This holiday season, Politis turns to the people who work with words, the storytellers, the observers, the voices behind the scenes, to remind us why a book remains the most meaningful gift you can place under a tree. From crime mysteries to quiet character studies, from re‑reading old favourites to discovering new ones, books continue to shape how we see the world. And who better to guide us than two of our own?
Dimitri G: A mystery lover’s guide to gifting stories
For Politis' Radio 107.6 Music Show Producer and tech content creator, a book is never an afterthought, it’s a guaranteed presence under the Christmas tree. He prefers gifting something he knows is genuinely good rather than guessing someone else’s taste, which is why he gravitates toward crime‑solving mysteries.
One of his standout recommendations comes with a personal connection: OIMOGI by Stephanos Alexiades, winner of Public Stores’ Best Novel Award for 2025. The title loosely translates to wail, and the story circles the accidental death of a child and the haunting question of whether the troubled mother is responsible. Dimitri praises it as beautifully written and deeply gripping.
Years of radio work make it impossible for him to choose a single favourite song, but he does offer one musical gift suggestion: "Discover SAYBIA. Start with The Second You Sleep", a track he believes is worth unwrapping.
And while it’s been ages since someone gifted him a book, he still treasures a series he collects: the pocket calendar books released annually by IANOS Publishing, each edition built around a different theme. A small but meaningful tradition.
Peggy Spineli: On re‑reading and the books that find us
Journalist Peggy Spineli doesn’t wait for Christmas to give books, she gifts them all year long. No matter what the main present is, she almost always slips a book in as well, especially for children. For her, it’s one of the most meaningful gifts anyone can offer.
This year, the English‑language book she’s gifting herself is Pick a Color by Souvankham Thammavongsa, discovered through The New Yorker.
The premise instantly resonated with her: a story narrated by a nail‑salon owner who is a sharp observer of people, a hobby Peggy proudly shares. She jokes (only half‑jokes) that when she grows up, despite turning 46 in early January, she’ll become a nail technician. The book felt strangely familiar, almost like a wink at her own life.
At the moment, she’s reading Έξι Λεπτά Ακόμα (Six More Minutes, Kastaniotis), the new novel by journalist, writer Stavros Christodoulou.
As for choosing a favourite book, Peggy resists the idea entirely. She’s still exploring, still experimenting, still learning, and happily re‑reading. Between “mum brain” and “Covid brain,” she jokes that she has “no brain left,” so revisiting old stories feels just as exciting as discovering new ones. In her world, everything becomes new again.