You are looking for the best Christmas gifts for book lovers? Make your loved ones happy with a really good book, which is not only exciting, but also conveys an attitude to life!.
Good books are gateways to other worlds, they take us to exotic shores, to distant planets and to times long past or future. That’s how I see it and that’s how most of my friends see it. We love reading and talking about it, and especially now in winter there’s nothing better than lying on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, reading an enthralling book.
What could be more natural than to make a person you like and who also likes to read, a joy at Christmas with a great book! We present you our top 10 Christmas gifts for book lovers.
Our 10 Christmas Gifts for Book Lovers 2017
Of course, there are quite a few bestseller and recommended lists on the web. So what makes our list of Christmas gifts for book lovers 2017 different from these lists? We present here the 10 books that really touched us this year. They are books that celebrate life against all odds and that show the importance of friendship and love.
Wiener Straße by Sven Regener
What’s it about?
Sven Regener’s Lehmann trilogy and the films made from it have long been cult. In Wiener Straße Regener now returns to his popular character for a fifth time, although this time he is not so much at the center. Wiener Straße is set in 1980, when Frank Lehmann is just new in Berlin, and follows less of a linear plot but presents a highly enjoyable jumble of Kreuzberg creatives, squatters, punks and action artists. It is full of witty dialogues, is one celebration of old West Berlin and the people who lived in it!
For whom is the book ideal?
Of course, all fans of Mr. Lehmann, but also for Regener newcomers and anyone who would like to take a trip back in time to the West Berlin of the 80s and learn more about the attitude to life at that time.
2. Zeiten des Aufbruchs by Carmen Korn
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What’s it about?
In the second part of her so-called Century Trilogy, Carmen Korn depicts the German post-war period and the economic miracle through the eyes of four very different friends Henny, Käthe, Ida and Lina, who were already the protagonists in Daughters of a New Era.
Sensitive and stirring, the book describes the difficulties, hopes and fears of this time and tells not least of how important friendship is in hard times.
For whom is the book ideal?
Although the book is the 2nd part of a trilogy, you do not need to have read the first volume before. Times of departure is suitable for all readers who love stories about women’s fates and about indestructible friendship.
3. Best Friends: When Men Talk About Women, Sex, and the Meaning of Life by Max & Jacob
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What’s it about?
This book stands out on our list of Christmas gifts for book lovers because it’s the only one that’s not a novel. Best Friends – Max & Jacob is actually a cult podcast by two semi-anonymous guys who talk about women, men, relationships, and of course, sex. Now, they’ve turned it into a book, and just like the podcast, it’s sometimes hilarious, brutally honest, and often touching.
Who is this book ideal for?
Anyone interested in love, sex, the everyday ups and downs of relationships, and enjoys the humorous yet serious exchange between two young Berliners on these topics.
4. I Love Dick by Chris Kraus
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What’s it about?
I Love Dick isn’t a new release from 2017; it’s actually 20 years old. However, the book experienced renewed attention this year thanks to the Amazon series adaptation. The double entendre in the title refers to the protagonist’s lover, a respected media theorist and sociologist. The narrator tells her story, partly in diary form and partly through letters, describing her love, sexual obsession, and vulnerability.
Who is this book ideal for?
I Love Dick skillfully balances self-exposure with ironic detachment, narrating love from the protagonist’s perspective. The author called the book a “lost girl’s phenomenology.” Ideal for those who enjoy deeply intimate explorations of the soul.
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5. A Little Life by Hana Yanagihara
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What’s it about?
A hard, but incredibly good book! This novel follows the lifelong friendship of four men who shared a college dorm room. From there, they stick together, celebrating each other’s successes and supporting each other through life’s darkest hours. The story primarily focuses on Jude, who endured severe abuse as a child, and how the scars of that trauma affect him throughout his life. The novel takes readers into the deepest depths, but also shows the light and joy that true friendship brings.
Who is this book ideal for?
This book, due to its harsh descriptions, isn’t for everyone. But for those interested in stories of human experiences, free from sentimentality or cliché, it offers a raw look at love, friendship, and the art of living.
6. The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Simsion
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What’s it about?
What if one day – after you’ve comfortably settled into a good job and stable relationship – your first great love suddenly reappears after many years? This is the premise of Australian author Graeme Simsion’s novel. Adam Sharp is a well-paid IT consultant in London and a music buff who aces every pub quiz. His relationship with Claire is going well, but he still occasionally thinks about his great love from nearly 20 years ago, Angelina. Then, out of the blue, she contacts him.
Who is this book ideal for?
Anyone who loves romance novels and music will adore this book. It comes with its own soundtrack, as numerous songs mentioned in the story will stick in your head.
7. The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
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What’s it about?
Sal and Sam are both 17 and in their last year of high school. The two are platonic friends, and when one of them feels down, the other is always there to help. But everything is about to change when Sam gets involved with a terrible guy, and Sal faces the risk of becoming one himself. Then Sal’s biological father reappears, wanting to reconnect with the son who has been raised by an adoptive family for years.
Who is this book ideal for?
Anyone who loves good coming-of-age stories will absolutely enjoy this book.
8. The Art of the Good Life: 52 Surprising Shortcuts to Happiness by Rolf Dobelli
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What’s it about?
The second non-fiction book in this list of Christmas gifts for book lovers offers a fresh perspective on life for each week of the year. There isn’t one path to happiness, says author Rolf Dobelli, but he provides plenty of tips on the art of living and gives thought-provoking insights that challenge the way we typically see the world. A bonus of the book is the witty illustrations by street artist El Bocho.
Who is this book ideal for?
This is a perfect gift for someone who is searching for their place in life or feeling a bit lost. But even those who have already found their path will devour the short, engaging chapters.
9. Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann
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What’s it about?
Most Germans have heard of the main character in this novel: Till Eulenspiegel, the legendary prankster of the Middle Ages. Daniel Kehlmann, who brilliantly blended fact and fiction in Measuring the World, reimagines Tyll Ulenspiegel a few years into the future, placing him in the 17th century during the Thirty Years’ War. Along the way, Tyll encounters a host of odd characters, from war-hungry writers to melancholic executioners, a Winter King, a learned scholar who fools everyone, and even a talking donkey.
Who is this book ideal for?
Tyll is the perfect read for those who love fabulously imaginative historical novels filled with quirky characters. Fans of Umberto Eco will also find much to enjoy here!
10. 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster
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What’s it about?
If there’s one living author who truly masters the art of writing accessible, exciting, and entertaining bestsellers while maintaining literary quality and style, it’s Paul Auster. 4 3 2 1 is somewhat of his magnum opus, the culmination of his work: the life story of an American man in the 1950s and 1960s – told four different ways. Through these four variations of the protagonist’s life, Auster skillfully explores deep questions: What makes up the core of a person? What is a good life? And which decisions shape it? What if…?
Who is this book ideal for?
4 3 2 1 will appeal to readers who enjoy books that effortlessly blend philosophy with storytelling and those who appreciate playful experimentation with classic narrative structures.
We hope you’ve found one or more Christmas gifts for book lovers here, or perhaps a book you want to read yourself. On our website, you’ll also find a list of timeless books about friendship, as well as many other Christmas gift ideas and year-round tips for activities with friends, your partner, or family.
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