Two local bookstores share their holiday picks
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If it feels like February was yesterday and suddenly it’s the end of the year, you’re not imagining things.
The festive season has a way of arriving all at once, bringing with it office catch-ups, family gatherings and the quiet panic of realising you still haven’t sorted out those Christmas presents.
Thankfully, two wonderful local booksellers have us covered. We asked the questions, and they gave us their answers wrapped with a bow.
Claire from The Book Cow, Kingston
Q: Why do books make great gifts?
A: By giving a book, you offer your friends and family a chance to escape into something new. Whether it’s cosy fiction, thrilling crime, uplifting memoir or captivating history, there’s a book out there for everyone! The post-holidaylull before the new year is also (at least in my opinion!) one of the best times to read. Switch off, tune out and let a good book keep you company.
Q: What book should everyone read this holiday season, and why?
A: The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden is the perfect gift for the holiday season. It’s a thrilling page-turner that you won’t be able to put down! The Safekeep is an effortless tale with a plot twist that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell is an enthralling and vivid imagining of William Shakespeare’s life and family in Stratford-upon-Avon. Even though Hamnet isn’t the newest title on the shelves, it’s still loved and widely read. This holiday season is the best time to read Hamnet – before Chloe Zhao’s movie adaptation lands in Australia next January! Here’s the link to the movie if you want to take a peek at the trailer:
And of course, there’s always something for the kids too! Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping by Craig Silvey, an endlessly charming, deeply funny and bursting with heart novel is just the right gift. It’s also an engrossing mystery filled with twists and surprises. Another good one for little adventurers and animal lovers is The Lone Husky by Hannah Gold.
Tayanah O’Donnell from Paperchain, Manuka
Q: Why do books make great gifts?
A: At Paperchain, we always say a book is never just a book – a book is the gateway to imagination and adventure. When you give a book, you’re giving time, thought and a moment of connection. The gift of a book is also deeply personal: it says, ‘I saw this, and it made me think of you.’
Q: What book should everyone read this holiday season, and why?
A: It’s so hard to choose! For the Canberra community, it’s pretty hard to go past Niki Savva’s latest book, Earthquake, which details the lead up to the Albanese/Dutton Federal election. Paperchain was lucky to have Niki and Laurie Oaks in store for her inaugural launch recently. She’s a force!
Q: What is one of the best things about bookselling during the holiday season?
A: Undoubtedly, it’s when families, and grandparents, come into our store looking for the perfect books for children. When they have children with them, the excitement of the kids when they find and are purchasing their favourite book, is quite special. We also get a kick out of sourcing hard-to-find books for our customers and enjoy bookish conversations with our regulars. The holiday season is abuzz with the possibilities of summer travel, sunshine, and relaxing with a favourite book. Our store is very busy, but we absolutely love putting books into the hands of Canberra’s readers.
Paperchain is offering free Christmas gift wrapping for their customers and encouraging a gold coin or small note donation to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation in exchange for this service.
Thoughtful recommendations, beautiful wrapping and the kind of local knowledge you won’t find online. This is why indie bookstores do Christmas so well. They have a knack for growing TBR piles while shrinking gift lists – all while helping you find the perfect book for every reader in your life.
Other bookstores we highly recommend include:
- Asia Bookroom, Macquarie
- Canty’s Bookshop, Fyshwick
- Book Lore, Lyneham
- Book Lovers Lane, Fyshwick
- Book Passion, Belconnen
Happy shopping, gifting and reading, Canberra!
Feature Image: Paperchain Bookstore. Credit: Ash St George.
