Want to find some bookish gifts for book lovers? Here's some ideas . . .

 

Disclaimer: should you make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sellers, but that does not affect the price to the consumer and it does not influence the content of this blog.

It's official. Christmas is on the way and, with only one more payday between us and the big day, maybe you are still on the lookout for a few ideal gifts and stocking fillers for the booklovers in your life. Or maybe you deserve a little something for yourself. Whoever you have in mind, I hope that this little list of eight ideas sparks something for some of you . . .

1. Team Asthers - https://teamasthers.co.uk/

Team Asthers are dedicated to bookish gifts for booklovers. It's a one stop shop for bibliophile gifts! There are journals, mugs, tote bags, bookmarks . . . The list goes on! And the booklovers will appreciate the bookish references that adorn many of their perfect gifts.

I challenge you to NOT find a satisfying stocking filler here!

2. A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings by Charles Dickens

The classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge's journey towards salvation and the Christmas spirits that guide him along the way has become so much a part of our cultural landscape that it's hard to imagine Christmas without this ghost story. This tale reminds us that Christmas is not about wealth and gifts, but the people we share our lives with.

If you've the chance, on what can be a hectic day, I can't think of many better ways to grab a bit of peace on the twenty-fifth of December than to take oneself off with some hot mulled wine, settle in somewhere comfortable, and open up this book.

You can purchase A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens here.

3. F*ck off, I'm Reading mug

Do you ever tire of people interrupting your reading time? Well, when you settle down with a good book, be sure to make this the mug in which you have your tea or coffee, make sure it's well in view of any potential interrupters, and see who still dares approach!

You can purchase the mug here - https://www.etsy.com

4. Village Christmas and Other Notes on the English Year by Laurie Lee

The author of Cider With Rosie provides readers with a portrait of England through the changing seasons and years.

The book begins with winter, starting with the English village Christmas, and moves through the seasons as Lee writes powerfully and lyrically. Another read that ought to be enjoyed with a glass of something warming.

You can purchase Village Christmas by Laurie Lee here.

5. 221b Baker Street: The Sherlock Holmes Master Detective Game

Ever fancied yourself a bit of a sleuth? Maybe you could even give Victorian London's most famous detective a run for his money?

Well, this game gives you the perfect opportunity to prove it!

Christmas is a great time for playing games with your friends and family, and this is a great gift for the crime novel lover!

You can purchase the game from www.waterstones.com

6. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson (Author), and Axel Scheffler (Illustrator)

In recent years, an adaptation of this book for BBC television has become something of a staple of Christmas time viewing. But why not take the younger readers back to the book from which the animation was sourced?

A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood.

A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good.

You can purchase The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler here.

7. Classic Paperbacks 1000 Piece Puzzle

Is there a book lover in your life that also loves the challenge of a jigsaw puzzle? If so, this is like the beautiful coming together of two of their favourite things to create the perfect gift!

This puzzle is £14.99 from www.waterstones.com

8. Your local and independent bookshops

Don't forget your local and independent bookshops this Christmas. And, if you are short of time and need to make your purchases online, check out https://uk.bookshop.org/ - they support local and independent bookshops!

Thank you for reading. I hope you got some good ideas! You can support me by buying me a coffee on ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me searching the internet for bookish gift ideas and bringing them here to you! Thank you!

Going through the comments . . .

 

Disclaimer: should you make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I may earn a small commission from the sellers, but this does not affect the cost to the consumer, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

The first thing I notice, as I take a look at the comments I receive on this blog, is that I don't receive very many comments on this blog. I mean, I have gotten some, but it's not like I am setting the internet ablaze with bookish conversation.

Is it me? I can chaaaaange!

*ahem*

The next thing I notice is that those people who do post a comment are usually the same five or six people. And I love those people (thank you for engaging!), but I can't help but wonder whether the rest of you are left bored by my bookish blog posts? Did you close the page down before you got to the end? 

If you've made it this far I'm impressed. The internet has, as Bo Burnham put it, "a little bit of everything all of the time"; there's a lot for a humble little book blogger to contend with!

Thirdly, I notice the posts which have been commented on most are review posts. But, they don't take the title in a landslide. Instead they only just edge out the other posts with comments. The other posts being discussions with myself on book related topics (bookish social media accounts to follow, bookish controversies, tips on book blogging, etc.).

My book blog is a bit like my bookshelves - a varied and haphazard assortment of diverse contents.

Sometimes I write a post about a classic novel by Jerome K. Jerome, sometimes I write about controversies in the book world, and sometimes I write a review of a non-fiction book on psychology. I sometimes wonder if I haven't crippled myself a little bit by not focusing on one genre. That way people would know what they are getting and I might have guaranteed myself a larger readership.

But, to be honest, I kind of like the freedom in writing about any and all bookish interests, in writing about all of the books I enjoy reading. It does make it harder to create something of a brand/identity though, something to which people can respond with, "Oh yeah, that's the blog where . . . "

I suppose I could set up a number of blogs, each one concentrating on different aspects of my bookish interests. But, to be even more brutally honest, unless I start making money of of this writing lark, I don't have the time or the energy to invest in all that!

When I started blogging, I had no idea what I wanted to achieve. I enjoyed writing and I wanted to make something out of that. I still do. I think I am good at writing. I am not great, and there are others out there in the great big void that is the internet who are struggling away just as much as me, and getting perhaps even less attention than I am. But, there also people out there who are getting engagement I have been dreaming of and  . . . well, I'm better. I said it.

Okay, so I like writing about classic novels, poetry, and bookish topics of interest. But, what do you like reading about? When you come to a book blog, what do you like to read? What is it that makes you feel compelled to become a part of the conversation?

I would love, love, LOVE to build a something of a little community here, in this little humble corner of the digital space we all come to for comfort, entertainment, and information. Wouldn't that be fun?

Please do leave a comment, share a post with your friends, and come back again soon. I'd love to have you back for more bookish discussions and whatnot!

Links to posts that have received comments from readers . . .

(This is not an exhaustive list)

How to get people to read your bookish blog . . .

A Good Man in Africa by William Boyd - review and analysis

You're a book lover? You need to see these!

Reading Challenges - Part 2

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro - review and analysis

Thank you for reading. Please do leave a comment and some feedback if you have any, it is very much appreciated. And if you've any questions, I shall do my best to answer them. You can support MonstaReader on ko-fi.com with a coffee - the caffeine keeps me writing and reading through the comments! Thank you for your support and your time!

Wondering what the ultimate solution is to RUNNING OUT OF SHELF SPACE?

 

Disclaimer: should you make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I may earn a small commission from the sellers, but this does not affect the cost to the consumer, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

I can't stop buying books.

There are books on my shelves that I haven't yet read, and those shelves are pretty much full. But, still, I've a list of books noted down that I just have to get my hands on at some point. And every time I get an email from Waterstones or bookshop.org or one of the publishing houses, at least half the books mentioned in one of those emails end up being added to the list.

I am fairly certain I will die with books on my shelves that I never read. Of course I will; I buy books quicker than I can read them. It's the curse of the bibliophile!

Why do I do it? Why do any of us do it?

It's almost Sisyphean, right?

The TBR pile that never gets any smaller because, before you've even finished the book you're reading, you've found yourself in a bookshop handing over money to buy two more books that will be added to the pile!

There are books on my shelves that I bought excitedly months ago but still haven't got round to reading because of this habit.

But, the thing is, a book requires time and attention. A book requires consideration and thought and care. Reading a book is more than just taking in the words. Sometimes it requires some note-taking. Sometimes it requires going away to read something else, or visit a website, or contact someone . . . Reading a book can lead to a lot of things, and it takes time.

And in that time I am probably going to end up buying other books as well!

Buying a new book is all about the promise of what waits inside, between the covers. I am not particularly fussed about the beauty of the covers themselves, but the anticipation of discovering the beauty of the words inside . . . Oh!

Having a book on the shelves is having access to new ideas. And new ideas can spark so much. With a new idea, another way of looking at things, you may just end up discovering something wonderful. It could lead to a new project, a new friend, a new career . . . Anything really, depending on the kind of books you are reading. Who knows. There is a lot of promise in a new book on the shelves. And that, I think, is why I can't stop buying them quicker than I can read them. And why I feel wistful when I have finished a book that lived up to that promise; wishing I had savoured and appreciated the writing more as I'd made my way through the book, knowing that I'll never again be able to discover the book anew.

I'm afraid I don't have an answer to the question posed in the title of this post. I suppose I could buy a Kindle. But what sort of joyless existence would that be? I mean, jeez, go visit your local bookshop already. Bezos has made it! He and his buddies have enough money!

Thank you for reading. If you found anything entertaining therein, you can support my writing with a coffee on ko-fi.com because writing for free is fun, but at a certain point you're like, "Wait, I am making an effort here and writers worse than me are getting paid, so . . . " Stuff like that! Thank you - all support is much appreciated!

The Fear-Fighter Manual: Lessons From a Professional Troublemaker by Luvvie Ajayi Jones - an analysis and review

 

Disclaimer: should you make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I may earn a small commission from the sellers, but that does not affect the cost to the consumer, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

The central theme of this book is a fairly simple one, and at the same time a fairly difficult one; how to overcome fear so that we might reach greater levels of success in our lives. 

Luvvie Ajayi Jones does not suggest that we should be fearless, for fear can be useful and informative. It can keep us safe and prevent us from making poor decisions. However, some of the things that we fear have been bred in us not for our own good, but so that we might keep our voices small and quiet. So that we won't rock the boat and point out the absurdities of our world. Some of that fear is there because others felt uncomfortable with our differences of opinion, thought, feeling, appearance, circumstances . . .

Those fears, the author suggests, are fears that we ought to address and overcome because they serve no one, and only make us small where we could be grand.

These themes of overcoming fear, wanting for something more grand, "living our best lives" are obviously not going anywhere any time soon. Self help books are doing good business. They probably always will; there's always been troubles and inequality in the world and - sorry, just call me Mr. Pessimistic - I expect there always will be.

Drawing on research, personal experiences, and her grandmother's life, Luvvie Ajayi Jones has written a book that sets out to lift the reader out of their fears, and consider what they might be.

Luvvie Ajayi Jones began blogging in the early 2000's, and has been writing ever since. She is also a highly sought after public speaker. And, as someone who blogs (and has nowhere near the audience that Luvvie has) and who also cannot stand before a group of more than about eight people without wanting to disappear into the floor, I can tell you that that sort of work takes perseverance and guts. So, the author seems to be qualified to cover the topics of tackling fears and realising goals for this, her second book.

I like how the book is written in three parts (Be, Say, Do), covering the different ways in which we can address our fears and learn to overcome them, and that the author writes in her own warm and honest voice. In it's best moments, this book reads like the words of an honest and caring friend. I don't know that this book is for everyone, but there are some interesting and worthy ideas between the pages. If you're looking for a read that might just point you towards a bolder and brighter you, whilst also drawing a smile or two, you might love The Fear-Fighter Manual by Luvvie Ajayi Jones.

You can buy The Fear-Fighter Manual: Lessons From a Professional Troublemaker by Luvvie Ajayi Jones here

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this piece, you can buy me a coffee on ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me reading and reviewing! Thank you to all supporters!

Drop a 📚 in the comments if any of these authors changed your life!

Disclaimer: should you make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I may earn a small commission from the sellers, but this does not affect the cost to you and it does not influence the content of this blog.

The book I remember really enjoying when I was young is a book called Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne, the creator of Winnie the Pooh. And though that famous bear is found within the pages of this book, this is not a Pooh bear story. No, Now We Are Six is a collection of verses for children, written by Milne. 

I remember loving the music of the verses, how the words flowed. I think it is partly because of this book that I developed a liking for reading, and an appreciation for poetry in particular. I remember even taking this book to school with me.

Now We Are Six was published in 1927, and the author is very well known for his Hundred Acre Wood creation, but all of that didn't mean much to me; this book, and the poetry inside, was mine, all mine.

For that reason, A. A. Milne, I would say, might very well be the first author that changed my life.

When I was a little older, I discovered Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4. I wasn't quite as old as the hapless protagonist when I first read this young adult novel, and I think I felt a little grown up reading a book with naughty jokes, and mentions of politicians and the royal family. It was fun for younger readers, but the writer didn't talk down to her audience. 

I can't help but think that, in creating a character like Adrian Mole, Sue Townsend achieved a master stroke. He is the perfect character for the young adult readership for which he was intended. True, he isn't a particularly heroic or likeable character, but he gives the reader a reason to laugh. And if the reader is navigating that unholy land of adolescence along with Adrian, they may find something within the pages to which they can relate. Though not too much hopefully.

I think the reason that Jack Kerouac's On The Road affected me so much as a teenager is that I wanted to take off on a similar trip. I still do!

The idea of taking off on the open road, and the characters and places and stories that could be found there, seemed kind of romantic and dangerous. And to find that it was based on the author's own real life experiences made it all the more appealing. I very much understood the desire to head out into the world, seeking something more than what seemed to be on offer.

From Kerouac, I sort of fell for the Lost Generation. I had a thing for the 1950's/1960's anyway, having been fascinated by Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, and that whole era of Hollywood and New York. But the beat writers were like the punks of that generation; they wrote in the voices they wanted/needed to hear. They created work that spoke to the people that weren't being spoken for on the cinema screen. And I love those writers and artists that see the unseen. I felt a bit unseen myself, maybe that had something to do with my appreciation.

As I draw this post to close, I want you to know that this list is not an exhaustive one. I could consider so many more writers to include in this piece. However, I am going to conclude this post with A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess.

I first found this novel when I was a teenager, in the school's library. And I was shocked by it and I was intrigued. It was, I think, the first book I had read that explored such adult themes in such an unflinching way. The imagery and themes were violent and graphic, and I realised that books could be a safe space to tackle those subjects that people perhaps don't like to discuss.

It was also the first book, I think, where I found a writer playing with language and words in such a way. That in itself was fascinating to me.

And so, that is my brief overview of some of the writers, and the books, that have changed my life. You can buy the books mentioned in the links below. If you enjoyed this read, you can buy me a coffee on ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me reading life changing books and then writing all about them here! Thank you!

Where to buy 

Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne - bookshop.org

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend - bookshop.org

On The Road by Jack Kerouac - bookshop.org

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess - bookshop.org