All I want for Christmas is...........a book - or should I say, several books!
What's on your wanted list this Christmas?
Is it the latest TV blockbuster?
A new crime novel like the new Sherlock Holmes by Anthony Horowitz?
A true tale of heroism such as Ian Fleming's Commandos?
Or a book about your favourite hobby. Maybe baking? Football? Ballroom Dancing?
Let us know what is on your wish list this Christmas.
41 comments:
As my Christmas books list is growing ever longer it'll be very hard to choose! I really want to read Horowitz's take on Sherlock Holmes and also P D James Death comes to Pemberley - a crime novel with Pride & Prejudice as the background.
And now that Downton Abbey has finished for this series I might need The World of Downton Abbey or even The Real Downton Abbey to satisfy my "Downton fix" till the next series arrives.
I've just bought the new Sherlock Holmes book as a Christmas present (although I'm not saying who for in case they're reading this!). Although we all know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, it is a very lovely cover.
I also saw a gorgeous looking vintage tea party book which I have an eye on for a friend.
I love getting cookery books for Christmas too - although this year I'm hoping for something craft related, knitting perhaps!
Val, I wholeheartedly agree with you about Downton Abbey, Sunday evenings just aren't the same without it, luckily there are quite a few books about the series and the house so I hope to see at least one of them under my tree. My son wants the latest Terry Pratchett offering called Snuff and I would recommend The lady of the rivers by Philippa Gregory, it's probably the best of this latest trilogy the other two being The white queen and The red queen. The lady of the rivers is about Jacquetta, mother to Elizabeth Woodville so it brings the trilogy full circle.
The idea of a new Sherlock Holmes is very intriguing - as is the setting of a murder in the world of Pride and Prejudice. I love the cover of the Primrose Bakery book - very tempting to make all those cakes.
Ian Fleming's Commandos is the story of 30 Assault Unit in World War Two. Created by Ian Fleming when he worked for the Director of Naval Intelligence, they went in with the front-line troops to steal enemy intelligence. It is thought that this period of his life was the inspiration for the James Bond stories.
An ideal book for those who love war stories or James Bond, there is the added attraction of an opportunity to come and hear the author, Nicholas Rankin, speak about these times in Ian Fleming's life. He will be talking about the book at the Central Library, Bexleyheath, on Wednesday 30th November at 7.30pm. Tickets are £2.50 and available from the library or telephone 020 8303 7777 option 4.
Yes, I too would be delighted to receive any Downton Abbey themed reading material this Christmas, it’s all frightfully well done, I am led to believe.
I can also recommend a book called Life Below stairs: the true lives of Edwardian servants, by Alison Maloney.
Oh, and perhaps something for myself? – some books on coping with change?
Cheerio.
How about 'Today is the day you change your Life' by Elaine Harrison or 'How to be a happy human: 10 essential principles to change your life' by Pam Spurr?
'The Winner's Bible: rewire your brain for permanent change' by Kerry Spackman or 'How to change the World with a ball of string: random acts and objects that made history' by Tim Cooke.
Jill
Actually, Lord Grantham, I've discovered that sometimes change is better than you expect. Just yesterday, I had a garden wall removed after years of viewing it as an important boundary marker. I thought it would look strange but it actually looks better.
Now - there's an idea for gifts - some nice new gardening books to redesign a garden. Maybe 'The Organic Garden: green and easy' by Allan Shepherd or 'Sufficient: a modern guide to sustainable living' by Tom Petherick.
These titles are in the Central Library, Bexleyheath if you'd like to see what they are like. Ask at your local library about any of the titles we are mentioning.
Jill
How about books that tie in with recently released films?
'The Help' is based on the book by Kathryn Stockett, which has been very popular with our library based reading groups. Which reminds me, if you have a favourite recently published book - why not nominate it as a contender for the Bexley Book of the Year [closing date for nominations is 8th January]. If you'd like to nominate a book, post it on here and we can pass the recommendation on.
Jill
I can't resist a nice cookery book! The Primrose Baking Book looks yummy but top of my list this Christmas is The River Cottage Veg Everyday cookery book. Lots of inventive new veggie recipes to try - should keep me busy well in to the New Year!
Books for Christmas based on new films?...
Blistering Barnacles! That’s a cracking idea – I`ll have a selection of Tintin books, please – (featuring me, of course!)
Victoria Hislop has a new book out. Her first title The Island was a great favourite with Reading Groups. Her second book The Return was good but not so popular, but her new title The Thread is certainly going on my Christmas list! Has anyone else read it yet? I'm hoping its going to be as memorable as her first book.
Ahoy, Captain Haddock - I have just the book for you. As the exciting new Tintin film has just been launched, there is a new book by Harry Thompson called 'Tintin: Herge and his creation' - I'm sure it will feature you too. Mmm - surely not written by one of the Thompson Twins.....?
Jill
P.S.
Of course, Tintin is popular with our younger readers too - so let's not leave them out. If you have any suggestions for books to delight them let us know or tell us any titles your child or teen has enjoyed this year.
Jill
Meanwhile - hot off the press and just arrived at the Central Library - is a brand new Nora Roberts - a very popular author.
It is the first one in a trilogy. Called 'The Next Always' it is set in an historic hotel which is getting a major facelift and one of the owners finds a face from the past coming back into his life.
Jill
Hi Val,
I agree with you that cookbooks are a great Christmas present, and the River Cottage Veg book looks great – we’ve got a copy at Sidcup Library and I had a quick peek before putting it out on display, yum!
I’ve seen a couple of episodes of the TV show that accompanies it, and that has whetted my appetite even more, so perhaps I’ll get my very own copy on Christmas Day!
Looking for more suggestions for great reads?
There is a new Penelope Lively called 'How it all Began' which is about how one incident can trigger a whole series of life-altering events.
There are also new books by Conn Igguldon ['Conqueror' which is the story of Kublai Kahn] and Clive Cussler ['The Race'- set in the early days of aviation. An attempt has been made on the life of one of the pilots taking up a challenge to be the first to cross America in 50 days].
Jill
Talking of books and film adaptations, I've just spotted that Central Library have the last in Gregory Maguire's Wizard of Oz series - Out of Oz. I have a friend who would love this. The series of books takes the reader through the back story to the Wicked Witch of the West and how she came to known as 'wicked'. A very good read apparently!
Cookery books and gardening books are all very well (as long as there are plenty of lovely photographs) but give me a good novel any day.
I've just been reading the synopsis for Death comes to Pemberley by P D James and it sounds like jolly good fun so it would be nice to find that under the tree and then I'll have something to read on Boxing day while my husband watches the cricket (imagine lots of mumbling and gnashing of teeth).
As I mentioned earlier, we'd love to hear your suggestions for the Bexley Book of the Year - as any new book nominated for that award is bound to be a great choice for a Christmas gift. As well as sharing it with us you can nominate it on the Bexley Book of the Year page, which you can find under the Read and Relax pages of Bex-L.
Jill
One of our library reading groups has recommended the latest C.J.Sansom for Bexley Book of the Year. His books about Matthew Shardlake are very popular and an excellent Christmas gift for fans of historical crime. The latest is called Heartstone.
Is this on anyone else's Christmas list?
Jill
Do you love watching Kirstie Allsopp? There is a new book - Kirstie Allsopp Craft - full of how to make lovely things.
Or, maybe you like watching Michael Buble? Then try Michael Buble Onstage Offstage by Dean Freeman - lots of photographs of exactly what the title says.
Jill
Time to mention some books for blokes I think - especially for those who watch Top Gear.
There's a new Jeremy Clarkson book called Round the Bend – curious, fascinating but otherwise hopelessly useless stories and facts about everything under the sun.
And, from the recent TV series, James May's Man lab: The book of usefulness - the inspiration to have a go at some craft or skill that you imagined to be beyond you.
I do love watching Kirstie Allsopp, it's like escapism tv for me, yes she makes a lot of lovely things but really it's ideas for ladies with too much time and too much money, neither of which apply to me I'm afraid.
As for books for blokes Bear Grylls has an autobiography out which may well be under the tree for someone in my household.
I watched an episode of the Kirstie Allsopp programme for the first time the other day, it does make me want to be the kind of person who does arts and crafts, but I know I have a track record of buying all the materials, starting with great gusto and then consigning the half finished craft to the back of the cupboard! However, I think her idea of submitting your craft in a competition is good, if only to give you a push to get it done!
I spy her book on the Quick Choice unit at SD, I may take a peek if I don't think I'll be tempted into a spending spree at Hobbycraft....
Handicrafts, eh?...
Are there any books aimed at knitting for men? (And did I ever tell you about the time I crocheted a scarf for my Action Man?...It failed, surprisingly, to win a prize…)
Dear Phantom
Actually men can knit whatever they like, and indeed some do knit [think Kaffe Fassett], but there are some books which just have patterns for clothes for men. However if you'd like a knitting book with a manly title, how about "Knitty Gritty: for the absolute beginner knitter" by Aneeta Patel or, to encourage the young male perhaps, "Knitted Dinosaurs: a collection of prehistoric pals to knit from scratch" by Tina Barrett.
Jill
What?!!!! Kaffe Fassett a man?!!! I don’t belieeeeeve it!
I never knew that.
Which just goes to show, you can learn something everyday if you’re a library user.
(I bet he never had an Action Man, though…)
Hi Phantom Knitter for info Kaffe Fassett also makes the most amazing fabric and patchwork quilts!
And as to TV blockbusters books how about Frozen Planet - the TV series is amazing and the photography stunning. Or Planet Dinosaur ?
Well, there is a lovely book in the Central Library, Bexleyheath with a picture of him on the front, showing what a handsome chap he is. It is called "Welcome Home" and it shows you round his home - I haven't spotted an Action Man but there are so many lovely things in there that he could be hiding like Wally in the "Where's Wally?" books.
Jill
Here are some suggestions for your children - four new books likely to be very popular this Christmas. First - the book of the film - "Arthur Christmas" - where an unlikely candidate steps into Santa's shoes in a crisis.
A lovely picture book of an old favourite story "Mrs Pepperpot's Christmas" by Alf Proysen.
And two new titles by popular authors - "The Unforgotten Coat" by Frank Cotterell Boyce and "Gangsta Granny" by David Walliams.
For teens - the latest in the Young Sherlock Holmes series by Andrew Lane has arrived. In "Firestorm" young Sherlock investigates the mystery disappearance of his friend and her father.
Well Santa - I'd like the Mrs Pepperpot picture book for myself, why let children have all the best presents.
I've just finished "The year after" by Martin Davies and I can highly recommend it for a christmas present, I couldn't put it down - of course the drawback with that is it's over too quickly. I'd like to nominate "The year after" for book of the year please.
Dear Lisa
That's excellent - that you've found a book you enjoyed enough to recommend for Book of the Year. You can find a form to nominate it on the Bexley Book of the Year page, which you can find under the Read and Relax pages of Bex-L.
Jill
Here are some heartwarming reads for Christmas - "Comfort and Joy" by India Knight, "Christmas Wishes" by Katie Flynn and "The Magic of Christmas" by Trisha Ashley - stories of families and romance.
Or, for those who like their blood chilled, a new Lily Bard mystery by Charlaine Harris "Shakespeare's Christmas" - where Lily's sister's Christmas Eve wedding is preceded by murders.
Hi Santa,
I'm about half way through The Magic of Christmas by Trisha Ashley, I picked it up to get myself into the festive spirit.
It's a fun read, set in a Yorkshire village and starts in August when the Christmas Pudding Club get together to start their preparations for Christmas - food is a major theme, as the main character is a cookery writer so is always being inspired with new recipes to try, like Christmas pudding fudge or brandy butter icecream, yum!
There's romance and family intrigue as well as some oddball characters too like mad aunt Mimi who's always roaming around wearing rather unusual outfits and coming out with all the things that no one else will say out loud.
A perfect light read to dip in and out of between Christmas shopping trips!
Dear Caroline
That sounds really scrumptious - I'm tempted to read it myself. Does anyone else have a favourite cosy story to recommend?
Jill
When it comes to cosy and Christmas - I can't help thinking of William Brown and all the Just William stories by Richmal Crompton. Although - William had a rather bad time with Christmas in "What's Wrong with Civilizashun and other important ritings" where he ends up telling us 'I'll tell you what's wrong with Christmas'.
Hello Ginger - I too love stories about your friend William Brown - always getting into scrapes though, wasn't he?
Here's a lovely new book for anyone who has been reading the notes from our Blogbrarian about the Leonardo da Vinci exhibition and hopes to visit it - 'Leonardo da Vinci: his life and works in 500 images' by Rosalind Ormiston.
Jill
As a P.G Wodehouse fan I'd like 'P.G.Wodehouse: A life in letters' under my Christmas tree. It includes letters from his school days to his life in New York, to his fame as a novelist.
Thank you, Teresa. Here are two books with a Christmas theme which delve into Christmas past and could be interesting gifts.
'Why was the Partridge in the Pear Tree?' traces the stories behind favourite Christmas songs and carols.
'A Right Royal Christmas' reveals royal merry-making over the centuries from William the Conqueror's Christmas Day coronation to Queen Victoria and Albert's first Christmas tree.
Jill
I love the Agatha Raisin stories by M.C. Beaton and there is a new one just out, so I'd like 'As the Pig turns' for Christmas. A local village hosts a hog roast - but it turns out that the hog is not a pig...
I'd like Paul Atterbury's 'Lost Railway Journeys' with glorious pictures of forgotten railway routes and 'Amazing and Extraordinary Facts: Trains and Railways' by Julian Holland - both would be excellent books for a train enthusiast's Christmas.
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