Christmas books - what will you be buying - and hoping to receive this year?

[RachelMumsnet]

Over the next few weeks we'll be launching our recommendations for books this Christmas, taking in adult fiction, non-fiction, kids' books for all ages and cookery books and other gift/coffee table type books. We've kicked off this week with our list for the best fiction for Christmas 2015.

We thought it would be useful to run a thread so you can share your Christmas books gift ideas. We look forward to hearing your thoughts...

I'm the only book lover in our house but I'll buy ds The Ice Dragon by GRRM, dd Grandpa's Great Escape by David Walliams older dd The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory because they've read and enjoyed previous books. I'll buy dh something factual with plenty of pictures probably based on music as I have given up hope of him ever reading anything.
For me I'll give them a list or else I'll get books that seem to be published for Christmas rather than something I want to read. I have a wishlist a mile long so plenty of options.

DD12 is getting the new illustrated Harry Potter along with the Hunger Games Trilogy and the Maze Runner books. She is also getting The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England and I will pick up a few more along the way - Patrick Ness might be a good option. DD9 is getting the National Geographic Infopedia, some Adventure Time books, a set of Terry Deary historical tales, Odd and the Frost Giants and Hansel and Gretel (Neil Gaiman), The Bolds by Julian Clear and How to Train your Dragon by Cressida Cowell.

DH reads about two fiction books a year and prefers non fiction particularly those related to his profession so I need to give him some more thought.

I am getting Discworld 2016 Diary along with the Discworld Atlas. I am also getting Great Maps by Jeremy Brotton. I would quite like the My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferante and The First Law Books by Joe Abercrombie. My brother always gives me the hardback of the latest Terry Pratchett so he has bought The Shepherd's Crown for. For the past 15 years I have started a new Pratchett after Christmas dinner so this year will be particularly poignant.

I am looking forward very much to reading the new Kate Morton book, dh will get it for me.

I'd also like Simply Nigella

I've bought kiddos the new Tom Gates and the new Wimpy kid. And our littlest has asked for the dreaded "Rebecca the Rock and Roll Fairy" !

calfon has your DH read Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics? Don't know his profession obv but these are brilliant books.

Ds is receiving the Pirate version of Night Before Christmas. DP the latest Ian Rankin novel. And I would like the Matt Haig book but will probably have to buy it for someone else and read it first.

Can anyone recommend the best novels they've read this year? I'm dying to get lost in a good book but not much I've read this year really grabbed me. Elizabeth is Missing was OK. A Man called Ove is OK. Even My Brilliant Friend hasn't grabbed me the way it seems to have grabbed other people (too emotionally cool and distant for me to love it.)

I love a really strong, unsentimental but very compassionate storyline (loved The Goldfinch, really loved We Are all Completely Beside Ourselves) Any recommendations?

MrsMolesworth: how about The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen?

DH is getting The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science. It's by kenjii who writes on the brilliant Serious Eats blog.

DS (nearly 5) will get a Captain Mack book and the night before Christmas. Maybe a captain underpants book too.

DS (2) not sure yet

I tend to just buy myself books when I want them or use the library, I don't think anyone would think of getting me a book. Except perhaps my mum.

My parents and I need to decide who is buying whom From Ice Floes To Battlefields (about Scott's men in WWI) and Christina Lamb's Farewell Kabul. Whoever buys each book will subsequently borrow it from the recipient.

DD will get the first Magnificent Lizzie Brown book, and probably The Eagle in the Snow and The Shepherd's Crown.

DH reads only scifi - I'll need to check his wishlist to see if there's anything he wants. He reads pretty much exclusively on Kindle though.

The only actual books on my wishlist are non-fiction about comics and medical illustration, and Megan Beech's fantastically titled book of poetry, When I Grow Up I Want To Be Mary Beard.

I'm torn about the illustrated Harry Potter. On the one hand it feels wasteful, and what if there are a further six volumes at £30 each? On the other, it is beautiful.

Mostly I think I'd like a book token so I can support out gorgeous local independent bookshop.

Mrsmolesworth I would have suggested the two that you rated 'ok'!
How about Inside the O'Briens by Lisa genova?

I'm getting The Cunning Woman's Cup by Sue Hewitt for my mother

Historical novel for teenage niece: Five Wounds by Katharine Edgar

Some Jacqueline Wilson for 7yo daughter

Still looking for suggestions for 8yo bookworm son!

I'm hoping for the new Phillips Gregory book.

I've bought dh the Del Boy autobiography

Dd2 is getting full Harry Potter and the Moomins

Dd1 claims she has no room for books I'll get her ripleys and a marvel book but I don't know about novels she does have loads and she's learnt to use the school and public library well so I don't know what she's read.

Thunderbird I did enjoy them (especially Ove) but just didn't get completely lost in them. I love books that swallow you up into their world.

MrsMolesworth it's not new but one of the most unexpectedly absorbing books I read this year was The Queen's Gambit, by Walter Tevis.

Ooh, I don't know that one, Rich. Is it a chess novel? I loved The Luzhin Defence and The Royal Game. Sounds perfect. Thank you!

Yes it is! And I'm a total chess dunce, but loved it, so you should get on with it great

Thanks for the suggestion Hannahhobbins. I will check them out.

Ive read the new Robert Galbraith and loved it. I disliked the new Rosamund Lupton one though.

I'm asking for KD3 by Nigel Slater, and I've bought DD the new Goth Girl, the new Hubble Bubble and Mogs Christmas.

MrsMolesworth - I have really enjoyed Station Eleven and The Martian this year.

Ooh,remembered another that I really want - Jonathan Coe's latest, a sequel to What A Carve Up! which is one of the most hilarious and devastating novels I've ever read.

I have got DS1 (4) an interactive version of Peter Pan. It's the full story in a beautiful hardback and some of the pages have things like maps and health records of the darling children etc. have flicked through it and it looks fab!

Also bought him a book called 'timeline' by Peter Goes. It's basically an illustrated world history - there are double page spreads starting from the Big Bang and ending in 2010's with everything in between. There are very few words on the pages but the illustrations are lovely.

I haven't got DS2 (2) any books yet, but will pick him a couple up. He will be more interested in his brothers anyway....

I have got BIL(15) 'more than this' and 'a monster calls' by Patrick ness. He isn't really into reading as he cannot read well at all, however he has recently finished chaos walking with DP (they read together at night) and he (and DH) loved it. Kept saying to DP can we just read a bit more! So am hoping he will enjoy these as well.

I have got DH the Shakespeare versions of Star Wars. I think he is going to love them.

I have no idea what I want, too busy sorting everyone else out I think!

Rich not read Jonathan Coe. Will try him.
CleverPlan I read the Franzen. Thanks for the suggestion.

Didn't even know Lupton had a new book out. I thought Sister was interesting and very clever. Didn't see it coming at all.

Wiry I have Station Eleven. Not read it yet. it's in the pile. Was just looking at The Martian today. Thanks for the recommendation.

We've now launched our recommendations for the best non-fiction for Christmas and best selection for for younger kids; best new picture books and 5-8 year olds.

Next week we'll be sharing the best books for older kids and teens and we'll post on the boards when these are up and running.

I want an amazon voucher as I like reading on my kindle/tablet/phone love that it syncs, with a view to buying Sue Grafton X.

Got dd the first PLL book in my private wish list hoping to get her back into reading.

My dses are reference book addicts. This Christmas I've bought a few Infographic themed books. Knowledge is beautiful, information is beautiful and a few others......

I've also just ordered a couple of National Geographic books of stunningly beautiful pictures. I'm hoping they will go down well.

Oh, and the Discworld Atlas for DS1.

Definitely a vote for Our Endless Numbered Days by Clare Fuller. Excellent read.

I'd like something good to read. I fancy the latest Kate Atkinson but prefer paperbacks to hardbacks (comfier to read) and I don't think it's out yet, annoyingly.

Anyone recommend a good, middle of the road (is neither too high or low brow) literary fiction sort of genre in paperback?