What books are you buying people for Christmas? And who are you giving them to?

[Sadik]

Looking for inspiration :)

So far the only one on my list is Qualityland by Marc Uwe Kling (probably for dd), which I'd say is best described as Hitchhikers for the social media age.

Thanks Sadik. The former is what I'm after. I'll check out the one you mention.

Has dd read Ready Player One?

I haven't actually bought any books for anyone yet! but last year bought MindF#ck for DM who is interested in politics and tech.

Remus , How to Stay Alive by Matt Haig is very readable.

Thanks, Keith. I actually read that myself and detested it, so don't really want to fill his coffers anymore. But something of a similar intellectual demand would be good!

Fair enough!! I'd go with Sadik 's suggestion in that case - the Burkeman. It's quite varied as he looks at different schools of thought.

The Thursday morning club for my mum.

Barack Obama's book for my OH

Chelsea Winters SuperGood. A vegan cookbook for my friend. It has rave reviews. I’ll see how she gets on with it and might get it for me too later

Remus It might be worth looking at The Chimp Paradox for your young man.

I'm getting A Year at the Chateau for my elderly mum because she likes the TV show and some as yet unchosen war time romance type novels.

My sister is getting Wild Swimming because she's turned into a loon who willing gets into cold dirty water in the dark on purpose. I might get her Why We Swim as well.

All of the small people in the family are getting The Ickabog and my goddaughter is getting The Worst Witch boxset.

Barack Obama for 18 year old dd, Captain Tom for 15 year old ds and Valentino Rossi biography for dh.
Have also bought that’s not my Robin for not yet arrived niece or nephew and peppa night before Christmas for d niece.

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit I agree that there's lots dull worthy stuff in Jane Eyre. I far prefer the sardonic tone of The Professor.
But how about Trollope or Wilkie Collins - or Edith Wharton (The House of MIrth is heartbreaking) - or Dr Zhivago for a long wallow -or even Gone with the Wind?

DD has read Ready Player One but that's definitely the right sort of thing.

Clanlands- Sam Heughan for 3 people who are Outlander fans.

So far I have

• Go Wild on the River for DD7 (book about activities and adventure ideas along the Riverside or on the river- she loves Canoeing with her Dad

-Draw with Rob for DD7... Originally purchased for DD9 but it's a bit simple for her

• Unicorn cookbook for DD9
• Tinsel- a Christmas novel for DD9
• big pile of secondhand books for DD9- discovered just before lockdown we have a Community bookshop locally. 10 books for £2.50. Animal Ark etc. Also one of my favourite books from that age.. Vanilla Fudge
• another Hairy Dieters cookbook for DH.

Was considering Thursday Murder Club for MIL, but she's asked for something else.

Will do, Fortuna. Thanks.

Book about mental illness. What about, Reasons To Stay Alive, by Matt Haig?
Reasons to Stay Alive, authored by novelist Matt Haig, was published on 5 March 2015. It is a memoir based on life experiences of living with Major depressive disorder and Anxiety disorder. It was reviewed by The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, the Star Tribune, and the Toronto Star. Wikipedia
Originally published: 5 March 2015

Reasons to stay alive is a brilliant book!

I want the Suzie Dent book ‘Word Perfect’.

For DD10:
Guinness book of records,
National Geographic Infopedia 2021,
Great Diaries - this looks AMAZING!,
Code Name Bananas - David Walliams,
Midnight Gang - David Walliams.

For DS7:
He wants a dictionary and thesaurus,
A Piglet called Truffle - Helen Peters,
The Danger Gang - Tom Fletcher,
Then another animal themed fiction book - considering Peppermint Pig, Animals of Farthing Wood or Charlotte's Web.

Also tempted to get DD the first book in The Babysitter’s Club (so I can reminisce).

Can anyone recommend a well written page turning thriller / murder mystery for a 15 year old? Not too graphic and not Agatha Christie.

I'm surprised at the love for the Matt Haig book. I honestly thought it was terrible.

Has the 15 year old read the first Robert Galbraith book?

If they like Geopolitics then the Tim Marshall books are good, there's a new one out soon but not in time for Xmas unfortunately.

Remus No. I will look into your suggestion. Thank you.

Tim Marshall is a good rec. I bought his A Flag worth Dying For for DD’s DP last year and might get it for DS this year.

Mum wanted a book bundle so she is getting
The Thursday murder Club - Richard osman
Such a Fun age - Kiley Reid
The Dutch House - Ann Pachett
Where the Crawdads Sing- Delias Owen
The Piano Teacher - Janice Lee