Columns > Published on December 8th, 2017

The LitReactor Hanukkah Gift Guide: 8 Crazy Books for 8 Crazy Nights

Menora Image via BookBubBlog

Okay, maybe some of these selections aren't that crazy (I didn't include Ass Goblins of Auschwitz, after all), but you don't want to send your Rabbi running for the hills. Instead I chose a little something for readers of every age, with tones ranging from silly to somber. Happy Hanukkah!


'Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins' by by Eric A. Kimmel,‎ Trina Schart Hyman (Illustrator)

I must admit I haven't read this, but I think I need to. It also seems like the perfect Hanukkah gift for your little brother, sister, or cousin. Hell, I need to own it just for the cover alone. Forget my cousins, this will be my Hanukkah gift to myself, because I need to know what the heck is going with these Goblins. 

[amazon 0823431649 inline]

 

'And We’re Off' by Dana Schwartz

I reviewed this title earlier in the year and I can’t give it enough love. It was one my favorite YA books and is a slam dunk Hanukkah gift for teen and young adult readers. Dana Schwartz has made a name for herself making fun of pretentious litboys on Twitter with her hilarious handle, Guy in Your MFA, but she gets into the mind and motivations of teenage girls in in this heartwarming coming of age tale. Most importantly, the humor she display on twitter is there in the pages as well.

LitReactor Review

[amazon 0448493810 inline]

 

'The Blooms of Darkness' by Aharon Appelfeld

I’ve read most of Applefied’s catalogue and he is my favorite author who writes about the horrors of the Holocaust. His minimalist style and empathy for his characters creates a unique and moving experience in each book. This is Applefield’s best work, using a limited setting and the journey of a little boy caught in a nightmarish scenario to show the horrors of Nazi occupation. I know Hanukkah is supposed to be a celebration, but we must never forget.

[amazon 0805212345 inline]

 

'The Anarchist Kosher Cookbook' by Maxwell Bauman 

I must admit I am the editor and publisher of this book, and yeah, it’s kind of schmuck thing for me to include a book I’ve published, but this book is the perfect Hanukkah gift book! Seriously, from the satanic Bat Mitzvah to a recipe on how to make your own Nazi fighting Gollum, this collection is hilarious, bizarre and irreverent. So be a true mensch and buy this book.

[amazon 1944866086 inline]

 

'Love Bomb' by Lisa Zeidner

This is the time of year when families talk about upcoming weddings. In Love Bomb, a nice home wedding is taken hostage by a woman dressed as the bridesmaid from hell. I read this book over five years ago, while I was working on a hostage situation novel. It was a dark literary novel, and Love Bomb made me insecure because it was so much fun while still dealing with deep literary themes. This book is a satisfying page-turner that will make a great gift for adults.

[amazon 1250037697 inline]

 

'Ain’t Got Time to Bleed: Medical Reports on Hollywood’s Greatest Action Heroes' by Andrew Shaffer 

The always funny Andrew Shaffer is the king of gift books. His How To Survive a Sharknado is my favorite, but this one is pretty great too. It is the perfect book for teenagers and young adults in college and could even inspire them to become doctors. Every Jewish mother's dream!

[amazon 160887978X inline]

 

'The Seven Good Year’s: A Memoir' by Edgar Keret 

Edgar Keret isn’t just my favorite Jewish writer today. He’s one of my favorite writers of all time. In Seven Good Year’s we learn who he really is, and about the life that has inspired some of the best short fiction of this century. We experience life and death with an author who is a master of working with these themes in his fiction. It’s a wonderful and thoughtful gift for all lovers of great literature.

[amazon 0399576002 inline]


What books will you be gifting this Hanukkah?

About the author

Christoph Paul is the Managing Editor and owner of CLASH Books, who have published over 60 books and have been covered by NPR, Poets & Writers, Rolling Stone, Believer Magazine, Oprah Magazine, The Observer, Fangoria, and Publisher's Weekly. The press has had books translated into Spanish, French, and Italian. He has been editing books in almost every genre for over a decade. As an author, he won a humor award and had viral cult success under a pen name. He is the lead singer and bass player of the rock band The Dionysus Effect, who have received positive reviews in Loudwire, EARMILK, and Red Rock Magazine. He sometimes writes songs about the books he publishes because even artists are inspired by their day jobs. Follow him on Twitter @christophpaul_ @clashbooks @dionysuseffect.

Similar Columns

Explore other columns from across the blog.

Book Brawl: Geek Love vs. Water for Elephants

In Book Brawl, two books that are somehow related will get in the ring and fight it out for the coveted honor of being declared literary champion. Two books enter. One book leaves. This month,...

The 10 Best Sci-Fi Books That Should Be Box Office Blockbusters

It seems as if Hollywood is entirely bereft of fresh material. Next year, three different live-action Snow White films will be released in the States. Disney is still terrorizing audiences with t...

Books Without Borders: Life after Liquidation

Though many true book enthusiasts, particularly in the Northwest where locally owned retailers are more common than paperback novels with Fabio on the cover, would never have set foot in a mega-c...

From Silk Purses to Sows’ Ears

Photo via Freeimages.com Moviegoers whose taste in cinema consists entirely of keeping up with the Joneses, or if they’re confident in their ignorance, being the Joneses - the middlebrow, the ...

Cliche, the Literary Default

Original Photo by Gerhard Lipold As writers, we’re constantly told to avoid the cliché. MFA programs in particular indoctrinate an almost Pavlovian shock response against it; workshops in...

A Recap Of... The Wicked Universe

Out of Oz marks Gregory Maguire’s fourth and final book in the series beginning with his brilliant, beloved Wicked. Maguire’s Wicked universe is richly complex, politically contentious, and fille...

Reedsy | Editors with Marker (Marketplace Editors)| 2024-05

Submitting your manuscript?

Professional editors help your manuscript stand out for the right reasons.