Around this time of year, I always like to do a little post sharing some of the festive bookish arrivals at the Ramblings; I used to share more book hauls, but I trawl the charity shops less nowadays, and most new volumes come by post and end up appearing on social media! However, I have a December birthday, plus there is Christmas, and with fairly well trained friends and family there are usually more books making it past the barricades and into the house!
First up, here are the birthday arrivals!
The birthday books!
As you can see, there are some awfully interesting titles!
My brother and brother-in-law followed instruction and are responsible for “The Lascaux Notebooks” and “A Book of Days“; my brother in particular was a wee bit perplexed about the former (‘caveman poetry’? he queried, not getting the joke that this is an Oulipo-style literary game). But they came up with books I wanted so that’s fine! “Writing in the Dark” was from the Offspring, who plucked it from my wishlist, and provided a marvellous reading cushion to go with it so I will be comfy wherever I am – this is what it looks like and it’s soooooooooooo nice to sit in and read!
Reading cushion c. John Lewis – so comfy…..
“The Last Englishman” (biog of J.L. Carr) came from my BFF J. and I’m very excited to read this one as Carr is a favourite and the book has a brilliant reputation.
The remainder of the books (Doyle, Literary Houses and “The Cause You Serve“) were from Mr. K, and frankly he’s outdone himself with the latter. Not only is it an author I’ve never come across, the book is a Raduga edition produced by the USSR in English for sale abroad, and I’m a bit of a collector of those, along with the similarly-marketed Progress books!! So to say I was gobsmacked is an understatement! Mightily impressed, as always, with Mr. K’s bookfinding skills and I’ve already got enough here to keep me going with reading for quite a while…
And then there was Christmas where there were again some bookish arrivals although many of the larger, coffee table type. Here they are!
Christmas 2022 arrivals!
As you can see, there are some big books there! The bottom five are courtesy of Mr. K, and the very bottom one probably doesn’t show up so well, but it’s a beautiful vintage catalogue from a Tate exhibition of John Piper‘s works. The cover is stunning and it has the most wonderful reproductions of his art inside so I was very excited. Then there are two more books of ‘Literary Houses‘ – I’ve not come across these before, but on a quick flick there appear to be illustrations and plans of various famous houses from books, so I shall enjoy exploring these.
Mr. K’s next clever find was the “Rock Lighthouses of Britain” book which looks absolutely glorious. I *love* lighthouses (as I probably made clear in my review of “Seashaken Houses“) and so this is a treat, full of photos and original plans and histories of all the rock lighthouses (as opposed to land based ones). What fun!! Finally, he presented me with first edition hardback of the Edward Ardizzone illustrated version of Dylan Thomas’s “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” and it’s absolutely beautiful. A favourite story and a favourite illustrator – what could be better? I spent happy moments looking through the book accompanied by the recording of Thomas reading it, which made for a very memorable Christmas experience. Kudos to Mr. Kaggsy! 😊😊
Other wonderful peeps have also presented books for the festive season. Lovely JacquiWine sent a beautiful edition of an Anita Brookner I don’t have, which will help me to continue my Brookner journey – thank you Jacqui! My BFF J. came across the Camus biography and knew I would love it because a) I love Camus, and b) it’s a white spine Picador – she knows me well! And last but definitely not least, lovely HeavenAli send me two very intriguing sounding titles from The Emma Press. I love the sound of both, and I love an indie publisher – and this is one I haven’t explored yet, so thank you Ali!
So I have been very spoiled this December by my family and friends, and have some absolutely wonderful new books to spend time with. We have had all the Offspring home at various times over the Christmas period, including one special day when they were all here together, and so that has been the biggest treat, after the awfulness of the lockdown times when we couldn’t get together. I hope you’ve all had wonderful festive times and managed to get some rest to recharge your batteries too. Me, I’m now going to be trying to get my head around my books of the year post… 😉😳
Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings 
Dec 27, 2022 @ 07:37:17
Oh you have such a wonderful husband, and well-trained friends! I am a big fan of the Raduga publishing house too as I think some of their translations are the best. Hope you enjoy your lovely books and have a good rest over this period.
Dec 27, 2022 @ 12:02:41
They’re rather wonderful, and they do spoil me! I was extremely impressed with the Raduga, though – I have several and plan to catalogue them and the Progress editions as they’re scattered among my Russian library. And thank you – I am having a lovely rest and relax, and doing lots of reading. Hope you’re doing the same and the family are ok!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 09:40:13
You have your family and friends well trained Karen. I’ve never heard of a reading cushion but it does look super comfy.
Dec 27, 2022 @ 12:01:28
LOL, I’ve worked hard at it over the years, and they usually come up trumps now. I hadn’t heard of the cushion either, but it’s marvellous for back support and propping you up in bed while you read – so comfy!!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 09:45:46
Mr K has an eye for a good book! Looks like your 2023 reading will be off to a great start.
Dec 27, 2022 @ 12:00:39
He certainly does – the trouble now is chooisng what to pick up first!!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 10:40:16
I love seeing your new books each year.
Dec 27, 2022 @ 11:59:39
Thank you! I love sharing them!!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 10:44:59
To yield such results, is evidence of v impressive training on your behalf.
Dec 27, 2022 @ 11:59:27
LOL, it’s taken quite a few years, but has worked! And Mr K has known me a loooong time so he usually gets it right!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 12:10:17
I absolutely love that reading cushion! It’ll make for lovely comfortable reading nook wherever you are. And you do have generous friends and family! What an interesting haul of books (I keep thinking of caveman poetry)! It’s so nice to get a lovely lot of books at this time of year, when the weather makes you just want to stay inside, curl up and read.
Dec 27, 2022 @ 12:16:29
Yes, it’s a wonderfully comfy thing, that cushion, and it can go anywhere in the house where I want to create a reading space. I’m very lucky with family and friends, and fortunately have a lovely long break from work to rest and read. As for the caveman poetry, it’s a very clever book which purports to translate the Lascaux paintings into language and then to verse…. But as there’s an Oulipo connection there’s obviously more to it than meets the eye!!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 12:38:33
Indeed you do have them all very well-trained!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 12:49:52
It’s taken a little while, but they usually come up trumps!! 😊😊📚📚
Dec 27, 2022 @ 12:43:55
Lovely haul, Kaggsy, and thank you so much for sharing! As usual, many of the books/authors are new to me, so you given me a few things to explore, as well as a new artist, John Piper, to check out. I’m very envious about that reading cushion . . . .
Dec 27, 2022 @ 12:49:22
It’s sooooo comfortable! And hope you enjoy exploring the new names. John Piper is a huge favourite of mine – there are several 20th century authors I love, and he’s one of them. His work is so original!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 12:55:16
Opps! Clarification please, as I couldn’t see the John Piper title– is there any particular book of his you’d recommend? After I googled, I assumed you were referring to John Piper the artist, whose work looks quite intriguing!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 12:59:41
LOL, typo on my part…. I meant ‘artists’, not ‘authors’, and it *is* John Piper the artist I was referring to! Sorry for the confusion…
Dec 27, 2022 @ 13:48:43
I DID take a peek at the artist and his work does look very interesting; I’m always excited to discover an intriguing, contemporary-type artist, as I naturally tend to look at older things. So nice to get out of one’s rut, even if only occasionally . . .
Dec 27, 2022 @ 15:26:22
Hurrah! His art is so distinctive, I think – I always mentally bracket him with Paul Nash, who I also love, and Eric Ravilious who is also very individual though different to the other two. I often think that the 20th century peaked when it came to art and lit!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 16:28:08
Well done, Mr Kaggsy! Your friends and family really have come up trumps this year, haven’t they? Lots of terrific reading to look forward to there! And I’m so glad you love the look of the Brookner – it’s one I’ve yet to read myself but hopefully I’ll get to it next year.
Thank you so much for the lovely Dorothy Parker collection. Funnily enough, it’s been on my wishlist for months, so an inspired choice on your part – it’ very much appreciated! Thanks also for those Fitzcarraldo ARCs you snet a couple of months ago, very kind of you. I’m planning to continue with my aim of reading at least one book by a woman in translation each month going forward, so they’ll come in handy for that next year.
Enjoy the rest of you break, Karen – I’m so glad you were able to spend time with all your family, especially after all the restrictions over the past 2 or 3 years. X
Dec 27, 2022 @ 16:59:19
They did awfully well, didn’t they? And thank you so much for the Brookner – I need to get on with my read of her, having enjoyed the first one so much!
So glad you like the Parker – I had been thinking about choosing it for you after your review of Big Blonde, so I’m pleased it his the spot! It’s a marvellous collection, very dippable, with lots of lovely variety. I do like her poetry. And I do admire your commitment to WIT all year round – hopefully you’ll find the Fitzcarraldos interesting.
It’s been a lovely break (we still have two of the Offspring until tomorrow) – and I am off until next week, so still plenty of time to relax and get some good reading done! x
Dec 27, 2022 @ 16:36:46
A fascinating December collection as always! Lots of intriguing titles there, with Mr. K’s selections really standing out. I hope you are spending some quality time with all of them while sitting back comfortably on your reading cushion!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 16:56:40
Mr K definitely outdid himself this year! And I’m making a point of reclining on the cushion and wallowing in books, which is such fun!!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 16:42:16
What a wonderful set of books. I’ll be looking forward to your thoughts on these in the coming year 🙂🙂
Dec 27, 2022 @ 16:55:54
I was very spoiled, definitely! Now I have to decide what to read first!!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 16:45:36
Bravo on “fairly well trained friends and family”, lol! Enjoy!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 16:55:03
LOL! I find a combination of direct request, hints and the fact that most of them have known me for decades tends to work well!!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 17:36:47
A lovely haul. I would love to read Rock Lighthouses, that looks like a fascinating book. Enjoy reading!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 19:27:46
Thank you! I love lighthouses (and the sea generally, maybe because my grandfather was in the Merchant Navy), so I’m really looking forward to that one!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 18:20:57
What a great haul! Particularly drawn to the Ardizzone/Thomas: watching the 1987 TV adaptation of A Child’s Christmas in Wales, starring the incomparable Denholm Elliott, is a family tradition chez moi, and I introduced it to my boyfriend this year with excellent results (aka he cried). The words are just so stunning.
Dec 27, 2022 @ 19:27:04
It’s a beautiful edition and I loved Ardizzone’s illustrations generally. And paired with the joy of Thomas reading his own story (which you can find on YouTube if you’re so inclined) it was the perfect Christmas treat!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 18:22:20
What an impressive pile! They know you well. I also love how thoughtful the editions and pillow are. Happy for you!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 19:26:09
Thank you! Yes, they do know me well and always put so much thought and effort into the gifts. I’m very blessed!
Dec 27, 2022 @ 23:29:39
Alas, nobody dares to buy me books because of my specialist tastes, so a rather book-free Christmas for me – obviously not for you!
Dec 28, 2022 @ 14:02:51
Ah Tony, you just need to train them a bit better!! 😉🤣
Dec 28, 2022 @ 03:26:38
All those books sound interesting, especially The Additurs of Arthur Conan Doyle.
Dec 28, 2022 @ 14:01:48
That’s the trouble when I receive book gifts – I always want to read them all at once! But yes, the Conan Doyle sounds fascinating!
Dec 28, 2022 @ 14:40:35
Wow you did do very well. Glad you like the Emma Press books. I’ve had quite an excellent Christmas haul too, thank you again for the book about Virginia Woolf, it looks excellent. I also have Christmas book tokens, which I have broken into.
Dec 28, 2022 @ 16:22:43
Thanks Ali – very excited about the Emma Press books as I’ve not read them! Glad you liked the Woolf – I think it’s an excellent read. Very jealous of your book tokens, too!
Dec 29, 2022 @ 01:45:55
Wow! Some very loving and thoughtful gifts these.
Dec 29, 2022 @ 10:27:12
Indeed – I was very, very blessed!!
Dec 29, 2022 @ 05:21:42
What a wonderful collection. And I love how you have trained your friends and family…I really need to learn that trick….lol. In addition the cushion looks super comfy!
Dec 29, 2022 @ 10:26:35
LOL, it’s worth the effort to train them as the results are very satisfying!! And yes – the cushion is marvellous!!
Dec 30, 2022 @ 14:58:40
How lovely Kaggsy – I’m so impressed by their choices! Also coveting your reading cushion 🙂
Dec 30, 2022 @ 15:55:58
It’s so comfy, and I was very spoiled!!!
Jan 01, 2023 @ 18:30:43
Lovely incomings! It was super to spot the Emma Press books, and I’m glad they arrived with you in good time. It’s lovely to have this book flood, isn’t it: I’m similar with my January birthday, although I’m hoping to get some book token spending done when The Heath Bookshop re-opens this week!
Jan 01, 2023 @ 19:50:59
I’m looking forward to exploring the Emma Press books, and as an indie they might fit into a reading event this year… (ahem!) And I do love a lot of incoming books – so joyous, and you can never have too many. Happy book token spending!!