Source: The Mary Sue

Happy Friday, book buddies!

As I said yesterday, it's the most wonderful time of the year for books. Today, it's for the obvious reason: presents!

I tend to enjoy giving gifts more than receiving them (I'm just so modest like that), but if anyone saw fit to stick these under my non-existent tree, they would hear no complaints from me.

Obligatory note: I have no affiliation with any of the vendors below—I just really like their stuff!

1. The Complete Works by Michel de Montaigne—I first became obsessed with humanist scholar Michel de Montaigne during summer 2012. I was at an internship in Washington, D.C., feeling confused about life. Y'know, typical college student stuff. I picked up Sarah Bakewell's biography-slash-philosophy book on a whim (and never finished it), but the guy stuck with me. Montaigne's desire to thoroughly examine life—from the serious (Of Sorrow) to the mundane (Of Smells) to the ridiculous (Of Thumbs)—and his belief that nothing can ever truly, fully be "known" was like chicken soup for my mixed-up soul.

Extra cool points: he invented the essay! And then wrote 107 of them. (EDIT: I stand corrected here, as he's merely one of the originators of the modern essay.) This is a monster of a tome. I almost included it on my Classics Club list but thought better of it, as the last thing I want to do is rush through these on a deadline. Anyway, this book has 'em all.

Super secret fact: My one and only tattoo is a French quotation taken from Montaigne's essays, but I still haven't gotten around to reading his work. I might just be a cliché.

Super secret fact #2: This is kind of cheating, since I know my own personal Santa (aka my boyfriend) got this for me during Amazon's 30% off book sale.

2. The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perelman—After reading, my second love is being in the kitchen. The Smitten Kitchen website was one of my introductions into the world of cooking and baking and remains my go-to for delicious recipes that work, every single time. In addition to her great food, Deb's writing is hilarious, charming and utterly relatable. I can only assume her cookbook is more of the same.

3. Book Lovers' Scented Soy Candles by Frostbeard—These are nerdy and adorable and YUMMY. I ordered a bunch earlier this year—Winterfell for myself, The Shire for my boyfriend, Ravenclaw for a friend's birthday (discontinued for now due to copyright issues, boo), and The Cliffs of Insanity for my mom—but I could really use a few more. Old Books and Bookstore, if you please. Send Rachelle one, while you're at it.

4. Wide Eyed Owl Bookends—Reading would be that much nicer with these little cuties gazing at me from my bookshelf.

5. "Feathers" Bookmark Set by PebbleandBee—These are so beautiful that I might be afraid to actually use them for their intended purpose. Bookmarks in my care tend to end up bent, lost, or "modified" by the cat.

6. Literary mugs—All of 'em.

7. Library Book Necklace by OxfordBright—I am not a huge fan of jewelry (darn you, sensitive skin), but I can get behind something simple like this. Plus, you can customize it with your charm and colored bead of choice.

What do y'all want for the holidays?