Certain toy shelves are empty and the mall parking lots are packed. But bookstore shelves are jammed with easy-to-wrap packages in any price range. Here is a short list of books for your Nice list:

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Visually dazzling, this debut novel caused significant pre-print buzz. Garnering a six figure deal, awards, movie deal and high acclaim, it was called the next Harry Potter. It does create an alternate world, full of magical sideshows, tricks and language, following a wizard’s duel between Cecelia and Marco. Their budding love story is set against short vignettes describing the circus, which is only open at night.

This imaginative book is available on audio CD, read by the incomparable Jim Dale (of Harry Potter audio fame.) The visual effects are enhanced by Dale’s amazing voice work.

11/22/63 by Stephen King

What is JFK hadn’t been assassinated? King tackles this question with an ominous, hefty book titled 11/22/63. A local diner holds a portal to the past and the chance to right wrongs. King’s newest book is getting rave reviews, even though it tops 800+ pages. Ideal for anyone who lived in the time of Camelot, it will still enthrall younger readers.

Let the Great World Spin: A Novel by Colum McCann

Before the Twin Towers fell in 2001, they held the tightrope walker’s cord in 1974. But McCann finds the bulk of his story in the tightrope-walking public far down below. A mother-daughter prostitute team, a failing Irish monk, a mismatched group of grieving mothers, a pompous judge and a disillusioned artist are just part of the colorful cast. Their stories intertwine, overlap and clash, creating even more suspense than the man 110 floors above the New York streets.

For anyone who loves New York City, anyone who remembers the 70s and anyone who remembers the Twin Towers as more than a tragedy, this masterful novel is a wonderful choice.

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

It’s likely that most teens have already visited the 12th District in the Hunger Games series. But this series isn’t just for teens. Brutal, engaging and a statement on our reality-show obsessive ways, this trilogy will be devoured in a weekend. Pick up this three book series for any avid reader, young or old, so they can absorb the page-turners before the first movie releases in March of 2012.

Nook eReader

Every other page of the Black Friday flyers featured affordable eReaders, particularly the Kindle. There are pros and cons to any eReader choice but if you are purchasing one now, please consider the Nook over Amazon’s Kindle.

The Nook is preferable in my opinion because it allows you to read books purchased anywhere, while the Kindle reads only Amazon distributed books. Amazon, convenient as it can be, tends to have bad business manners and practices.

Gift cards for ebooks is another idea, if you know they have an eReader or will be getting one for Christmas.

What books do you recommend as gift-giving options?