I do hope everyone has had a lovely seasonal break; if you’re anything like us at the Ramblings, there’s been a lot of food and drink and silly games and laughter with family, which has been quite lovely. There were also plenty of parcels to unwrap, and inevitably there have been books – in fact, rather more than I might have anticipated!
Things were slightly complicated by my birthday also being a December one, and so I thought I would split the arrivals into the two categories and share some of the bookish arrivals! 😁
This rather modest pile is the birthday books. My BFF J. presented me with another beautiful Beverley for my collection (which gets larger daily!) and the Vegan cookbook was from a local friend. “Dayglo”, about the amazing Poly Styrene, was from my brother in law, and the rest of the books were inspired gifts from Mr. Kaggsy. There is an intriguing sounding book about D. H. Lawrence in there which will become particularly pertinent as this post continues… I was very excited to get the new translation of the Bruno Schulz stories too!
Well – let’s get on to Christmas… Here’s the rather daunting pile of new arrivals!
I must admit I wasn’t anticipating quite so many bookish gifts – here’s a little more detail… ;D
This impressive pile of D.H. Lawrence titles comes from my BFF J., who has obviously decreed that 2020 will be the year that I read DHL! Let’s hope I like him… She actually lugged them all the way round London when we met up at the end of November, which is no mean feat – thanks J.!
These books are from other pals! “The House with the Stained Glass Window” comes from my old friend V., and as a fascinating translated work, it sounds right up my street! The Vita and Carter books are part of my Virago Secret Santa this year, and my Santa turned out to be Simon at Stuck in a Book – thanks Simon! 😀
And this stunning pile comes from family – including the Copenhagen trilogy from Middle child, Montaigne, Oscar Wilde, the Cold War, Buzzcocks and the wonderful behemoth at the bottom – The Penguin Book of Oulipo. I am ridiculously excited about all of these, and the Oulipo book is the icing on the cake!
So I’m obvs going to have to rearrange the shelves and have a bit of a clear out to house these wonderful volumes – and fortunately Mr. Kaggsy rather cleverly gifted me something which will be the perfect aid:
This is a rather wonderful library stool/step (the bottom bit slides out when you want to use it as a step) which I can keep in the spare room where the books live and use to hop up and down from the higher shelves, and sit on to have a quick sneaky read whenever I want! It’s absolutely fab and will no doubt help my investigations of some of my top shelves (and may even help me locate my missing Shostakovich books…)
So – I have been thoroughly spoiled over recent weeks with books and am now going to have even more issues deciding what to read next! I’m very lucky to have been so gifted. I hope all my bookish friends have had some wonderful Christmas arrivals, and do share what lovely books have been incoming at your homes! 😀
Jonathan
Dec 27, 2019 @ 11:05:33
You know your library is substantial when you need a step.☺ You’ll need a sliding ladder next.
I’m intrigued by the Oulipo book.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 27, 2019 @ 17:57:35
LOL! I don’t think the ceilings are high enough for a sliding ladder although I suppose I can have Library Goals! The Oulipo book looks to be packed with riches. I really *don’t* know what to read next!!
MarinaSofia
Dec 27, 2019 @ 11:18:48
Ah, you received the volume about Montaigne that I enjoyed so much this year and has made me eager to read more of him! An excellent selection of birthday and Christmas presents!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 27, 2019 @ 17:56:36
Yes, I was very keen on this after reading your review, and also obtaining a collection of is essays! I think I have rather been spoiled! 😀
Tony
Dec 27, 2019 @ 12:45:39
Really keen to try the Ditlevsen books 🙂
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 27, 2019 @ 17:52:42
Me too – I put them on my Christmas wishlist so I could hold off buying them but I’ve been itching to read them!
Silvia
Dec 27, 2019 @ 14:30:04
Love it! What wonderful books, and I love the stool.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 27, 2019 @ 17:52:14
I’ve been very lucky and spoiled. And yes – the stool is perfect! 😀
heavenali
Dec 27, 2019 @ 17:47:03
What a fabulous bookish Christmas you have had. I have read two of the Ditlevsen books in another volume, and thoroughly enjoyed them. It’s a long time since I read any Lawrence, I quite enjoyed him back in the day but feel much less drawn to him now. I look forward to hearing how you get on with him. That stool is fabulous too.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 27, 2019 @ 17:51:36
It was indeed very bookish – more so than I had expected! I’m very much looking forward to the Ditlevsen books – they sound marvellous. I’m slightly nervous of DHL but we shall see. And yes – the stool is perfect! :DD
JacquiWine
Dec 27, 2019 @ 18:37:10
Oh my goodness, what a lot of books! A lovely set of presents for you to enjoy over the coming months. The Copenhagen Trilogy is excellent, easily one of my standout reads of the year. I hope you find it interesting too.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 27, 2019 @ 19:39:53
I’m certainly looking forward to it – sounds so marvellous. Hopefully I’ll get to it soon! 😀
Liz Dexter
Dec 27, 2019 @ 18:50:31
Lovely piles! I had 11 books for Christmas but will probably share a pic on 1 Jan as I seem to be finishing a book a day at the moment and I don’t like reviews going over into the new year!
I saw that Penguin Book of Oulipo in a book shop and thought of you! Happy readingmas!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 27, 2019 @ 19:39:26
LOL. I can’t worry about reviews running over as I’m always late at the moment. I will catch up eventually…
And yes – the Oulipo book is just perfect for me. So exciting!
Annabel (AnnaBookBel)
Dec 28, 2019 @ 08:35:06
I heard about the Oulipo book too, looks a lovely edition. What a great pile(s).
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 28, 2019 @ 13:51:48
The list of contents alone is tantalising – can’t wait to read it!! I was very spoiled this Christmas…
MARI
Dec 28, 2019 @ 16:25:02
Oooh “The House with the Stained Glass Window”! This one is perhaps in my top three for 2019 and I do send you all the best bookish wishes for 2020, Kaggsy!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 28, 2019 @ 19:18:20
That’s good to know- it does sound really good! And thank you – hope your 2020 is bookish too!
chrisharding53
Dec 30, 2019 @ 10:03:25
You did well there – you obviously have your family and friends very well trained! Would love to know your thoughts on Vegan Christmas – we are having our seasonal celebration later this week, when the daughters and their partners visit, and I’m planning a vegan cassoulet.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 30, 2019 @ 10:15:12
I *do* tend to circulate lists, though Mr. Kaggsy tends to go off-piste and improvise. He usually finds something intriguing, though! Vegan Christmas looks great and I have done some of the sides – I do love the Avant Garde Vegan YouTube channel and his recipes are marvellous, but often quite elaborate… ;D
chrisharding53
Dec 30, 2019 @ 11:18:41
Haven’t seen the you tube channel, but I will take a look – thank you. I was vegetarian for years and years, but after the girls left home I got fed up producing two lots of food for just two of us, because my husband likes his meat, so I do eat some meat and fish. Elder Daughter and her husband were veggie for a long time, then went vegan, and I enjoy cooking (and eating!) vegan when they are here.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 30, 2019 @ 11:57:57
It’s definitely worth a look, as is the Bosh channel – the latter are less elaborate to prepare and I’ve used their bok quite a bit! 😀
Cleo @ Classical Carousel
Jan 01, 2020 @ 04:42:10
Ooo, sounds like a wonderful Christmas! I particularly love Montaigne and Oscar Wilde. In fact, I was just saying today that Montaigne was probably the only author who I could read essay after essay without a break of someone else.
Have a great reading year in 2020!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 01, 2020 @ 10:12:01
I adore Oscar, so anything by him is very welcome! And so excited to read Montaign – he sounds marvellous!
Happy new year to you to!