus on the things that really matter. Rubin decides to embark on a yearlong project designed to enhance her happiness. Along the way, the author shares her triumphs and discoveries and gives her readers a blueprint for beginning their own happiness projects.

Let’s Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship by Gail Caldwell. Gail Caldwell writes a deeply touching story of her friendship with fellow author Caroline Knapp. The two women find in each other the kind of relationship that is built on acceptance of, and love for their strengths and flaws. Caroline does pass away due to cancer, but her friendship with Gail still lives on in this book. Heartbreaking and bittersweet but not overly melodramatic, Let’s Take the Long Way Home captures the joy of deep friendship and a soul-level connection.

A Secret Gift: How One Man's Kindness--and a Trove of Letters--Revealed the Hidden History of the Great Depression by Ted Gup. Gup is going through his late grandfather’s belongings when he comes across a suitcase full of letters. As the author reads through them he discovers that his grandfather, Sam Stone, was a secret benefactor during the Great Depression. Stone put an ad in the local newspaper telling families to write letters of their troubles. The 75 neediest would be selected to anonymously receive a cash prize. Gup pens a beautiful story of hard times, American experience and one extraordinary man who did what he could to aid people in distress.