Because we think (and, yes, we are biased) there’s nothing better on a cold, dark winter evening than getting lost in a new book, our booksellers have curated this collection of lists of beloved titles to help you find the perfect gift for all of your favorite people—even yourself.
So, whether your readers prefer sci-fi, history, or a truly unique find, we’ve prepared this guide to help make your gifting season full of cheer. And we’re always on hand at the store or by phone to offer more suggestions.
Happy holidays from Weller Book Works!
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And please don't let the supply chain disruptions foil your holidays! Shop early to ensure your holidays are merry and bright. |
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Rare & Unique Gifts
By Tony Weller
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As we move toward generous holidays, it is my pleasure to select and describe items from our Rare Book Department that would make unique gifts for uncommon personalities. Picking these books is hard—we have so many praiseworthy books—but I approach it each season with the vicarious eye that shapes my approach to bookselling. Well-selected collectable books are among the most memorable gifts for the way they touch, affect and reflect a person’s taste and personality.
I think the following books are extremely neat, but they are only a sampling: If you need help selecting a very special rare gift, please contact us and we’ll help you find a surprising and unforgettable book.
Here are some very attractive books to stimulate your imagination:
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Acts Resolutions and Memorials Passed by the First Annual, and Special Sessions of the Legislative Assembly of Utah, Begun and Held at Great Salt Lake City on the 22nd Day of September, A.D., 1851. A beautifully bound copy of the first territorial Utah law book. ¾ aqua morocco with raised bands, gilt lettering and décor, and marbled boards. Top edge gilt. $1200 |
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Book of Mormon in the Deseret Alphabet, along with Selections from the Book of Mormon, also referred to as The Book of Nephi, and both primers, Deseret First and Second Books. Old white library numerals on spine of the scarce Book of Mormon. $7000 |
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A three volume set labelled Faith Promoting Series, in matching Juvenile Instructor bindings. The books contain the first nine of the 17 Faith Promoting Series titles and three contemporary pamphlets, most notably, Lyman O. Littlefield’s 1882, The Martyrs: A Sketch of the Lives and a Full Account of the Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Additionally included are Deseret Sunday School Catechism No. 1: Questions and Answers on the Life and Mission of Joseph Smith; and Charles W. Penrose’s Mormon Doctrine, Plain and Simple. $850 |
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A very nice well-preserved 1854 copy of The Book of Mormon in full decoratively embossed brown leather with bright green endsheets. This is the 5th European edition, and the 9th English language edition in all. Housed in a simple cloth clamshell box. $5750 |
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Sam Weller’s first edition of Nicholas A. Basbanes’ 2001 Patience and Fortitude: A Roving Chronicle of Book People, Book Places and Book Culture. Lengthily inscribed by Basbanes to Sam on the half title. $75 |
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An attractive and scarce 12 volume set of the botanist Luther Burbank. His Methods Discoveries and Their Practical Application, prepared from his original field notes covering more than 100,000 experiments made during forty years devoted to plant improvement. These brown embossed leather volumes are thickly illustrated with tipped-in color plates. It was once in a library but the only external marks are faint white numerals written on the spines. It seems like the set went unused but removal of tags has marred front endsheets. $1100 |
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Richard Burton’s famous narrative, A Secret Pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina in an illustrated Folio Society edition with elaborate black and gilt illustrated cloth and a color 27cm x 32cm map of the pilgrimage laid in. $50 |
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1st paperback edition of Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party, documenting her monumental and provocative 1970s installation. Nice photographs and essays about the myths and women represented. $85 |
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Rare miniature black leather four-volume set of The Hound of the Baskervilles by A. Conan Doyle. Authentic readable books, not doll-house mock-ups. 17mm x 24mm. Lettering and décor in gilt. Elegant and cute. $650 |
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Famous Monsters of Filmland Yearbooks!
- 1962. $50
- 1964. $35
- 1967. $75
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The popular Folio Society edition of Edward Gibbon’s History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire in eight slipcased volumes. 2003 printing. $100 |
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First edition of Jim Harrison’s 1973 novel, A Good Day to Die, in dust jacket. $200 |
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A lovely diminutive gift edition of Christmas, from Washington Irving’s Sketchbook, although the sketchbook was attributed to Geoffrey Crayon back then. This pretty little volume was published by the Lederer, Street and Zeus Company of San Francisco in 1938. Chapters are headed with brilliantly colored vignettes. $125 |
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Amazing large-scale African photos are found in Michael Nichols’ 2005 collection, published by National Geographic, The Last Place on Earth. Housed in a box that also contains Megatranscript, a facsimile of Mike Fay’s journals from the 456-day environmental foot expedition in Africa. You must see these photos. $75 |
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A 1st edition of Baroness Orczy's 1912 novel, Fire in Stubble, inscribed to a friend with love and the Russian diminutive Emmuska. Sorry, no dust jacket. $325 |
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The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia from 2008. Three heavy illustrated quarto volumes in slipcase. Over 1200 pages. Edited by Stephen J. Sansweet, Pablo Hidalgo and others. Slipcase is rubbed and chaffed at edges. $125 |
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A Poet’s Alphabet of Influences by poet Mark Strand. One of 75 copies hand printed and bound by the University of Utah’s Red Butte Press in 1993. Each copy is hand-colored by Bonnie Sucec, designer of the alphabet. A narrow small folio in taupe linen and matching clamshell box. Signed by Strand and Sucec. $1750 |
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A bright clean 1887 printing of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. Designed just like the original 1876 edition. Bright and attractive but with weakened hinges. Please people: Do not store books with their spines up! $250 |
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Signed 1st edition of Abraham Verghese’s acclaimed 2009 novel Cutting for Stone. $70 |
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John Woodward’s Treatise on Heraldry, British and Foreign in two hefty handsomely bound octavos. This new and enlarged 1896 edition was limited to 325 copies and sold by subscription following the success of the original 1892 edition. It’s bound in ¾ brown leather and abundantly illustrated in rich colors with silver and gold. $550 |
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November-December Best Wellers' Pick |
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Receive 20% off when you purchase during September & October
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9781982180584
Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster
Hardback
Sale price $32.00
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On its face, The Baseball 100 by Joe Posnanski is a list of the greatest 100 baseball players of all time. I have made many mentions to my co-workers that my favorite baseball player, Ken Griffey, Jr., is ranked waaaay too low at #48. I mean, really. And Barry Bonds at #3? Seriously? Come on. There are a million lists of baseball's greatest, and they are all meant to stoke visceral reactions in their readers. This is no different.
What sets Posnanski's book apart is his clear love for the game. It isn't just a ranking: in many cases it’s a valentine to those players, though sometimes a sharp-edged one. Each listing is filled with anecdotes, tales (tall and otherwise), nostalgic stories, and, sometimes, condemnations. It's a deep dive filled with enough stats to thrill any baseball lover, but it’s also a compendium of the fascinating types of foibles and fun that all humans can provide. Also...Sandy Koufax at #70 and only one spot ahead of Bert Blyleven? I mean, I love me some Blyleven, but get real. This book is infuriating! I love it.
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The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse by Mac Barnett, illustrated by John Klassen (hardcover $17.99). In a terrible turn of events, a mouse is swallowed by a ferocious wolf... where he meets an unlikely friend. (Claire) |
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Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen (paperback $6.99). The artwork in this whole series is so bright and colorful. A lovable pig who enjoys buttered toast. What more do you need? (Gia) |
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Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (hardcover $16.99). Julián dresses up like the mermaids he saw one day on subway in this story celebrating love and acceptance. (Gia) |
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The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane, illustrated by Jackie Morris (hardcover $35.00). A gorgeously illustrated record of and tribute to 20 nature words dropped from a children’s dictionary. (Gia) |
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Inside Cat by Brendan Wenzel (hardcover $17.99). A perfect book for a cat lover! Take a peek at life through the eyes of a housecat. (Claire) |
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The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (paperback $8.99). A beautiful tale inspired by the real life gorilla Ivan. An important novel for young readers that will be sure to inspire them. (Gia) |
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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline (hardcover $19.99) Such a lovely story containing some of the most gorgeous illustrations I have seen in a children's novel. I encourage the hardcover edition with full color illustrations. (Gia) |
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Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi (paperback $12.99). Every few years I reread this entire series, and remember how wonderful they are. Filled with adventure, and superbly fun artwork, this series is one that will always be cherished. Great for any child who loves fantasy. (Gia) |
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Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale (paperback $17.99). I can never get enough of fairy tale retellings. A western take on the classic tale of Rapunzel, this one is chock full of adventure. (Gia) |
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Japan: the Cookbook by Nancy Singleton Hachisu (hardcover $49.95). There are both completely easy and impossible hard recipes here, but all are out-of-this-world delicious. The photos of culinary beauty would make it a gorgeous gift. (Claire) |
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The Book on Pie by Erin Jeanne McDowell (hardcover $35.00). This is a confidence course in an otherwise intimidating dessert. The proof is in the pudding, you might say. (Bess) |
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Six Seasons by Joshua McFadden (hardcover $40.00). Organized by ingredient, this tome has cooking ideas for vegetables, tubers, and fungi to help you get your greens, yellows, reds, and purples. (Bess) |
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Simply Julia by Julia Turshen (hardcover $32.50). Turshen combines personal essays with unfussy recipes. Her philosophy is generous, her food delicious. (Bess) |
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Behind the Bears Ears by R.E. Burrillo (paperback $19.95). An autobiography of an archaeologist and the land he falls in love with, this contains important information about the land that has been in the spotlight for several years, and new insights on recent archaeological theories of the area. (Frank) |
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Wilderness Essays by John Muir (Gibbs Smith, hardcover $16.99). Local publisher Gibbs Smith has released a series of attractive covers for many of John Muir’s books and books by Jack London, Emerson, Thoreau and Twain. This series of newly designed covers will surely please the nature lovers on your list. (Frank) |
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Finding The Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard (hardcover $28.95). Simard's revelatory forest science and the bureaucratic frustration of her career was a real-life inspiration for an important part of Richard Powers' bestselling novel, The Overstory. In his New York Times review of Finding The Mother Tree, Jonathan Slaght (author of the superb Owls of the Eastern Ice) tells us "Peter Wolleben's The Hiddden Life of Trees promoted many of the same concepts as Simard," but drew "conclusions beyond what the data showed. His facts were blended with supposition." One might assert that they "were blended with" shameless New Agey wishfull thinking. But, as Slaght points out, "Simard does not make that same mistake. Her arguments are buoyed by rigorous decades-spanning research." So when she tells readers of her book that trees in the forest communicate "back and forth through a cryptic underground fungal network" with "chemicals identical to our own neurotransmitters," she has done her due diligence and herein offers the proof. (José) |
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The Three-Cornered War by Megan Kate Nelson (paperback $18.00). This stirring history of the Civil War period in the American Southwest is told through the lives of Military leaders, their wives and the Native people that were caught in the middle. It’s a new look at both the Civil War and it’s influences in the Southwest. (Frank) |
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Last Stand by Michael Punke (paperback $17.99). This reprinting of Punke's 2007 book tells the history of widespread buffalo slaughter, and of George Bird Grinnel’s fight to preserve them. Grinnell was a friend of Theodore Roosevelt and editor of Forest and Stream. It will please history buffs and nature lovers. (Frank) |
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Gordo by Jamie Cortez (paperback $16.00). These wonderful linked short stories follow Gordo through his juvenile years, showing immigrant life in the late ’70s, and how living in America has shaped him. Learning every day who he is, Gordo becomes a more sympathetic and thought-provoking character with each new story. (Gia) |
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Legends of the North Cascades by Jonathan Evison (hardcover $26.95). A beautifully told story of survival and love between a parent and a child set in the wilds of the North Cascades. You’re sure to fall in love with seven-year-old Bella, as her father, a returned vet, takes her to live in a cave. (Frank) |
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Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah (paperback $17.99). Why would you read a romance novel when you can read a book about an endearing friendship? Firefly Lane follows two best friends from early teens all the way to their later adult lives. Capturing the awesome vibes of the ’70s and what it means to be a true friend, this book is one that is hard to forget. (Gia) |
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Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim (Dec. 7, hardcover $27.99). Taking place in northern Korea across decades of the 20th century, this novel follows Jade—who has been sold to a courtesan school in order to aid her family financially—and the relationships she creates over her lifetime. It also depicts the horrors of war, and how much it truly tears down every person's life. (Gia) |
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First Person Singular by Haruki Murakami (hardcover $28.00). In this collection of short stories, some are nostalgic while others are meditations on love and loss, but they are all quintessentially Murakami. Turn on some slow jazz, make a cup of tea, and enjoy. (Claire) |
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Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (paperback $16.99). "Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley again." The famous line opens a chilling tale set on the Cornwall coast. This perfect holiday-break read pairs remarkably well with a blanket and mug of something warm and pleasant. (Emma) |
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The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (paperback $17.00). There is nothing more cozy—nor a more perfect addition to the fall and holiday season—than murder mysteries. A group of elderly individulas in an assisted living community form the Thursday Murder Club, dedicated to solving cold cases. That is, until they have a real, live case on their hands. (Gia) |
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Secret History by Donna Tartt (paperback $17.00). This suspenseful psychological thriller will have you hooked from the first sentence. A young band of misfits falls into a deadly spiral of obsession, secrets, and betrayal. (Claire) |
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Lost Gods by Brom (paperback $19.99). Calling upon Dante, ancient myths, and godhead from all over the world, Brom brings a wild version of the afterlife, well, to life. With some of the best worldbuilding, this descent into hell is heart-pounding from beginning to end. (Claire) |
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Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson (paperback $18.00). Cope with the unease of unwanted holiday visitors by diving into the permanent unease of Eleanor's stay at Hill House. (Emma) |
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My Heart is a Chainsaw by Steven Graham Jones (hardcover $26.99). Join horror movie-obsessed Jade as she discovers that her small town might be plagued by a slasher killer. (Claire) |
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Certain Dark Things by Sylvia Moreno-Garcia (paperback $17.99). Distinct character voices and an immersive world propel this story of feuding vampire gangs set in a neo-noir Mexico City. Try the excellent audiobook from Libro.fm! (Bess) |
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Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice (mass market $8.99). How long has it been since you read it? Never? Let's remedy that with a portable, blood-red, stocking-sized edition. (Emma) |
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Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft (paperback $17.99). Thrust into an adventure of a lifetime, hapless hero Thomas Senlin must enter a world of curiosities and wonder, betrayal and murder to find his missing wife. This fantasy series has flown under the radar, but is one of the best I have come across in a long time. (Claire) |
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Ironskin by Tina Connolly (paperback $21.99). Jane Eyre, but with evil fairies! (Mary) |
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American War by Omar El Akkad (paperback $16.95). This powerful novel chronicles a bleak future during the Second American Civil War in 2074. We follow a young refugee from the South as she navigates a country torn in two. (Claire) |
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Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky (paperback $17.99). Adrian Tchaikovsky spins a story of epic proportions that spans civilizations and generations that will leave you speechless. Easily one of the best science fiction novels. (Claire) |
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Occult Tarot by Travis McHenry ($26.95). Nothing wrong with a few demons on Christmas. The artwork in this deck appears simplistic, though there are plenty of symbols to give more meaning to each card.
Call, email or visit to order.
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Wise Dog Tarot by Mj Cullinane (US Games Systems, $22.95). So adorable. This deck is just adorable. The artwork has a gorgeous airbrush quality to it. A great lighthearted deck.
Call, email or visit to order.
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have yourself a merry little books list
by Salem
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For no good reason, I love little books. Maybe you do, too. If you're not already smitten with them on principle, consider their additional function as stocking stuffer or ornament. What a fool I've been, you're now thinking. I must have little books!
The following little books are portable, affordable, and gratuitously adorable—and presented in order from largest to littlest for your perusing pleasure.
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The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy by Tim Burton (hardcover $22.99). This is my favorite thing Tim Burton has ever done, and I still cry every time I watch Edward Scissorhands. Through poems and pictures, Burton introduces us to a slew of hapless children with hearts of gold, including the ill-fated "Oyster Boy," "The Girl Who Turned into a Bed," and my personal favorite, "Jimmy, The Hideous Penguin Boy." If you like the work of Edward Gorey and Charles Addams, you'll gobble this right up. |
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Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket (hardcover $17.95). My love of literature began in no small part thanks to Lemony Snicket. I was obsessed with A Series of Unfortunate Events as a child, and as I grew older, the clever literary allusions sprinkled throughout kept me coming back. This wonderful little book explores the universal experience of getting up in the morning, making breakfast, and receiving a note that you've just eaten poison, as I'm sure has happened to you many times. This book is a little different from Mr. Snicket's others, in that it feels like reading a diary, and is a little more grown-up in tone. The narration playfully meanders from tangent to tangent, delivering a heavy dose of charm and wit along the way, though he just can't seem to shake the fact he's been poisoned, no matter how hard he tries. |
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Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Davis (paperback $15.95). If you find prison abolition undesirable or impractical, I urge you to examine why a prisonless world is so difficult to imagine, and whether prisons actually prevent crime, protect communities, or reduce recidivism. As Davis and most anyone with first-hand experience of the carceral system will tell you, prison exacerbates the root causes of most crime (poverty and mental illness), and, like all aspects of our judicial system, disproportionately targets communities of color. This book helped shape my understanding of prison abolition from a nice, if impractical ideal, to an absolute imperative. If you only choose a single book from this list, I hope it's this one. |
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Lunch Poems by Frank O'Hara (paperback $8.95). This snappy collection of poems can be read in a single sitting, and I recommend you do so over lunch. O'Hara paints lovely little portraits of domestic and city life with the tenderness of a close friend describing their day. My favs in this collection are, "Song", "Ave Maria", and "Steps". If O'Hara isn't your cup of tea, I forgive your lapse of judgment and encourage you to check out some of the other books in City Lights' "Pocket Poets Series"! There are over 60 in the series, and you can also find work by Pablo Picasso, Jack Kerouac, and Pier Paolo Pasolini. |
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Flower Fairies: The Little Green, Lilac, Pink, Yellow Books by Cicely Mary Barker (Rare Book Room, $40.00). Though this is the most expensive item on the list, it is also the most ornamental, petite, and visually striking. In her charming illustrations and poetry, Barker reimagines flowers as fairies, each given their own distinct personality, motives, and style. This fairy-sized set includes four little books, each correlating with a different color, and adds a touch of whimsy to any collection. |
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SUNDAY 12-5
MONDAY-THURSDAY 10-8
FRIDAY & SATURDAY 10-9
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Order online or by phone, then pick up in-store or curbside! We also ship!
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Give us a call at 801-328-2586
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Thanks for supporting your local, independent bookstore!
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Weller Book Works | 801-328-2586
Store hours: Sunday 12PM-5 PM | Monday-Thursday 11 AM-8 PM | Friday & Saturday 10 AM-8 PM
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