Giving, and receiving, books is one of my favourite festive traditions.
There’s something incredibly comforting about getting a pile of beautiful new books for Christmas. I’ll sit and leaf through them by the fire – with a glass of wine in one hand and a chocolate orange in easy reach. Opening the pages of a gorgeous new book is like taking a reviving breath of fresh air. Press pause on life and lose yourself in wintry tales, inspiring recipes and beautiful illustrations.
I don’t work in a bookshop anymore – but once a bookseller, always a bookseller. Here are the books which have got me hopping with excitement this Christmas…
The Sunday Night Book by Rosie Sykes
£12.99, Quadrille
A beautiful little book packed with charming and comforting recipes to make the weekend feel longer. I was inspired to buy this book after meeting Rosie at Pint Shop in Cambridge, where she’s the development chef. Highlights include Caerphilly with leeks and mustard on toast, ham and macaroni soup and a wintry fireside drink inspired by the Bloomsbury Set. Read it by the fire and prepare to feel hungry.
Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson
£10.99, Sort Of Books
Any Moomin fan will be delighted to receive one of these beautiful new editions which have just been published by Sort Of Books. I can’t decide whether to give it my eight-year-old, my husband, or just keep it for myself! It’s a beautifully illustrated hardback to treasure
A Passion for China by Molly Hatch
£14.99, September Publishing
I’m going to gush about this book because I love everything about it. It’s a celebration of the objects we eat from, live with and love. Molly Hatch is an acclaimed ceramicist, artist and designer – you may have spotted her beautiful designs while browsing in Anthropolgie.
Molly combines anecdotes from her own family with the history of pottery and porcelain. Every page is covered with beautiful illustrations and snippets of text – there’s everything from an eighteenth century Meissan Chocolate Pot to 1970s coffee mugs from her Grandmother’s house. I love it and I think you will too.
An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe
Penguin, £9.99
I’ve really fallen for Nina Stibbe’s funny and insightful writing this year. This little book is the perfect stocking filler with decent literary punch. Nina’s breezy, anecdotal ode to Christmas will make you smile amid the chaos of turkeys, wrapping paper and temper tantrums.
Ok let’s be honest, I’m probably going to keep all these books for myself. They’re all that good. Ask for them in your local independent bookshop and spread the love.
A big thank you to September Publishing for sending me a copy of Molly Hatch’s book to review. It was a real pleasure.
It’s lovely. Thanks for sharing.