Books you hope to receive as presents this year

[tobee]

I've asked this for a few years now!

What books are you hoping to receive as presents this year?

I'm not sure myself but maybe I'd like a book token and visit a large bookshop and have a good browse.

I'm hoping for the new Kate mosse, map of bones I think it's called. It's the fourth and final book in one of her historical fiction series

I've also asked for the latest Robert Harris - precipice - and a few from the 2024 booker shortlist:

Orbital by Samantha Harvey
Creation lake by Rachel cushner
The safe keep

The last couple of James Paterson womens murder club. Hoping dp took the hint and looked at the bookcase. If not I'll buy them myself after Christmas. I have a new book here to read Christmas evening if not.

I'm getting the new Richard Osman one and the last of the Discovery of Witches series, Black Bird Oracle.

I'm really into Japanese fiction at the moment so hoping for

Before we forget kindness - Tosikazu Kawaguchi
The lantern of lost memories - Sanaka Hiiragi
The full moon coffee shop - Mai Mochizuki
The blanket cats - Kiyoshi Shigematsu
Welcome to the Hyunam Dong bookshop - Hwang Bo-Reum

And also Abroad in Japan - Chris Broad

Teen DD did her Christmas shop yesterday and I hinted like mad that I'd like the new Rebus. Not a bookshop bag in sight but she seemed pleased with what she has chosen me so I'll look forward to opening that instead!

I read mine early... oops

All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whittaker

Quite possibly the best book I have read all year. Highly recommend.

I am secretly hoping my DH will buy the new Richard Osman book though.

I already know what I've got because I asked for them and DH knows about my direct requests 😁

A collection of essays about popular fiction for my PhD. (Used from an Amazon Marketplace bookseller.)

Laura Thompson's biography of Agatha Christie. (New, from an independent bookshop that specialises in crime fiction. DH has also got me a Murder on the Orient Express mug from the same shop.)

Dame Agatha is one of the authors I cover in my PhD, (on uncanny short stories) and she's fascinating to read about in her own right, so the above covers academic and leisure reading very nicely.

Ooh A Murder on the Orient Express mug!

Just looking up that Agatha Christie book and Laura Thompson has written so many books I'd be interested to read - The Mitfords, Edith Thompson, Lord Lucan etc.

From this lovely shop in York

https://criminallygoodbooks.co.uk/

I love my Kindle, but it's also nice to read and handle a physical book, especially one from an independent bookshop.

Ah thank you @Tortielady

National geographic book about finding the Endurance.

Not a book but if you like Agatha Christie Midnight at The Pera Palace is on Netflix and good, it's a Turkish historical / time travelling drama and dubbed but that isn't too distracting and is about Agatha Christies time there and a woman who saved Mustafa Kemal from an assassination plot orchestrated by the British in 1919, during the occupation of Istanbul.

I didnt have any knowledge at all of this part of history and what happened and found it fascinating. You can still stay in Agatha Christies room in the Pera Palace too.

Thanks for the tip off @HPandthelastwish. I will look into that!

Unfortunately, NOTHING.

I've recently been puzzling over, why, on the rare occasion I'm given books, they're nothing I want to read. Even from my best friend, who should know better.

:(

What I Ate In One Year - Stanley Tucci
Bourneville - Johnathan Coe
The Mercies - Kiran Millwood Hargrave

I am more than happy to have second hand copies too. For me, a book is the perfect present.

A City On Mars which I bought for myself
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_City_on_Mars
and a Naomi Novik short story collection including stories from her various series
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/456304/buried-deep-and-other-stories-by-novik-naomi/9781529916218

I ordered myself (none of the books I read are high brow) Want by Gillian Anderson, A little life (apparently changes your life once you read it) and Tuesday with Morrie.

I'm getting that one

A lot of people just (wrongly!) feel that a book isn't a good gift. They would be disappointed, and they can't imagine anyone else feeling differently.

Ooh, thank you, i hadn’t known about the Novik short story collection. I loved the Scholomance series and will happily dive into a short story in that universe.

i’m hoping for the third Mina Lima Harry Potter - the first two were so beautiful.

The new Andrew Hurley book, Barrowbeck.

I love his books, that dark, Northern landscape full of creeping dread ad unease.

And, if anyone wants a good book ready to be tucked up with when it snows, as always let me mention Dark Matter by Michelle Paver! A fantastic ghost story.

Funny! You just reminded me of something from long ago, @TheYearOfSmallThings.
There used to be a chain well-regarded chain called Tower Records, which also carried books and videos. At some point, there was something like a theft-detection gadget on the videos or music, but not on books. I asked a salesgirl why, and she looked at me blankly and said, "Why would anyone want to steal a book?"

Yes that is disappointing @MsAmerica. And that's rather sad about the Tower Records response to your query.