It’s time. For the sixth 12 months working I deliver you my final, straightforward, budget-adaptable Christmas present. The one which feels considerate and private but takes seconds to purchase and is simple to wrap and low-cost to submit. Sure, expensive readers, it’s the most well-liked submit of the season: my Christmas Books ‘n Goodies!
Do you wish to appear to be essentially the most fashionable and thought of gift-giver, one that actually has their life collectively, but expend nearly no vitality? Then that is the submit for you. A rigorously curated collection of the best books, matched artistically and with nice aptitude to the daintiest, prettiest bars of chocolate. Or essentially the most cool and graphic slabs. All wrapped up in plain brown paper, tied with striped string, the ultimate bundle 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 somewhat bit luxurious. So we’re speaking excessive finish books and high-quality sweets however that’s not all: each the guide cowl and the chocolate wrapping have to be aesthetically pleasing and likewise matched collectively in a method that makes individuals suppose, “wow, this individual has fashion”. These persons are to not know that you simply ordered every part on the web, sporting fleece polar bear pyjamas and a flammable dressing robe.
Earlier than I current you with this 12 months’s spectacular book-and-choc pairings, I ought to say that there’s a whole again catalogue of those annual posts. And so if you happen to’d like to take 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 kind of books, as a result of it’s so far-fetched and unhinged, however if you happen to 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 critical notice, it tackles some huge midlife points head-on and utterly unapologetically. Not one to offer to Auntie Maud whereas she’s having her hip substitute, maybe, or anybody you don’t know fairly nicely, as a result of it’s fairly…intimate…in locations, however this might be among the best reads to present a girlfriend that you simply’ll discover this 12 months. Or the worst. No matter, it’ll be a dialog starter…
Buy Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors*
4 sisters’ tales, one guide. 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 if you happen to’re breaking right into a bar of the outdated Ocelot Sea Salt on the identical time. Be nonetheless my chocolate-loving coronary heart.
(Ocelot’s very graphic packaging is ideal for my books and chocs pairings. You virtually can’t go mistaken, they appear good with every part!)
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, briefly I referred to as it “scrumptious” and stated this about it:
“I love anybody who can take lives which might be similar to anybody else’s lives – seemingly pedestrian, with nothing that stunning or stunning occurring – 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 price dissecting and giving thought to… it actually makes you cease and recognize 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 guide. Laborious advocate.
Buy James by Percival Everett*
Oooph. I hate the phrase “arduous 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. If you happen to learn The Timber and had been blown away by that then undertake the brace place since you’re about to begin one other masterpiece that you simply received’t have the ability to put down.
By no means have I wished a personality to outlive so badly – and never simply survive, I used to be prepared Jim (an escaped slave who is about on shopping for his spouse and baby’s freedom) to rewrite historical past. Highly effective, past unhappy and with the capability to make you are feeling determined, nauseating ranges of rage.
By the best way, you might discover (if you happen to’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 achieved it. Waitrose No1 vary – a great deal of completely different variations. Approx two quid, relying on if you top off…
My different bargainous model of alternative, as you realize, is Tony’s Chocolonely. I 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 received’t be included.
Intermezzo, one other effective learn for a slow-burn, wintery type of week. My first Sally Rooney guide and I’ll most undoubtedly be going again for extra – I 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 wish to rent a battered mini and relive your youth. Type of.
The one guide within the guide pile that I’ve began however received’t end earlier than this submit goes stay. Disgrace on me! I used to be doing so nicely. Brotherless Night time by V.V. Ganeshananthan received this 12 months’s Ladies’s Prize for Fiction which is the way it caught my eye, it’s superbly written to date and with sensible consideration to historic element. I’ve a sense I’m in for a really emotional trip…
Buy I Who Have Never Known Men*
What a guide! I Who Have By no means Identified Males by Jacqueline Harpman isn’t a brand new launch however has had one thing of a resurgence this 12 months and I’m so happy that it has. It’s wonderful. Completely mysterious but additionally bleak and barren. I don’t wish to say an excessive amount of about it, but it surely’s a implausible decide. Correct dialog starter!
It doesn’t must at all times be about fiction on the subject of the Books ‘n Chocs present. I do moderately 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 present worth if you happen to cut up the pack down.
I couldn’t resist including on this Cherry Bomb chocolate bar, although – I just 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 get pleasure from this second: my very personal guide featured in my very personal “books n chocs” submit. What an absolute thrill! I ask you in your consideration solely briefly, as a result of I’m coming again at you with a complete submit about How To not be a Supermodel subsequent week, when the hardback turns into extensively out there 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 get pleasure from studying this guide if you happen to haven’t achieved so already. It might be my “decide of the 12 months” if that was allowable, which clearly it isn’t as a result of I’d appear to be a proper outdated berk if I selected my very own guide, however you get the gist. I find it irresistible and I feel that you’ll find it irresistible. It has been making individuals snicker out loud at very inappropriate occasions and that’s the absolute best overview I might want for.
When you have learn the guide you then’ll recognize the selection of chocolate model…
I hope you’ve loved this 12 months’s providing – bear in mind to take a look at the hyperlink under for earlier editions and masses extra concepts!
