If your thing is books, it’s that glorious time of year when Exclusive Books has its winter sale.
So make a note in your diary – if you’re a Fanatics member, you get a preview chance next Wednesday at any of their branches and, if not, you can slip in from next Thursday to see what they have that will tickle your fancy.
The prices are good, so it’s a great time to stock your gift cupboards for everyone who has a birthday coming up – or even start preparing for end-of-the-year surprises.
Here are a few personal choices to give you some idea of what to expect. It’s usually my chance to pick up the books that could be regarded as luxuries because they’re too expensive, or perhaps the topic is a little too indulgent.
But it’s also the perfect way to stock up on some books that might have slipped your notice when they first appeared.
Shackleton’s Forgotten Expedition, by Beau Riffenburgh (R87):
Even if you think you’ve had your fill of this explorer and his South Pole expedition, try this one. It is described as the definitive account of the British Antarctic Expedition, the crucial prequel to Shackleton’s renowned endurance expedition. The author is a historian who specialises in exploration, especially that of the Antarctic, the Arctic and Africa. He is also the editor of Polar Record, the oldest journal of polar research.
The Food of Thailand – A Journey For Food Lovers, by Kay Halsey (R182):
It’s a beautiful book at the price, filled with the most wonderful pictures not only of the food but also the country, the people and the places that almost make the world of Thai cuisine come alive. It’s much more than the recipes, as the title suggests when it speaks of a journey. A food editor and photographer worked their way from southern Thailand up the Isthmus of Kra to the border with Laos. In each place, they went from roadside barbecues to grand hotels to really get to the nitty gritty of the food and the way Thai people eat – both the wealthy and those just going about their daily lives. It’s a great combo of travel and food, as you get a whiff of what the country is about.
William Blake’s Divine Comedy Illustrations (Dover, R110):
If you’ve ever gone to see these beautiful Blake illustrations in the Tate Gallery in London, you will know just how exquisite they are. And if you have always thought of Blake as simply an amazing poet, this will change your mind. It’s not that these pictures capture any of the real marvel of the illustrations as seen in the Tate, but it would be very good preparation if you should ever have the chance. And if not, it will give a hint of what this astonishing artist was capable of and how he visualised Dante’s immortal trilogy. The artist spent the last three years of his life creating these images, which range from completely finished to rough sketches and give a fresh perspec-tive for those already familiar with the Divine Comedy.
French Country Kitchens, by Linda Dannenberg (R140):
It’s always fun to see how others live and what they do in their homes – especially the French, who are considered by many to have the best cuisine in the world and should give us an idea of how to do a good kitchen. Dannenberg slips into country kitchens and not the city’s slicker, perhaps sleeker, versions. It is years of a family’s history that speaks through these walls, recipes that have been handed down for generations and the warmth of rooms where a family gathers to have food. The families featured here have cleverly played with colour and cuisine to make their kitchens come alive – and it reminds one that you probably have enough in your home to turn what could be a dull room into something quite spectacular.
The Big Elephant in the Room, by Lane Smith (R115):
The illustrations alone will have you paging through with a smile on your face. It’s one of those child-ren’s books that says as much to the adult in the child’s life as the really young, who will be enchanted by the sketches while learning one of life’s lessons.
Dreams, Miracles and Jazz – New Adventures in African Writing, edited by Helon Habila & Kadija Sesay. (R29):
If nothing else, it will give you an idea of what is happening on this continent in writing and literature. This is described as the future of African literature as the stories take you into the heart of the continent like nothing else can. The stories reflect ordinary people from across the continent, real Africans who love and laugh and suffer and triumph – just as the wondrous title suggests. They were looking for writers who were willing to take risks and break boundaries, so be prepared for some adventurous reading as the title suggests.
Design Intelligence Made Visible, by Stephen Bayley and Terrence Conran (R198):
If you’re at all interested in design, this is a must-have. It is a comprehensive guide to design in the modern world written by one of the best commentators on modern culture and one of the world’s best designers and arbiters of taste. It pays tribute to all the leading names, movements, signs and symbols that have influenced the design world in the 20th century and beyond and while many might be familiar to you, many will not. Apart from paging through and looking at the world’s top designers and their work, it also shows the influence specific designers had around the world and the impact design has on all our lives every day. This is a fantastic buy.
Make the time to take part in our fabulous competition, which will give one lucky reader a whopper of a hamper filled with books.