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Original poster

The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater: Read Along Thread

999 replies

Dillidilly · 01/10/2021 07:31

Here we go people! Smile

I thought we could start reading the Introduction from October 15th at a gentle pace to allow people to join the thread. Then all set for Chapter 1 on November 1st.

The Christmas Chronicles is currently just over £20 on Amazon. Maybe people could share all the options for those who are just joining us, who still want to get a copy.

I'm hoping this thread will be a lovely, gentle, uplifting transition into the Christmas period where we can share our thoughts, recipe attempts and inspiration from Nigel x

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Opal8 · 16/10/2021 07:23

Read the intro last night in bed.
I feel the same about winter...HATE the heat and harsh light of summer.

TrickyD · 16/10/2021 07:47

@Squirrelblanket

I bought and read this last winter. I have to admit I found him a little pretentious. I did really want to like it though, so I am going to give it another go and join the read-along and hopefully have a different take on it by sharing the experience with you all. Smile
I agree about ‘pretentious’.

I tried to enjoy it last year and failed, but will have another go this year.

EerilyDisembodied · 16/10/2021 07:53

I think of it as escapist rather than pretentious, but I think a younger version of me might have struggled a bit with it in that sense, yes. When I see Nigel on the telly buying all his food in artisan delis in North London I just think "ah lovely" whilst adding to my suburban Sainsburys click and collect.

DarlingCoffee · 16/10/2021 08:07

I’ve just finished the introduction - and thank you everyone for the recommendation of this book. Such a lovely way to start the festive build up. I feel I need to read it with a notebook to make a shopping list - bay oil is already on my list for the burner. I adore his writing, so lyrical and touching. Excited for the rest, and wondering what the first recipe I might try will be….

SwordfromtheStone · 16/10/2021 08:11

I do think his writing is beautiful but I’m going to struggle a bit putting aside my natural cynicism. For a start how many winter days in England are really of the clear/bright/frosty variety he mentions as opposed to just grey, damp and dreary?

I need to try and see it as escapism I think!

Original poster
Dillidilly · 16/10/2021 08:15

I've read about 3/4 of the Introduction. I love Nigel's prose, it's almost lyrical and so evocative. I can 'hear' him in my head.

The photographs are beautiful too...I wonder if some are taken in his own garden? I also love his neutral pottery and textiles. It makes me want to start again with mine and have nothing but muted, organic colours and shapes.

An unexpected gift was the reminder that my granny and mum, both country women and both gone now, called hawthorn 'bread and cheese' too. I'd forgotten that, so that was a lovely little thing.

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boatgirl81 · 16/10/2021 08:25

Can I join in please? My husband bought me the book for our wedding anniversary last year I think and I have flicked through. The exciting thing is my husband was working a Nigels house a few weeks ago and got him to sign my copy! He said he is a really nice guy, easy to talk too and not pretentious at all.

Shelleyjelly80 · 16/10/2021 08:32

Got a cup of tea and have just got back in bed to start my read! ☕️ can feel the anxiety creeping in already this morning 🙁so hopefully this will head it off 🎄

Shelleyjelly80 · 16/10/2021 08:33

@boatgirl81
Think you win the thread today!

ouchmyfeet · 16/10/2021 08:40

@FreezerBird

Christmas cake gets made in October half term. I'd always thought that was The Law, but maybe it's just my family....
Exactly. I have peeked ahead and bought ingredients for both pudding and cake to make this weekend. I think end of November is far too late to get the cake properly boozy!
TheDogsMother · 16/10/2021 08:43

Oh no I'm late ! Bought the book ages ago so can I join you on this warm and fuzzy festive thread ?

StillUpSpooking · 16/10/2021 08:54

I’ve spent a lovely cosy morning in bed with Nigel, and a poorly DD snoring next to me (awaiting PCR result; the intermittent coughing in my face did slightly spoil the ambience I admit). I enjoyed the intro and I now feel very festive. I also now want some bay oil .

I did my cake at the end of November last year and, despite worrying I’d left it too late, it was still suitably boozy and even met my grandma’s high standards.

Shelleyjelly80 hope you find it a nice calming read to help with the anxiety.

boatgirl81 · 16/10/2021 08:58

Thank you, not a very exciting job but my husband does end up at a lot of large and expensive houses so of course meets a fair few celebrities as well as just very rich and obnoxious people. But yes he says Nigel was lovely, gentle mannered and they ended up chatting about the book.

Original poster
Dillidilly · 16/10/2021 09:03

@TheDogsMother you're not too late at all! We are reading through the Introduction for the next couple of weeks at a gentle pace to allow people who may have missed these threads to hop on board and buy a copy. Chapter 1 starts on Nov 1st x

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Original poster
Dillidilly · 16/10/2021 09:14

I'm loving hearing all about the festive tea lights, candles, drinks and snuggliness!
I felt a teeny bit teary when I was reading, just from the pure joy of the simple act of reading a book about Winter. Now more than ever I think it's so important to find and cherish small pleasures where we can.

Thank you everyone for sharing this with me x
I'm not the most sociable of people, and would never have felt able to start a reading group in real life. You are all lovely!

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FiloFaxx · 16/10/2021 09:29

Ahh so excited to read the intro later on when hopefully I get some peace and time to myself 🤞 🎄

CosyChristmas · 16/10/2021 09:30

@Dillidilly

I'm loving hearing all about the festive tea lights, candles, drinks and snuggliness! I felt a teeny bit teary when I was reading, just from the pure joy of the simple act of reading a book about Winter. Now more than ever I think it's so important to find and cherish small pleasures where we can.

Thank you everyone for sharing this with me x
I'm not the most sociable of people, and would never have felt able to start a reading group in real life. You are all lovely!

Thank YOU for starting the thread! I love it so much. I've read the into and I can't wait to get more stuck in come November! Loving hearing about everyone else's reading experiences too!
Shelleyjelly80 · 16/10/2021 10:30

@StillUpSpooking
It did really help, feel all wintry now, I really like the bit where he says that the cold feels like a renewal-I think that's very true.

Opal8 · 16/10/2021 11:23

I wrapped a few xmas gifts last night (well, my version of wrapping which is tissue paper and reusable gift bags!)

Didn't feel very festive - even less so when dh told me he'll be away on his first work trip in 2 years from 11-18th December :(

I always have to be done by end November as something always seems to happen in December (illness, house issues, family woes...)

I've got a few festive things planned in November but I'm hoping reading the book helps perk me up a bit!

Tobogganist · 16/10/2021 11:40

Thank you dillidilly for starting this thread. It's lovely to think of it was a cosy book club. I've had my copy for years and have never managed to read through it all so this is perfect. Taking time to sit and read together. I am hoping it will help my anxiety over autumn.

PocketFluff · 16/10/2021 12:38

Thank you for starting this thread, such a lovely thing to look forward to each day! I had candles lit, dark honey and tobacco (actually really beautiful) wax melt on and a glass of wine. I was just finishing reading the first page about the crackle of winter when my little boy managed to kick over my wine, sending fluid and broken glass all over my paperwork and folders! So I spent the evening cleaning that up then fell asleep with the children getting them to bed. Keeping my fingers crossed for a better reading experience next time!

HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule · 16/10/2021 13:12

Ohhhh @PocketFluff I don’t smoke and don’t like the smell of it at all except that it reminds me so much of my grandparents whose Christmases were my Christmases as a child and whose home was my happy place for as long as they lived, so tobacco is actually a very nostalgic aroma for me...do you remember where you got the candle from as I might have to have it?

FreezerBird · 16/10/2021 13:12

Oh gosh. This arrived today; it is beautiful!

I'll start a separate thread about it when I've had time to look more but on a quick glance I'd say it's a distant cousin of the Nigel Slater book, but very definitely a recipe book rather then diary/memoir.

The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater: Read Along Thread
HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule · 16/10/2021 13:14

*wax melt, to be accurate.

Oh dear I got too excited by the honey and tobacco and didn’t finish reading your comment! That must’ve been quite the experience...fingers crossed for peace and tranquility tonight.🎄

HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule · 16/10/2021 13:15

Oh @FreezerBird if it’s okay with @Dillidilly couldn’t we discuss it here? I have such a hard time keeping up with too many threads at once and it’d be so lovely to have a general Christmassy book group thread...

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