Written by the author of the bestselling book Wild, Tiny Beautiful Things takes the form of letters to an agony aunt column by Cheryl Strayed, Dear Sugar, and the advice she responds with. She never judges the people who reach out to her but remains completely honest in her answers. She understands that everyone does bad things, but are still worthy of kindness and joy.
The book deals with grief, drug use, abortion and many other difficult topics which means it may not be the book for everyone, but since Cheryl Strayed has really been there, she deals with them beautifully. It is the perfect book for creating the lovely feeling of connectedness at Christmas, without being explicitly festive so it can be enjoyed all year round.
Despite the difficult topics appearing in this book, it is like a hug from someone who understands all the parts of you that you don’t want to share with the world. A beautiful gift to give to someone you care about.
A love letter to literature and storytelling, Morgernstern’s novel follows Zachary Ezra Rawlins on his adventure to The Starless Sea, as he finds a little love and magic on his way. I wouldn’t recommend this for people who read a book solely for the plot, as it’s true that very little in this book makes sense at first glance.
Full of dreamy metaphors and intersecting narratives, this is an ode to the people who spent their childhoods in bookstores. Mysterious doors, floating keys and bees that never show their faces are just part of what make this novel so beautifully magical. It’s the perfect Christmas gift for any reader in your life.