It’s time. For the sixth yr operating I deliver you my final, simple, budget-adaptable Christmas reward. The one which feels considerate and private but takes seconds to purchase and is simple to wrap and low cost to publish. Sure, expensive readers, it’s the most well-liked publish of the season: my Christmas Books ‘n Goodies!
Do you need to appear like probably the most fashionable and thought of gift-giver, one that actually has their life collectively, but expend nearly no vitality? Then that is the publish for you. A rigorously curated choice of the best books, matched artistically and with nice aptitude to the daintiest, prettiest bars of chocolate. Or probably the most cool and graphic slabs. All wrapped up in plain brown paper, tied with striped string, the ultimate package deal by no means fails to thrill.
The purpose of this book-and-choc pairing is that the recipient feels as if they’re being given one thing just a little bit luxurious. So we’re speaking excessive finish books and high quality candies however that’s not all: each the e-book cowl and the chocolate wrapping should be aesthetically pleasing and likewise matched collectively in a approach that makes individuals suppose, “wow, this particular person has model”. These individuals are to not know that you just ordered every little thing on the web, carrying fleece polar bear pyjamas and a flammable dressing robe.
Earlier than I current you with this yr’s spectacular book-and-choc pairings, I ought to say that there’s a whole again catalogue of those annual posts. And so in case you’d like to have a look at dozens and dozens extra examples then click on the hyperlinks on the backside of this web page.
Proper, with out additional ado: the Final 2024 Books and Goodies Spherical-Up!
[AD-info: this post contains affiliate links, marked *.]
Buy Charbonnel & Walker Sea Salt Truffles*
I’m going to speak extra about All Fours by Miranda July subsequent week. The story is completely mad. I get the sensation it might be a type of Marmite type of books, as a result of it’s so far-fetched and unhinged, however in case you submit (ooh err) and permit your self to have a superb sense of humour about all of it then it’s an absolute riot. I discovered myself laughing simply out of pure glee at how batshit loopy it was, in locations. And, on a extra severe be aware, it tackles some massive midlife points head-on and fully unapologetically. Not one to provide to Auntie Maud whereas she’s having her hip substitute, maybe, or anybody you don’t know fairly properly, as a result of it’s fairly…intimate…in locations, however this might be the most effective reads to reward a girlfriend that you just’ll discover this yr. Or the worst. No matter, it’ll be a dialog starter…
Buy Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors*
4 sisters’ tales, one e-book. However there’s a tragic absence all through that binds the separate tales collectively. Poignant and touching however not too hair-clawingly depressing, it’s a superb winter vacation learn. Particularly in case you’re breaking right into a bar of the outdated Ocelot Sea Salt on the similar time. Be nonetheless my chocolate-loving coronary heart.
(Ocelot’s very graphic packaging is ideal for my books and chocs pairings. You nearly can’t go flawed, they appear good with every little thing!)
Buy Long Island by Colm Toibin*
I wrote about Colm Toibin’s Lengthy Island here, however to save lots of you having to open a brand new window, in brief I known as it “scrumptious” and stated this about it:
“I love anybody who can take lives which are identical to anybody else’s lives – seemingly pedestrian, with nothing that stunning or shocking happening – and make the dearth of something significantly notable into the factor that’s attention-grabbing. Not simply attention-grabbing: treasured. Each little life and each a part of that life made so treasured, so value dissecting and giving thought to… it actually makes you cease and admire how densely-packed every of us is with all of our recollections and feelings and hyperlinks to different individuals.”
What a gorgeously slow-paced, delectable little treasure-chest of a e-book. Arduous advocate.
Buy James by Percival Everett*
Oooph. I hate the phrase “laborious advocate” however I’m making an attempt to be extra down with the youngsters and so I’ll use it once more: Percival Everett’s James is totally excellent. Should you learn The Bushes and had been blown away by that then undertake the brace place since you’re about to begin one other masterpiece that you just gained’t be capable of put down.
By no means have I wished a personality to outlive so badly – and never simply survive, I used to be keen Jim (an escaped slave who is ready on shopping for his spouse and little one’s freedom) to rewrite historical past. Highly effective, past unhappy and with the capability to make you’re feeling determined, nauseating ranges of rage.
By the way in which, it’s possible you’ll discover (in case you’ve seen earlier books-n-chocs posts) that I’ve slipped a brand new chocolate bar in right here. I wished to discover a easy, graphic bar that didn’t price an absolute fortune and by God I’ve performed it. Waitrose No1 vary – a great deal of completely different variations. Approx two quid, relying on once you replenish…
My different bargainous model of selection, as you realize, is Tony’s Chocolonely. I really like the massive, daring graphics on these chunky slabs of choc. A great deal of colors, nice worth, I can’t think about a time once they gained’t be included.
Intermezzo, one other nice learn for a slow-burn, wintery form of week. My first Sally Rooney e-book and I’ll most positively be going again for extra – I really like these detailed examinations of individuals’s character and internal turbulence.
Buy Pana Organic Peanut Caramel
Teen angst and darkish goings-on, Rabbits by Hugo Rifkind makes you need to rent a battered mini and relive your youth. Kind of.
The one e-book within the e-book pile that I’ve began however gained’t end earlier than this publish goes dwell. Disgrace on me! I used to be doing so properly. Brotherless Evening by V.V. Ganeshananthan gained this yr’s Girls’s Prize for Fiction which is the way it caught my eye, it’s superbly written to this point and with good consideration to historic element. I’ve a sense I’m in for a really emotional journey…
Buy I Who Have Never Known Men*
What a e-book! I Who Have By no means Recognized Males by Jacqueline Harpman isn’t a brand new launch however has had one thing of a resurgence this yr and I’m so happy that it has. It’s wonderful. Completely mysterious but in addition bleak and barren. I don’t need to say an excessive amount of about it, but it surely’s a incredible decide. Correct dialog starter!
It doesn’t must at all times be about fiction in the case of the Books ‘n Chocs reward. I do reasonably like sending out cookbooks, too, particularly if I can pair them with a related spice or condiment or accent. Fairly partial – and stick with me right here – to pairing a cookbook with a pleasant tea towel. It packs flat, nonetheless, is light-weight and simply feels acceptable and enjoyable. I like M&S cotton ones which are available a pack of 4 (£8 here*) and add a grand whole of two kilos to the reward value in case you break up the pack down.
I couldn’t resist including on this Cherry Bomb chocolate bar, although – I lately found the web store Delli for area of interest and attention-grabbing storecupboard buys and condiments and so forth. Went to city a bit on the outdated confectionery..
Buy How Not to be a Supermodel here*
Buy Fatso Sweet Tart chocolate here
Indulge me, momentarily, if you’ll. As a result of I’ve waited many, a few years to take pleasure in this second: my very personal e-book featured in my very personal “books n chocs” publish. What an absolute thrill! I ask you to your consideration solely briefly, as a result of I’m coming again at you with a complete publish about How To not be a Supermodel subsequent week, when the hardback turns into extensively obtainable within the States, which is a HUGE factor to be occurring.
I even have some different chocolate pairings and a load to say about how a lot you’ll take pleasure in studying this e-book in case you haven’t performed so already. It could be my “decide of the yr” if that was allowable, which clearly it isn’t as a result of I’d appear like a proper outdated berk if I selected my very own e-book, however you get the gist. I like it and I believe that you’ll like it. It has been making individuals snigger out loud at very inappropriate occasions and that’s the very best evaluation I may want for.
You probably have learn the e-book you then’ll admire the selection of chocolate model…
I hope you’ve loved this yr’s providing – bear in mind to take a look at the hyperlink under for earlier editions and hundreds extra concepts!
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