Even in a year like 2020, where it seems that every possible chance for fun is cancelled before it can begin, Christmas prevails. Exciting for all, of course, but what do you get for your teen sister-in-law? Your friend who loves travel and history? Your (checks notes) yoga teacher? Read on to find out …
Here at Wakefield Press, we’d like to think we know a thing or two about books. We also think we’re pretty good at giving gifts, so we thought we’d share our secrets with you all. Find out what everyone in the office is buying for some of the trickiest people on their Christmas lists this year.
Michael, Head Publisher
Buying for: foodie friends
In these coming days of languid lunching, Michael can think of a few people who would enjoy The Original Mediterranean Cuisine: Medieval recipes for today by Barbara Santich (RRP $45.00). It’s a feast for the eyes, mind, soul and stomach!
Find out more here.
Alternatively, Michael feels that his essay in Peter Monteath’s edited collection Germans is much under-read. ‘I will force the book on a few unwary souls.’
Jo, Associate Publisher
Buying for: a Harry Potter-loving niece
Jo’s pick for her 12-year-old niece is Indigo Owl by Charlie Archbold (RRP $24.95), set in a near-future where corporations have colonised space because earth is uninhabitable. It’s a boarding school space adventure, with a heroine with psychic powers and a family secret, who joins forces with a plucky tech-detective best friend and a handsome fellow psychic/love interest to disrupt a plot by the planet’s rulers to secretly control the population. She loved Harry Potter and is a feisty, funny girl who’s a great reader, so this seems perfect for her.
Find out more here.
Trevor, Sales Rep
Buying for: a friend who loves adventure, travel, and history
Buying for a friend with a taste for adventure and history, Trevor’s top pick is A Most Surprising Man: The life of Victor Marra Newland by Mary-Anne Fitzgerald (RRP $45.00).
The book reveals aspects of the life of Victor Marra Newland, who established the safari enterprise in Africa along with Leslie Tarlton in 1909. A fascinating story of a South Australian who made waves overseas, and a great pick for someone interested in Africa and wildlife.
Find out more here.
Poppy, Marketing and Publicity
Buying for: her teen sister-in-law
Poppy’s choice for her teen sister-in-law is The Girl in the Gold Bikini by Lisa Walker (RRP $24.95).
Lisa’s YA novel is a laugh-out-loud detective romp, and a fun and positive summer read. It’s a perfect gift for teen girls, full of body-positivity, costume changes, and a fast-paced mystery that’ll keep them busy these school holidays.
Find out more here.
Jesse, Production Assistant
Buying for: a friend with an interest in the niche
Selecting a gift for a friend who loves niche history and having something to talk about, Jesse’s top gift choice is Silliness: A serious history by Peter Timms (RRP $24.95).
The book takes a deep-dive into our past ‘silliness’, from the madcap plays of Aristophanes, to the medieval jesters and court fools, all the way up to Monty Python and ‘Cats that look like Hitler’. It’s a perfect mix of ridiculous and informative.
Find out more here.
Liz, Designer
Buying for: her Adelaide family
Designer Liz has had a ball of a time working on the delightful gem Arcadian Adelaide by Thistle Anderson, with essay by Derek Whitelock and Foreword by Katie Spain (RRP $19.95).
Thistle Anderson’s acidic little jab at Adelaide was originally released in the early 1900s, and caused quite the upset. It’s the perfect gift for Liz’s mum and her Adelaide family, as they spot the differences between now and then, grin at the unchanging Adelaide mindset, and discover why Thistle floated back to whence she came! It’s a great chuckle
with silly pictures and all – hard to resist!
Find out more here.
Jonny, Warehouse Manager
Buying for: his yoga instructor
Buying for your yoga instructor, or just your friend who’s looking for their ‘zen’? Jonny suggests The Lure of the Japanese Garden by Allison Main and Newell Platten (RRP $24.95).
As Jonny says, the book is much cheaper than a ticket to Byron Bay! It’s also full of beautiful images of Japanese gardens – perfect for finding calm at home.
Find out more here.
Maddy, Events and Editorial
Buying for: her partner’s father
For her partner’s father who lived and worked in a remote Aboriginal community, Maddy’s top gift pick is Bush Mechanics: From Yuendumu to the world by Mandy Paul and Michelangelo Bolognese (RRP $39.95).
The book highlights the ingenuity of the bush mechanics of remote Australia. Flat tires are stuffed with spinifex to prolong their lives, and car roofs are hacked off in the middle of the desert to act as trailers. It’s a wild ride which gives a broader insight into contemporary Aboriginal lives and culture.
Find out more here.
Clinton, Production Manager
Buying for: green-thumbed friends
For your friend who’s clever in the garden, and for the friend who could kill a fake plant, Clinton recommends One Magic Square: Grow your own food on one square metre by Lolo Houbein (RRP $45.00).
The book is full to the brim with gardening ideas, recipes, and tips on how to become a self-sufficient gardner.
Find out more here.
This Christmas season, support Wakefield Press by buying our beautiful books! Visit our website or contact us on 08 8352 4455 for more information, or to purchase a book (or three!).