This blogpost is becoming something of a yearly (and not terribly imaginative, but that needn’t stop anyone…) tradition: here are some of the books we’re giving (and hoping to receive!) this Christmas. If you’re stuck for ideas, there’s a pretty wide selection here – something for almost everyone.
Imogen Blundell, Head of Operations:
I can’t possibly tell you exactly what I’ve bought in case my family read the blog! I have bought a few cookery books and coffee table type books though. I don’t really have any books that I’m hoping to receive but I have a good idea that I’ll receive a cookery book or two and maybe something to do with DIY! We aren’t big on fiction at Christmas time in my family; it’s all about non-fiction.
Louise Bolongaro, Head of Picture Books and Non-Fiction:
I am very much hoping to receive a copy of Mark Herald’s nature book as I just love looking at it.
Tom Bonnick, Business Development Manager:
As with last year, and echoing Imogen’s concern, I cannot reveal ALL of the books that I’ve bought, because my mother reads this blog. That caveat aside, some of the books I’ll be giving are The Miniaturist, by Jessie Burton (now available as a lovely new edition from Waterstones), Love, Nina, by Nina Stibbe, Letters of Note (which I think I’ll probably be giving as a Christmas present for the rest of my life…), Texts from Jane Eyre, by Mallory Ortberg, Yes Please, by Amy Poehler, Say Cheese: The Original Collection of Cheese Jokes (yes, really), and lots and lots of Bizzy Bear books for my niece. And I would LOVE to receive the new Ottolenghi book, Plenty More, and Probably Nothing, by Matilda Tristram.
Ellie Corbett, Publishing Assistant
Books I’m giving:
Mug Cakes: Ready in Five Minutes in the Microwave, by Lene Knudsen (for my housemate who is a student, and who therefore spends a lot of time thinking about adventurous things to do with a microwave)
Are Men Obsolete? by Caitlin Moran, Camille Paglia, Hanna Rosin and Maureen Dowd
The Things that Nobody Knows: 501 Mysteries of Life, the Universe and Everything, by William Hartston
And I can’t really mention any more presents, because since I got the job, my parents have been religious Nosy Crow blog readers, and I don’t want to ruin any surprises!
Books I’m hoping to get:
Not That Kind of Girl, by Lena Dunham
Letters to a Friend, by Diana Athill
The Miniaturist, by Jessie Burton (I know, I’m so late to the party)
Victoria England, Assistant Editor:
This year I will be giving the Timeout Cycle London guide to an avid city cyclist, and for someone who has only read one book this year (The Cuckoo’s Calling), I will be gift-wrapping them a copy of The Silkworm. I am hoping to receive the luminous Once Upon an Alphabet by Oliver Jeffers.
Dom Kingston, Head of Publicity:
Getting-wise, I want some books on hen-care because I’m GETTING MY CHICKENS THIS SPRING! I can’t wait! And that biography about Princess Louise (Queen Victoria’s ‘fast’ daughter) is out in PB, so I’ve dropped some heavy hints about that.
Giving-wise my mum finds reading hard after her stroke, so I’m getting her a set of ‘Mapp & Lucia’ and C.J. Sansom audiobooks.
Kirsty Stansfield, Fiction Editor:
Books I am giving:
Molesworth
Does My Goldfish Know Who I am?
How to Write Everything/David Quantick
How to Draw Animals
Top Gear sticker book (sorry)
Fluff the Farting Fish
Books I want:
That one by Amy Poehler
Something like The Goldfinch – any suggestions?
I have asked for The Miniaturist. I’m giving some Paddington as I was raised on it (I love that bear), some Monsieur Pamplemousse (carrying on the Michael Bond theme), and The Empty Stocking by Richard Curtis and Rebecca Cobb (along with plenty of Nosy Crow books, of course).
I’m also giving a few not very exciting non-fiction books for my in-laws including Tiny Stations for my train loving father-in-law, I Never Knew That About England’s Country Churches and some of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year books too.
Kate Wilson, Managing Director:
I have bought so many books it is ridiculous, as always.
The books I have bought for children are:
Animalium by Jenny Broom
A Year of Stories and Things To Do by Shirley Hughes
A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies
The Big Book Of Beautiful Babies by David Elwand
Paul Smith for Richard Scarry Cars and Trucks and Things That Go
For my own teenagers’ stockings I have bought:
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
Texts from Jane Eyre by Mallory Ortberg
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
… and I know I have picked up other stuff over the year that I will discover in the Secret Present Box
For grown-ups I have bought:
London: The Information Capital: 100 Maps and graphics that will change how you live (3 copies)
Talking to Terrorists by Jonathan Powell
Hack Attack by Nick Davies
Moranthology (4 copies)
Persiana by Sabrina Ghayour
For me, I have bought Listen to Your Child which is about young children’s language development, something I find absolutely fascinating and which is useful professionally. This adds to a collection of print books and ebooks that I will be hoping to get through this Christmas.
I am pretty sure there are more…
We’d love to hear the books that you’re giving (and hoping to receive) this Christmas – do let us know in the comments underneath this post!
