Gift of a Good Book 2024

Shoppers browse the used books inside Happy Magpie Book & Quill. Photo by Rebecca Ory-Hernandez

Gifting a book to suit someone who loves to read is always a good idea. The gesture typically represents friendship and sends a message of trust. Whether it's your nearby BFF or relative, or someone you love long-distance, sending them a bound copy of something to read while curling up on a cold winter’s night lets them know that your gift will lead to future conversations — perhaps even with your local book club. It also supports the authors who took the care and time to pen meaningful words.

Lucky for us Ogdenites, here is an end-of-year list of books penned by local authors, mostly non-fiction, highly recommended by local bookseller Patrick Ramsay of Ogden's Happy Magpie Book & Quill.

These titles can be picked up at the local bookseller on 443 27th Street (closed Mondays). You'll need to move quickly. Happy Magpie Book & Quill shop is closing mid-December, so get there to see some great finds, appreciate the space, and meet Ramsay, the owner who contributes so much to local writer workshops.

The bookstore has a "pay what you want" pay scale, making it financially accessible to anyone looking to give the gift of a book. And being in the shop is like leafing through your friends' (or neighbors') bookshelves. 

Ogden readers donated the books at Happy Magpie Book & Quill. Do yourself a favor and swing by this cozy, charming, welcoming, and quiet space to find the perfect book. And tell Ramsay we sent you! These titles, listed in no particular ranking order, are numbered for ease of reading.

Non-fiction/Poetry

1. “The Creative Heroine's Path” by Julie Baldwin: Challenge yourself to get out of a rut and back into the creative groove. Positive, encouraging, inspiring, and helpful tools to get you moving forward in life. 

2. “A Storytelling of Ravens,” by Jan Hamer: This collection of poems and personal essays takes the reader on a journey through segregated midwestern white suburbs, the summer of ‘69, Vietnam War protests, bygone passenger trains across Missouri from Kansas City to Moberly, and a move west to Ogden, Utah.

3. “Taste of Change and Other Anthologies,” by The Blue Quill Editors: The League of UT authors publish literary short stories and poetry by local authors. All of these are wonderful reads.

4. “First Moon Manual”: A local compilation of letters to their daughters from their mothers, this is a helpful and beautiful guide/anthology for daughters about periods. (YA). This is high on the “Wish I had this when I was going through this…” and “I’m enjoying reading in post-menopausal years.” as reader’s feedback.

5. “Irreplaceable”: A book of poetry by the Great Salt Lake Conservation. Impactful poems by those who would like the Great Salt Lake to remain special to our state.

Fiction

6. “Cast Away,” by Kase Johnstun: Multi-generational story of Mexican immigration and people/place/coming-of-age/humor/encouragement.

7. “The Crow's Head: The Chemical Marriage,” by Adrian Stumpp: Genre: mystery/fantasy/relationships. Dark yet unexpectedly humorous alchemy of relationships. Deep dive into a quest for the philosopher's stone with a twist.

8. “Locust Eaters,” by Adrian Stump: The sequel to the above story.