So it's December and you're gift shopping, and of course you have books on your list. May I make a few suggestions?

Still on The New York Times Best Seller list is Patricia Cornwell's “The Scarpetta Factor.” I stopped reading her books for a while because I felt the author's writing had gotten a bit gory for my taste. But when I suddenly grew sated with all the nonfiction and heavy prose I had been reading, I turned to Cornwell for rest and relaxation.

Although it takes seemingly forever to get going, it finally does, and then it moves. For a lover of Kay Scarpetta, the book will be a welcome reunion with old friends. For the person who hasn't read the preceding novels, it might be a bit distracting because the reader is expected to know about the feud between the two men in Kay's life and the backgrounds of other recurring characters, but, hey, Columbus took a chance, too.

“True Blue” is also on the best- seller list. David Baldacci, the author, has a huge following, so you would be selecting a popular book. I wasn't very fond of the characters, with one or two exceptions. In fact, I questioned the IQ of the young man who got hooked up so rapidly with our protagonist, who wants to clear her name and stop being an ex-cop and is unlike anyone I've ever known. But the story is very much today, with the recession and other timely events woven in. And it's been on the list for weeks.

Malcolm Gladwell has another book out, but I haven't read it yet. However, his books have been hugely successful. I think “Blink” is my favorite; I enjoyed reading his “Outliers,” but he failed to convince me why success comes to some people — date of birth, for example. Apparently, he doesn't believe in coincidence, and talent is just a nice asset to have. But his style makes for pleasant reading, and your donee will be able to join in conversations about Gladwell, so you'll be doing a favor with your gift.

How can you go wrong by selecting Andre Agassi's “Open,” especially for a tennis fan?

But as always, I am asking you, what is wrong with reminding your friends — middle-aged, teens or senior citizen type — of some never-to-be-forgotten favorites of years past?

Let me just tell you about my Cousin Ann, who is well into her 70s. Ann, who lives in Maryland, called me all excited a few weeks ago. “Thank you, thank you, thank you for insisting that I read ‘Pride and Prejudice.' ” Ann, even with a master's degree in English lit, had somehow skipped that Jane Austen classic. “It is wonderful! Such characters! Such writing! Thank you for pushing it. It is wonderful!”

That book and “Jane Eyre” are as well-received these days as they were back when they were published. And “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a must I would put on everyone's bookshelves. When I urge a youngster today to try it, I'm pretty certain he or she will walk into my office eventually and say, “Thank you, Mrs. Stein.” And often that will continue into, “It is the best book I've ever read.” For current suggestions, I think when you visit your favorite bookstore you ask for any of the Young Hoosier Book Award winners. They are invariably worth reading and owning. And Cathy, in the Young Adults department in our wonderful library, tells me the “Twilight” series is immensely popular among teens — that there are no copies of any of the books on the library's shelves.

I wanted an expert in recommending books for children, so I interviewed my great-granddaughter, Ariel, who just turned 6 and is a voracious reader. Ari recommends any in three series. “The Clifford books are great! And they have good morals and they are about helping people and being kind.” They're by Norman Bridewell, and Ari likes these because “they teach you good things.”

She also likes the Scooby Doo series, by various writers, who do storybook versions of the cartoons, television programs and movies. Receiving tremendous enthusiasm is the “Rainbow Magic” series by Daisy Meadows. “Two girls have to help the fairies fight Jack Frost. There are animal fairies and jewel fairies, but the heroines are real girls and if you like chapter books you'll like these, with fairies and magic and mystery. I love these books!” What more of an endorsement could you want?

Poetry? A few years ago Caroline Kennedy compiled a book with her mother's favorite poems, and they are in a book titled “The Best-Loved Poems of my Mother, Jacqueline Kennedy.” I love the selections. And I also suggest you read the poems aloud when it's possible. This is one of my favorites.

Got enough ideas? Happy shopping!