Literary Gift Guide - 2015

For the third year running, I'm here to provide you with some pretty great holiday/solstice/new year gifts for your favorite reader, writer, and literary enthusiast. Don't forget to check out 2013's and 2014's lists, too!

Write Like a Motherfucker mug ($15)
I love Cheryl Strayed. "Write Like a Motherfucker" has been one of the most well-known and well-loved quotes from her advice column on The Rumpus, Dear Sugar. Buy this mug. Buy this poster. Buy the book that they created from Dear Sugar columns, and then buy the book that spawned from that book. Trust me.


A Litographs t-shirt ($34)
I bought one of these t-shirts (the Leaves of Grass one, to be more specific) for a gift recently and it is not
only well-crafted and a great conversation starter, but it is also one of the softest t-shirts ever. Choose from 150+ styles (new ones are added often), as well as totes, posters, and even temporary tattoos!

Paddywax's Library candle collection ($15-21)
Paddywax sells a variety of candles, but my favorites come from their Library collection. They sell 2.5-ounce tin candles as well as 6.5-ounce votives. All of their Library candles are literary-themed, so you may find yourself with an Edgar Allan Poe candle (scented with Cardamom, Absinthe & Sandalwood) or a John Steinbeck candle (scented with Smoked Birch & Amber). Perfect to pair with your favorite classic book.


Flying Dog beer ($9-12 for a six-pack)
This beer - brewed in Frederick, Maryland - has strong ties to Hunter S. Thompson. Their motto, "Good People Drink Good Beer" is a direct quote from Thompson, all of their artwork is done by Ralph Steadman (Thompson’s illustrator), and legend has it that Thompson was good friends with the brewers. And not to mention, their beer is really very good. (If you can't get your hands on Flying Dog, check out any number of literary-inspired brews.)

Cute bookends (varies)
For those that haven't fully made the switch to ebooks, buy them a thoughtful, silly, stylish, or interesting bookend. You can start out with a $13 H&M "Books I Haven't Read" bookend, go mid-range with a $65 pair of bicycle bookends from Uncommon Goods, or go all out with $165 whale bookends from designer Jonathan Adler. I'm sure the recipient will love whatever you get them!


Happy holidays to you & yours, and merry reading!