Christmas Books 2017

It was a lovely year for bookish presents – here’s the little pile I got from various people under the tree this year…

Nemo’s Almanac – this was from my friends Paul and Kirsty and, coincidentally, I bought them the same thing! It’s a collection of quotations (mostly poetry) where you have to identify the author.

Bloomsbury by Matthew Ingleby – Matt was at Magdalen with me, and my friend Lorna (who also knows him, rather better than me) sent me a signed copy of this one. Always eager to add to my Bloomsbury shelf!

The Cat’s Cradle Book by Sylvia Townsend Warner – I usually take part in the LibraryThing Virago Modern Classics Secret Santa, and it always ends up in truly brilliant purchases. My nonplussed family watch while I squeal over things – like this beautiful edition of one of the few STW books I don’t have!

Catherine Carter by Pamela Hansford Johnson – and this equally beautiful edition – signed by PHJ no less! I should say that my Santa was unveiled as the wonderful Jane at Beyond Eden Rock.

Deeper Than Indigo by Jenny Balfour Paul – I don’t know anything about this one, but Jane thought it would be up my street.

The Professor’s House by Willa Cather – the final Secret Santa book is one I read ten years or ago, but have never owned – and it’s a nice VMC with a Vanessa Bell cover.

The Lonely City by Olivia Laing – the final three books are from my family, who wisely turned to my Amazon wishlist. This was from my parents, and you might remember this one from a Weekend Miscellany.

My Life With Bob by Pamela Paul – another one from Mum and Dad; another one I’ve previously highlighted in a Weekend Miscellany. And the first one from this pile that I’m going to start, I think!

How Not To Be a Boy by Robert Webb – from Col, and all about damaging gender stereotypes (as well as about Webb’s life). Well done him for writing it!

Can’t wait to dive in to this delightful treasure trove! I hope you all got good books under the Christmas tree.

8 thoughts on “Christmas Books 2017

  • December 28, 2017 at 10:23 am
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    Ooh those books are gorgeous. I envy you the PHJ. I bought that exact edition of The Cat’s Cradle book for myself just before Christmas, it is lovely. The Professor’s House is mostly likely going to find a place on my books of the year list, such a beautiful little book. Happy reading Simon.

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  • December 28, 2017 at 12:47 pm
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    Seventeen books and counting under my tree … pics to come tomorrow or Sat, I think! What a lovely selection here.

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  • December 28, 2017 at 12:53 pm
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    What a delightful collection! I have read only two of them, The Professor’s House and The Lonely City, but they are all tempting me so I have copied your list and I will go on a Book Hunt! Thanks for all your most interesting posts, wishing you a peaceful and literary 2018. X Dorothy.

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  • December 28, 2017 at 4:18 pm
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    Some very enticing titles there, Simon! I’m keen on reading some Olivia Laing – she keeps popping onto my radar!

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  • December 28, 2017 at 4:53 pm
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    Wonderful! I found two books under the tree – both of which were specifically requested months ago so they would have time to be ordered and shipped from the UK: the Persephone edition of Earth and High Heaven, which I’m delighted to add to my collection because I love it, and Jacob’s Room is Full of Books, which I read immediately. Not quite as bookish a Christmas as yours but very satisfactory!

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  • December 28, 2017 at 5:09 pm
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    I had a lovely time as your Virago Secret Santa, and it was lovely to find that I could send you a STW that was missing from your collection. I’m not 100% sure that you will love Indigo, but I loved hearing the author speak, and I felt that it was my duty to send you a little out of your comfort zone.

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  • December 30, 2017 at 6:58 pm
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    Ooh that is lots of good books! Congratulations on your Christmas haul! I got mostly comics in the book category for Christmas this year, but then I got loads of book tokens so I’m just rubbing my greedy hands together like Ebenezer Scrooge and planning what I will buy.

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