The Books on My Christmas Wish List
How do you pick the right literary gift for your loved one? Matching book to reader is a fine art and buying books for other people remains a tricky business. These are just some of the books that this bookworm would like to find under the Christmas tree.
There is little nicer than a pile of beautifully wrapped books under the Christmas tree. Or to paraphrase Jo’s complaint at the beginning of one of my favourite books, Little Women (strong festive opening and Christmas a recurring theme), Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a good book.
That’s why the focus of this article is the books on my 2023 Christmas wish list. If like me, you love reading, I hope you’ll find some festive inspiration on this list – as well my list of favourite books from 2023.
My Christmas wish list
The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2024 by Lia Leendertz
A regular on my Christmas wish list, "The Almanac” is the original and bestselling monthly guide to the natural world in Britain and Ireland. Divided into 12 months, it provides a wealth of information, including tide tables, sunrises, moon phases, seasonal recipes, and folklore, allowing readers to reconnect with the changing seasons. With a focus on the natural wonders of the garden, this edition celebrates the flora and fauna at one's doorstep, making it a practical and inspiring companion for outdoor activities throughout the year.
A Year Full of Veg: A Harvest for All Seasons by Sarah Raven
Having just taken on an allotment, this comprehensive month-by-month gardening guide focused on cultivating the best seasonal vegetables is an essential read. Drawing on her extensive experience, Raven provides insights into reliable varieties, her favourite crops, and unique vegetables, herbs, and salads not commonly found in stores. The book not only offers planting inspiration but also shares expert tips and efficient techniques for growing and harvesting flavourful crops throughout the year, encouraging readers, regardless of their outdoor space, to grow at least some of what they consume.
The Farm Table by Julius Roberts
An enthusiastic cook, I’m looking forward to taking a culinary journey through the seasons and creating simple and seasonal recipes that celebrate the connection between food and nature using fruit and veg grown in my allotment! As a first-generation farmer and chef, Roberts shares not only delicious dishes but also honest tales of farming life. The book emphasizes comfort and inspiration, featuring recipes like roast pumpkin with mozzarella in winter, baked fish with herbs in spring, courgette pasta in summer, and smoked haddock rarebit in autumn, showcasing the best of each season's produce with unfussy home cooking.
Monet: The Restless Vision by Jackie Wullschläger
Having studied the Impressionists at Toulouse University while on a gap year, I’m looking forward to reading this comprehensive exploration of the founder of Impressionism, revealing the tumultuous and private life behind the iconic artist. Drawing on thousands of previously untranslated letters and unpublished sources, Wullschläger delves into Monet's obsessive love affairs, volatile personality, and how these factors influenced his expressive and sensational painting. A book for art-lovers - and for gardeners alike.
Geneva by Richard Armitage
In the debut thriller from one of my favourite actors, Richard Armitage, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sarah Collier, showing signs of Alzheimer's like her father, reluctantly accepts an invitation to a biotech conference where groundbreaking technology that could revolutionize medicine is being unveiled. Sarah and her husband, Daniel, are celebrated in Geneva, but behind the glamour, investors circle, a controversial blogger digs into the story, and Sarah's symptoms worsen. As events spiral out of control, trust becomes uncertain, leaving Sarah questioning even herself in this intense narrative.
Turning Points: Crisis and Change in Modern Britain, from 1945 to Truss by Steve Richards
I’m the Campaign Manager for our Parliamentary Candidate, Tom Rutland. Hence why this magisterial history - examining ten critical moments that have shaped modern Britain and putting recent political chaos into context - by the respected broadcaster and journalist, Steve Richards is on my wish list. From the Suez Crisis in 1956 to the Covid-19 pandemic, Richards argues that understanding these events requires distance and perspective to discern the long-term impact of what might initially seem like earth-shattering moments. With his insightful analysis and anecdotes accumulated over decades as a prominent political commentator, I’m looking forward to an enlightening and entertaining exploration of key events in British political history.
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
Social justice is one of my highest values which is why I want to read Pulitzer Prize-winning author Matthew Desmond searing study of American poverty, highlighting the paradox of the United States being the wealthiest country with enduring poverty. Examining issues such as racism, social isolation, mass incarceration, housing crises, and more, Desmond argues that poverty persists not due to a lack of resources or policy solutions but rather the need for a new narrative that compels more individuals to care. He challenges both liberal and conservative perspectives, calling for a recognition that addressing poverty requires a collective responsibility and a commitment to community and solidarity.
I’d love to know what’s on your Christmas wish list. Please share your choices in the comments box below. If you’re looking for more bookish inspiration, you’ll find a list of my favourite books of 2023 here.
About The Author
Hi. I’m Denyse Whillier, a former CEO and strategic business coach specialising in female entrepreneurship. A very warm welcome to CEO Secrets, a business blog dedicated to one thing, breaking down the strategies, concepts and tools that I’ve gathered from 25 years working in purpose-led companies and showing you how you can use them in your business.
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