We’re big fans of giving and receiving books as gifts for Christmas (or any other occasion, really). No matter who’s on your list, there’s bound to be a perfect read for them.
And to make things even easier, Inquirer Super asked Xandra Ramos—a woman who spends her days surrounded by books, being National Book Store’s managing director—to share her favorite titles for this holiday season.
1) “Lullabies,” Lang Leav
“During her recent book signing event at National Book Store and Powerbooks, Lang Leav read some poetry, as requested by the fans. She read with a voice so pure and her words were so real. I was so touched that I was inspired to give this book away to friends in different relationship statuses.”
2) “What I Know for Sure,” Oprah Winfrey
“I read O magazine every month and always look forward to reaching the end, where Oprah writes a column called ‘What I Know for Sure.’ This book compiles her best nuggets of wisdom from her column’s 14-year existence.”
3) “Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography”
“This is a very entertaining autobiography written by a witty and funny celebrity. It is cleverly structured like the ‘Choose Your Own Adventures’ series he read as a kid. You can read the chapters in various sequences, depending on the life choices you make for the author. You can take your pick, whether you want to read more about his dating during the Doogie Howser years, being a magician, or how he met his husband David Burtka.”
4) “41: A Portrait of My Father,” George W. Bush
“It is rare that a father and son are both able to serve as president of the United States. Here is a presidential biography written from the perspective of the son. A good gift for a discerning recipient.”
5) “My True Love Gave to Me,” edited by Stephanie Perkins
“During her visit here, Steph mentioned that she was working on a compilation of holiday short stories from our favorite young adult authors, including herself. Glad to see friends such as Gayle Forman and Jenny Han, who visited us this year, included in this anthology.”
6) “The Book with No Pictures,” BJ Novak
“You can give this to families with young kids, to teachers, or to the kids themselves. This hilarious book is a great source of family fun when read together. It’s all in the delivery!”
7) “The Filipino Family Cookbook,” Angelo Comsti; “My Angkong’s Noodles,” Clinton Huang Palanca; and “Luke Who’s Cooking for a Cause 3,” the Women’s Board of the St. Luke’s Medical Center
“Any book about Filipino food is always a great gift to balikbayan and couple friends. These books are collections of recipes from the best chefs, restaurants and foodies in the Philippines.”
8) “How to Eataly: A Guide to Buying, Cooking and Eating Italian Food”
“Who knew that pizza has to be sliced with a knife and the pieces picked up with a fork, and only the final slice can be eaten by hand? ‘How to Eataly’ talks about all things you need to know about the Italian food universe, from choosing different kinds of pasta to the Italian way of cooking them.”
9) “Contemporary Houses in the Philippines,” Robert Powell
“Browsing through this breathtaking book that features 25 new houses in the Philippines, I marveled at the modern architectural lines and the furniture. It’s an inspiring book for anyone building or decorating, and a great addition to that new coffee table in your living space.”
10) “Tory Burch in Color”; “Diane von Furstenberg: Journey of a Dress”; “Lanvin: I Love You”; “Dior: New Couture”
“For fashion maven friends, any of these beautiful books would be welcome additions to their chic bookshelves. ‘Tory Burch in Color’ is not just about fashion, but the beautiful lifestyle of designer Tory Burch. ‘DVF: Journey of a Dress’ is the cultural history and impact in full color of the iconic wrap dress. ‘Dior: New Couture’ is an oversized book filled with amazing couture dresses photographed by Patrick Demarchelier from the early days of the House of Dior, with Christian at the helm, to the 21st century with current creative director Raf Simons. ‘Lanvin: I Love You’ shows the visual account of the elements that make Lanvin the iconic brand that it is.”
11) “Conversations: Up Close and Personal with Icons of Fashion, Interior Design and Art,” Blue Carreon
“Live vicariously and listen in on Blue Carreon’s conversations with international style personalities.”
