Janet Gordon is married, retired, obsessed with her Westlake Terrier, Rollo – and books are her passion. She reads multiple books a week across all genres and reviews them for Rest Less.
In the lead-up to Christmas and Hanukkah, Janet has handpicked and reviewed a selection of books that may make nice gifts for your loved ones.
Note: Prices can change often, so you may notice some variations on the providers’ websites. Prices and availability are accurate as of the 7th of November, 2024.
I absolutely love the run up to Christmas – and, this year, Hanukkah also falls on 25th December, so in our house it’s a double load of presents!
However, it’s well-known that I must be the world’s worst present wrapper, so this duty is passed to my husband (he of the precision ruler, reams of Sellotape, and even a pretty bow or two). As long as I leave a tag on top of each present with the recipient’s name, then all is fine. Sometimes, however, he (never me!) messes up my system and we find wrapped gifts with no idea who they’re for. Still, it all adds to the fun, doesn’t it?
I’ve even been known to ask for Rollo’s new squeaky toy to be wrapped up, on the grounds that if we’re sitting up in bed unwrapping stuff, why shouldn’t he join in?
As might be expected with my love of reading, I’ve got some thrilling books and beautiful coffee table reads to recommend…
Jewish Country Houses edited by Juliet Carey and Abigail Green (Amazon £42.28, Profile Books £45)
This meticulously researched book is expensive – but what a treat.
Many years ago I was invited to a carriage exhibition in the stables of Waddesdon Manor, a National Trust property in Buckinghamshire. Summoning up my best Jane Austen, I was able to ride in the most elegant four-wheeled barouche, graciously waving to members of staff as I did. I’ve never forgotten it. There was also a garden full of the most glorious rhododendrons.
So, of course I was delighted to find that Waddesdon Manor is one of the wonderful country homes featured in Jewish Country Houses.
This book is packed with fascinating information about the houses and their owners.
Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland (Amazon £10.36, Zaffre £12.99)
This is a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller and a must-read for all fantasy lovers. My husband (aka the slowest reader in the world) simply couldn’t put this down.
Five pairs of people are brought together to carry out a secret mission – a mission they think is to assassinate the king. But it turns out this isn’t the case…
It’s a real feast, with themes of treason and bitterness set against a fantasy backdrop. And the sequel, Four Ruined Realms, is also out soon-ish – my husband just can’t wait!
Dream Trips of the World by Lonely Planet (Amazon £26.75, Lonely Planet £32.99)
I’d love to travel to some of the exotic places I’ve read about in Lonely Planet’s terrific book Dream Trips of the World. Sadly, however, both money and my little dog, Rollo, keep me holidaying in the UK.
I’ve always wanted to drive Route 66 (a cliché I know) and explore the Florida Everglades – or even New Orleans. Has anyone read any of Frances Parkinson Keyes’ books? She was the wife of a US senator and her novels were mostly set in New Orleans, with Dinner at Antoines being amongst her best-known. Whenever I read any of her work I’m always inspired to go.
To be quite honest, having flunked geography at school, I’ve never heard of a lot of the far-flung destinations in this Lonely Planet guide. Still, I can dream; sitting in an armchair with a hot chocolate, Rollo on my lap, and browsing this book – I’m in destination heaven.
Kingmaker by Sonia Purnell (Amazon £19.98, Virago £25)
Pamela Churchill Harriman was Winston Churchill’s daughter-in-law. She died in 1997 and obituaries were scathing about her so-called ‘erotic lifestyle’. Despite being written off as a social climber, she was really a ‘power behind the throne’ type of lady.
She influenced everyone and everything, starting out with being Churchill’s secret weapon during the Second World War. This is such a fascinating read and would make an enthralling present for a history enthusiast.
For more ideas, check out the article; 20 of the best history books.
Hidden Libraries by DC Helmuth (Amazon £15.99, Lonely Planet £20)
Readers may remember that I went to the launch of The Little Wartime Library, a best-selling novel about life during World War II at Bethnal Green Library. The library stands in what used to be a mental health institution called ‘Barmy Park’. My husband grew up in the area and this was his local library, so I was thrilled to see that Bethnal Green’s ‘hidden’ library (underground by the train tracks) is included in this wonderful book.
My local village is lucky enough to have several hidden libraries – there are a couple of repurposed red telephone boxes and several book boxes. If, like me, you actively seek out libraries to wander around whilst on holiday, then this is the book for you.
Kate Thompson (author of The Little Wartime Library), this one’s on its way to you this Christmas – enjoy!
Cooking & The Crown by Tom Parker Bowles (Amazon £24.93, Octopus £30)
As Queen Camilla’s son, Tom Parker Bowles obviously has the inside scoop on everything they enjoy eating in the Royal residences.
This lavishly illustrated tome is divided into meal groups and I’ve found it surprising how ‘normal’ the meals are – apart from using expensive ingredients and lavish amounts of cream. This is the ideal gift for cookbook collectors.
Seasonal romantic fiction
Appearing in all good bookstores (and on supermarket bookshelves!) are books that help you get into the Christmas spirit. I just love how the covers feature everything there is to enjoy about Christmas – including my favourite, snow!
I send a few Christmas cards each year and I always head for the charity shops where you can find those lovely, old-fashioned Dickensian-type cards – featuring a coach-and-four, dogs gamboling in the snow, and people wearing Victorian clothing. And there’s a plethora of romantic-type Christmas reads on offer too.
Here are a few of my favourites…
A Recipe for Christmas by Jo Thomas
A Recipe for Christmas is set in Switzerland at a chocolate-making boot camp (yum!).
A Skye Full of Stars by Sue Moorcroft
This made the Isle of Skye, Scotland, sound so idyllic I was nearly booking the sleeper train to the Hebrides!
A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
The story follows a former boyband member who’s trying to record his first holiday album.
Escape for Christmas by Phillipa Ashley
This read is perfect for those who don’t celebrate Christmas.
Home Again for Christmas by Emily Stone
Home Again for Christmas sees our heroine inherit half of a travel company in Bath.
The Counterfeit Countess by Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa (Amazon £12.19, John Blake Publishing £18.99)
I’ll be perfectly honest with you, ever since researching my family history and discovering photographs from unknown relatives who, without a doubt, died in the Holocaust, I’ve tried very hard to avoid reading about it. However, having been sent a copy of The Counterfeit Countess, I was gripped by the story of ‘Countess Janina Suchodolska’; a Jewish woman who rescued more than 10,000 Poles imprisoned by Nazi occupiers.
Janina worked as a Welfare Officer whilst also being a member of the Polish Resistance, all the while using the forged papers of a Polish Countess to persuade SS officials to release thousands of Poles from a concentration camp. She also smuggled supplies and messages to freedom fighters and, unbelievably, survived to emigrate to the US.
Readers, courtesy of John Blake Publishing, we have a copy of The Counterfeit Countess to be won…
Win!
To win a copy of The Counterfeit Countess, please answer the following question…
What date did the Second World War end?
a) 1st October 1946
b) 2nd September 1945
c) 5th June 1945
Terms and conditions
The giveaway will close at 11.59pm on 21st November 2024 and the winner will be chosen at random in a prize draw on 22nd November 2024. Winners will be connected with Janet via email for the fulfilment of their prize.
For more reading inspiration, head over to the books, literature, and writing section of our website. Or, for further book and literature discussions, you might be interested in joining the thriving book club or short story club over on Rest Less Events.
Have you read any of these books? Or are you planning to gift any of them this festive season? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
