10 Gifts for Southern Lit Lovers

For that person on your list with bookshelves lined with Faulkner, Flannery or Twain, this gift guide is just what you need to complete your holiday shopping.

1. Out of Print offers a variety of clothing and accessories featuring iconic and out-of-date book covers. Among the collections, Southern literature is represented by To Kill a Mockingbird, Their Eyes Were Watching God, For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Color Purple, Light in August and more. From a Native Son t-shirt to a Gone with the Wind tote bag, Southern lit lovers can wear their favorite book with pride. An added bonus is Out of Print’s mission to spread the joy of books. For each product sold, one book is donated to a community in need through Out of Print’s partner Books For Africa.

2. Give a traditional Christmas gift with a literary twist. Green Cycle Designs create ecofriendly ornaments out of your favorite books. The small paper flower pomander balls are upcycled from classics like Gone With The Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird and Adventures of Tom Sawyer. (Vintage map ornaments from places like the Florida Keys are also available.) Green Cycle also accepts custom orders, so the possibilities are endless.

3. Fruitcake. I know this is the cake we love to hate, but Fruitcake: Heirloom Recipes and Memories of Truman Capote and Cousin Sook by “Fruitcake Lady” Marie Rudisill is filled with delicious recipes and intriguing stories that will change your perspective on the festive dessert with the bad rap. Pair the perfect Christmas fruitcake with Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory for a personal gift and a new Christmas tradition. This Southern Christmas classic was inspired by Capote’s childhood holidays in Monroeville, Alabama.

4. Lucky Luxe Couture Correspondence offers the most exquisite collections of invitations, cards and stationery. Several collections are inspired by Southern writers, as well as other literary greats. The Eudora and Hemingway personal stationary cards will delight the Southern lit lover who values handwritten correspondence as much as the collections’ namesakes.

5. For the literary foodie on your list, pick up a copy of Fictitious Dishes: An Album of Literature’s Most Memorable Meals. The book contains 50 photographs of meals from celebrated literature — including To Kill a Mockingbird, A Confederacy of Dunces and other American favorites. The vivid photographs and descriptions will take the reader back to their favorite literary moments in a new, mouthwatering way.

6. Southern Lit Atelier pays homage to the literary heritage of the South with handpoured, soy candles. Each Southern-sourced candle has a unique repurposed glass and a scent inspired by a classic Southern novel. Ernest Hemingway inspired the woodsy, campfire fragrance of Sniff Notes: Vespers & Reveille. Sniff Notes: Miss Hopewell, “a rather amorous pairing” of Lavender and Pumpkin Pie, was inspired by the character in Flannery O’Conner’s Good Country People. Dozens of fragrant options are available to invoke favorite literary moments.

7. Hendersweet, an Etsy shop that specializes in custom jewelry, created this unique To Kill a Mockingbird book page necklace. Customize a necklace with your favorite book or a handwritten note. Hendersweet began as an effort to fund the owner’s domestic adoption and continues to support adoptive families. This is a great way to get a personalized gift while giving to a good cause.

8. Juniper Books offers one thing Southern lit fanatics are sure to love: books. Juniper Books has book sets by authors including Mark Twain, William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway and others. Another option is their personalized book sets with custom jackets. Sets can be customized by color, title selection, gift recipient/buyer name and more. To expand the library of the Southern lit lover on your list, whether they are just starting their collection or have literature bursting out of bookends, give a hard copy.

9. If your bookshelf is full or your Kindle already holds all of the classics, Ideal Bookshelf offers a creative way to display favorite books.  Jane Mount takes the spines of an individual’s favorite books to paint their literary portrait. For the Southern lit lover with limited space, order a Custom Print gift card or choose a ready-made print like the Southern Lit bookshelf.

10. Literature Lodge hand crafts wooden “writer’s blocks” as an ode to history’s greatest authors. Hemingway, Faulkner and Twain are featured with their portrait, signature and famous works on their own 2 x 2 solid wood block. The blocks are the perfect decoration for any bookshelf, desk, dresser or table. Literature Lodge also makes custom author key chains, so lit lovers can take their favorite authors anywhere. These reasonably priced gifts start at $3.50, so you can afford to give a set away and stuff one in your own stocking.

List presented in partnership with Ashley Smith of Southern Lit Atelier, which sells candles with a story.