December is here! This means, it’s time for this year’s Dear Santa post featuring books I would love to find under the Christmas tree.
1. The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves
Ann Cleeves’ Vera series is a favourite of mine and it’s one of the few crime series I have stuck to over time. In my opinion, Cleeves is a master in character-driven crime fiction, which I am addicted to and I can’t wait to read the latest instalment about Vera.
2. Our Souls at Night by Ken Haruf
On paper, Ken Haruf’s Our Souls at Night should be perfect for me. It has been described as sad, beautiful, spare, bittersweet, poignant, all of which tend to be characteristics of my favourite novels. Of course, it doesn’t always work like that, but I am willing to give it a try.
3. Otherlands by Thomas Halliday
Otherlands offers a journey through time, with focus on geology, ecosystems, evolution and strange creatures from a bygone era. I mean to read more nonfiction in 2023 and Otherlands could be a great one to start with.
4. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Did you know The Royal Institution in London is hosting a book club, which only reads fiction related to science? Whilst not a member, I did notice the next read for the book club is Lessons in Chemistry. It sounds like an excellent book and it has got stellar reviews so far.
5. The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
At first I didn’t think, Osman’s cosy crime series would be for me, but after the first two books I can’t get enough of The Thursday Murder Club. The third instalment should be perfect entertainment for the Christmas holiday.
These were some of the many books, I would be happy for Santa to deliver. Have you read any of them? Which books are on your wish list?
I haven’t got round to asking Father Christmas for any books yet, but would definitely add Kent Haruf and Otherlands to my list. My library has the latte, but only as an audio book ;(
Knowing that you are not keen on audiobooks in general, it might be better to find a physical copy of Otherlands. I’ve heard it isn’t a difficult read, but you do need a certain amount of concentration. Can you recommend books to your library?
We can, and amazingly they are still buying. For how much longe though?
Hopefully, it can continue! With the inflation we see these days, some people might not be able to buy many books anymore.
Which is bad news for bookshops. Luckily, our library is (so far) still buying.
Fingers crossed that it will continue!
Hope Santa grants your wishes, Stargazer! Maybe 2023 will be the year that I finally try Kent Haruf. Like you, I think his prose would be something that I’d love. So many books!
Thanks Sandra! I hope we will both enjoy Ken Haruf’s writing, if/when we give it a try. Our Souls at Night is relatively high on my priority list, so hopefully it will happen. As usual, lovely to hear from you Sandra – hope you doing alright and have been reading some good books!
Loved the Bullet That Missed and want to read Lessons in Chemistry!
Great Nicki! I’ve only heard good things about Lessons in Chemistry so far!
Hi. I’ve read Our Souls At Night — I liked it quite a lot. Enjoy the day!
Glad to hear that – I have a strong feeling, I’ll enjoy it as well!
Numerous books that I’ve been wishing to read
Hope you will enjoy them!
I’ve not red them yet but have three on my shelf. Hope Santa comes through, Stargazer💜
Thanks Jonetta, I hope you will get your wishes from Santa as well! 😊
Lessons in Chemistry is on my list and I’m now adding The Bullet that Missed.
Missed
Great, I hope we will both enjoy them!
Lessons in Chemistry is my favorite book this year!
That is great to hear, I really look forward to reading it!
Lessons in Chemistry was fun – we read it for my book club too
Ah really, maybe it’s a good discussion book for a book club? In any case, I look forward to reading it!
I haven’t read any of them and have only heard about Richard Osman’s book! Hope you get these for Christmas! 😀
Thanks Lashaan, I hope so too! 😁
Yeah I should give Ann Cleaves’s books a try! I have read 2 of these: Our Souls at Night, which I loved (both the novel & movie are great), and I’ve read Lessons in Chemistry which I found quite entertaining. So I hope you will like these. For Christmas, I’d like to get to Still Life by Sarah Winman for our book club read Jan. 16 and The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak which people have told me is great. But there’s so many piles of books I could want …. sigh.
Great to hear you enjoyed two of the books. Ann Cleeves is a great character writer and the solution to the mystery tends to be secondary. It’s all about the characters and their lives. I will cross my fingers that you get Still Life and Island of Missing Trees. I’ve been meaning to read the latter as well, but I’ve seen rather mixed reviews, so given up for now.
Otherlands sounds fantastic! I love reading on evolution and there are few things in this world that make my heart beat faster than a non-fiction on paleontology 🙂 There are a number books in his category I really enjoyed these past years, including Staaf’s Monarchs of the Sea and Ellis’s Aquagenesis.
I tend to love books like that as well and I will definitely look into the two books you mention. Evolution is super fascinating!
May Santa grant all your wishes, Stargazer! Otherlands sounds like something I’d love to read. I have yet to read Osman’s series. Just too many books 😀
Thanks, I wish the same for you! I think Otherlands should be a good one, but I hear you -there are definitely too many books. Hopefully, I’ll get to read the last Osman during the Christmas break – even if I have to buy it myself! 😉
I really want to read Lessons in Chemistry! It looks so good!
It does look good, doesn’t it. I look forward to reading it.