A “Parade” of Book Ideas for the Season
It has been years since I have looked through a copy of Parade Magazine. I used to read it every time I visited the beauty salon in Atlanta. I haven’t lived in Atlanta for fifteen years, so I guess I haven’t looked at a Parade Magazine since then. The magazine, while focusing mostly on sensational Hollywood stories, had some great ideas for books to give as presents for Christmas or Hanukkah, or anytime, really. Below are a few I thought were worth a second look:
The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl New York Times opinion writer Margaret Renkl writes a book that has fifty-two chapters, one for every week of the year. In those chapters, she tells about the creatures and plants in her backyard. The book is almost like a devotional that celebrates the natural world. Beautiful illustrations by the author’s brother make this book a special gift selection.
Christmas Movies by Jeremy Arnold This book is an expanded edition that was originally published by Turner Classic Movies. In it, you will read about 35 Christmas movies and their backstories along with interesting tidbits of gossip from the production crews and stars. And ‘actually’, Love Actually from 2003 is featured.
All Buttons Great and Small by Lucy Godoroja Did your grandmother have a ‘button box’ like my grandmother did? Sprawled out on her bed, I spend many an afternoon feeling and sorting those buttons. The box seemed sacred to me somehow. Anyway, if you like buttons or need to buy a book for a seamstress, this is it. Buttons were and are fascinating!
The Dictionary People by Sarah Ogilvie The truth about the Oxford English Dictionary is finally told. According to Parade Magazine, the dictionary was crowdsourced! Yes, and by some very unusual characters including three murderers, the daughter of Karl Marx and a vicar. Buy it for yourself if you want to know more details!
Gotcha Day! Adoptions Tales of Remarkable Rescue Dogs by Greg Murray For all of us dog lovers who have ever adopted a rescue dog (and that would be four dogs for me), this book is a ‘must have.’ It contains 60 stories of remarkable rescue dogs that will warm your heart and may even cause you to go out and get a dog!!
Parachute Women by Elizabeth Winder Are you a Rolling Stones fan? Do you know a Rolling Stones fan? Either or both, you will want to read about four women who helped create what some believe is the greatest rock-and-roll band of all time. Marianne Faithful, Marsha Hunt, Biance Jagger and Anita Pallenberg did the behind-the-scenes work that ultimately gave us the Rolling Stones.
