New Orleans is known for its rich culture, most notably of the music and gastronomic variety. But, what about our lesser touted literary superstars? Let’s not forget that we have born and bred prolific, internationally renowned writers like Tennessee Williams, John Kennedy Toole and Alice Dunbar-Nelson. And so many more! Keep this in mind while planning for the upcoming slew of hostess or holiday gifts you will have to produce. A beautiful coffee table book, classic novel or children’s book can serve as a thoughtful and easy way to bring joy to the people you love. Taking the time to support a local author is a cinch. We went ahead and did some of the leg work for you. Check out our list of great books to gift this season, written by local authors – proposed by both the experts at Octavia Books and me!
Coffee Table Books:
- “Cure: New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ‘Em” by Neal Bodenheimer, Emily Timberlake, Denny Culbert | Garden District Bookshop
A tale of New Orleans told through 100 cocktails. Each recipe chosen to represent New Orleans’ past, present, and future.
- “Local Spirit” by Ken Murphy | Octavia Books
Take a tour of the fabulous dive bars of Orleans Parish. No one does dive better than Nola.
- “Probably This Housewarming: A Guide to Creating a Home You Adore” by Beau Ciolino, Matt Armato | Blue Cypress Books
A no-nonsense introduction to homemaking written by and for millennials
- “The Art of Place” by Lee Ledbetter, John Stubbs and Meyer Rus | Garden District Book Shop
- “Above New Orleans” by Richard Campanella | Octavia Books
Fabulous drone photography of the Crescent City giving readers never seen before vantage points.
“I am New Orleans – 36 poets revisit Marcus Christian’s definitive poem” – by Kalamu Yu Salaam | UNO Press
A collection of works described as “a compendium of views and visions, which collectively map the outlines of what it means to both be and to miss New Orleans.”
- “Border Crossings” by Emma Fick | Octavia Books
An illustrated travelogue of the Trans-Siberian Railway (Beijing, Moscow and more). —including cultural and historical information and travel tips. Fun and informative!
- “The Incomparable Magazine Street” by John Magill, Home Malone
Tracing the history and culture of the ever evolving Magazine Street
Children’s Books:
- “Red Beans and Rice” by Jeanette Weiland | Octavia Books
Children discover the earth to table connection when a little girl visits her grandmother’s farm in rural Louisiana.
- “A Tree in the Sea” by Blaine and Holly Kern | Little Miss Muffin
Float designer Blaine Kern illustrates, and wife Holly Kern’s tells the fanciful story about overcoming differences and the joys of friendship
- “The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!” by Mo Willems, Octavia Books
The award winning author explores big feelings through a silly pigeon.
Lastly, Octavia Books is expanding! With the help of the PRC and Nano Architecture, the store will more than double in size! And a connecting door will allow folks to peruse books before or after a meal at Scrambled Café! Genius! Tune into Shop Talk this Friday at 12 p.m. to hear more about the expansion! @stcharlesavenuemag
