Thoughtful Gift Giving

Books are always a thoughtful gift. Your friend, lover, family member, opens it once by removing the wrapping. Then the giftee opens the present a second time to look at the title and first pages. That night, your friend, lover, family member, opens their present once again to read and fall in love and be whisked away to lands, introduced to people, and given the key to mysteries that, had you not been thoughtful of them, they would never have known.

For the giver, a book is easy to wrap. It doesn't need a specific box. It comes in its own box! When you buy a shirt, dress, sweater, you will need to find a suitable box. A scarf, a pair of mittens, a cute hat- all require a box. A book is easier to wrap than a sled, a bike, or a 55" smart TV. Easier than a sandwich, even. You can put a bit of yourself into it with an inscription. Perhaps the date, perhaps a small, thoughtful notion. And, best of all, you can borrow it at a later date.

Hunger Hill is just one specimen of the aforementioned genus of gifts. It is set in Portland, Maine, and is available at Sherman's Books, Hilltop Superette, Letterpress, and many more independent bookstores as well as online at the usual places, the Big River, maineauthorspublishing.com and right here at philipbakerauthor.com. I appreciate you putting up with this shameless self-promotion after what may have, at first glance, seemed like a poignant essay about thoughtful gift-giving at this or any other time of year. Hey, I did point out you can borrow the book, but a more thoughtful thing, really, would be to buy a copy of Hunger Hill for yourself too. Just thinking out loud.