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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:
BabyMoonPie · 23/10/2020 16:41

I really enjoyed the new Strike book. I'm glad I'm working at home every day at the moment as it's so heavy I would have injured myself carrying it on my commute! (this post is not what you wanted but it's my attempt at a polite place mark so I see what other people are going to read and get some ideas!)

shumway · 23/10/2020 16:48

Do cook books count? I'd like the new Nadiya, Nigella and Kim-Joy. In a normal year I'd get them from the library but that's not an option at the moment.

183fredamarleymum · 23/10/2020 16:49

Super vets new book due out end of this month.

CountFosco · 23/10/2020 21:15

So so many.... Apart from the obvious big hitters from this year that I haven't read yet the following are on my wishlist.

Bright by Duanwad Pimwana. First book translated into English by a Thai female writer. About a boy who is abandoned by his parents and raised by his working class community.

Building Stories by Chris Ware. This is a graphic novel that comes as a series of pamphlets that can be read in any order. It's about the inhabitants of a block of flats. We're giving it to BIL but I want a copy myself.

Red Dust Road by Jackie Kay. A memoir about finding her birth parents by Scotland's Makar.

Memories - From Moscow to the Black Sea
by Teffi. A witty and funny memoir by a Russian writer about escaping during the revolution.

Breasts and Egg by Mieko Kawakami. Japanese novel about women's relationship with their bodies.

The Year of the Hare by Arto Paasilinna. Finnish novel about a man who hits a hare on a forest road. This leads to him leaving his wife, his job and setting off into the wilderness with the hare.

Kote · 24/10/2020 04:52

Not so much a wishlist as I'm trying not to accumulate books at the moment but these are the new-ish releases I'm most excited to read:

  • Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
  • Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
  • My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
  • Kim Jiyoung Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Ju
  • The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
leafygarden · 24/10/2020 05:18

Thanks for this thread OP - placemarking also - some really interesting titles to look at.(@CountFosco !

CountFosco · 24/10/2020 08:28

I spend far too long on book blogs, should spend more time reading!

mogtheexcellent · 24/10/2020 09:26

On my amazon list there are a few books. The new book by Hallie Rubenhold the author of The Five is out soon. It's called Covent Garden Ladies.

nancybotwinbloom · 24/10/2020 09:27

I'm hoping martina cole brings out a new one.

Scout2016 · 24/10/2020 20:11

Is it just new releases you're after? V for Victory by Lissa Evans is the only new release on my Christmas list. I just got Skin's autobiography for my birthday.

shumway · 26/10/2020 10:55

My mum is hoping for the new Victoria Hislop book for christmas.

JulesJules · 26/10/2020 12:23

I've got loads on my wishlist, but should try and read some of the pile next to my bed first. I've been watching the new Sky arts book club programme which is really good - but it's adding to my list.
I want Clare Chambers - Small Pleasures, Maggie O'Farrell - Hamnet, Abi Daré - Girl with the louding voice and the latest Cormoran Strike for a start and also Nigella's new cookbook.

Pollynextdoor · 26/10/2020 13:32

I cannot rave enough about The girl with the louding voice It’s sooooo good.

JulesJules · 26/10/2020 17:32

Good to know, Polly they certainly all loved it on the programme.

ritzbiscuits · 28/10/2020 19:43

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

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...

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.
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

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.

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

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.

BaconAndAvocado · 14/11/2020 18:28

Hamnett
The Midnight Library
Thursday Murder Club

BaconAndAvocado · 14/11/2020 18:30

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

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 18:46

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?

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