The CBC Books 2017 holiday gift guide
Looking for the perfect present this holiday season? We've got you covered!
Sports Fans
They might like: Game Change by Ken Dryden
What it's about: NHL Hall of Famer Ken Dryden investigates the serious consequences of concussions in hockey. The book tells the tragic story of enforcer Steve Montador, a former defenceman who played for the Calgary Flames and the Boston Bruins. Montador died in 2015, when he was 35 years old, and arranged to have his brain sent for examination to see if he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from his time as a professional hockey player.
Want more sports? 8 books for the sports fan in your life
Mystery lover
They might like: So Much Love by Rebecca Rosenblum
What it's about: The theme of trauma is a driving force in this novel by Rebecca Rosenblum. Catherine Reindeer is abducted from the parking lot of the restaurant where she works as a waitress. After eight gruelling months in captivity, Reindeer returns to a life that is not her own, with traumatic memories that have damaged her beyond recognition.
Want more mysteries? 10 books for those mad for mysteries on your list
Political pundit
They might like: We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates
What is it about: Ta-Nehisi Coates worries the present treads too closely to the past. In this collection of essays, he scrutinizes the parallels between the history of white supremacy in American history and the transition from the Obama to the Trump administration, considering the political movements this change engendered.
Want more politics? 10 books for the political pundit on your list
History buff
They might like: Dazzle Patterns by Alison Watt
What it's about: Dec. 6, 2017 marked 100 years since the Halifax Explosion. British Columbia-based author, teacher and poet Alison Watt's first novel, Dazzle Patterns, is a fictionalized account of a year in the life of three young people in a love triangle trying to deal with life in the aftermath of the explosion.
Want more history? 11 books for the history buff on your list
Foodie
They might like: Apron Strings by Jan Wong
What it's about: In Apron Strings, Jan Wong and her son Sam embark on a tour of homecooking in France, Italy and China. While learning to cook dishes like spaghetti carbonara and scallion pancakes, Wong comes to terms with her son's growing independence and explores the unique bond between mother and son.
Want more food? 8 books for the foodie on your list
Music lover
They might like: Reckless Daughter by David Yaffe
What it's about: Joni Mitchell is considered one of the most distinctive voices in Canadian music. Rolling Stone called her "one of the greatest songwriters ever." Music critic and professor David Yaffe spent nearly 10 years interviewing Joni Mitchell, along with more than 60 people who knew her to produce this definitive biography.
Want more music? 10 books for the music lover on your list
Lover of laughter
They might like: Theft by Finding by David Sedaris
What it's about: For fans of David Sedaris, whose bestselling collections include Me Talk Pretty One Day and Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls, his latest book is akin to a treasure trove. Theft by Finding is the first of two volumes that collects Sedaris' diary entries from 1977 to 2002, which range from a two-line poop joke overheard in Raleigh to a few paragraphs about being a department store elf.
Want more laughter? 11 books for the ones who love to laugh on your holiday shopping list
Science fiction & fantasy fan
They might like: The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
What it's about: N.K. Jemisin is a bestselling author and a sci-fi and fantasy reviewer for the New York Times. Her latest book, The Stone Sky, is the final novel in her award-winning The Broken Earth trilogy about Earth's wrath and the chosen few who can change the fate of this post-apocalyptic scenario.
Want more science fiction and fantasy? 10 books for the science fiction and fantasy fan on your list
Science & nature enthusiast
They might like: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson
What it's about: Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and head of New York's famous Hayden Planetarium, takes on the universe's big questions and turns them into digestible, witty essays for the everyday person. Some questions include: What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit within the universe?
Want more science and nature? 12 books for the science and nature enthusiast on your list
Pop culture
They might like: How to be a Bawse by Lilly Singh
What it's about: Lilly Singh isn't just a superstar. She's Superwoman — her very popular YouTube channel alter ego. How to be a Bawse: A Guide to Conquering Life is exactly what it sounds like. It's an inspiration memoir as she reflects on her personal journey to superstardom and shares lessons she has learned on the way.