34 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY DECEMBER 19-25, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com LOCAL SHOPPING There’s a particular type of heartache that accompanies a particular kind of gift. Someone you love tells you: “I loved this book, and I am sure that you will too.” Then halfway through, you realize the characters are too flat, the writing too ornate. Do you a) fib to the gift-giver and say you loved it, and check the CliffsNotes so you can carry a conversation about the surprise ending, or b) give them your honest opinion? There’s an Option C, which is to get it right the first time—you might ask the recipient for ideas on what they are reading, and consult with booksellers about the data you have. “If somebody comes up and says, can you help me find a book for X, I will put everything down and go do that because it’s a joyous thing,” says Julie Tully, manager of River House Books in Carmel. “This is my absolute favorite thing to do.” Tully wants to know the recipient’s reading habits and recent favorites, if you know them; if not, she can work with ancillary information—their interests, their career, how and where you think they might read (at the gym? In bed?). She’ll quiz a shopper until they narrow in. Some people lean toward coffee table books, but others want a book meant to actually be read. Some care about a subject more than style; for others, quality of writing really matters. For voracious readers, the staff may help assemble a series, whether it’s books by the same author, or different writers built around a theme (maybe there’s some science and some novels, all about the ocean). There’s the added gift bonus of thematic objects, like a mug or staionery, to make it feel complete. “It’s the equivalent of being a literary detective and Santa Claus at the same time,” Tully says. “It’s so much fun.” At Downtown Book and Sound in Salinas, Trish Triumpho Sullivan employs a similar set of starting questions: “What does your friend or loved one like to do for fun? Then we’ll find a book on that, or a novel along those lines.” There’s also an emphasis on local authors, which many local bookstores sell. There are history books, mysteries, even a set of tarot cards produced by locals. “That’s kind of a hidden gem,” Sullivan says. “You can’t go wrong. There are so many good ones, and something for every taste.” Or of course, you can just get a copy of your current favorite book—and then quiz the recipient later DANIEL DRIEFUSS Word Up What defines a great book can be subjective. How to choose something a recipient will love? By Sara Rubin . River House Books sets aside its own bestsellers on a shelf for gift-givers seeking inspiration. Or ask a bookseller and they’ll help you find a hit for the recipient.
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