Nigel Slater's The Christmas Chronicles

[Dillidilly]

I bought this wonderful book for my daughter as part of her Christmas present last year. Then I treated myself to a copy in the spring!
It's a fantastic book, full of stories, photography, poetry and 100 recipes for the Christmas season. As a hardback book with gold foil detailing it would even look gorgeous laid out as part of your Christmas decorations.

Each chapter roughly follows the days leading up to Christmas, and we've decided to read and share our thoughts about each chapter in the run up to Christmas, starting from late November if I remember correctly.

I thought it would be a lovely thing to share with someone you love. Currently £18.29 on Amazon.

You are all wicked temptresses! I don’t need this book, even though it is lovely. I have lots of books - including Christmas cookbooks - so I don’t need this.

I’ve bought it, anyway!!

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius you'll be so glad you gave in to temptation

I adore this book. One of the few of the endless cookbooks I actually read. Beautiful writing and recipes.

I can’t wait for it to come, @KurtWilde!

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

You are all wicked temptresses! I don’t need this book, even though it is lovely. I have lots of books - including Christmas cookbooks - so I don’t need this.

I’ve bought it, anyway!!

Oh you do need it. You definitely do.

Once it arrives you'll be hooked.

Oh yes. Hooked.

I got this book last year and thoroughly enjoyed reading it through advent and Christmas- I'm looking forward to reading it again this year, and am going to follow some of the veggie recipes - it provided a lovely gentle and relaxing build up to the season.

I read this whole thread yesterday and got such a warm and fuzzy feeling! And of course, I ordered a copy too! I think i will skim read a bit when it arrives and then save it for the read along thread later in the year. Thank you for starting the thread @Dillidilly

I ordered The Hairy Bikers yesterday. I prioritised it over a second Delia. For this month anyway.

I know loads of people do, but I don't get on with Nigel's recipes. For me the best Christmas cookery book ever is Nigella's (at the height of her powers!). In fact I think it is one of my favourite cookery books full stop.

I've now used my birthday money to order a copy 🎅 excited!

I actually ordered The Christmas Chronicles back in May, I had it on my Kindle already but really wanted the hardcover. I think its the ongoing pandemic situation that is making me nostalgic and craving comfort. Absolutely love TCC. On the back of this thread I have just ordered: 'A Cup of Comfort Christmas' and the Alison Uttley 'Stories for Christmas' as despite being 40 I love to read Childrens stories at Christmas (Enid Blyton etc), it just encapsulates the mood more than adult stories I find. Cant wait!

For those of us who like Christmassy fiction, Trisha Astley has written some lovely books - Twelve Days of Christmas, The Christmas Invitation,, A Christmas Cracker, and Wish Upon a Star. She's got a new one out later this year - One More Christmas at the Castle.

And there is Winter Solstice, by Rosamund Pilcher.

I bought it last year, and love it. The other book I always read is Elizabeth David's Christmas. I've never tried any of the recipes, but I love her writing.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

For those of us who like Christmassy fiction, Trisha Astley has written some lovely books - Twelve Days of Christmas, The Christmas Invitation,, A Christmas Cracker, and Wish Upon a Star. She's got a new one out later this year - One More Christmas at the Castle.

And there is Winter Solstice, by Rosamund Pilcher.

Have you read Heidi Swain? Some of them are summer books, but there's 3 or 4 set at Christmas.

I want to join the planned Christmas thread
I love love love the Christmas chronicles , I love the way he writes and how he makes me think of stone floors , crisp mornings , beautiful candles and a slooow day just being .. maybe sipping a hot chocolate and making something out of nothing from his larder
Such a change from the stress and angst of shopping , parking , poor weather
I want to live in nigel’s world , if only for a little while

I forgot the Heidi Swain books, @sueelleker - they are very festive. I’m sure there are others I have forgotten too - my memory is terrible at the moment.

What a lovely thread! As someone else said, I am not a Christmas in July kind of person, but your warmth has drawn me in! Will have to buy a copy

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

For those of us who like Christmassy fiction, Trisha Astley has written some lovely books - Twelve Days of Christmas, The Christmas Invitation,, A Christmas Cracker, and Wish Upon a Star. She's got a new one out later this year - One More Christmas at the Castle.

And there is Winter Solstice, by Rosamund Pilcher.

Oh I love The Twelve Days of Christmas 🎄 I read it every year, Holly is such a sweet character.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

For those of us who like Christmassy fiction, Trisha Astley has written some lovely books - Twelve Days of Christmas, The Christmas Invitation,, A Christmas Cracker, and Wish Upon a Star. She's got a new one out later this year - One More Christmas at the Castle.

And there is Winter Solstice, by Rosamund Pilcher.

I definitely plan to read Winter Solstice this autumn.

I think something I’ve done in the past (which is a mistake) is try to cram all of my wintertime/Christmas magic into December. Nigel helps me appreciate winter.

Oh I love The Twelve Days of Christmas

I have this book lachy , I was thinking t'other day but couldn't remember the title .
She's a chef , there's a big house , a horse,donkey,dog then gradually his family descend and she cooks/housekeeps for them all
There's a blancmange in a rabbit mould and a pike she finds in the freezer
And like all good Christmas books , he's Bah Humbug but theres a predictable ending ...

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

For those of us who like Christmassy fiction, Trisha Astley has written some lovely books - Twelve Days of Christmas, The Christmas Invitation,, A Christmas Cracker, and Wish Upon a Star. She's got a new one out later this year - One More Christmas at the Castle.

And there is Winter Solstice, by Rosamund Pilcher.

I read Winter Solstice every year in the run up to Christmas! I got a secondhand hardback copy from Amazon and when I looked under the tatty dust cover, she's purple with big gold lettering on the spine! So Rosamund is partnering up with Nigel to be part of my seasonal decoration ❤

@MercedesBenz everyone welcome!

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius & @70isaLimitNotaTarget oooh, I love the sound of The Twelve Days of Christmas!

Oops. In addition to TCC I've accidentally ordered the Nutcracker, Gogol's Night Before Christmas & Hiddensee 😂😂😂⛄❄🎄 Happy Yule to me

We actually celebrate Yule in our house, but tie in a traditional Christmas for the DC/rest of the family. I think it's the way Nigel talks about winter in general (autumn and winter are my favourite seasons) that makes me love this book so much.

You can all join me on the day of the Winter solstice watching the live stream from Stonehenge. I spent the most beautiful Sunday afternoon last December (and the very early Monday morning) watching it. Soooo peaceful. Nothing whatsoever happens except the changing of the light as dusk then dark falls.