Smugglivus Presents – The Discriminating Fangirl

Day 4 of Smugglivus

Who: The Discriminating Fangirl (aka “TDF”), geek blogger extraordinaire of The Discriminating Fangirl. From the second we saw her tagline:

“pop culture + geekery = happiness”

…we knew it was love. TDF runs an eclectic blog, reviewing everything from comics to urban fantasy and paranormals, as well as providing movie news and fun, random linkage. Plus, she has one of the coolest blog layouts and names out there! This is a blog that we highly encourage everyone to follow–TDF’s reviews are sharp and informative, and her commentary on all things geeky is priceless.

Without further ado, we give you The Discriminating Fangirl!

__________

The Discriminating Fangirl:

I’m a pretty picky reader. That’s why I picked this particular pseudonym; I’m not just a fangirl, I’m a discriminating fangirl. I won’t read just anything that crosses my path. I spent hours in the bookstore, reading back covers, reading first chapters, trying to find something that will tickle my fancy.

Needless to say, I’m kind of difficult to buy for when it comes to holidays and birthdays. My family usually gives up and gives me gift certificates to bookstores–which I think is fantastic, heh–but I started thinking… what if other people out there have a discriminating reader to buy for? A discriminating reader who really digs SF/fantasy, comic books, paranormal romance, urban fantasy… er, in other words, a reader like me? 😀

Despair no more, for I bring you…

A (Slightly Late) Gifting Guide for Your Discriminating Fangirl (or Fanboy)
Or, Getting Ready for Birthdays and Next [Insert Gift-Giving Winter Holiday Here]

Books & Other Sundry Printed Materials

1. The Books of Neil Gaiman

Okay, okay, this is an easy one. Neil is… how do I put it? Awesome. He writes incredibly imaginative spec fic, from fairy tales (Stardust) to mythological mysteries (American Gods to deliciously creepy children’s stories (Coraline). For the already-a-fan, The Graveyard Book is out in hardback and would make a great gift. For the not-yet-a-fan, try the anthologies of his short stories and poetry, Smoke & Mirrors and Fragile Things. And for the comic book fan, he’s got more than enough to choose from.

2. Richelle Mead’s Georgina Kincaid Series

The three books in this series, Succubus Blues, Succubus On Top, and Succubus Dreams are pretty much my favorite urban fantasies. The protagonist, Georgina, is a succubus employed by Hell, which is more a hellish bureaucracy than fire and brimstone. The series follows her as she deals with supernatural troubles, her smart alecky friends, and the possibility of romance with a mortal man, Seth. Mead’s writing is engrossing and often laugh-out-loud funny. I’m waiting imaptiently for the fourth book in the series, Succubus Heat to come out. Is it May yet?

3. Hellboy Collections

Okay, this is definitely a personal preference thing. I’ve recently gotten really into Hellboy, thanks to the movies, and I’m starting to make my way through the comics. I really love Mike Mignola’s art style, and the stories I’ve read so far are fascinating. I love the inclusion of mythology and the paranormal. There are plenty of trade paperback collections to choose from, both from the Hellboy title as well as BPRD.

4. Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials Series

This is a controversial series of books, but it’s one that I really enjoy. The books are an amazing coming-of-age story for Lyra and Will, and carry a strong message of thinking for yourself. Pullman has been criticized for his atheistic and anti-establishment position, but what I took away from these books is the importance of questioning what you’re being told instead of blindly accepting it. And even if you’re not into that philosophical stuff, it’s still a great adventure story.

Reading Accessories
Or, Stuff a Discriminating Fangirl (Or Fanboy) Needs To Read in Comfort)

1. Stacked Coffee Cup

Do you read into the wee hours of the night? Do you find yourself sucking down cups o’ joe to stay awake so you can finish that book? This might not hold three cups of coffee, but it certainly looks like it does.

2. The Peeramid Bookrest

Okay, we all want to get comfortable while we read. I don’t know anyone who’d like to read while uncomfortable… say, hanging upside down from the ceiling or while sitting in a cold bath. This lap pillow, specially designed to prop up your book, helps you get just that much more comfy while you’re reading. Try searching for the Peeramid on Amazon.

3. Learn A New Language Shower Curtain

Okay, so you might not become fluent by reading your shower curtain, but you can definitely pick up new words and phrases while sudsing up. Who knows? Maybe this will inspire you to take that French class, and then you can read twice as many books!

4. Tea-For-One

I like coffee and all, but I’m definitely a tea drinker. And who wants to keep getting up to refill a teacup when you can bring the pot with you? Tea-for-ones are nifty little contraptions that let you carry the pot and the cup without dropping or spilling either. The pot fits into the cup and can be easily removed for optimum pouring. Stash Tea has some great designs (I like the bamboo leaf set myself), and Google brings up a ton of shops that carry tea-for-ones.

So what about you? What did you get the discriminating fangirl/fanboy in your life? If you’re a discriminating fan yourself, what would you add to this list? Help me stack my wishlist for next holiday season. 😉

__________

Thanks again, TDF, for the awesome gift giving guide!

Next on Smugglivus: Angie of Angieville