Winter break means more than just an escape from classes, tests and the Arctic tundra that is quickly consuming Syracuse (unless, of course, you live in this frozen block of ice).

It also means the holidays are right around the corner. And after all the stress of finals, who wants to worry about finding the perfect gift for your family and friends?

Books possess plenty of high points when it comes to gift giving. You don’t have to worry about choosing the right color, fit, size or other annoying details. They are easy to purchase – simply hop on an online bookseller or head to your nearest bookstore. And their rectangular shape makes them simple to wrap.

So, for those of you who have spent more time in a bar than a bookstore, here are some suggestions for all the people in your life worthy of an intellectual gift:

Your mom: ‘The Pact’ by Jodi Picoult

This novel of doomed lovers by popular author Picoult will most likely make your mother remember what it is like to be young and in love. Though the book deals with heavy issues like suicide, it is beautifully written, compelling and hard to put down.

Your dad: ‘Boom!: Voices of the Sixties: Personal Reflections of the ’60s and Today’ by Tom Brokaw

Chances are your father lived at least some of the ’60s. With this book, written by famed NBC broadcaster Tom Brokaw, he can travel back to the era of The Beatles, putting a man on the moon and Vietnam.

Your kid brother: ‘The Golden Compass’ by Philip Pullman

He will probably have seen the movie by the time you give him the book, but it is definitely worth a read anyway. Everyone knows the book’s always better than the movie. This children’s classic has all the magic and intrigue of ‘Harry Potter.’ And adults love it, too, so steal it from him when he’s done and read it yourself.

Your teen sister: ‘Gossip Girl #1’ by Cecily Von Ziegesar

She has probably already become hooked on the CW television version of this bestselling teen series about rich kids living outrageous realities in New York City. Give her the book that started it all. Just don’t tell your mom about all the sex, drugs and alcohol that fill its pages.

Your boyfriend: ‘Sports Illustrated 50 Years: The Anniversary Book’

Believe me, your boyfriend will be thrilled you are actually accepting his sports addiction instead of yelling at him to turn off the game and pay attention to you. This large coffee-table stylebook is great for even the casual sports fan. It’s full of glossy pictures of half a decade in sports and 35 articles from the magazine throughout the years.

Your girlfriend: ‘Sammy’s Hill’ by Kristin Gore

This funny novel by Al Gore’s daughter is just as fun as typical chick lit, but much smarter. Kristin has written for such shows as Saturday Night Live, and her wit shows through in this book about a young Congressional aide bumbling her way through life on Capitol Hill. The many jabs at the novel’s ‘President Pike’ (not-so-loosely modeled after George W. Bush) are hilarious without turning overly vindictive. Now if only her father has some of her humor.

Published on December 3, 2007 at 12:00 pm