Dear Santa..
29 November 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Christmas list, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
Every Tuesday over at the The Broke and Bookish we all get to look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) examples to demonstrate that particular topic.
Ten books to buy as presents for people who like ‘x’:
This week I’m choosing options for people who like a certain type of book – books I would pick for people looking for ‘x’
- The classics retelling – Longbourn by Jo Baker, a different take on Pride and Prejudice. I loved this, told from the ‘downstair’s perspective. I also have Eligibile by Curtis Sittenfeld waiting to be read too which might also make a similar list – hopefully. These are two books I know my dad would love.
- Romance – The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons – I don’t do romance but I’ll make an exception for this – because Alexander. Read it and then come back and tell if I’m wrong.
- Time travel – Outlander by Diana Gabaldon – again, I’m not overly fond of time travel (or romance) and this book mixes both but in a really good way.
- Short stories – Monstrous Little Voices. I don’t tend to like short reads but this book is great. A collection of short stories set in the worlds created by Shakespeare. No need to be an expert – I’m certainly not one. All of the stories interlink and they’re just really well done – which isn’t a surprise given the authors involved. Emma Newman, Jonathan Barnes, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Kate Heartfield and Foz Meadows.
- Urban Fantasy – Seanan McGuire’s Toby Daye series. A great series that I’m absolutely loving. If you know somebody, currently looking for a new UF series then add this one to our shopping list.
- Contemporary YA – 13 Minutes by Sarah Pinborough. This was a great read, Mean Girls sort of meets Gone Girl – for want of a better description.
- YA Fantasy – for those just dipping their toes into the world of fantasy – The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.
- Hardened fantasy fans who want something different and unique – The Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence.
- Sci fi for people who want more accessible sci fi – Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel. I’ve just read this and loved it.
- And, this one is blank – so you can all suggest a book you’d buy for somebody.
Books and travelling with Lynn 
I have Longbourn on my to-buy list! I just read Pride and Prejudice, and loved it. So I definitely want to read the “downstairs” take on it.
Great list! 😀
Ace – I love Pride and Prejudice, I almost wish that I’d read Longbourn fairly close to reading it so I could have really compared the two.
Lynn 😀
Fabulous list – I love the idea of Longbourn and Eligible:)). Many thanks for sharing, Lynn.
I have Eligible waiting to be read and I can’t wait!
Lynn 😀
I haven’t. Yet… But I do plan on treating myself if I manage to complete my current rewrite before Christmas:).
As you know, I have been watching the Outlander series. I’m not fond of time travel but this one is done well. I would like to read the series at some point.
It’s a good series – I’ve not read all the books but read the first four or maybe even five. The first one is my favourite though.
Lynn 😀
I approve any list that includes Station Eleven! Your list makes me want to call in sick to work and read all day:-)
Yeah, I know what you mean – a lovely duvet day! *we can but wish*
Lynn 😀
Great list! Monstrous Little Voices sounds like a fun book! Gonna check that one out. And of course Prince of Thorn and October Daye has forever been on my TBR.
I really enjoyed Monstrous Little Voices. I don’t usually like short stories but these stories are all interlinked which makes it feel like a much longer story. Mark Lawrence is so good, I love his writing. And if you want UF DEFINITELY read October Daye – it’s so good. I mean, you have to get past the first one which definitely has first in series syndrome, it’s good but not brilliant – more a set up book – but the series just gets stronger and stronger.
Lynn 😀
Mark Lawrence really gets a lot of praises, I can’t wait to experience his work. I’ll keep that in mind when I do get to October Daye.
I’d suggest Fahrenheit 451. A classic with relevance. 🙂
My TTT
Great choice. I’ve read it – but a reread is always a good idea.
Lynn 😀
As huge of an Outlander fan as I am, I’ve never read Bronze Horseman. I own it. Everyone tells me to read it. There’s just this wall between me and that book.
OMG – seriously, read it. There is no wall! You’ll love it. I think so anyway.
Lynn 😀
I think I will too! I think that’s what scares me! So far nobody has touched Jamie in my heart, and I don’t want competition! 😀
I really want to start the October Daye series. I’ve read two McGuire books this year already and LOVE her writing. I STILL need to read Station Eleven but have really only heard good things about it!
Station Eleven is great and so is the October Daye series. It probably starts off a little slowly in the first book but I’ve pretty much found that with most of my UF reads but it just keeps getting stronger and stronger and I’m really hooked now.
Lynn 😀
For the open nr. 10 I would suggest Lois McMaster’s Bujold’s Vor Saga: it’s the kind of space opera that never gets old, despite the passage of time, and bears well a few re-reads 🙂
Thank you – I will definitely check that out – I have a strange idea that I might already have the first book. Need to go and look.
Lynn 😀
I really want to read Longbourn by Jo Baker and I really must get round to reading Monstrous Little Voices!
Both are so good. I really can’t recommend them enough.
Lynn 😀
Lovely list!
I recently bought A Million Little Pieces by James Frey for my older brother because he drunkenly confessed to me that fiction confuses him (he doesn’t like it when points of view change). I thought he’d enjoy the stream-of-consciousness style…so that’s my recommendation for those unfathomable people who only read non-fiction. :d
Ahh, interesting choice. I will go and take a look. Thanks
Lynn 😀
Good picks. I’ll add Arnaldur Indridason for those who love a bit of Scandi crime thriller but haven’t tried his excellent Icelandic crime dramas.
I will definitely check that out – thanks.
lynn 😀
Since it’s the end of sci-fi month, I made my list of 10 for sci-fi lovers…but I love your all encompassing idea! I had no idea 13 Minutes was YA! Still want to read it 🙂
Well, I think it was YA – but I’m kind of going off the ages of the characters really, I’m desperately trying to remember if there was anything that would have taken it a bit over the edge but I’m struggling.
Lynn 😀
Great suggestions! I think my number 10 suggestion would be Lauren Graham’s book for someone who loves Gilmore Girls. I just finished reading it and it was one of my favorites of the year!
Thanks for the suggestion. I will definitely take a look at that.
Lynn 😀
The Graveyard Book is one of my all time favorite books hehe 😀 https://www.amazon.com/Born-Crime-Stories-African-Childhood/dp/0399588175
It’s such a good book. I really do love it.
Lynn 😀