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Christmas books You are in: surefish > faith > Books for Christmas Date: 11 December, 2008
Charlotte Haines Lyon offers her choices of books to give or receive this Christmas Click on the title of the book to buy a copy from amazon.co.uk and part of the sale will go to Christian Aid In my mind nothing beats a good book for Christmas but with 1000s of glorious biographies, cook books, miscellanies and fiction books hitting the shelves what is one to do? Fortunately the best books this year have been chosen for you together with suggestions of grateful recipients. Remember, if you purchase the book via the title or cover picture links to Amazon you will be raising money for Christian Aid so a feel good factor all round. That’s Another Story There should be a health warning on this book: “Asthmatic? Keep your inhaler to hand.” I had to take mine several times after too many fits of the giggles. Stories of nursing ineptitude alongside tales such as the plastering of body parts for drama courses are achingly funny. Meanwhile Walters' ability to capture every sparkle in the great oddities of human life set her book aside from the rest of the Christmas celebrity fare. For those who enjoy a good biography, adore our “national treasure” or simply want a good laugh.
The annual compilation of questions and answers from the NewScientist’s Last Word column has arrived. Myths are dispelled – glass doesn’t flow, contrary to what I explained to my daughter last week. Swimming directly after eating is not necessarily a bad thing either. And then there is the really useful information: just how much mucus your nose produces during an average cold (about a cupful a day), how toothpaste gets its stripes and of course do polar bears get lonely? Plenty of festive party conversation starters. A gift for anyone who likes to know everything.
A wonderfully addictive book that should “happify” any sufferer of “onomatomania”. That is to say make happy anybody annoyed at being unable to find the appropriate word. Shea has helpfully read the whole of the OED and collated his notes whilst about words that particularly tickled him. Did you know the custom of “midlenting” has sadly died? Imagine having the delightfully timely word “quomodocunquize” in your spelling test or in Scrabble. In between such discoveries, Shea describes the joys and pains of his challenge and his lifelong fascination of words. His passion for language is nerdy but inspiring, providing a perfect tome for those who like to collect useless facts , or simply appreciate the English Language.
Winterburn has organised her encyclopaedic knowledge of the universe into monthly chapters explaining how to look for what in the sky at night. She effortlessly makes the book fascinating via plethora of useless information that is slipped into her animated conversation about astronomy. Did you know that there are in fact five verses to Twinkle Twinkle or that the family of Sirius (Harry Potter’s uncle) are all named after various constellations and astronomical references. Whilst it is not a how to book, it opens up astronomy to anybody as an utterly compelling subject. I am hooked and have asked for a planisphere for Christmas. For those who love the stars or indeed fancy a new hobby.
For those who love or need to learn to love cooking. Jamie’s latest ubiquitous Christmas offering is based on the premise that anybody can learn to cook good food in 24 hours. There are step by step photos accompanying detailed but simple instructions for a wide range of recipes. Whether you are a pasta monster, or a fan of roasts and meaty stews there is something for you. There is even a recipe for granola which my 3 year old and one year old daughters made with great success. The idea is once you have learnt a dish you pass it on to a friend and the whole nation will be cooking before we know it. Cynical at first, I cooked the easiest ever macaroni cheese and haven’t stopped telling people about it since. Surely an ethical gift if it stops people buying over packaged, over processed ready meals. For the person who needs cooking to be their New Year's resolution. Oh and for anybody who likes a good looking celebrity cookbook. Other recommendations There have also been some major authors supplementing this years race for the Christmas number one. Ian Rankin has given us Inspector Rebus's last outing. Ruth Rendell sets her latest crime in Portebello. JK Rowling has everybody drooling with anticipation with her Christmas gift of The Tales of Beedle The Bard. I am personally delighted at Sue Townsend's discovery of The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole. OK so it is essentially a reproduction of the Townsend's Guardian columns, Diary of a Provincial Man, but satire of the early Blair years is oddly welcome now. Always a fan Britain's greatest diarist, this is definitely a Christmas treat. Please note that prices quoted don't reflect the discounts offered by Amazon. Click on the title of the book to buy a copy from amazon.co.uk and part of the sale will go to Christian Aid
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Do Polar Bears Get Lonely? And 101 Other Intriguing Scientific Questions
Reading the Oxford English Dictionary: One Man, One Year, 21,730 Pages
The Stargazer’s Guide
Jamie’s Ministry of Food
