Books as gifts: McDaniel librarian makes her annual picks

Jane Sharpe retired from her position as an associate librarian at McDaniel College last June, but that didn't mean she was going to give up one of her favorite activities from her profession - creating a list of book recommendations for the holiday season.

Sharpe delivered the 21st annual "Books Sandwiched In" program Thursday, giving book recommendations for holiday gifts to a crowd of about 30 listeners at McDaniel College. Sharpe described 38 books for adults, young adults and children that she believes will make excellent gifts this year.

"I've read all of these books, and I always do," Sharpe told her audience. "You might not like any of these books, but I liked all of them."

Sharpe said she tries to stick only to books that were published in the current year, and many of them have been released in the past two months - giving her quite the reading list to catch up on.

"It's kind of fun because I do my shopping as well as recommend [titles] for other people," she said. "There's almost a gift for anyone on your list."

While her favorite genre is historical fiction, Sharpe made sure to include a wide range of historical settings for the fiction works, as well as a good variety of topics in her nonfiction picks.

One of her favorite works of fiction was "The Ruins of Lace" by Iris Anthony, a book so intriguing she said she finished it in one night. The book had seven different narrators, she said, including a dog, and all of them keep the reader captivated. The book looks at the lace trade - and lace smuggling - that took part in France during the 1600s.

"I love Christmas stories and I love Christmas books," Sharpe said, so one of her choices was "A Patchwork Christmas Collection," which contained three romance stories by top inspirational writers of today: Judith Miller, Nancy Moser and Stephanie Grace Whitson.

The book just made you want to curl up with a cup of tea and keep reading, she said, and came with some craft patterns and recipes on top of that.

One author who Sharpe wasn't expecting much from but ended up really enjoying was Molly Ringwald, of 1980s teen movie fame. Ringwald's "When It Happens to You: A Novel in Stories" contains a collection of short stories that stand alone but have some crossovers as well, Sharpe said, filled with quirky characters and some dysfunctional lives.

"I'm looking forward to hearing more from her," she said.

One of Sharpe's favorite nonfiction books was Mark Shriver's "A Good Man: Rediscovering My Father, Sargent Shriver." Sharpe said she met the author at a book signing at Union Mills Homestead, where she serves on the board.

"I can't tell you the impression he made on me," Sharpe said of Mark Shriver.

The book is a memoir about both the author and his father, who was founder of the Peace Corps and architect of President Johnson's War on Poverty. Sharpe said she learned much about this humble historical figure, and found many details of his life very touching.

In honor of the Civil War's sesquicentennial anniversary, she chose "The Man Who Saved the Union: Ulysses Grant in War and Peace" by H.W. Brands.

"He was just such an interesting person," Sharpe said, though general history has not portrayed him in such a positive light over the ensuing decades.

Reading this book gave her a new perspective on Grant, she said, particularly how he was a champion of civil rights and reconstruction, and it was a good read as well.

For her young adult and children's books, Sharpe included another range of fiction and nonfiction for all age groups.

"I just think there's nothing more important than a book and children reading, it's just something special," she said.