Kramers Gift Guide 2018 #2

12.21.18

For Your Road Trip Cohort

I Might Regret This: Essays, Drawings, Vulnerabilities, and Other Stuff by Abbi Jacobson
When Abbi Jacobson announced to friends and acquaintances that she planned to drive across the country alone, she was met with lots of questions and opinions: Why wasn't she going with friends? Wouldn't it be incredibly lonely? The North route is better! Was it safe for a woman? The Southern route is the way to go! You should bring mace! And a common one... why? But Abbi had always found comfort in solitude, and needed space to step back and hit the reset button. As she spent time in each city and town on her way to Los Angeles, she mulled over the big questions-- What do I really want? What is the worst possible scenario in which I could run into my ex? How has the decision to wear my shirts tucked in been pivotal in my adulthood? In this collection of anecdotes, observations and reflections--all told in the sharp, wildly funny, and relatable voice that has endeared Abbi to critics and fans alike--readers will feel like they're in the passenger seat on a fun and, ultimately, inspiring journey.

For Your Suspicious Dad

Dune by Frank Herbert
Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides—who would become known as Muad’Dib—and of a great family’s ambition to bring to fruition humankind’s most ancient and unattainable dream. A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, shared the Hugo Award, and formed the basis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction.

Alien Virus Love Disaster: Stories by Abbey Mei Otis
Abbey Mei Otis’s short stories are contemporary fiction at its strongest: taking apart the supposed equality that is clearly just not there, putting humans under an alien microscope, putting humans under government control, putting kids from the moon into a small beach town and then the putting the rest of the town under the microscope as they react in ways we hope they would, and then, of course, in ways we’d hope they don’t. Otis has long been fascinated in using strange situations to explore dynamics of power, oppression, and grief, and the twelve stories collected here are at once a striking indictment of the present and a powerful warning about the future.

For the Collector

Assorted Pins by The Good Twin, Out of Print, The Unemployed Philosophers Guild, & more!

For the World

Becoming by Michelle Obama
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.

For Your Big Brother

Milkman by Anna Burns (Winner of the Man Booker Prize)
In an unnamed city, middle sister stands out for the wrong reasons. She reads while walking, for one. And she has been taking French night classes downtown. So when a local paramilitary named Milkman begins pursuing her, she suddenly becomes “interesting,” the last thing she ever wanted to be. Despite middle sister’s attempts to avoid him—and to keep her mother from finding out about her maybe-boyfriend—rumors spread and the threat of violence lingers. Milkman is a story of the way inaction can have enormous repercussions, in a time when the wrong flag, wrong religion, or even a sunset can be subversive. Told with ferocious energy and sly, wicked humor, Milkman establishes Anna Burns as one of the most consequential voices of our day.

For Your Oboe Instructor

Penguin Classics
Various Titles

For Your Slumber Party Sister

Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of ‘80s and ‘90s Teen Fiction by Gabrielle Moss
In Paperback Crush, author Gabrielle Moss explores the history of this genre with affection and humor, highlighting the best-known series along with their many diverse knockoffs. From friendship clubs and school newspapers to pesky siblings and glamorous beauty queens, these stories feature girl protagonists in all their glory. Journey back to your younger days, a time of girl power nourished by sustained silent reading. Let Paperback Crush lead you on a visual tour of nostalgia-inducing book covers from the library stacks of the past.

For the Tots

The Night Before Christmas by Roger Duvoisin
With glorious illustrations by Caldecott Medal–winning illustrator Roger Duvoisin, this edition of Clement C. Moore’s “The Night Before Christmas” is a perfect holiday read-aloud for families. And with a tall, narrow size, it’s also just right for tucking into a Christmas stocking, making it a wonderful holiday gift.

Baby Reindeer: Finger Puppet Book by Yu-Hsuan Huang
Meet Baby Reindeer! How does Baby Reindeer stay warm in the frosty weather? What yummy meal does Baby Reindeer find hidden beneath the snow? Follow along as he experiences his world, from playtime to bedtime. Warm illustrations plus a comforting story about the rhythms of a baby reindeer's day make this perfect for the very youngest readers.

Tough Cookie: A Christmas Story by Edward Hemingway
Once upon a time, while Fox was visiting the land of Holiday Treats, a little cookie—still warm from the bakery oven—burst out the front door looking sweet and ready to be devoured. But, as it turns out, Cookie is not as fast as he thinks and when Fox finally catches him, they’re both in for a big surprise: Sugar Cookie does not taste delicious—and he’s certainly not fit to be eaten. What’s an unsavory cookie to do? Is there another option for this not-so-sweet treat?

For Your Neighborhood Watch

Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly
Detective Renée Ballard is working the night beat -- known in LAPD slang as "the late show" -- and returns to Hollywood Station in the early hours to find a stranger rifling through old file cabinets. The intruder is retired detective Harry Bosch, working a cold case that has gotten under his skin. Ballard can't let him go through department records, but when he leaves, she looks into the case herself and feels a deep tug of empathy and anger. She has never been the kind of cop who leaves the job behind at the end of her shift -- and she wants in. The murder, unsolved, was of fifteen-year-old Daisy Clayton, a runaway on the streets of Hollywood. Now Ballard joins forces with Bosch to find out what happened to Daisy, and to finally bring her killer to justice. Along the way, the two detectives forge a fragile trust, but this new partnership is put to the test when the case takes an unexpected and dangerous turn.

For Your Craft Fair Companion

F*cking Awesome Coloring Book and F*cking Brilliant Pencils by Calligraphuck

For Your Happy Hour Confidant

Around the World in 80 Cocktails by Chad Parkhill
Around the World in 80 Cocktails celebrates the globetrotting history of the cocktail through eighty different iconic drinks – each of which has its own story to tell. Bartender and writer Chad Parkhill takes you on a whirlwind tour of the places that have shaped the history of the cocktail from its birth to the present day, with recipes so you can follow along at home. You'll learn about the surprising military history behind the bubbly, vivacious Venetian Spritz; how the G&T moved from India to England (and why the best in the world are now made in Spain); and how France's Burgundy region turned tragedy into triumph with the Kir. Accompanied by gorgeous vintage-style illustrations that evoke antique travel posters, these stories and recipes are an ode to the joys of travel, history, and drinking.

For Your Colleague Who "NEEDS a Vacation"

This Is Mexico City by Abby Clawson Low
Vast and exciting, Mexico City has so much to offer for both tourists and locals. This Is Mexico City is a visual and descriptive guide with an emphasis on design, art, architecture, and culture, showcasing the best museums (both traditional and off-the-beaten-path), old-school mercados, public art, locals’ favorite restaurants—from the fancy to the food trucks—and more. This lifestyle-driven city tour will captivate Mexico City’s residents, future and past visitors, and even armchair travelers enjoying from home everything that this incredible city has to offer. 

The 500 Hidden Secrets of Bangkok by Dave Stamboulis
An affectionate city guide to Bangkok, written by a local, tracking down the city's best-kept secrets. In The 500 Hidden Secrets of Bangkok Dave Stamboulis shares his favourite places in his hometown such as: 5 lovely and colourful food courts, 5 bizarre sights, 5 places to see traditional Thai performance arts, 5 lovely bicycle tours, and 5 bars to visit on the riverside

For Anyone & Everyone

Kramers Gift Cards
Receive a $25 Kramerbucks bonus card when you purchase $100 in gift cards. Available in-store until 12/31. Redeem in the bookstore, café, or bar.

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