Books that would make great presents: DINING AT THE WHITE HOUSE—from the President’s Table to Yours by John Moeller, $35, American Lifestyle Publishing, a must read for any Presidential buff or foodie. This book provides an insider’s view of what it is like to dine at the White House and describes Chef Moeller’s most memorable moments cooking for three First Families. It includes recipes for one-of-a-kind dishes featuring his trademark use of fresh, seasonal ingredients inspired by his classical French training with an American twist. Useful chef notes help adapt fine French cooking techniques for the home cook.

GOLDMINE EXPERIENCE by Jan Eriksen, Archway Publishing, a schoolteacher finds herself embroiled in a sinister plot involving neo-Nazis, the local goldmine, and a mysterious man from South Africa in this exciting thriller.

We’d like to find in our stocking and Random House Audio Book on CD like: POLICE:  a new Harry Hole novel by Jo Nesbo. Despite Oslo’s most brilliant most unpredictable detective going missing, this is a diabolical hide-and seek story with human evil at its core. THE DEATH OF SANTINI by Pat Conroy, a heart-wrenching story of a Father and his son, a poignant lesson in how the ties of blood can both strangle and offer succor. THE CIRCLE by Dave Eggers, a captivating tale of one woman’s ambition and idealism that leads to heart-racing suspense  and posits questions about memory, history, democracy and the limits of human knowledge. SYCAMORE ROW by John Grisham, the legal thriller master’s most assured and compelling novel that return to the setting and unforgettable characters that first established him as one of America’s favorite storyteller.

More superb audio books from Random House Audio: WHAT ARE YOU HUNGRY FOR by Deepak Chopra, MD, the master of mainstream and alternative approaches to good health explores permanent weight loss, well-being and lightness of soul. HERETICS AND HEROES by Thomas Cahill, how Renaissance artists and reformation priests created our world, a thrilling look at innovation and cultural change from the 14^th to 17^th century.

RENE REDZEPI: A Work in Progress, Journal, Recipes and Snapshots, Phaidon, by the influential chef himself, a beautiful three-book combo that takes an unprecedented look behind the scenes at restaurant Noma from René Redzepi and his highly creative team. This set features a 60,000 word journal written by Redzepi himself, harnessing the creative process behind Noma’s food and cooking, plus themes of more general appeal such as ambition and collaboration. Includes a hardback recipe book featuring over 100 new recipes from Noma, with a foreward from Lars Ulrich of Metallica and accompanied by images by acclaimed photographer, Ditte Isager. And it contains a book of never-before-seen snapshots, taken by René Redzepi and his colleagues. Reflective, insightful and compelling, A Work in Progress will be of interest to food lovers and general readers alike. $37.10 from http://www.amazon.com.

THE GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN, photographed by David K. Weaver, an award-winning book, this modern photo essay on the Gospel of John, creatively combines brilliant photographs of contemporary Israel with the Apostle John’s complete Gospel from the 1611 King James Version of the Holy Bible. Photographed during the summer of 2010, modern pictorial takes you on a unique visual journey through the Gospel, following the path of Jesus through the Holy Land, and shines a new light on John’s story of life, light & love. Whether or not you’ve read John’s Gospel, this interpretation is moving and uniquely presents the story in a beautifully produced art book with 170 black & white or color photographs, and presents the words of Jesus in the color red, as in tradition. This book makes a great gift and the quality of its craftsmanship and photography will a beautiful addition to library. $29.95 from http://www.amazon.com.