The Twelve Wishlists of Christmas; Books!
In the second instalment of my Twelve Wishlists of Christmas, I bring you the gift of reading. There’s only one thing nicer than recommending a good book for someone and that’s actually buying it for them. Here’s a roundup of my favourite books, old and new.
1. I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes. I’ve already spoken about how this book turned my reading woes around and after a few months I’m still in awe of the story. A great read for any Bourne Trilogy / Bond fans, or anyone that just likes a bloody good story with twists, sub-plots and the harvesting of a lethal version of small pox!
2. Solo by William Boyd. Actually the first Bond book I read so didn’t have to compare the writing to Ian Flemings’, it’s a great story based on an older 007 who is seeking revenge. Boyd has a fantastic way of making you feel like you’re also back in 1969 in West Africa with our favourite secret agent, and it made me want to drink whiskey and chain smoke of the deck of somewhere hot for a very long time. Next on my list is Trigger Mortis by Anthony Horrowitz. (On that note, before taking on Bond, Horrowitz has written two Sherlock Holmes books, The House of Silk and Moriarty. The House of Silk is worth a read if you’re in the mood for a long and very dark mystery, but please don’t put yourself or anyone else through Moriarty! No other book has left me feeling more bereft at the lack of a good ending!)
3. Eleven Days by Lea Carpenter. An incredibly detailed story based on a US Marine who goes missing during ops and his mother. Carpenter has obviously spent huge amounts of time with experts in the Marines as she shares intricate detail of the rituals of the Corps. The relationship between Sara and her son Jason is beautifully written and the book isn’t for anyone remotely emotionally fragile!
4. The Dogist by Elias Weiss Friedman. For any dog lover in your life! Freidman has a huge following on both Instagram and Facebook where he photographs all manner of dogs around New York. This is a fantastic collection of pooches all in one book. The only thing it lacks is a little back story for each pup, but he’s recently taken to adding little one liners on each of his photos online so hopefully the next book will include some tails (not even sorry with that!)
5. Of a very similar ilk, Humans of New York: Stories by Brandon Stanton. Like Freidman, Stanton has a massive social media following who seems to be able to delve into the deepest depths of everyone he photographs in New York. Sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking but always touching, he’s collected some of the best stories all in one place for a follow up book, which I sat and gorged all in one night. Both this and The Dogist are perfect for those who don’t have the patience to follow a story line for long!
6. The Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling. I don’t care if you’re 9 or 99; you have to at least give them a go. I very seriously doubt anyone has an imagination to rival Rowling and she has a fierce social conscious to boot, just two of the reasons she’s one of my all time favourite people. The books themselves will teach you all you need to know about love, friendship and courage with some fabulously sassy characters you’ll grow to love. If magic really isn't for your reader, give them Rowlings’ other series that’s been written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, based on ex soldier Cormoran Strike who has set up a detective agency.
7. Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel. Now I'm not a fan of post apocalyptic stuff as a rule due to its usual silliness, however this is about as real as it gets! The best part of civilisation is wiped out by a particularly meaty strain of the flu and those who survived are left to get by in world of no electricity, transport or medicine. We follow a few characters that are all linked in some way to the actor Arthur Leander and the story is told before the outbreak, and then twenty years after. The sections that discuss the flu taking control of the world are so real I had to actually put the book down a few times! Not for those of a weak disposition.
8.Casino Royal by Ian Fleming. Straight after finishing Solo I picked this up at my brothers suggestion, and it really is a corker. The first novel for 007 and it lays down his charming yet cold nature to a point and is a must for any fan of the films. If you’ve watched the film, you’ll know how it turns out, and at the end Bond is told, “Surround yourself with human beings my dear James. They are easier to fight for than principles.” The little bugger does not take heed and sets himself up for a lifetime of battles, and I have the collection ready and waiting on my kindle to be devoured. Get someone hooked on these and you’ll have a lifetime of gifts lined up!
9. His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman. Perfect for any young adults who love reading. As a young adult myself (shut it!) I found myself sat in a Starbucks sobbing reading the ending. We follow Lyra, an orphan raised in Oxford as she battles her way through her world and ours, fighting some pretty evil higher ups who turn out to be very close family of hers. If you’ve seen the film and were a bit put off don’t panic, the books are way, way more raw and way, way less Disney!
10. The Myron Bolitar series by Harlan Coben. I'm very reluctant to share Myron with anyone but don’t feel like I can do a book list and not include him! Myron is an ex MBA basketball star, ex Harvard law, ex some kind of secret service aide turned sports rep who basically wants a quiet family life but ain’t ever gonna get it. Murder and mystery follows Myron wherever he turns, and paired with Wyn, his billionaire psychopathic sexually deviant best friend and Esperanza, an ex women’s wrestler with a shit tonne of sass, he manages to solve crimes whilst actually keeping his business afloat. Very funny and endearing for thrillers, start at Deal Breaker and take it from there.
11. The Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly. Harry. Harry Harry Harry. Where to start?! Bosch is an LAPD officer, lone wolf and general crusader for justice. Pretty much every murder is solved due to Harrys determination to see justice for each of his victims and we see him battle with his very deep demons along the way. Start with Black Echo, or get the first ten in paperback here.
12. The Snow Queen by Hans Christan Anderson. The story is one of Hans Christian Anderson’s most famous fairytales and tells the story of Kai and Gerda, and Gerdas quest so save Kai after he is taken in by the Snow Queen. The story has been retold by illustrator Sanna Annukka in a beautiful cloth bound book with silver foil illustrations. A gorgeous gift to receive and add to a collection.