"Life on Sandpaper" by Yoram Kaniuk is a fictional memoir detailing the author's time in 1950s bohemian New York, filled with encounters with famous figures like Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Marlon Brando, and James Dean.

The text highlights nine books published in 2011 recommended for various individuals on your gift list: from Philip Schultz's memoir for parents of kids with learning disabilities to Rebecca Alperts' history for sports fans interested in the role of Jews in baseball.

Yoram Kaniuk, wounded in Israel's Independence War, found refuge in bohemian life in Greenwich Village with the help of a friend named Gandy.