5 Books for Christmas

There is still time to get last minute Christmas presents, and what would be better than a book? Books make perfect gifts for those members of your family or friends who are the most difficult to buy for. Books also make excellent treats for yourself during the holidays when we all should have a little more time for ourselves.

Here are some of the books I’d recommend as good presents – or good reads during the holidays.

1. If you know a fan of Nordic, or Scandinavian, culture, or anyone interested in cooking, you cannot go wrong with The Nordic Cook Book by the famed Swedish chef, Magnus Nilsson. I was given this book by a friend, who also introduced me to Nilsson’s Fäviken restaurant in Northern Sweden, and I am delighted with it. This is the most comprehensive guide to the food and the cooking of the Nordic region. It even has all the Finnish Christmas recipes that I cook every year. I’m going to use the recipes from this book for our traditional Christmas Eve supper the first time. This is a major departure from using my old newspaper clipping that I’ve been following for the past 30 years. The Nordic Cook Book by Magnus Nilsson

2. I’ve been a fan of fellow indie author, JJ Marsh’s series of books featuring Detective Beatrice Stubbs, for a while now, so I was delighted to hear her latest book, Human Rites, is set in Germany during the run-up to Christmas. There’s snow, art theft, a nun and a shaggy dog. A highly enjoyable police crime novel for Christmas. Human Rites by J J Marsh.

3. Need a gift for an uncle, an aspiring physicist, or anyone who is interested in science? This Sunday Times bestseller, Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, is written by Carlo Rovelli, an Italian physicist. This book provides everything you need to know about modern physics, the universe and our place in the world in seven enlightening lessons. Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli

4. As Red as Blood is the first book in The Snow White Trilogy by Salla Silmukka is a thriller set in Finland where a feisty teenager fights the dark forces in a snowy landscape. This will be the perfect present for a teenager, but because the books are set in my home country, I really enjoyed these books too. As Red as Blood by Salla Silmukkka

5. Finally, a literary romance never goes amiss at Christmas. After You by Jojo Moyes has been on my wish list for a while now. This is the long-awaited sequel to Moyes’ bestselling novel, Me Before You, a novel which reduced me (and many thousands – millions? – like me) to tears. If you haven’t read Jojo Moyes before, you’re in for a treat. Her books are full of “damaged people with complex lives, described with humour and pathos”, and I challenge you not to get hooked on her writing. After You by Jojo Moyes

Hope you enjoy my list of last minute Christmas books. If you can’t get to a bookshop, you can order from Amazon until Christmas Eve (see your local last day shipping dates here).

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