It’s time. For the sixth yr operating I carry you my final, simple, 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 submit. Sure, pricey readers, it’s the preferred submit of the season: my Christmas Books ‘n Goodies!
Do you wish to seem like essentially the most trendy and regarded gift-giver, one that actually has their life collectively, but expend nearly no vitality? Then that is the submit for you. A fastidiously curated number 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 of bit luxurious. So we’re speaking excessive finish books and high quality candies however that’s not all: each the e-book cowl and the chocolate wrapping have to be aesthetically pleasing and likewise matched collectively in a approach that makes folks assume, “wow, this individual has fashion”. These persons are to not know that you just ordered all the things on the web, sporting fleece polar bear pyjamas and a flammable dressing robe.
Earlier than I current you with this yr’s spectacular book-and-choc pairings, I ought to say that there’s a whole again catalogue of those annual posts. And so when you’d like to take 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 type of Marmite form of books, as a result of it’s so far-fetched and unhinged, however when you submit (ooh err) and permit your self to have a great 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 offer to Auntie Maud whereas she’s having her hip alternative, maybe, or anybody you don’t know fairly nicely, as a result of it’s fairly…intimate…in locations, however this may very well be the most effective reads to present a girlfriend that you just’ll discover this yr. 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 great winter vacation learn. Particularly when you’re breaking right into a bar of the previous Ocelot Sea Salt on the identical 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 unsuitable, 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, briefly I known as it “scrumptious” and stated this about it:
“I love anybody who can take lives which are identical to anybody else’s lives – seemingly pedestrian, with nothing that surprising or stunning occurring – and make the dearth of something significantly notable into the factor that’s attention-grabbing. Not simply attention-grabbing: valuable. Each little life and each a part of that life made so valuable, so price dissecting and giving thought to… it actually makes you cease and respect how densely-packed every of us is with all of our recollections and feelings and hyperlinks to different folks.”
What a gorgeously slow-paced, delectable little treasure-chest of a e-book. Onerous 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 case you learn The Timber and have been blown away by that then undertake the brace place since you’re about to start out one other masterpiece that you just 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 prepared 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 (when 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 price an absolute fortune and by God I’ve finished it. Waitrose No1 vary – a great deal of completely different variations. Approx two quid, relying on if you refill…
My different bargainous model of selection, as you realize, 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 after they gained’t be included.
Purchase Intermezzo right here*
Purchase Ocelot Violet Milk right here
Intermezzo, one other positive learn for a slow-burn, wintery sort of week. My first Sally Rooney e-book and I’ll most undoubtedly be going again for extra – I really like these detailed examinations of individuals’s character and inside turbulence.
Purchase Rabbits by Hugo Rifkind*
Purchase Pana Natural Peanut Caramel
Teen angst and darkish goings-on, Rabbits by Hugo Rifkind makes you wish to rent a battered mini and relive your youth. Form of.
Purchase Brotherless Night time right here*
The one e-book within the e-book pile that I’ve began however gained’t end earlier than this submit goes stay. Disgrace on me! I used to be doing so nicely. Brotherless Night time by V.V. Ganeshananthan gained this yr’s Girls’s Prize for Fiction which is the way it caught my eye, it’s superbly written thus far and with good consideration to historic element. I’ve a sense I’m in for a really emotional trip…
Purchase I Who Have By no means Recognized Males*
What a e-book! I Who Have By no means Recognized Males by Jacqueline Harpman isn’t a brand new launch however has had one thing of a resurgence this yr and I’m so happy that it has. It’s wonderful. Completely mysterious but in addition bleak and barren. I don’t wish to say an excessive amount of about it, however it’s a unbelievable decide. Correct dialog starter!
Purchase Cherry Bomb chocolate
It doesn’t need to at all times be about fiction on the subject of the Books ‘n Chocs present. I do relatively 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 acceptable and enjoyable. I like M&S cotton ones which are available in a pack of 4 (£8 right here*) and add a grand complete of two kilos to the present value when you break up the pack down.
I couldn’t resist including on this Cherry Bomb chocolate bar, although – I not too long ago found the web store Delli for area of interest and attention-grabbing 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 get pleasure from this second: my very personal e-book featured in my very personal “books n chocs” submit. What an absolute thrill! I ask you to your consideration solely briefly, as a result of I’m coming again at you with a complete submit 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 taking place.
I even have some different chocolate pairings and a load to say about how a lot you’ll get pleasure from studying this e-book when you haven’t finished so already. It might be my “decide of the yr” if that was allowable, which clearly it isn’t as a result of I’d seem like 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 chortle out loud at very inappropriate occasions and that’s the absolute best assessment I might want for.
If in case you have learn the e-book then you definately’ll respect the selection of chocolate model…
I hope you’ve loved this yr’s providing – bear in mind to take a look at the hyperlink under for earlier editions and masses extra concepts!
My Final Straightforward Christmas Reward: 2019-2023 Editions
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