Yesterday Author Ben Myers (@BenMyers1) rounded up his favourite book shops in Yorkshire, today our favourite librarian and purveyor of the Travelling Suitcase Library Jess Haigh (@BookElfLeeds) gives us some suggestions as to what to dive into, or gift your friends and relatives
Books always make great Christmas gifts, here is a round up of some of my favourite new (ish) releases from the last year I’d quite like to see in my stocking…
Dominium by CJ Sansom
Author of my favourite Tudor detective Shardlake, CJ Sansom takes a break from Reformation Sleauthing in this ‘what if’? novel set in an alternative 1952. When Lord Halifax became Prime Minister in 1940 Britain acquiesce to German rule, and is now run as a puppet state within the Nazi empire. Churchill is now leader of the resistance movement, and tasks Civil Servant David Fitzgerald, with a mission to rescue and incarcerated scientist whilst hiding his family’s Jewish heritage from the Gestapo. I’ve read a couple of ‘what ifs’ along similar lines before and always been slightly disappointed with them, but Sansom’s writing is so excellent and his eye for detail in creating a world so fine that I very much look forward to reading this.
The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
I loved Kate Morton’s previous three books, which all run along similar lines of dual narratives set in the more-on-less present and the not-so-distant past and her new book that came out in October is no different, shifting between the 1930s, the 60s and now. Morton’s books are usually well written sob fests, and are better written than a lot of the endless reams of books that are now published in this genre, but her first book The House at Riverton remains her best, so if you haven’t read that one, do.
A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchey
This is the last novel by Maeve Binchey, one of my favourite writers, who sadly passed away earlier this year, leaving behind a massive legacy of wonderful books that remain popular to this day. Although her later novels haven’t been as gripping as her 80s and 90s classics (my favourites The Glass Lake and Circle of Friends especially) she still wrote heart warming stories with relatable people and this would make the perfect Christmas gift for any fan.
The Streets by Anthony Quinn
Half the Human Race was one of my favourite books I read this year and The Streets is at the top of my wish-list this Christmas. Set in in the slums of London in the late Victorian period this is the story of David Wildeblood (excellent name), inspector for the popular weekly The Labouring Classes of London, the Victorian’s version of the misery-memoirs popular today. As David grows to learn more about the horrid conditions of the slums and the poor people who struggle to survive in them, he grows more suspicious that someone is making a profit from people’s suffering. Anthony Quinn is a wonderful writer and his characters leap off the page so I have high hopes for this.
The Bat by Jo Nesbo
One of my favourite Scando Crime Drama writers, Jo Nesbo’s The Bat is the first in the Harry Hole series that has only been released in English this year. Harry Hole is the alcoholic, hard living detective who ruins all relationships he ever has with his dedication to seeking out the bad guys in Norwegian society. The later books in the series, especially The Snowman, are incredibly violent noir thrillers, but tense and gripping and I am hoping that by releasing the earlier books starring a younger Hole we can learn a bit more about what made this man so intent on fighting for justice.
Bear Down, Bear North by Melinda Moustakis
One of the best written collections of short stories I’ve ever held in my hands, this Alaskan writer’s debut is a cold hard taste of life in the North Country. Recently released in paperback if you have someone in your life that loves good writing this slim but powerful volume would make an excellent stocking filler.
Still Standing: The Savage Years by Paul O’Grady
Whether or not you’re a fan of the brash, often acid tongued funny man, you can’t deny his autobiographies, of which this is the third volume, aren’t fantastically entertaining. At My Mother’s Knee was a brilliant evocation of working class life in Birkenhead in the 1950s and 60s and he continued his often laugh out loud funny but also quite moving story in The Devil Rides Out. Still Standing tells the story of the beginnings of his career as Lily Savage and covers the Toxteth riots and the Vauxhall Tavern police raid.
Inheritance by Phyllis Bentley
I’m going to keep going on about this book until everyone in Yorkshire has read it. Re-released in paperback and Kindle this summer this is the story of the Luddites of West Yorkshire and their legacy, told through two families, the mill owning Oldroyds and the poor mill hands. Using actually historical events to shape the narrative, 200 years after the Luddites stormed Cartwright’s Mill only 20 miles down the road we owe it to our forefathers to pay respects to them though fiction and this book would make a cracking Christmas present for anyone from West Yorkshire or anyone who wishes they were.
Jess runs the Travelling Suitcase Library and has been blogging about books for the past three years, lives in Burley and for Christmas would like more bookshelves and the space for them!
If you are considering an alternative to buying from Amazon, check out @BenMyer’s suggested independent book retailers
Feel free to add your favourite reads and recommendations in the comments