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Kate Davies' Book Selection for December 2023
Officially winter and officially time to curl up with a good book, sitting in a favourite chair, rug over your knees, in front of a fire, dog at your feet or cat on your lap (either optional and tricky to do both at the same time), and possibly a beverage in easy reach…. 

Leaving the choice of pet, rug, chair and beverage to you, let’s see if I can help with a good book.  What to start with? A few unashamedly seasonal murders: Murder at Holly House by Denzil Meyrick  and The Christmas Jigsaw Murders by Alexandra Benedict.

I feel we should have some accompanying tense, dramatic music at this point – as we haven’t, I’ll move on, with a change of tone and pace. A Country of Eternal Light by Paul Dalgarno and Rose Tremain’s Absolutely and Forever.

A couple of biographic volumes next. The first is The Fabulous Frances Farquharson: the colourful life of an American in the Highlands by Caroline Young and Mothers of the Mind by Rachel Trethewey.

Finally, a geological travelogue, with Christopher Somerville’s Walking the Bones on Britain:  a 3 billion year journey from the Outer Hebrides to the Thames Estuary.

I hope you enjoy these books. As always please, do let me know of any recommendations you would like to share.

Kate
BOOKMARK member

PS: The Adventure into Books Book Blether group meets at 7pm on the first Wednesday of the month, in the bookshop. On 6th December, we have a theme evening, where people come and share their recommendations for books they associate with the Festive period – I’m expecting an eclectic and riveting mix (aided by a tot of sloe gin, perhaps). On 3rd January, we’re meeting to blether about The Storied Life of AJ Fikray by Gabrielle Zevin (ISBN: 9780349141077, paperback, Little, Brown Book Group, 2015). All are welcome.

PPS: On 20th December the bookshop will be holding a literary wassail (mulled wine this time), when I’ll be joined by BOOKMARK Chair Gail Wylie and storyteller Lynette Downie for an evening of festive readings, poetry and folk stories. To book your seat, come in and get a free ticket at the bookshop.

PPPS: If you are entertaining young family in December, the bookshop is holding a half-hour story time, every Saturday morning at 9.30am, with guest appearances from award-winning, local authors Pauline Tait (9th December) and David MacPhail (16th). Suitable for 3 up – come along, we’ll find space!

For full synopsis of the above titles, please click here