An order from Father Christmas to our bookseller Jane

You may think that Father Christmas is a somewhat unimaginative sort of chap.

His thoughts being so rigidly set on socks, hankies, perfume and chocolate. NOT SO.

He recently sent a Click and Collect order for delivery to Lapland by 24th December.

It was such a brilliant list I felt I had to share it with you .........

Norwegian Wood, chopping, stacking and drying the Scandinavian Way

By Lars Mytting

A fascinating biography of the relationship between man and wood from ancient times

to today. Part guide to the best practices of this remarkable source of energy, part the

romance of wood. A book of Scandinavian myths and crafts centred around Hygge,

wood burning stoves and the beautiful Legend of Trees.

The Secret Lives of Colour

By Kassia StClair

Every colour has a story. This book tells all.

From 1666 when Isaac Newton began his experiments with prisms the Language of

Colour has seeped into our everyday lives. Here in StClare's book anecdotes and research

mingle to enhance our knowledge of colour, its histories, origins and individual shades.

She uses references to A. Boogert in the seventeenth century, Vermilion and Charles III,

William Perkin and Mauve. It's a fascinating so called "dip into book". I love it.

The Thursday Murder Club

By Richard Osman

Perhaps an obvious choice but after the hectic activities of Christmas Day what could be

better than sitting down with a proven good read. I'd like to call this a gentle murder novel

but that does seem something of a contradiction.

Entangles Life, How Fungi makes our Worlds, change our minds and shape our future

By Merlin Sheldrake

Science and Nature clash not as an accident but as an essential for the future of the World.

Eye openingly brilliant. To read this is to understand Science and Nature are one in a most

fascinating marriage.

A Child's Christmas in Wales

By Dylan Thomas. Illustrated by Edward Ardizzone

A tiny stocking filler sized book flowing with Thomas' language in which he tells of his childhood

Christmas in Wales, his Family and the traditions surrounding them. With Ardizzone's illustrations

this little gem will build memories to revisit for years to come. A proven Classic.

Tokachi Millennium Forest: Pioneering a new way of Gardening with Nature

By Dan Pearson and Midori Shintani

Twenty years ago Dan Pearson was invited to make a garden at the 240 hectare Forest in

Hokkaido, Japan. A beautiful area surrounded by high mountains. The garden has evolved

to represent the Japanese observations of the changing seasons on a vast scale.

This book's physical beauty along with its philosophy totally overwhelms me.

It is a book of dreams for both Gardeners and Travellers alike.

The books production and photography should win many Publishing Awards. I do hope so.

Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (20th Edition)

Edited by Susie Dent

As the title suggests this book explains the meanings and origins of Phrases which slip off our

tongues without a second thought. But if we do think about them, we begin to question their

origin. This is when Brewers comes into its own. Let's open it at the festive word Merry.

Entries include Merry Andrew, Merry as a cricket, Merry begot, Merry Dancers, Merry Greek,

Merry Maiden, Merry Men, Merry Men of May, Merry Monarch, Merry Monday,

'Tis merry in hall, when beards wag all.

Yes we have Google but nothing beats looking into a reference book for one thing and finding

something else that we hadn't been looking for. The fun of words and the English language.

Finally.....

The Girl who reads on the Metro

By Christine Feret-Fleury. Translated by Ros Schwartz

An enchanting novel of literary references. Wonderfully crazy. Her style makes me think of a

butterfly flitting across the page. She plays with the difference between dreams and illusions.

A Girl alone in Paris yet never alone as we never are when we love books.

Happy Christmas

Jane