I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Books and Beauty make the best presents, particularly for those last minute dashes! Here is a list of my favourites:
Bill Bryson The Body: A Guide for Occupants RRP £25 (but currently reduced everywhere like Waterstones and Blackwell’s etc!)
Such a fantastic book, in classic Bill Bryson style. Very readable, very very interesting, full of facts about the body and biology. Things we should know, things we probably once knew years ago, and new discoveries about the science relating to us!
The Man in the Red Coat by Julian Barnes RRP £18.99 (but, again, reduced everywhere)
This is a truly extraordinary book. My words cannot do it justice. It’s an exceptionally well-researched project and it’s so, so interesting. It’s all about three figures in the Belle Epoque age, notably, about a man called Dr Samuel Pozzi, a famed gynaecologist, and his time in Europe and America. Oscar Wilde features heavily in it too, as does Huysmans (if you haven’t read ‘Á Rebours’ by Huysmans it might be a good idea to read that first as the main character is referred to throughout this book.) I am going to be recommending ‘The Man in the Red Coat’ to everyone I know! Absolutely fascinating. I can see how much work has gone into it, and Julian Barnes has handled the research material incredibly well. It must have been such a task to structure and deal with each topic so thoroughly while making it very readable.
The Confession by Jessie Burton RRP £16.99
A split-narrative story told from two perspectives: one, present day (2017) the other, in 1980. A woman is desperate to find out more about her mother. So when the opportunity arises to work with her mother’s old friend and former lover Constance, she jumps to it. Constance is a successful writer who needs an assistant, but will she divulge all to her new PA, our narrator Rose (who now calls herself Laura to disguise who she really is.) It’s tense and very gripping. I really enjoyed it and think you will too!
Of Gods and Men: 100 Stories from Ancient Greece and Rome edited by Daisy Dunn, RRP £25 (also reduced in lots of places!)
Of course, my sister’s book has made the list! It’s a wonderful anthology of stories that Daisy has chosen… from Homer and Sophocles and Ovid and Virgil (and Pliny and Catullus, naturally!) and a fantastic mix of translations from people like Queen Elizabeth I, Shelley and Ted Hughes, and many many more. A brilliant collection – this will make the best gift of all!
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley, RRP £8.99 (but, once more, reduced everywhere!)
Spoiler alert: I’m not able to give any spoilers as I haven’t read this yet myself! But it looks really good. It’s crime, it’s a thriller. It should be very gripping. And it’s a paperback, so perfect for taking away.
Busy B Book Journal. Buying a bookworm a gift can be tricky as you don’t know what they’ve got already on their shelves… But fear not. This is a journal for keen readers who like to reflect on the books they’ve read! Great for book clubbers, book bloggers and book reviewers.
Pre-Order The Beatles and Beyond by Don Short from Amazon here.
This is something I have been fortunate enough to be involved with from the very beginning (more on that soon) and I am so excited to share this new book with you (out in March 2020 from Wymer Publishing.)
It’s the memoirs of Fleet Street legend Don Short. Don was close to the stars during his time as a Showbusiness journalist and columnist. From shadowing The Beatles on tour and stepping in as a bodyguard for Mick Jagger, to interviews with Elizabeth Taylor at her bedside and dinner at Muhammad Ali’s home, Don Short’s stories show famed luminaries in a new light. His popular columns and features made him a confidant to celebrities. As a result, he has collected an enviable treasure trove of memories, all included in the book. He knew the most amazing stars: Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Louis Armstrong, Roger Moore, David Bowie… the list is endless! Of course, there are many celebrities who he met when they were young or just starting out who still appear on our screens and radio today: Charlotte Rampling, Dustin Hoffman, Helen Mirren, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Tom Jones, Vanessa Redgrave, Jane Fonda, (Prince Philip!).
‘The Beatles and Beyond’ chronicles his career, as a journalist, writer, ghost writer, and literary agent. It is a celebration of the Golden Age of Journalism: a fascinating insight into Fleet Street in its heyday, when the subject of the news had to be within touching distance. If you have an interest in music, films, journalism, musicians, actors, Hollywood stars, popular culture, the history of music and film, contemporary music and film… then I highly recommend you pre-order a copy (or two! maybe three? possibly four? or perhaps five?) ASAP. I have loved every moment of helping to put this book together. I hope everyone who reads it will love it as much as I do!
Jo Loves Perfume: Orange Butterflies, £70 for 50ml
Perfume! Tricky to guess if they’ll like it, but I reckon this one will be very popular with everyone receiving it.
It’s fabulous for this time of year as it has notes of summery orange and neroli. One spritz is all you need for a citrus party at your pulse points!
Essie Nail Varnish in Eternal Optimist £7.99
The best rosy-nude pink around. One coat is pink perfection.
Clinique High Drama in a Wink Gift Set £20
My favourite mascara ever: Clinique High Impact Mascara. Plus, for the cost of one mascara (plus a bit extra) you get a full size eyeliner that won’t budge for anything, apart from the great Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm: a solid makeup remover that melts into a creamy oil to dissolve all your makeup in one. Ideal!
