Suggested Reading
Christmas Book Suggestions
Jólabókaflód
Icelandic for ‘Christmas Book Flood’ and pronounced yo-la-bok-a-flot
Icelanders have discovered have a beautiful tradition of gifting books to each other on Christmas Eve and spending the rest of the night reading. This book gifting tradition dates back to World War 2, when paper was one of the few items not rationed, creating a nation of book lovers and making books the most popular Christmas present to this day.
My own thinking is that the current pandemic is likely to not only reinforce this tradition but might indeed spread it much further afield, so perhaps something good can always be taken from something bad. Here then is a list of suggestions for some new books recently published or popular at the moment that might be a nice Christmas gift idea.
Fiction
1. ‘One August Night’ by Victoria Hislop
The follow up to the best seller ‘The Island’
2. ‘Almonds & Raisins’ trilogy by Maisie Mosco
Book 1 is called ‘Almonds & Raisins’
Book2 is called ‘Scattered Seed’
Book 3 is called ‘Children's Children’
A trilogy about a Jewish family who flee Eastern Europe in the early 20th Century and settle in Manchester, England – These 3 all get great ratings.
3. ‘The Archers’
Ambridge at War by Catherine Miller
Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the well-known radio show – readers are taken back to before it all began…midnight 1940, just at the turn of the year.
4. ‘The Evening and the Morning’ by Ken Follett
This is a historical epic that will end where ‘the pillars of the Earth begins’
5. ‘The Windsor Knot’ by SJ Bennett
Miss Marple meets ‘The Crown’ in a new mystery series. ‘Her Majesty Investigates’ in which Queen Elizabeth II is a secret amateur detective.
Food
1. ‘The Seafood Shack’
Food and tales from Ullapool by Kirsty Scobie and Finella Renwick
For those of you who know it, you’ll find recipes including their famed ‘Haddock and Pesto Wrap’, a ‘Super Luxe Lobster Mac & Cheese’ and the super local delicacy ‘Spiney Popcorn’.
(Due to be published early November)
Something Factual
1. ‘The Windsor Diaries’ by Alathea Fitzalan Howard, who lived alongside the young Princesses Elizabeth & Margaret at Windsor Castle during the Second World War.
2. ‘Diary of an MP’s Wife’ by Sasha Swire
Inside and outside power – A window on Westminster life
Biography
1. ‘Jacinda Arden – A New Kind of Leader’ by Madeleine Chapman
And, if anyone is looking for a children’s book…..What about – ‘100 Steps’ by Captain Sir Tom Moore, illustrated by Adam Larkin. An inspirational picture book. The book shows what is possible when we come together and never give up. For ages 3 – 7
And finally…’Where Snow Angels Go’ by Maggie O’Farrell, illustrate by Daniella Terrazzini. This is Maggie O’Farrell’s first children's book which weaves an extraordinary modern fairy tale about the courage of a little girl and the magic of a snowy day. For ages 5+ (published early November)
Jólabókaflód
Icelandic for ‘Christmas Book Flood’ and pronounced yo-la-bok-a-flot
Icelanders have discovered have a beautiful tradition of gifting books to each other on Christmas Eve and spending the rest of the night reading. This book gifting tradition dates back to World War 2, when paper was one of the few items not rationed, creating a nation of book lovers and making books the most popular Christmas present to this day.
My own thinking is that the current pandemic is likely to not only reinforce this tradition but might indeed spread it much further afield, so perhaps something good can always be taken from something bad. Here then is a list of suggestions for some new books recently published or popular at the moment that might be a nice Christmas gift idea.
Fiction
1. ‘One August Night’ by Victoria Hislop
The follow up to the best seller ‘The Island’
2. ‘Almonds & Raisins’ trilogy by Maisie Mosco
Book 1 is called ‘Almonds & Raisins’
Book2 is called ‘Scattered Seed’
Book 3 is called ‘Children's Children’
A trilogy about a Jewish family who flee Eastern Europe in the early 20th Century and settle in Manchester, England – These 3 all get great ratings.
3. ‘The Archers’
Ambridge at War by Catherine Miller
Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the well-known radio show – readers are taken back to before it all began…midnight 1940, just at the turn of the year.
4. ‘The Evening and the Morning’ by Ken Follett
This is a historical epic that will end where ‘the pillars of the Earth begins’
5. ‘The Windsor Knot’ by SJ Bennett
Miss Marple meets ‘The Crown’ in a new mystery series. ‘Her Majesty Investigates’ in which Queen Elizabeth II is a secret amateur detective.
Food
1. ‘The Seafood Shack’
Food and tales from Ullapool by Kirsty Scobie and Finella Renwick
For those of you who know it, you’ll find recipes including their famed ‘Haddock and Pesto Wrap’, a ‘Super Luxe Lobster Mac & Cheese’ and the super local delicacy ‘Spiney Popcorn’.
(Due to be published early November)
Something Factual
1. ‘The Windsor Diaries’ by Alathea Fitzalan Howard, who lived alongside the young Princesses Elizabeth & Margaret at Windsor Castle during the Second World War.
2. ‘Diary of an MP’s Wife’ by Sasha Swire
Inside and outside power – A window on Westminster life
Biography
1. ‘Jacinda Arden – A New Kind of Leader’ by Madeleine Chapman
And, if anyone is looking for a children’s book…..What about – ‘100 Steps’ by Captain Sir Tom Moore, illustrated by Adam Larkin. An inspirational picture book. The book shows what is possible when we come together and never give up. For ages 3 – 7
And finally…’Where Snow Angels Go’ by Maggie O’Farrell, illustrate by Daniella Terrazzini. This is Maggie O’Farrell’s first children's book which weaves an extraordinary modern fairy tale about the courage of a little girl and the magic of a snowy day. For ages 5+ (published early November)
