<p>I'm looking to buy a few books for my children for Xmas. Any suggestions for a girl who is a sophomore in college and a boy who is a junior in high school. What are you planning to read during winter break?</p>
<p>I'm a girl, colleg sophomore.</p>
<p>The Time Traveler's Wife is one of my all-time favorite books, and everyone who I've given it to has loved it, so if she hasn't read it, I'd suggest that.</p>
<p>I'm dying to read Maureen Dowd's book (I know, it's been out forever, but...)</p>
<p>Isabel Allende has a new book out; if she hasn't read anything of hers, I'd re commend 'Portrait in Sepia' and 'House of the Spirits'.</p>
<p>Also, if she's into fantasy, the Sevenwaters Trilogy by Juliet Marillier is really good.</p>
<p>Of course, a lot depends on what kind of books she likes, but those are some of my favorites.</p>
<p>The Alchemist, Two Lives, The Namesake, The Kite Runner, A million little pieces.</p>
<p>David Sedaris has a few books filled with really funny short stories (from his life). They're fantastic. Also look into Bel Canto. I don't remember it exactly, but it's about terrorists who go into a situation that doesn't go according to plan, so they end up in a house with a lot of hostages and no idea what to do with them. It's about the terrorists and hostages living together and is an interesting read. The Time Traveler's Wife is also a good girl's read. Pride and Prejudice would be good if she hasn't read it already, and you can buy her the movie to go along with it (the best film would be the BBC or A&E version). </p>
<p>Boys tend to be harder. What is he interested in, and what does he normally like to read? He may like David Sedaris or Bel Canto (Time Traveler's Wife is more of a romance so probably won't interest him as much). If he's politically minded or interested in history, John Adams or another nonfiction biography would be great. For school-like novels he may like Catch 22 or Invisible Man.</p>
<p>Bel Canto and The Time-Traveler's Wife are good suggestions for your daughter; another one is The Center of Winter by Marya Hornbacher, which I just finished and really enjoyed. Freakonomics would work for either kid if they're interested in that sort of thing. If they're interested in science, anything by Richard Dawkins is great (I especially recommend A Devil's Chaplain, which is a collection of essays).</p>
<p>Books are difficult to shop for, unless you know speficially the person is looking for a certain book. A better way to go would be Borders gift cards.</p>
<p>Gift cards are impersonal, though, and if you know the personality and interests of the recipients (which I'm assuming that the OP does, considering that they're her kids) it's really not that difficult. Unless you're shopping for a complete stranger, I think books are pretty much the ideal gift because they're so inexpensive and easy to personalize.</p>
<p>I guess I'm just a picky reader. :D I'd much rather receive a gift card than have to go through the trouble to returning the book.</p>
<p>Gift cards can be personal if you try. I agree with bfired. If someone was smart enough to know my fav book store is x store, or that I liked books at all, they would have to know me pretty well. Now, Target or Walmart gift cards are totally impersonal (unless the person loves one of those places).</p>
<p>I wholeheartedly second The Sevenwaters Trilogy by Marillier!!! She's my absolute favorite author and no one I know has ever NOT liked her writing. I'd definitely give her a shot! :)</p>
<p>I love getting book gift cards as well... :D</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who responded.</p>
<p>I second david sedaris, or just buying a borders or bares&nobles gift card</p>
<p>I recommend the Namesake or the Interpreter of Maladies, both by Jhumpa Lahiri. If the boy is fan of truly engaging literature, he could like Terrorist by John Updike or Life of Pi by Yann Martel.</p>