This morning I decided that ahead of getting out the Christmas decorations I would get all all my Christmas themed books together.
It's the only time of year that I can really bring myself to read them. I'm happy that I seem to have quite a collection now. Some are old favourites and will go back on the shelves once they have been read and others are books that I have found on the charity table over the course of the year and will have to either earn their place or be donated after reading.
Only one book has been purchased new this year specifically for December reading and that is the LadBaby autobiography. Although not strictly a 'Christmas' book', with five Christmas number one singles under their belts alongside their children's Christmas books, they surely qualify for a place in my Christmas book pile.
The blurb from the book in case you have no idea who they are.
And of course for a couple who have raised millions of pounds for the Trussell Trust foodbank charity through the sales of their sausage roll themed songs, the book under it's dustcover just had to look like this didn't it. 😀
I am really looking forward to kicking off my December reading with this one.
And ... The Books That I Read in November
I started my November reading by trying to get into this book. Despite it's glorious write up and recommendations I'm afraid I had to agree with the 2% of bad reviews that it has on Amazon. I just could not get into it at all and her style of writing jarred with me. It went onto the Booths charity book table, so someone got a slightly read book in brilliant condition.
My next book just had to be something that I knew I would like, so I chose A Thousand Feasts by Nigel Slater. It's a book that you can pick up and put down whenever you have a few minutes to spare as it's Nigel talking about specific moments in his life, food discoveries and behind the scenes snippets of making his travel programmes, along with little moments of simply noticing food and places.
I fell into his wonderful writing style like a thirsty person exiting a desert.
It is also a beautiful book to look at and to hold.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
I can't actually link to this little book as it is a very abridged version that I found second-hand somewhere. Anyway it was a lovely quick read and was then donated to the children's charity book table in Booths.
Sometimes it's nice to revisit a childhood favourite.
My final book of the month ... and one that I haven't quite managed to finish ... was Walk the Blue Fields by Claire Keegan. Gosh she writes well, but I think I have said that after reading all the books that I have by her. This is a collection of short stories, hence me being happy to let this one wait until I have read some of my December Christmas collection.
So, not much reading done at all this month then, but once again it's been a busy month, and a dark one too. I really do have to sort out some better lighting near my armchair so that I am more inclined to read when I get up super early and the world outside still thinks it's night time.
Sue xx 🎄
Thanks for sharing your book selection. I bought a lamp in The Range recently to sit beside my chair for when I am reading and sewing. It was an inexpensive purchase with functional taking place over form! Catriona
ReplyDeleteAlan has our tall lamp over in his house, I need to ask if he's using it and maybe claim it for me. :-)
Delete7 books read for me in November. I've got the Keegan one on order from the library. Never heard of Ladbaby I shall look them up.
ReplyDeleteAs the book blurb says they started off on Instagram, mostly playing practical jokes on each other, then with lockdown they went all out regularly posting some brilliant homebased ideas. Their charity singles, eventually featuring the likes of Elton John and Ed Sheeran, raised millions for the Trussell Trust.
DeleteI hope that you enjoy the Claire Keegan book, I'm not always a short story fan but she writes so well.
Some lovely books. DD has asked for the new Nigel Slater. I plan to reread the Christmas Chronicles, Little Women, Hogfather, A Christmas Carol, Winter Holiday (Ransome), Making Winter (Mitchell), and see what the library has available. I found lots of free BBC Radio dramas, Saturday Night Theatre, on Fourble, and Agatha Christies, and Dorothy L. Sayers.
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful selection of books to look forward to rereading. There's something so relaxing about reading an old favourite isn't there. xx
DeleteIt's always nice to read about your book choices - your enthusiasm is infectious. I'll definitely be joining you in reading some NS and I'll probably reread for the umpteenth time The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Sue in Suffolk mentioned it. It's a heartwarming read and reminds me to be grateful for all we have.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
The Long Winter sounds like a lovely read. I might just have to treat myself to it after such high recommendations. 😀🎄
DeleteWhere to begin on the pile of books.......for me it would be The Christmas Guest, I think. My favourite book is I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day by Milly Johnson. I read it in the run up to every Christmas to give myself a warm " be good to each other" feeling. I might check if the library has The Long Winter.
ReplyDeleteAngie x