As the gift-giving season approaches, your thoughts may tend toward impressive coffee-table books.

Consider this trio:

- "Into the Earth: A Wine Cave Renaissance" by Daniel D'Agostini and Molly Chappellet (Panache Partners, $50, 240 pages): Via informative text and striking photos, readers are swept along a fascinating underground journey in the Napa Valley. The magical, historic caves are where vintners store and age barrels of wine. The authors visit Sloan Estate, Far Niente, Schramsberg, Bond, Beringer, Stag's Leap, Quintessa, Spring Mountain and others.

- "The Glory of Angels" by Edward Lucie-Smith (Collins Design, $35, 192 pages): The publisher calls this book "stunning," and it really is. The author is an art critic and historian who has published more than 100 books. Here, he offers captivating text to accompany an amazing variety of angel-related art created over the centuries.

- "National Geographic Illustrated Birds of North America (Folio Edition)" by Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer (National Geographic, $50, 504 pages): This beautiful book offers more than 4,000 illustrations of 970 bird species, with their descriptions and range.

A mountain collection

Manzanita Writers Press describes its annually published book, "Manzanita," as "a printed literary collection of poetry, prose, art and photography of the Mother Lode and Sierra regions of California."

It is accepting submissions of same for inclusion in its sixth volume, to be published next spring; the deadline is Dec. 15. For details and guidelines: www.manzanitacalifornia. org or (209) 754-0577, or e-mail editor Monika Rose at mrosemanza@jps.net.

The best so far ...

Publishers Weekly magazine is the 137-year-old bible of the $23 billion-ayear book industry. Here are its picks for the 10 best books of the year (to date): Fiction

- "Await Your Reply" by Dan Chaon

- "Big Machine" by Victor LaValle

- "Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi" by Geoff Dyer.

- "In Other Rooms, Other Wonders" by Daniyal Mueenuddin Nonfiction

- "The Age of Wonder" by Richard Holmes

- "Cheever: A Life" by Blake Bailey

- "A Fiery Peace in a Cold War" by Neil Sheehan

- "Stitches: A Memoir" by David Small

- "Shop Class as Soulcraft" by Matthew Crawford

- "The Lost City of Z" by David Grann

Author appearances

- Rebecca O'Connor for "Lift" (Red Hen, $18.95, 208 pages): The book is described: "The culmination of a 10-year career in falconry, (the memoir) illustrates the journey and life lessons of a woman navigating a man's ancient sport."

Event: 7 p.m. Friday; Avid Reader at the Tower, 1600 Broadway, Sacramento; (916) 441-4400.

- Amanda Scott for "Tamed by a Laird" (Grand Central, $6.99, 432 pages): This is the latest in the Folsom-based historical romance writer's "Border" series. Scott, a meticulous researcher, offers her trademark strong-willed women and warrior men - and, above all, historical and geographic accuracy in the days of 14th century Scotland.

Event: 1 p.m. Saturday; Borders, 2765 E. Bidwell St., Folsom; (916) 984-5900.

- Clarence E. Walker for "The Preacher and the Politician" (University of Virginia Press, $22.95, 168 pages): The University of California, Davis, history professor details the racial controversy caused by Barack Obama's association with Jeremiah Wright, the outspoken Chicago pastor.

Event: Noon Wednesday; Memorial Union at UC Davis; (530) 752-9072.

- Vincenza Scarpaci for "The Journey of the Italians in America" (Pelican, $40, 320 pages): The story of how Italian immigrants helped shape the face of the country is told mostly through vintage photographs. They include "glimpses of Fisherman's Wharf and the winemaking Sebastiani family." Event: 2 p.m. Sunday; Murer House and Learning Center, 1125 Joe Murer Court, Folsom; (916) 985-3250.

- Sally Watkins for "Change Your Mindset, Not Your Man: Learn To Love What's Right Instead of Trying To Fix What's Wrong" (Adams, $14.95, 256 pages): The how-to book is "based on Watkins' 20-year psychotherapy practice in Folsom" and "shows women how to empower themselves and create a full, happy life."

Events: 7 p.m. Thursday; La Borgata Spa, 3905 Park Drive, El Dorado Hills; (916) 939-4361. And: 2 p.m. Saturday; Avid Reader at the Tower, 1600 Broadway, Sacramento; (916) 441-4400.

- Wendy Rouse Jorae for "The Children of Chinatown: Growing Up Chinese- American in San Francisco, 1850-1920" (University of North Carolina Press, $20, 304 pages): The book is described: "Jorae challenges long-held notions of early Chinatown as a bachelor community by showing that families - particularly children - played important roles in its daily life."

Event: Jorae will give a presentation at 4:30 p.m.

Nov. 15 at a special dinner sponsored by the Sacramento Chinese Culture Foundation at the Holiday Villa Seafood restaurant, 7007 S. Land Park Drive, Sacramento; the cost is $10 for SCCF members, students and teachers, and $15 for non-members.

Jorae teaches history and Asian American studies at the University of California, Davis, and at California State University, Sacramento. For reservations: Helen Yee, (916) 392-1001.

The Bee's Allen Pierleoni can be reached at (916) 321-1128 or apierleoni@sacbee.com. Contact him with news of coming literary events that are open to the public.