It’s time. For the sixth 12 months operating I carry you my final, straightforward, budget-adaptable Christmas present. The one which feels considerate and private but takes seconds to purchase and is straightforward to wrap and low cost to put up. Sure, expensive readers, it’s the most well-liked put up of the season: my Christmas Books ‘n Goodies!
Do you need to appear to be essentially the most trendy and thought of gift-giver, one that actually has their life collectively, but expend just about no power? Then that is the put up for you. A fastidiously curated collection of the best books, matched artistically and with nice aptitude to the daintiest, prettiest bars of chocolate. Or essentially the most cool and graphic slabs. All wrapped up in plain brown paper, tied with striped string, the ultimate bundle by no means fails to please.
The purpose of this book-and-choc pairing is that the recipient feels as if they’re being given one thing a bit bit luxurious. So we’re speaking excessive finish books and high-quality goodies however that’s not all: each the e book cowl and the chocolate wrapping have to be aesthetically pleasing and in addition matched collectively in a method that makes folks suppose, “wow, this particular person has fashion”. These persons are to not know that you simply ordered all the things on the web, carrying fleece polar bear pyjamas and a flammable dressing robe.
Earlier than I current you with this 12 months’s spectacular book-and-choc pairings, I ought to say that there’s a complete again catalogue of those annual posts. And so should you’d like to have a look at dozens and dozens extra examples then click on the hyperlinks on the backside of this web page.
Proper, with out additional ado: the Final 2024 Books and Goodies Spherical-Up!
[AD-info: this post contains affiliate links, marked *.]
Purchase All Fours right here*
Purchase Charbonnel & Walker Sea Salt Truffles*
I’m going to speak extra about All Fours by Miranda July subsequent week. The story is completely mad. I get the sensation it may very well be a kind of Marmite kind of books, as a result of it’s so far-fetched and unhinged, however should you submit (ooh err) and permit your self to have a very good sense of humour about all of it then it’s an absolute riot. I discovered myself laughing simply out of pure glee at how batshit loopy it was, in locations. And, on a extra critical notice, it tackles some massive midlife points head-on and fully unapologetically. Not one to provide to Auntie Maud whereas she’s having her hip alternative, maybe, or anybody you don’t know moderately nicely, as a result of it’s fairly…intimate…in locations, however this may very well be top-of-the-line reads to present a girlfriend that you simply’ll discover this 12 months. Or the worst. No matter, it’ll be a dialog starter…
Purchase Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors*
Purchase Ocelot Sea Salt Chocolate
4 sisters’ tales, one e book. However there’s a tragic absence all through that binds the separate tales collectively. Poignant and touching however not too hair-clawingly depressing, it’s a very good winter vacation learn. Particularly should you’re breaking right into a bar of the previous Ocelot Sea Salt on the similar time. Be nonetheless my chocolate-loving coronary heart.
(Ocelot’s very graphic packaging is ideal for my books and chocs pairings. You nearly can’t go fallacious, they give the impression of being good with all the things!)
Purchase Lengthy Island by Colm Toibin*
Purchase Ocelot Sea Salt Chocolate
I wrote about Colm Toibin’s Lengthy Island right here, however to save lots of you having to open a brand new window, in brief I referred to as it “scrumptious” and mentioned this about it:
“I like anybody who can take lives which might be similar to anybody else’s lives – seemingly pedestrian, with nothing that surprising or stunning occurring – and make the dearth of something notably notable into the factor that’s fascinating. Not simply fascinating: treasured. Each little life and each a part of that life made so treasured, so value dissecting and giving thought to… it actually makes you cease and admire how densely-packed every of us is with all of our reminiscences and feelings and hyperlinks to different folks.”
What a gorgeously slow-paced, delectable little treasure-chest of a e book. Arduous advocate.
Purchase James by Percival Everett*
Purchase Waitrose No1 Chocolate
Oooph. I hate the phrase “laborious advocate” however I’m attempting to be extra down with the children and so I’ll use it once more: Percival Everett’s James is totally excellent. In the event you learn The Bushes and had been blown away by that then undertake the brace place since you’re about to start out one other masterpiece that you simply gained’t be capable to put down.
By no means have I wished a personality to outlive so badly – and never simply survive, I used to be keen Jim (an escaped slave who is about on shopping for his spouse and youngster’s freedom) to rewrite historical past. Highly effective, past unhappy and with the capability to make you’re feeling determined, nauseating ranges of rage.
By the best way, you might discover (should you’ve seen earlier books-n-chocs posts) that I’ve slipped a brand new chocolate bar in right here. I wished to discover a easy, graphic bar that didn’t value an absolute fortune and by God I’ve executed it. Waitrose No1 vary – a great deal of completely different variations. Approx two quid, relying on whenever you fill up…
My different bargainous model of alternative, as , is Tony’s Chocolonely. I really like the massive, daring graphics on these chunky slabs of choc. A great deal of colors, nice worth, I can’t think about a time once they gained’t be included.
Purchase Intermezzo right here*
Purchase Ocelot Violet Milk right here
Intermezzo, one other tremendous learn for a slow-burn, wintery type of week. My first Sally Rooney e book and I’ll most positively be going again for extra – I really like these detailed examinations of individuals’s character and interior turbulence.
Purchase Rabbits by Hugo Rifkind*
Purchase Pana Natural Peanut Caramel
Teen angst and darkish goings-on, Rabbits by Hugo Rifkind makes you need to rent a battered mini and relive your youth. Type of.
Purchase Brotherless Evening right here*
The one e book within the e book pile that I’ve began however gained’t end earlier than this put up goes dwell. Disgrace on me! I used to be doing so nicely. Brotherless Evening by V.V. Ganeshananthan gained this 12 months’s Girls’s Prize for Fiction which is the way it caught my eye, it’s fantastically written to this point and with sensible consideration to historic element. I’ve a sense I’m in for a really emotional experience…
Purchase I Who Have By no means Identified Males*
What a e book! I Who Have By no means Identified Males by Jacqueline Harpman isn’t a brand new launch however has had one thing of a resurgence this 12 months and I’m so happy that it has. It’s wonderful. Completely mysterious but in addition bleak and barren. I don’t need to say an excessive amount of about it, nevertheless it’s a incredible choose. Correct dialog starter!
Purchase Cherry Bomb chocolate
It doesn’t must at all times be about fiction with regards to the Books ‘n Chocs present. I do somewhat like sending out cookbooks, too, particularly if I can pair them with a related spice or condiment or accent. Fairly partial – and stick with me right here – to pairing a cookbook with a pleasant tea towel. It packs flat, nonetheless, is light-weight and simply feels applicable and enjoyable. I like M&S cotton ones which are available a pack of 4 (£8 right here*) and add a grand complete of two kilos to the present value should you cut up the pack down.
I couldn’t resist including on this Cherry Bomb chocolate bar, although – I just lately found the net store Delli for area of interest and fascinating storecupboard buys and condiments and so forth. Went to city a bit on the previous confectionery..
Purchase How To not be a Supermodel right here*
Purchase Fatso Candy Tart chocolate right here
Indulge me, momentarily, if you’ll. As a result of I’ve waited many, a few years to take pleasure in this second: my very personal e book featured in my very personal “books n chocs” put up. What an absolute thrill! I ask you in your consideration solely briefly, as a result of I’m coming again at you with a complete put up about How To not be a Supermodel subsequent week, when the hardback turns into broadly accessible within the States, which is a HUGE factor to be occurring.
I even have some various chocolate pairings and a load to say about how a lot you’ll take pleasure in studying this e book should you haven’t executed so already. It might be my “choose of the 12 months” if that was allowable, which clearly it isn’t as a result of I’d appear to be a proper previous berk if I selected my very own e book, however you get the gist. I find it irresistible and I feel that you’ll find it irresistible. It has been making folks giggle out loud at very inappropriate occasions and that’s the very best evaluate I may want for.
You probably have learn the e book you then’ll admire the selection of chocolate model…
I hope you’ve loved this 12 months’s providing – keep in mind to take a look at the hyperlink beneath for earlier editions and masses extra concepts!
My Final Straightforward Christmas Reward: 2019-2023 Editions