Weird Book Room

“Do give books - religious or otherwise - for Christmas. They're never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal.” - Lenore Hershey

How could I not investigate something that read “Weird Book Room?” I entered the room at AbeBooks.co.uk and found the site lived to its description, “…a celebration of everything that's bizarre, odd and downright weird in books. Crazy cookbooks, unusual animal books, how to books that will teach skills you never knew you needed, books about hilarious hobbies, and books about every strange aspect of life you could possibly imagine and a few things you can't imagine.”

I’m assuming there are a few people, like myself, who have not completed their Christmas shopping. I thought I could use this site to give you some suggestions for those hard to please people, or pets, on your list.

For instance if you are tired of buying the dogs on your list the usual chewy treat or rubber ball, you may want to think about Doga: Yoga for Dogs by Jennifer Brilliant. I’m sure any dog would be happy to learn more relaxation techniques.

For the discriminating homemaker there’s Paint It Black: A Guide To Gothic Homemaking, by Voltaire (Yes, I am aware he died in the 1700’s, but that’s the name on the book jacket.). “With 'Paint It Black' you can turn the unbearably mundane into the delightfully macabre with little more than a touch of creativity and a can of black spray paint. Using simple techniques and easily-found, affordable supplies, Voltaire and friends transform the normal into Gothic like nobody's business!” How could anyone not be pleased to receive this book?

For that shopaholic there’s The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America, a Guide to Field Identification by Julian Montague.

Mensa members may enjoy The The Thermodynamics of Pizza by Harold J. Morowitz.

Isn’t there always a bird lover or two on everyone’s list? Here’s a guide they may not already have, What Bird Did That? A Driver's Guide to Some Common Birds of North America by Peter Hansard, and Burton Silver.

Other books gift ideas include: How to Survive a Robot Uprising, by Daniel H. Wilson; People Who Don't Know They're Dead by Gary Leon Hill; Nuclear War: What's in It for You? by the Ground Zero War Foundation; How You Can Bowl Better Using Self-Hypnosis by Heise; Prehistoric Humans in Film and Television by Michael Klossner; and, The Beverly Hillbillies Bible Study by Stephen Skelton.

If by some off chance you can find nothing in the Weird Book Room that suits the names on your list, there are plenty of books available in The Spirit of the Season Catalog. You'll also find excellent choices under my blogroll. There's Pretty is as Pretty Dies by Elizabeth Spann Craig if you click on Mystery Writing in Murder. For Gayle Carline’s, Freezer Burn, click On the Edge of the Chair of Literature. There are too many to mention them all so feel free to shop around for ideas on my sidebar list.

Two reminders: 1) if you have purchased a copy of The Ride for yourself or someone else, I’ll be happy to send you a free signed bookplate. Simply contact me at jane@janesutton.com. 2) On Thursday, Dec. 17, I’ll be at the Holiday Book Festival at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron Street, Port Charlotte, FL from 10 AM to 4:00 PM. Please stop by if you are in the area.

Happy shopping and thanks for dropping by.

Tags: Lenore Hershey, Weird book room, Abe Books, Spirit of the Season catalog, holiday book festival, cultural center of Charlotte Country,