Books make the perfect gift for everyone. Here are a few selections to give you ideas for that perfect gift.
Fiction Ideas
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett – a truly wonderful novel. With humour and heartbreak this novel, spanning five decades is a brilliant and tender novel that will appeal to someone who loves great writing.
Solar Bones by Mike McCormack – winner of The Goldsmith Prize for Fiction & the Irish Book of the Year this is writing unlike any other. This novel is one long continuous sentence which lasts more than two hundred pages and is a joy to read. For lovers of Man Booker Prize winners.
This Must Be The Place by Maggie O’Farrell – A captivating gem of a novel that is an engrossing and wonderful read. Ideal gift for people who enjoy reading great fiction.
Autumn by Ali Smith – a gem of a novel from a beautiful writer. A gift which will be warmly welcomed and you’ll get the chance to read it afterwards.
The Sellout by Paul Beatty – winner of the Man Booker Prize this year and received brilliant reviews when published. For any great reader on your gift list and you’ll not go wrong.
There’s also new titles from Ian McEwan with Nutshell, Zadie Smith with Swingtime, Robert Harris with Conclave, Sebastian Barry with Days Without End, Eowyn Ivey with To The Bridge Edge of the World, Jess Kidd with Himself or Margaret Atwood with Hag-Seed.
Non Fiction Ideas
The Good Immigrant– essays, edited by Nikesh Shukla,
Bruce by Bruce Springsteen – I guess you might need to be a certain age but this will be my Christmas read. A frank and honest story about the life of one of our greatest musicians.
The Pigeon Tunnel by John Le Carre – Extraordinary memoir from one of our greatest living novelists.
Elizabeth Jane Howard by Artemis Cooper – a hugely absorbing memoir of a great writer.
Keeping on, Keeping on by Alan Bennett – His third collection of prose covers his life from 2005 – 2015, a joy to read.
A Brief History Of Everyone Who Ever Lived by Adam Rutherford. Brilliant book, joy to read.
East West Street by Phillippe Sand – Winner of the BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE a profoundly moving memoir.
The Return by Hisham Matar – An extraordinary memoir is the story of his search for his father and the return to a homeland he never thought he’d see again.
Hygge : The Danish Art of Happiness by Marie Tourell Soderbergh – Perfect gift for Boxing Day onwards and throughout the year.
Fun Titles
Five… On Brexit Island, or On A Strategy Away Day or Go Gluten Free or Do Parenting or Do Dry January – in fact buy the lot.
Cookbooks
Brindisa by Monika Linton – the recipes from one of the best places to eat in London.
Rick Stein’s long Weekend – featuring dishes from his travels to Cadiz, Palermo, Copenhagen and more. Ideal for new meal ideas in 2017.
Persepolis by Sally Butcher – the latest cookbook from local chef and restaurateur.
Ideas for book lovers under 10
1+ An Alphabet by Oliver Jeffers with bold, colourful & funny illustrations.
3+ A First Book of Animals by Nicola Davies is a dazzling celebration of the creatures in the wild.
3 – 6 Welcome by Barroux is a powerful & beautifully illustrated story about the plight of migrants.
5 – 7 The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield is a warm and engaging picture inspired by his space trip.
7+ Pugs of the Frozen North by Philip Reeve & illustrated by Sarah McIntrye is a rip-roaring adventure about the race to the North Pole
7 – 9 The Bolds to the Rescue by Julian Clary & illustrated by David Roberts is another story packed with fun and mischief.
8+ My Gym Teacher is an Alien Overlord by David Solomns is a fantastic read about how Luke KNOWS that aliens are disguised as his gym teacher.
9+ The Girl Who Saved Christmas by Matt Haig is a brilliant tale set in 1842 with a missing girl and how kindness, magic and love might save Christmas.