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Original poster

What books are on your Christmas list

39 replies

Nearlyadoctor · 23/10/2020 16:24

I always love a few new books at Christmas and just wondered what others were hoping for this year.

I wish I’d waited and not bought the new Strike novel as at the moment that’s the only new fiction book I can see I would have fancied - although I may ask for The Mirror and the Light as I haven’t read that yet.

What new books / new releases are on your list?

OP posts:
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mizu · 25/11/2020 20:10

Just looked up American Dirt - another one to add to my list!

HappydaysArehere · 25/11/2020 09:44

Having read the reviews on here I ordered The Girl With The Louding Voice. Only part way through but really enjoying it.

princessspotify · 23/11/2020 22:26

I second the Beekepper of Aleppo. I loved it. I also loved American Dirt.

1manwenttomow · 23/11/2020 21:14

The pinch of nom cook books and 2 books by Rachel Sargeant, I loved her perfect neighbours book so wanted the others from her!
I have quite a few books already I've not got round to yet as I dip in and out of reading.

HelenaJustina · 23/11/2020 21:00

Oh I loved Circe @Quinque and Song of Achilles was brilliant too.

bibliomania · 23/11/2020 08:42

Some inspiring suggestions! I'd never heard of the Teffi book, Count Fosco, but my library has it so I'll give it a whirl wheel it reopens.

We're not big on Christmas presents as we normally go on holiday instead, but as we're not going away this year, I've just realised I can justify buying books instead! Have bought:

  • The Bookseller's Tale, Mark Latham
  • The Gran Tour, Ben Aitken
CrackersDontMatter · 22/11/2020 22:10

@mizu

Always ask my mum for books for Christmas. This year:

Girl - Edna O'Brien
The Beekeeper of Aleppo - Christy Lefteri
Anatomy of a Scandal - Sarah Vaughan
Hamnet -Maggie O'Farrell

Also want 'People Like Us' Louise Fein

Currently reading the mirror and the light.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through The Beekeeper of Aleppo. It's fantastic. It's beautiful, really poignant. I picked it up as a third book in a 3 for a fiver deal and it's just incredible.
BaconAndAvocado · 16/11/2020 08:33

Thanks Helena I'll slot her first book into my list!

Quinque · 16/11/2020 07:12

I agree with others about the excellence of Hamnet by Maggie O' Farrell. I've read 2 reworkings of the classics recently that I would recommend:-
Circle by Madeleine Miller and The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker.

HelenaJustina · 16/11/2020 06:41

@BaconAndAvocado if you like Jasper Fforde then I’m pretty confident you’ll enjoy Jodi Taylor! St Mary’s series is brilliant.

Someonesayroadtrip · 15/11/2020 22:17

Not as many as usual. I have a few Stephen kings I've not read on my list, the Trevor Noah book, the new j k Rowling book, and I think that's it. Need to look for some more inspiration I think 😂

Twisique · 15/11/2020 12:19

The Familiars
The Foundling
By Stacey someone

The new Bridget Collins, I enjoyed the Binding very much and I love a lovely cover!

Original poster
Nearlyadoctor · 15/11/2020 12:04

Fab - thank you all, I now have a long list Smile

OP posts:
mizu · 15/11/2020 11:16

Always ask my mum for books for Christmas. This year:

Girl - Edna O'Brien
The Beekeeper of Aleppo - Christy Lefteri
Anatomy of a Scandal - Sarah Vaughan
Hamnet -Maggie O'Farrell

Also want 'People Like Us' Louise Fein

Currently reading the mirror and the light.

BaconAndAvocado · 14/11/2020 18:46

HelenaJustina I notice you mentioned Jodi Taylor. I've put her first book in my basket. What are her books like?

I loved Matt Haig's How To Stop Time and The Time Traveller's Wife.

I've also toyed with Ben Aaronovitch. Is he similar to Jasper afforded?

HelenaJustina · 14/11/2020 18:39

I’ve read lots of these so following for more suggestions...
Ben Aaronovitch’s latest is on my list as I was being restrained and not buying in case I was given it for my birthday. Ditto new Jodi Taylor though I might get that from my DBro. Small Pleasures is on the list.

I can recommend; Circe, Hamnet (possibly best thing I have read this year) Girl with the loading voice, Nightingale Point, My Sister the Serial Killer, Song of Achilles, The Vanishing Half, A Single Swallow, Between the Stops, Dominicana

BaconAndAvocado · 14/11/2020 18:30

Ooh and the Sophie Ward one. I like a challenge!

BaconAndAvocado · 14/11/2020 18:28

Hamnett
The Midnight Library
Thursday Murder Club

Alltheprettyseahorses · 09/11/2020 11:08

Jilly Cooper's new one, Between the Covers

The Time Travelling Caveman by Terry Pratchett (yes it's a children's book but it's a new Terry Pratchett!)

The Private Eye annual. I do like an annual at Christmas and will happily read the My Weekly one, the People's Friend, I'm not proud. I'm very fond of my collection of old Bunty, Mandy, Judy, Misty, Diana, Jackie and other vintage girls' annuals, many of which were Christmas presents, so will probably reread a couple of old favourites.

Sometimesonly · 06/11/2020 22:45

Hamnet
The mirror and the light (read the first two in lockdown so may as well continue!)
Wintering
Women's Weird 2

Andante57 · 06/11/2020 22:38

I recommend Kiss Myself Goodbye by Ferdinand Mount.
It’s an extraordinary tale about his fantasist aunt who completely reinvented herself and covered her tracks almost impenetrably. Mount finds out the truth with brilliant and assiduous research.

I’m enjoying Rupert Everett’s latest book, To the End of the World, which describes his quest to make a film about Oscar Wilde with plenty of enjoyable anecdotes about his life as an actor.

WhistlersandJugglers · 06/11/2020 22:21

A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom by John Boyne and The Dirty South by John Connolly.
I would have bought them today but my local bookshop is only open for school supplies. Sad

CountFosco · 03/11/2020 07:28

@Pollynextdoor

I cannot rave enough about The girl with the louding voice It’s sooooo good.
I was in Waterstones buying piles of books for Christmas and had bought 3 'buy one, get one half price' by mistake. They said 'do you want a fourth to take advantage of the deal?' and I said oh no, I'll just put back The Girl with the Louding Voice. The assistant then told me it was brilliant, I couldn't possibly put it back because I had to read it and gave me one of my other books half price Grin.
Victoria1083 · 02/11/2020 23:29

Half of Waterstones it seems at the moment! Must be the weather and dark long evenings.
Snuggie Bain, The Haunting of Alma Fielding, Dark Matter by Michelle Paver, the new Ken Follett book are the top of the list... and that’s after buying 4 new books this weekend...

ritzbiscuits · 28/10/2020 19:43

@Pollynextdoor thanks for recommending, this is right up MIL's street