Reviews & Views: Tome(s) for the holidays

It’s a relief to see a holiday list of books that guarantee satisfaction for the receiver. If you worry that giving a book is too personal, or too much work, or too predictable, it’s not. It’s a gorgeous gift of imagination and connection and humanity — not bad things to be reminded about.

For the fiction reader who wants a sure thing:

“Mona’s Eyes” by Thomas Schlesser (not “Heart the Lover” by Lily King, a bit of a disappointment after all the hype, or “The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans, which I loved. They do not need my endorsement to sell like hotcakes). “Mona’s Eyes” is a sentimental and satisfying tale of a grandfather who takes his granddaughter, at risk of losing her sight, to the Louvre every Sunday to look at art. “The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective” by Jo Nichols (Minotaur) is a cozy story about a California community that gets caught up in solving mysteries and each other’s problems. It’s utterly charming without being twee.

For the person who likes to read but has no time:

“A Century of Fiction in The New Yorker 1925–2025” (The New Yorker Magazine Inc.) Short stories, some would say among the best ever published, in one handy volume.

For the Jane Austen fan:

“Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen’s Unsung Characters” by various authors (Gallery Books). In honor of Austen’s 250th birthday, this short story anthology includes authors such as Adriana Trigiani, Sarah MacLean, and Elinor Lipman to reimagine characters in the background of her novels.

For the baker:

“Baking and the Meaning of Life: How to Find Joy in 100 Recipes” by Helen Goh. Goh has been part of the Ottolenghi universe as his star pastry chef, but she debuts her own recipes in this lovely book. It’s a tad aspirational for an average baker like me, but Goh’s meditative attitude toward food and the stunning photographs make it a keeper.

For the science-inclined:

“Cells: The Illustrated Story of Life” by Christian Sardet (The Experiment). You can give this as a New Year’s gift when it publishes in 2026. It begins with illustrations of period sketches from Darwin’s time and ends with QR codes to guide readers through animation of the molecular processes that make life possible.

For the tree lover:

“Evergreen: The Trees That Shaped America” by Trent Preszler (Algonquin). For those who love this time of year with pines coming inside with their aroma, greenery, and needle dropping. Cornell professor Preszler acknowledges the vital role the evergreen has played in our economic and cultural history as pagan presence, Christian symbol, and commercial juggernaut, but also how its cultivation and consequent pillaging have hurt the environment. You’ll never look at your Christmas tree the same way.

For the American history buff:

“The Sea Captain’s Wife: A True Story of Mutiny, Love, and Adventures at the Bottom of the World” by Tilar J. Mazzeo (St. Martin’s) is a rip-roaring adventure of Mary Ann Patten, the first woman to command a merchant vessel as captain and race her ship, crew, and ailing husband all the way to San Francisco in the era of the Gold Rush.

For the history buff:

“Beyond Blue and White: The Hidden History of Delftware and the Women Behind the Iconic Ceramic” by Genevieve Wheeler Brown (Pegasus Books). One of my favorite books of the year, it examines those familiar pieces of pottery and the small factories that made Delftware, which were a major engine for the booming Dutch economy and often were run and staffed by women.

For the maps fan:

“Palestine Mapped: From the River to the Sea in Early Geographic Thought” by Thomas Suarez (Interlink Publishing), a way to comprehend history, the Middle East, and the Israel and Palestine conundrum. There is a real skill in map reading that is lost on our younger generation. Insights into the misunderstood geography of the Middle East and this mapping of the region — from the times of Greeks and Romans up to the confused borders of today — are invaluable.

For the environmental enthusiast:

“Polar War: Submarines, Spies, and the Struggle for Power in a Melting Arctic” by Kenneth R. Rosen (Simon & Schuster) reminds us that we’ve long sacrificed the natural world, at our peril.

For your graphic-books-loving teen:

“Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me” by Mimi Pond (Drawn & Quarterly) is a charming doorstopper all about the Mitford Sisters and all their winning or rebellious ways. Pond packs in a lot of history as the five sisters make their way through the 20th century. You can also watch an adaptation of a Nancy Mitford book: “The Pursuit of Love” is a perfect holiday watch with stunning costumes, locales, and English twittery to enjoy.

For the younger reader:

“Jenny and the Cat Club” by Esther Averill (NYR Children’s Books) is a wonderful first tale of a little black cat who finds a home and a community in New York. These little books are on many best children’s literature lists, but best of all, put children under their spell and make them want to keep reading. 

Possible Caldecott Medal Winner for Best Illustrated Book:

“Cat Nap” by Brian Lies (Greenwillow). A genius picture book about life behind pictures — literally — when a cat enters a poster world. An instant classic.

For the argumentative teen:

“What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions” by Randall Munroe (Dey Street) takes lunatic questions about impossible situations and somehow makes understanding science possible. A perfect book for kids who outgrew the “Who Would Win?” series.

Visit local bookshops and find an old favorite or a new read. The Friends of the Acton Free Public Library are hosting the 2025 Holiday Book Sale in the Goodwin Forum, December 5-6, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and December 7, 1-4 p.m. It offers nearly new books, movies, and music CDs for adults and children. I am a CFPL Friend and sorter, and though I say this every year, the selection has never been so good.