Getting Into The Holiday Spirit
No matter if you’re on your way to the airport, or just in the mood to watch Rudolph and his friends escort Santa Claus through town, there’s never been a better time to be jolly. The holiday season is already upon us, and shopping isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Whether you want to spice up a boring old sweater or unwrap something truly exciting this year, here are a few of my favorite picks for that perfect Christmas present.
I love these seasonal reads because they're funny, original viewpoints on all things Christmas-related. This one's about a woman who tells her boyfriend that Santa Claus exists, and becomes an internet sensation at the same time. A cute and lighthearted read.
This is one of my favorite memoirs by a man, period. Rogen's casual humor shines through as he shares stories from his childhood at Sapporo ice skating rinks with his friends, to his days working as a Japanese school boy portraying Santa in-costume at malls across the country. This is hilarious and charming in a way that few books are.
This book is a must-have for any baseball fan. It's the perfect gift to give someone who loves the sport, and a good read of its own. The book covers off all of the moves that happen during baseball games, and how they relate to many other sports (and vice versa) making it a fun and interesting read for anyone who doesn't watch baseball regularly.
For the couch potato in your life. This book is a perfect gift for anyone who loves to watch movies and can't seem to sit still long enough to actually "watch" them. The book takes a look at different Hollywood movies like "The Social Network" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", and breaks them down with interesting facts about them. Plus, there's an entire section dedicated to the many classic Christmas films of all time.
This book is not just a complete guide to surviving Christmas, but also gives tips on how to survive in general (no matter if you live in China or Japan). This is a perfect gift for that person in your life who is just trying to figure it all out. Plus, it's got amazing pictures, lists, and ideas for anyone needing a little extra help.
This book by one of the members of the comedy troupe of "Kids in the Hall" may just be one of the funniest books I've ever read. Bruce McCulloch wrote this memoir as if it was his own autobiographical novel that he'd been writing on his days off from acting. The book follows his fictional character as he writes his novel and deals with the very real problems of being a teacher, husband, and single dad to his son. It's charming, hilarious and relatable all at once.
This is hands-down one of the best books I've ever read. Capote tells us the story of an old woman who lives in a small town in Kansas named Holcomb, who loses her family to a horrible murder. The real magic comes when he takes us along while he visits the people left behind and interviews them about what transpired during one fateful winter day in their sleepy town. This book will make you laugh, cry, and contemplate just how it was written so masterfully.
This book was an interesting and unique read. Set in Japan, it tells the story of a young American woman who gets dumped by her boyfriend as she's coming home from work one day. Instead of getting upset, she decides to do something special for herself, and packs up her belongings, finds a large suitcase and starts traveling all around Japan on a road trip of self discovery. Most people will probably already know this book, but I still would recommend it to others because it's so cleverly written and sweet at the same time.
This book is for high school students who are about to move on and into the next chapter of their lives. It's like a handbook for when you finish high school, but at the same time it also helps you figure out what direction to go in next. I received this book as a gift from one of my aunts when I graduated from college, and I still read it from time to time because it really gives you a sense of where you want your life to go. It has so much information on everything from getting through college interviews, to how you'll deal with living in dorms, how to handle parents when they're overbearing, how to get along with roommates...it's almost like a mini-encyclopedia.
I was on the hunt for a really cute and fun Christmas-themed cookie book when I came across these babies online. The recipes are easy to follow, and the end results look so much prettier than the cookies you can buy from Starbucks or grocery stores. Most of the recipes appear to be Japanese inspired (there's even one called "The White Devil's Mint Cookie") which makes it even more exciting to read through. Perfect gift for anyone who loves baking or wants to try something new this holiday season.
Seasonal nail polish is awesome, but I don't think many people have seen some of these gorgeous sparkly shades before.
Conclusion
Okay, so it's not exactly an article on Christmas gifts, but these books are my absolute favorite. These books made me laugh and think at the same time, they were well-researched and really entertaining to read.