The care and feeding of your book lover

It’s that time of year.

You know the one. Where you lose a bunch of reading time just as alllll the cool gadgets get advertised.

Holiday seasons are nothing but a giant, extremely wonderful (for the most part) time suck for those of us who read. We have to prepare big meals (or contribute a dish). We spend time decorating. We have to shop for presents. We cook extra. We clean extra. We have to travel or host people who visit. We cover for colleagues at work who take days off.

If we have kids, they get time off school, which means these human beings we nurture lovingly take us away from the worlds inside the dead trees (or dead… polymers? What’s a good analog for plastic eReaders? I dunno).

In other words, this pesky little thing called life and community and family and joyful gathering gets in the way of our precious time spent in our imaginations, communing with authors!

Or, well… their characters.

I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit of an introvert. I can fake being an extrovert, and I genuinely do enjoy the company of other people, but I also need to recharge my batteries by being alone.

And by alone, I mean deep inside a book. One I’m writing, or one someone else wrote.

Too much social time = Cranky Julia.

Does that message resonate for you, too?

As the holidays approach, people naturally ask what I want for gifts. I’m sure you get asked, too. When you give them a list of books, they often stare at you like you’ve asked for a jar of mayonnaise for Christmas.

(Note: if I ever do this, please consider it code for I’ve been kidnapped and you need to rescue me because I hate mayo SO MUCH that is the only scenario in which I would ever ask for such a thing).

I read a lot of nonfiction. Some of the books on my list include (in hardcover, because that’s such a luxury!):

• Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World by Jane McGonigal

• Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents—and What They Mean for America's Future by Jean M. Twenge

• Quietly Hostile: Essays by Samantha Erby

• A Theory of System Justification by John T. Jost

• Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey

• Morphic Resonance: The Nature of Formative Causation by Rupert Sheldrake

• Social and Psychological Bases of Ideology and System Justification by John T. Jost et. al.

• Finding Me by Viola Davis

• Compliments of Hamilton and Sargent: A Story of Mystery and Tragedy on the Gilded Age Frontier by Maura Jane Farrelly (comes out in May 2024)

• Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor

• Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

• How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Barrett

As for fiction, I am not going to list romance books here, because I have a lot of author friends who read my newsletter, and leaving any of their books off will lead to hurt feelings.

Sorry.

Just know I have a LOT of romance titles on my wish list!

But some non-romance fiction books I’m hoping Clark and the kids get for me (HEY CLARK READ THIS!) include:

• The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

• Witch King by Martha Wells

• ANYTHING by Travis Baldree. I adored Legends & Lattes and want other book in the series, Bookshops & Bonedust

One cool thing we’re doing this year for each other in our family: buying (or regifting) 12 used books, all around a theme (like romance, sci-fi, mushroom growing (Clark’s current obsession).

We wrap them. Label them January, February, March, etc. Put them in a basket.

And gift away.

Frugal. Resourceful. Inventive. Fun.

And thoughtful. So thoughtful. I’m SUPER CURIOUS to see what Clark gives me.

Another spin on this idea: swap 12 books from Little Free Libraries. Take the ones you bring home and do this for a friend or family member. Add their favorite tea or coffee, or a blanket, or something “bookish” (like this “Book Club” candle).

This works for print readers.

So what can you do for eBook-only folks?

There’s the mighty eReader.

It might surprise you to learn that I am not a huge Kindle eReader fan. I own a Paperwhite, a FIRST GENERATION Kindle (yep, with all the buttons), and a Kindle Fire. Nothing wrong with them, of course, and I know this is a heated topic!

But I’m a Kobo user. I love my waterproof Kobo Clara. I have BOTH Kindle Unlimited memberships AND Kobo Plus memberships, and between the two, $20 a month (and my free local library card, of course) means I read a lot.

And then I buy my favorite books and become addicted to new authors. My current obsession: Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes series! So funny, so calm and witty. Perfect cozy comedy fun (with a quirky fantasy/D&D flavor to it). Imagine a female warrior decides to retire in a D&D fantasy world and open a coffee shop.

See? Right there, you know why I started reading it LOL.

How about people who read with their ears?

Clark is one of these. He adored listening to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine a few weeks ago. Mostly a non-fiction listener, he’s branched out into fiction lately and I love watching him enjoy it so much.

Audible gift memberships are a really cool, new-ish present I have given in recent years, mostly for last-minute oh, crap, I didn’t know they were coming for the holiday! moments. You buy it, print a cute little form, shove it in a card and you look so thoughtful!

And pssst, partners who have significant others constantly wearing earbuds: they’re getting some aural satisfaction, so this is a perfect gift. ;)

In a previous post, I talked abut how much I adore my Bookaroo Bean Bag. As someone with joint pain and grip issues, it makes reading a print book or using an eReader SO MUCH EASIER.

And then there’s all the book merchandise! Etsy is one big black hole of TAKE MY MONEY PLEASE! when it comes to cool book lover’s stuff.

Because I write for a living, I recently bought this super-cool candle there:

Smells like she’s writing a bestseller caught my eye, and I instantly said “I MUST MANIFEST THIS!”

I am totally adding this book and coffee stand to my list, too. My older kids never know what to get me.

I myself just bought a TON of Scrabble-tile ornaments for people on my lists. These are such simple, fun gifts (even Walter No gets one for the tree!). Easy to make, too, if you’re crafty and need someone thing fun to give.

So… what’s on your wishlist as a reader? What are you telling friends and family to get YOU for the holidays? I’m all ears. :)

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HOOPLA “Bonus Borrow” Fun

If you have a library card and your library participates in Hoopla’s “on demand” audiobook service, you can listen to Fluffy free this month, and it won’t count toward your monthly “allowance.”

That’s right - Fluffy is what Hoopla calls a “bonus borrow” this month:

This means if your library caps you at borrowing 10 eBooks or audiobooks from Hoopla, you get Fluffy as well - and it doesn’t count against those 10.

Download it right now and listen - and if you’re so inclined, leave me a review. <3

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Order From My Store Before Christmas!

If you’re looking for Christmas or holiday gifts, the sooner you order, the more likely I can get everything out to you in time.

And hey - no one needs to be above buying books for yourself so your significant other can “give” them to you as a gift ;) .

Come on over to my online print book and tote bag store now. Holiday shipping cut-off day is November 25, so please order soon.

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I Cannot Stop Laughing

Many years ago, I created a bumper sticker that said “WWDJD?”, which stands for What Would Darla Jo DO?

Imagine my unending giggle fest when this book was suggested to my by Amazon’s algorithm:

Yes, it’s a children’s book. You can buy it on Amazon.

No, I didn’t write it! But it looks absolutely adorable, and seeing it made me laugh.

<3

I hope you find plenty to laugh about today!