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SALT LAKE CITY — Author Neil Gaiman said, "Books make great gifts because they have whole worlds inside of them. And it's much cheaper to buy somebody a book than it is to buy them the whole world!"
Give the reader on your list a world of fun and beauty with these six amazingly different books.
1. The Folio Society Collectables
The Folio Society, known for incredible editions of favorite books, offers a new line of novels this Christmas season. With the same high quality and beautiful illustrations as all their titles, these books are portable and ready to read. Choose from five brand-new Collectables titles: "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" by Anita Loos, "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson, "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, and "The Hound of the Baskervilles" by Arthur Conan Doyle.
2. "William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope" by Ian Doescher
With excitement over the new "Star Wars" film filling the December air, why not give a fan this book to go with his movie tickets? Told in Shakespearean verse, adding a quirky spin to the "Star Wars" stories, this book and its sequels were instant hits. The book also includes amazing artwork.
3. "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers" by Mary Roach
Got a science or forensic geek on your list? Mary Roach's books, including this New York Times best-seller, explore scientific matters in quirky, fascinating and often hilarious ways. "Stiff" dives into the strange lives of bodies after death.
4. "Subwayland: Adventures in the World Beneath New York" by Randy Kennedy
Pick up this fascinating book for the world traveler. "Subwayland," adapted from Randy Kennedy's award-winning New York Times column "Tunnel Vision," explores the history, inhabitants, wildlife and legends of the New York subway.
5. "Home Alone: The Classic Illustrated Storybook" by John Hughes, illustrated by Kim Smith
"Home Alone" hit holiday theaters 25 years ago and is still the No. 1 highest-grossing live-action comedy film of all time. Delight fans with this vibrantly illustrated picture book, a great addition to the family library.
6. "Improbable Libraries: A Visual Journey to the World's Most Unusual Libraries" by Alex Johnson
And because readers love books most of all, grab this stunning volume of photography. Take an incredible trip through the places that house history, knowledge, culture, fantasy and ideas. From open garden libraries to loaded shelves on boats, see the images and read what the librarians have to say about these invaluable places.
Teri Harman, author and book enthusiast, writes a monthly column for KSL.com and contributes book-related segments to "Studio 5." Her novels, "Blood Moon," "Black Moon" and "Storm Moon" are now available. Visit her at teriharman.com.
