Sara & Cariad's Weirdos Book Club - Christmas Book Gift Guide

Episode Date: December 21, 2023

In this week's episode Sara and Cariad are out and about at the brilliant Morocco Bound Bookshop to bring you a Christmas gift guide for all those last minute Christmas presents (and some generally excellent book recommendations for all year round)!Buying books as Christmas presents is a great idea, but it can be tricky to get the right one! We asked our listeners to tell us who on their list is difficult to buy for and Sara and Cariad have some suggestions for finding the perfect book! Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you!Tickets for the live show on Thu 25 Jan at Foyles, Tottenham Court Road are available to buy here.You can find Morocco Bound Bookshop on Instagram @morocco_bound_bookshop or at moroccobound.co.ukSara’s debut novel Weirdo is published by Faber & Faber and is available to buy here.Cariad’s book You Are Not Alone is published by Bloomsbury and is available to buy here.You can find a list of all the books we've discussed on the series so far here or on Apple Books here.Follow Sara & Cariad’s Weirdos Book Club on Instagram @saraandcariadsweirdosbookclub and Twitter @weirdosbookclub Recorded at Morocco Bound Bookshop and edited by Naomi Parnell for Plosive.Artwork by Welcome Studio.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Pasco. Hello, I'm Carriad Lloyd. And we're weird about books. We love to read. We read too much. We talk too much. About the too much that we've read. Which is why we've created the Weirdo's Book Club.

Join us. A space for the lonely outsider to feel accepted and appreciated. A place for the person who'd love to be in a real book club, but doesn't like wine or nibbles. Or being around other people. Is that you? Join us. Check out our Instagram at Sarah and Carriad's Weirdo's Book Club for the upcoming books we're going to be discussing. You can read along and share your opinions.

Or just skulk around in your raincoat like the weirder you are. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you. Hey, Carrier. Hey, Sarah. Where are we? Out and about? Out and about.

Not in the studio. Not in the studio. That's right. Sounds cool. Yeah, it sounds cool. It sounds more literary. Why is that? I smell books.

We're in a book shop. And if you hear tiny grunting, that's me. I'm really hungry. There's a baby Albie here. He's 10 weeks old. and it's his first bookshop visit, but he insisted that he came along. Yeah, he's actually been really rifling for the classics,

and it's made quite a mess, to be honest. Yeah, a lot of people saying his Dickens were incarnated. That's the buzz on the street. That is the buzz on the street. We are in the brilliant Morocco-bound bookshop in between London Bridge and Borough, which is such a lovely, beautiful, very beautiful, lovely, beautiful, lovely, special, lovely, unique. I've wanted to come in here for ages.

I hope my brain would give me another word. You're an improviser. I kept thinking, she's going, somewhere. I was going with saying the same one. I thought, let's just go there. Anyway, it's really nice. They've got a little bar as well. You can get tea and coffee and booze. I'd say there's probably almost as many beers as books. Yeah, I guess beer fans and book fans get come and choose. I'm a fan of both and I hate to choose. Yeah. Just take a shelf, do you? They'll make me read sober. Don't make me read. Also, I've done this before. If you have a drink in a book shop, you then go crazy

buying books because you get that first sort of rush of dopamine of the drinking. That's why that Piccadilly Waterstones has the bar at the top. Not to talk. about another bookshop when we're Morocco Barrett. No, no, we're in Rockaway. But if you don't like, if you refuse to shop in indie bookshops, then we'll only go corporate. Thank you. But if you're cool and you want to support indie bookshops,

because you know that's how, really, without the world, without books, yours, where are we? Well, it's much better for booksores. It's much better for writers as well, because libraries and independent bookshops pay the full amount for books so that, you know, that's where people make their money. most of the places that do deals like Amazon and, you know, big book shops,

they do like slash price, buy one, get one free. That means no one's making any money apart from them. You want to keep Sarah and her jumpers shop indie? Yeah, if you want to see me jumperless. I want Albie to have a good, go to a good school guys, buy her books. Oh, he'll be going to a state school. Don't give him ideas. Oh, sorry.

Are you paying for your children to go to school? No, no, obviously not. So just outed yourself. You can keeping that quiet. No, if I could afford that, I think I'd be bragging. I'd be like, oh yeah. Yeah, because I'm not posh enough to be ashamed of it. Do you know what I mean?

Like posh, people are like, oh, it's just the school round of corner that we pay loads of money for. Because I'm a state school girl, I'd be like, guess how well we're doing? Oh, I see. Probably. Yeah. Maybe not.

Most people hide it. But I mean, imagine how many jumper she could buy with that money. Yeah, well, that's, actually, can I just say, I've got a friend whose kids go to private school, and every time she sees me, I've got a new jumper. And she's like, oh, I wish I'd go shopping, but obviously everything goes on the kids' education. And I'm always wearing a really nice jumper like,

oh, it was 150 pounds, yeah. Made your choices. Made your choices. You're right choices, in my opinion. I've got good jumpers. What's their education? Well, B, we'll get to inherit all of your knitwear. Yeah, that's true.

And I really look after my knitwear, so it will be in good condition. Anyway, talking of which, Christmas is here. This is our Christmas episode. Yes, and I buy a book for everyone at Christmas. Yeah. Sometimes you buy me space NK Valches. Okay. and you're not spending that on books.

So I really was interested in, because some people are very difficult to buy for, because either they don't read very often. They're not enthusiastic readers. Or they read too much. They read too much. I'm afraid to buy books for you. Yeah, I'm awful to buy for.

Awful. I once, I think it was just after I'd had my first child, so I wasn't with it. And I bought a book that I thought, oh, this looks really interesting. And you were like, that's been a massive best sell I read it six months ago. It was the Essex Serpent.

Oh, I see. I was so proud of myself. It was my, but I hadn't known it been Massive. I've been out of it. I'm very perfect for me. Steen often, it's not his fault. My husband, Steen, I should say, for people who aren't carried out, I don't know.

Steen, who would you just drop that in like we knew? He will really thoughtfully buy me a book for Christmas. I'm going to open it. I go, I talk to you at length about this book while waving it at you. And he went, I thought it sounded really good in the shop. And I knew loads about it. I wonder why. I wonder why.

Obviously, sometimes the cover as well. If someone's showing you the cover, you're like, and then you see it in a shot. That's really familiar. Like there's a reason. Oh, I like that. That person would like this. You're not realizing, yeah, they've already read it.

This is the perfect book for that person. But that is what you want at Christmas. You want them to unwrap a book and think, okay. And then as they start reading it going, oh, this is my perfect book. Yes. And enjoy it because people have more time over Christmas sometimes. Yeah, sometimes. People have space and they go like, I don't want to watch Shrek three.

I'm going to go. Can I just say Pussing Boots? The new one is pretty good. Are you wiggling films into that book podcast? Sorry, sorry. Only if you've got children and you need to put something on. You're writing children's books and you're sending people to the movies. Because I get a lot of reading done when they watch telly. Right. Yeah, I do. So Pudding

books is really good to read to. You read your book is what I mean. I see. Because they're distracted. It gives you an hour reading. Okay. They're into it. No, I know. That's what I do coconut melon for. Oh, I can't bear it. Well, that's why it sends you into your book card. Oh, I can't. Cocoa Mellon makes me feel like someone's in my brain shouting. It's awful, especially when you haven't slept. Again, we are off topic. I know. I'd rather do Paul Patrol and that's banned. I tell my kids that our TV doesn't have it. Right, so we put a thing on Instagram about people's suggestions for what to buy

So firstly, this is a lady I know So shout out to Anna Lee Powell Who's an amazing casting director She wants to buy for her mum So if her mum's listening Stop listening now Avid reader loves history and travel But she said like she's read everything

So a bit like you So I thought this is quite a good History and travel So they have to go Quite classics and old Something maybe this re-published Oh do you know what I'm looking at it right now I'm wondering, because it's just come out, has she read it?

The new Zadie Smith, the fraud. That's historical. It's a bit historical. And yeah. Bit Charles Dickens. And so also, I bet she probably has read Dickens because she's a good reader. But like a newer take on it. I thought, that's my...

The Zany Smith one is, because it was such a bestseller, or read it anything in the front of all the bookshops. By doing it again. What's that? I'm suggesting something a good reader would have definitely read. Oh, they definitely would have... Have you heard of the Bible? I've heard of it, yeah.

It's just come out. Yeah, I would say get a backup book. I say definitely Zadie Smith. I think that's a very good thing. And also, that's a bright, the cover is like lime green and lemon. You would have seen that around your mum's house. So if you haven't seen it, around your mum's house. Right, okay, she's not read it.

She's not read it. And probably Zadie Smith, she'd have mentioned she's reading. Yeah. So that would be. To lend to you. That would be my recommendation. And it's a nice hefty to open on Christmas Day. Yeah, it looks nice, wrapped up.

Easy to wrap. Hardback. Easy to wrap. Easy to wrap. What would you recommend? Okay, so she loves history and travel. Yeah. I think I'd go, I'd be naughty and go off.

Would you go off? Yes. Because she loves history. I would get a popular science book. A popular science book? Yeah. I've gone, I've gone. Because now I know she wouldn't have read it.

Oh, I see. But actually what she'd love was being stimulated and the fact that it's a bit different. Okay, I'm looking at the bookshelves now. What about a Rachel Cusk? One of the trilogy. Yeah. I'm looking at transit. But any Rachel Cusk is fantastic.

It's a really wonderful, really beautiful, really beautiful. very thoughtful, very introspective and ex-respective. And because it's not history and travel. Yeah, Albie likes that one. Okay, approved by Alby. Nodin, Rachel Cusk. Right. So we've got 14-year-old, two old for 8 to 12, which they call middle grade.

Has started reading Agatha Christie. What next? Now. Oh, the old Dorothy Sayers. Oh, I haven't read them. Dorothy also. What? No, I haven't read them.

Ben's read them. Just Ben's read them. Yeah, Ben's read them. I'm sorry, I assumed that you'd have read them as well. My husband. Dorothy El Sayers are obviously old and Daisy, as I'm set in the oldness, but just like I think they're a bit old for a 14 year old. No, but they're not, they're not racie. They're much, much easier to read. No, not. It's just a bit compared to, because you forget how simple Agatha Christie is. But this is a precocious 14 year. Yeah. Is that good, Christi, simple. I think Dorothe Lays is just, just chirpy. It's like Enid Blyton. Yeah, yeah. It's like Enidid Blyton. It's like Edithlton. But I think it's good call. I think you also mentioned Catherine Rundle's Impossible Creatures. Yes. Which is been a mega hit in kids books this year. I know, I did an adult's book, it's Waterstones book of the year.

Yeah, it is brilliant. If she's jumping over at age 12, it might be a smidge too young for her. But I would thoroughly recommend it if you've got anyone who's into fantasy. And also at Christmas time, I think it's the kind of time you can read down. If she hasn't done that, if she's into fantasy, then Hobbit Lord of the Rings. It's the Door. A Hobbit is such a good book for all ages. And then Lord of the Rings is obviously way more complicated, but you could do reading that to them.

Someone also recommended recently, which is the age of this person? So they're 14. Yeah, they won't be read to. They'll be smoking at the buster. I like that this 14-year-old was a book. My 13-year-old niece wants Charlotte Tilbury. Have you seen the price of an eyeliner for a child but blood of Tilbury? It's bloody expensive.

Stupid. Okay, so we went around the fantasy route, but maybe this eight to, I guess, oh, Dorothy L.Sers, yeah, there you go. Got crime and fantasy. Douglas Adams. Oh, yes. That's what you should do. That's what they should do. They haven't read, hitchhiker.

Yes, that's so perfect. And you could get all of them. You could get all four. Get all four. Yeah. Oh, definitely. Yeah, lovely. And then I bet you could then get into the radio series and other things as well.

Okay, that's really good recommendations for 14. Friend who likes Elizabeth Bowen and Shirley Hazard. Oh, my God. Well, number one, I've just lost my best friend to you. So they like Shirley Hazard. Have they read all of Shirley Hazard? It's quite a lot. And there's also a collection of short stories by her.

And there's also a biography that came out very recently. Biography is a very good call. Yeah, I would recommend that because I saw someone reading it across me on the tube. And then I picked it up in a... Did you become best... It's probably this person. It's probably this person. But she had such a fascinating life.

She was best friends with Graham Green. She lived all over the world. Like, her biography is fascinating. Yeah, it's much better than reading a biography of someone who was on a reality show. Yeah, definitely. It's like someone who's actually had some really good life experiences. And that made me think about... Oh, I see, I'm worried that I'm being stupid, but about Elizabeth Jane Howard.

I thought, if you have... If you like Shirley Hazard and Elizabeth... Bowen, have you read Elizabeth Jane Howard? Yeah. I thought that's another kind of good, classic, he, meaty. Yeah, whereas I've gone, again, the opposite way. Have you read Andy McNabb? I don't think you have.

You definitely wouldn't have read Andy McNabb, I'd say. No, exactly. Surprise them at Christmas. Christmas is a time to make people you love. Confused. Does she know me? You don't know me. You don't know me at all.

You want me to be very different. Yeah. To how I am. That's my recommendation. 14 and 11-year-old nephews. So, I would say, this is my category. All the ones we've already recommended, but they might have already done it,

but if you have any young kids, probably seven to 11, if they haven't read Bunny versus Monkey or the Dog Man series or the Cat Kid series, get that for them. They're graphic novels. They're so funny. Bunny versus Monkey is quite violent.

I don't like it as much as I love Dogman. And if you've been snobby and thought, oh, it's a graphic novel. Incorrect. Dogman is piece of fucking genius. So good. So clever. And all the titles are puns on great books.

Oh yeah. Tale of Two Kitties. It's so good. Yeah, Dog Man. And Dog Man is written by a man with ADHD. And it's basically like, the components of ADHD personality split into a dog, an evil cat, a cat child that wants to be good. And a robot called AT HD.

And occasionally he shouts, ADHD, don't fail me now. I would thoroughly recommend. They might have already read them if they are 14 and 11, but that might be a bit younger, so I definitely definitely recommend them. If not saying Catherine Rundle for them,

Impossible Creatures, and Catherine Rundle has written loads. She's written like three or four others that are kind of adventure books, which are really, really good as well. Mum, who only reads memoirs, autobiographies, also dogs. So that's a bit like my mum.

But do you know, it's someone on our Instagram recommended, which I think is amazing. So this is at Melanie Garcia photo Someone said to her What about everyone died so I got a dog by Emily Dean Brilliant recommendation That's a brilliant recommendation So our podcast is just moot

So they can just do it themselves And the person wrote underneath, thanks Yeah that's a really really good recommendation I just want to shout out to our wonderful listeners Helping Each Other Yeah Book people are the best Yeah

Book people are the best Memoirs orthobis My mum likes a lot of those I mean Rob Delaney's book Which is now in paperback About losing his son Henry Incredible

and funny and I think it's such a sad. That's a tough Christmas buy. I know, I know, but I mean, I don't want to lecture you about grief. But the thing is, sometimes people get sort of scared of things that are sad, but actually people who love memoirs and dogs are in touch with their feelings. Do you know what? If you haven't read it and you've been scared to pick it up, don't be scared. Yeah, don't be scared.

Because it is such a beautiful, beautiful book. And then it will make you, and actually it's one of those books, a bit like yours, that helps you talk about grief and attached to grief. And then when someone says something, whether it's recent or historical, you don't, or you might still feel that instant reaction of like, oh, no, don't want to say the wrong thing. And then you go, well, what's the wrong thing when someone's already going through this? The best thing he says on that book, and I interviewed him about this. It's like the four second rule. So if someone tells you something awful, my so-and-so is sick or they're dying. Just wait four seconds before you say anything. And that stops you from going, oh, dear, or you can have another one or whoopsie. Oh, it just makes you wait four seconds. He's like, just give me, give that person four seconds of your time.

I'll be agrees. I think this one is for you, a 10-year-old niece who likes science. Brilliant. Some deep science books. I was talking about graphic novels. There's one about Ada Lovelace, which I think would be perfect for a 10-year-old. Ada Lovelace, another person who obviously is so important scientifically, but also had a racy, interesting life, married her maths teacher.

Her dad was Byron, and that's why her mum got her into science to stop her being all poetic. The thrilling adventures of Love Lace and Babelius. Yeah. Does that look like it? Yeah, that's it. Yeah, oh, cool, cool. Babbage is pretty sure that's the guy she married, who's her math teacher.

He's a guy, the computer guy. Oh, he's, okay, maybe he's another guy from work. She had nothing to do. He's a colleague. He's a very professional relationship with him. Yeah, there's actually, there's a lot of, like, fantastic women in history. Yes.

Or the, you know, that series, everyone, that has a really beautiful. The cartoon-y-looking ones. You see them on all the kids books, and it's like, Ada Lovelace, David Bowie. I know, but okay, look, judging your book by his cover. They are, no, they're really good.

Well, I'm judging the book by its cover. They beautify people like Frida Carlo too much. No, have you read it? No, no. The picture. Yeah, the picture, but it starts. Let a woman actually look like. Don't make her all big-eyed.

No, she was. You know that because they're cartooning anyway. That's me. I tell you what, though, those books do not hold back. So they look like, oh, it's a friendly kiss book. The Frida one opens with. Oh, it's a honey trap. Oh, yeah.

Oh, then I love it. Yeah. Like, the Maya Angelou one does, not hold back. Oh, wow. Like, I got it from my child and was like, Oh, well, yeah. Okay. Mommy, why did they do that to Martin Luther King?

Oh, my God. Okay, right. Good, but important. Yeah, definitely important, but yeah, that's why actually I think they look like books for younger kids, but actually they're quite good for a partner with dark humor, weird characters, maybe murder, someone else suggested, one of our other listeners suggested case sensitive by A.K. Turner,

which I've never read. I've never read, but now I want to. I thought you would like that, yeah. Yeah, I thought this one's for you. What do you think? dark with murdering. What about penance? Eliza Clark's penance is really fantastic

and it's dark and it was out this year so that is a very, very good recommendation. Former guest Eliza Clark. Yeah. Oh I tell you what actually now because I've seen it on the shelf. So Patrick Hamilton. So he writes very sort of so like Hangover Square is one of his

but it's all dark and twisted and you know London drinking brain and there is a murder and it's definitely dark humor, weird characters. Oh, I tell you what, the Mick Heron books. You know, so Slow Horses, the TV show, and so Slow Horses is based on. So anyone's watched Slow Horses will know how funny.

But those jokes originate in the novels. Oh, okay. And there's a few of them that are based on the Slow Horses, and they're so readable, and they're so, the characters, I mean, because the character played by Gary Oldman in Slow Horses is this sort of a beast, disgusting man, and it's really well written. Okay. And his sort of snappy, nasty humor is well written. And obviously there's loads of crimes in that.

That sounds very good. I think that's a really good one. We've got a couple of dad suggestions. A bit hard for me, but I do my best guys. I haven't had one for a while. So I will... Yeah, dads haven't really changed. Are they not changed?

Since you had one. You know what? I noticed that. I have noticed that. This guy, he's working class. He's northern, but he went to Oxford. Good for you. Good for you, Dad.

He hated it. Oh, okay. But he's super brainy. Yeah. He likes whittling, fishing, growing mushrooms. A nice dad you've got. An island. Oh my God, what a nice dad.

Help, she said. Yeah, help, definitely. This is tricky because he's smart. And he doesn't want to be... Amoto Eco in the name of the Rose. It's big, it's clever. I reckon he's read that. That's old.

Unless he doesn't read, but you could read it while you're fishing. Do you know what I would do? What? I would do as Sarah Pascoe. Whittle him a book. I would sidestep and I would give him a Miranda July book. All right. I'll just have to see one.

Be prepared. see that in his toilet. Yeah, no, because I think he would never have picked it up. No, he never picked it up. He might not have heard of her. Yeah, she's a brilliant writer. He went to Oxford, so he appreciates writing. Yeah, it's interesting.

Yeah. And I think it would be an absolute ringing. Yeah, a turning point. Because he'd be like, whoa. But I think that could be pretty interesting. I think Christmas is a time to try new things. Yeah? Yeah.

Sure. So what about something like wifedom? Because you loved that so much. Oh, yes. And this man sounds like he's clever and that's historical and literary. Anna Fonda's wifedom. about George Orwell's wife and how she was written out of history, do you know what?

I'd give him both. Everyone's loving it, aren't they? I would give him both. Yeah, actually. You can't get them a book about fishing or mushrooms. No. My dad's a jazz musician. If I was to get him a book about jazz,

he'd be like, you know I am a jazz musician, not like just interested. Don't get me in some amateurish. I need to return my Stuart Lee book for you. That's awkward. Oh, no, no. I get Michael McIntyre DVDs every year. From who?

My parents. My mom. My mom. My mom. I shouldn't say parents, they're not married. For a few years after I did comedy, how's a job? I got a Michael McIntyre DVD, and my mum said, well, you love comedy? You do love comedy.

I do love Michael McIntyre. I'm all watching it together, and my mum would sort of nod and look at me like, that's how it's done. That's how it's done, accessibility. We've got another dad suggestion. Yeah, okay. Over 50. Loves Tom Clancy, and I don't know how to say it's David Baladici.

Sounds really good, yeah. But he's also a Star Wars fan. That's tricky. I feel like I don't know that man. Like I'm struggling with that man. I feel like readable, readable populist is what I'm hearing. Yeah, once something like he's going to enjoy. And also they can talk to other people about.

A little life. Well, it's a bloody, brilliant book. It doesn't feel right. What about Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead? Yeah, or even, do you know what, Daisy Jones in the Six? The Taylor Jenkins read. Because of the music. Well, just so I feel like it's a good popular culture.

Like, everyone loves it. It captures an era. I feel like if you like Star Wars that's telling me you were around when Fleetwood Mac were around. Oh, I see. Okay. So it feels like, and it might be one again that he wouldn't pick up. Yeah. But I feel like that would be unusual.

And he can always give it to his wife when he doesn't want to read it. Let me look at this guy again. Tom Clancy, David Belladich. Yeah. Oh, the Secret History by Dollar Tart. Do you think he would have read it? It's a page channel. Well, I reread it.

You can reread it. You can reread it. You can reread it. Yeah, that's true. Also, the other dad who went to Oxford because it's sort of an anti-university book in some ways or a satire on that. He might like it too.

Mind you, anyone would like the secret history as a page turner. There's a book that came out this year about Paul McCartney's lyrics as well, which was supposed to be very, very good. Oh, yeah. I thought that might be, I know he's not saying music, because I'm acting like to say music,

but I feel like I'm a Star Wars fan. Yeah. I just feel like it says something about you. that Tinker Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy Yeah John La Cary I wonder if he'd read it

But yeah Again any John La Cary That's what I'd recommend And I'd feel safe in doing that Rather than like Oh I'm trying to I'm trying to give you Miranda July for Christmas

I would go right Okay you're getting a John La Cary Yeah And hopefully what they'll say is Oh I've never read this one Yeah that's true It might actually be Oh I've always meant to read that one

Yeah I've never read it Yeah that's what we're offering That's what we do Now so this is a personal one for you Okay Tell us about this guy So 36, Australian, bit of a jock, if I'm honest. He hasn't read a book this year.

He hasn't read a book. I was thinking on the way here, this is my husband. He hasn't read a book. No, it's not being mean. During COVID, spoke to him about books and he was like, you know, and he'd read Dolly's book. She's a friend and her books are great. But not the new one.

He hasn't read good material. Not yet. So I think that's what I'm going to get him. Oh, because the last book you heard was sent to him by Dolly. It was so sweet. They had a conversation about books. He'd loved her book. And then she sent him the Pisces by Melissa Brode.

which is about, this is reductive, but essentially a woman getting off with a merman. And it's pretty sexual. I would argue that's exactly what that book is about. Pretty sexual. And Steyn then didn't read enough of a book again because I think he thought that's what books were. I think he thought that's why Sarah's into books.

All those mermen. They're hot. Or the hot merman. Good material. Also, it's about a stand-up. Exactly. A man in comedy. And so I thought that would be a really good Christmas present for him.

Yeah, that's really good. There you go. And it's on the shelf here at Morocco Band. Yeah. This is also, I feel, like, for you, Sarah. Is this your mom? Yeah. My mum likes science and sadness.

Yeah. So she loves an autobiography. I just saw, oh, has she read Matthew Perry's? No. Oh, look, it's over there. Yeah. Friends lovers and the big terrible thing. Yeah.

It's supposed to be a bit mad, but a bit of good. Yeah. I don't know if she liked the madness. She's like, she was basically, like when he accuses Keanu Reeves of being annoying and stuff. Like a bit more like, well, okay. Yeah, I think Matthew Perry would be good. It might be sad enough for her.

I know he's dead. Oh, it's sad. No, it's about alcoholism. I know, but she'd be like. She's very She needs like a boy called it But he also solves genetics Okay

Oh my God No I can get I'll get her a popular science But there's some really interesting ones about Us All Being Bacteria That's the kind of thing I want to get her Well but we're power not to be a boy That's also supposed to be very brilliant But it didn't come out

I've read that It came out exactly the same time as animal So he's kind of my book enemy Oh I see Yeah because he did like a boy version Disobedient bodies The new Emma Dabry Debris

Debris Debris? I think. Disobedient bodies. That looks really interesting. It would be very, very interesting. Oh, Kit DeWal. Do you know Kit DeWal?

I don't know. You like, she did a grief book. Kit DeWirl, without warning and only sometimes scenes from an unpredictable childhood. Oh, yeah, that's the kind of stuff. And I think she was brought up. Sounds absolutely miserable. Yeah.

Oh, and actually the first quote on the back is. Kathy Rentsonbury. Yeah, who wrote the book about her brother. Yes. Yes. I think that book about her brother, what's it called? Acts of Love. Last Act of Love.

which is also amazing. Yeah, I'll get that for my mum. Oh, Last Act of Love. She's not read that? No, she hasn't. Oh, God, it's amazing. It's amazing. And she's got another one out called, like,

How to Be Happy. Maybe that would be... Not for my mother. Not for your mother. She's not interested in that. Yeah, this kit, Dua one came out this year and was on Radio 4, and I've heard lots of people say it. Okay, so I've got a couple to get...

I'll get those two for my mum. My dad likes jazz and philosophy, so again, he's hard to buy. I need very, very unique sort of... Sartre and Miles Davis. He doesn't want Paul McCartney lyrics, does he? No, that's not... Oh, he'd spit on McCartney lyrics. No, I think if it was well written, he'd be genuinely interested.

So maybe that McCartney lyrics is the one to get. I sent him the essay. You know the essay that's mentioned at the end of Monsters by Claire Dedewa there, mad at Miles Davis? Oh, yeah. You can find a PDF of that online. Oh, that's cool. And I sent that to him.

And that was the first time for ages that I felt a bit like cool jazz daughter. Yeah, that is cool. I bet he was impressed by that. Have you heard of this essay? Had he heard? No, he hadn't. And then he thought it was really interesting. Oh, that is interesting.

I might get him because you know, I don't know if this is in print, but Iris Murdoch did a biography of Jean-Paul Sartre that I've always wanted to read but I probably never will so maybe I'll get that for my dad. And then this is this netball team. Oh yeah, the netball team. Sorry, I've got them. And they're doing, and they're doing sort of secret Santa. So books would be perfect and then, but it has sort of like a rude theme. But I just saw a book over there called Send Nudes.

Oh. And have no idea what it's about. But I would just get that. That's perfect, isn't it? Send Nudes by Sabah Sam's. and I've heard amazing things about this. She's kind of in the Eliza Clark boy parts. Oh, great.

World and it's very, Gen X is the 90s film. Are we Generation Y? No, we're millennials. So did they miss out the Y? I think so. How do you know this? Who tells you?

Do they send you a letter? I got PDF about it. Do they do they do? It's your secondary scores. Look, Lucy Kirkwood, sensual, witty, audacious, I think I would still get it because when they open the Secret Santa,

send nudes is perfect for theme, but it's also a really good up-to-date book. And also I'm going to get that book. Yeah, I heard amazing things about this one. It looks amazing. Yeah, that would be good. I have a lovely lady on Instagram called at Giraff Milk Lady.

Yeah. Hello, giraffe milk lady. And she has read 1,500 books this year. What do you get someone who's read almost everything? So this is almost the same question, like, I would think for you. Yeah. Because I think you're probably quite similar to her. And also, but I buy a lot.

I've also got a lot of books that I haven't read you. And that's the unfair thing. I could go, oh, I've already got it. And she said her husband is like, what do I do? What do I do? Because you've read everything. Yeah. Do you know what I would suggest?

Yeah. A pre-order for something out next year. Oh, pre-orders, lovely. So you're like something coming out in February or March or even January. And then you're like, here it is. It's like a Christmas present you don't have yet. But if you've really not many books, you've probably got loads of books to read in your pile. Yeah.

So then that's like, you definitely haven't read it. Yeah. It isn't even out yet. Or going back to something that's out of print or just been reputed. So I tell you what, could you have things like Persephone books. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Specialise in female authors, especially female authors.

who maybe aren't as, you know, as lauded as they once were or forgotten. Yeah, yeah. And, but really brilliant. Yeah. Because you've brought me a couple of those. Yeah, that's... And that's... Because there's still are millions of books.

You could find a Persephone, because they print books that have gone out of print. Yeah. So if you check their website for one, they've just printed. Yes. Oh, the other one is I love Fitzcaraldo books. Oh, Fitzcaraldo. And actually, actually, definitely she's not read all of those. Yeah.

Because I love Annie, what's the name? Annie Hur. Annie, that one. Erno, uh, no, Annie, uh-huh. Yeah. We're so smart, but we cannot read people's names out loud. But also, you've only ever read them in your head, so you never have to say them out loud. It's E-R-N-A-U-X.

She's written some incredible, and they're quite short, but they pack a punch in terms of autobiographical of her own life. She wrote one about, oh, I'd say either way who she won't have read. Sarah Girl, who wrote Astrogel. There's only one of her books that's been, she died at 29. There's only one of her books. and Patty Smith did the introduction to it, which in itself is this incredible essay.

Oh, yeah. So it's called Astrigal. Yeah, and her name's Albertine... Sazarin. Sazarin, there we go. I would get that book. She's from Algeria, isn't she? She's Algerian, isn't she?

And then she was in Paris, yeah. Or Arsrigal set in Paris. Albertine Sazarin. Yeah, I would recommend that because it's very, very little known. Yeah, for where by Patty Smith available. You can buy it right now. That's what I would recommend. But not for me, because I have read it.

Yeah, you've read that. Okay, okay. So that's all our listeners. Someone contacted me because she has a baby at the same age and she was like, how are you getting so much reading done? Oh yes. I just wanted to say for anyone listening, it's really, really, really hard. It's really hard and we recorded a lot before baby I'll be arrived. So don't think, how are those women with two children getting really done? There's a lot of, we're not.

Why have we done this to ourselves? Yeah. Either staying up too late. We read while, hiding in the toilet. See, babies is on or I stay up too late. On the tube. Yeah. And there's a lot of...

Literally hugging my son, book over his shoulder. And there's a lot of turning up being like, why do we choose that long book? Yes. And flicking between a Kindle book and an audio book to try and get it finished as well. So... Yeah, don't judge yourselves on our reading.

Because we did also record a lot of them before. Yeah. Yeah, but I say haven't got a book for you. No. And I haven't got a book for you. Well, I would like you to read the Ian McEwen Lesson's book that I loved so much. But you're in the face.

Okay, all right, so not that one then. No, but I can't. I feel like I need to give I'm a cue in another go. I feel like I read. Is it because he went to Sussex? No, it's Chesel Beach. Oh. But I'm definitely willing.

Have you read George Saunders, Lincoln of the Bardot? No, I've heard that. I read it because Rob Delaney posted about it, I think, just after Henry had died. So it's about Lincoln and Lincoln's dead son. Oh. And it's, I mean, it's really, really, again, I think I was scared of it because I knew it was about a dead son. sun. The sun is in it as a ghost and there's lots of ghosts in it. It's an amazing. I've heard lots about that one. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Sometimes you're a bit grieved out, aren't you?

Well, you do get a bit grieved out, but that doesn't sound too griefy. Yeah. You know what I'm like with my grief scale. Yes. I know. I know. Things that seem very griefy to me like barely any grief at all. Got you joking. Yeah, I get to get you that then, George Saunders. Okay. Oh, this is the one I want to get you. Ready? Okay. Mark O'Connell, a thread of violence, a story of truth, invention and murder. Oh, yes, please, yeah. That's the kind of stuff, yes. I saw this on Instagram, and I saw, yeah, and I was like, oh, that looks like Sarah would

like it. Oh, listen to this. From the award-winning author comes the gripping tale of one of the most scandalous murderers in modern Irish history, at once a propulsive work of true crime and an act of literary subversion. I've put this in my basket before. Oh, have you? I've read the blurb of this.

I read, it had such a good write-up in the newspapers. Yes. Yes. I saw someone post about Instagram and I was like, Sarah would like that. I love that. So I'm getting a grief book and you're getting a crime book. There we go. Okay.

Another year. Another year of not changing. Another year of not changing. That is our round up of gifts. Happy Christmas to everyone. Enjoy your reading. Tell us what you're reading that you love. Tell us if there are,

I'll be telling us. Tell us if there are a weirdo books you think we should be reading next year. Yes. Please do message us or comment on post if there's one that you think, oh, that would be perfect for the weirdos. Yes. We would love to hear it because we have had some suggestions. And if you get any Christmas books,

let us know if they're terrible or they're brilliant. Yes, send us pictures, tag us, let us know if somebody got it right. Also, the other thing I'd like to shout out, book presents that aren't books for book lovers. Like, because there aren't any good ones. So people go like, oh, I've got you a bookmark. I've got you a bookmark before. But like if someone gets something, they're like, this is genuinely quite good. Yeah.

Or some time. If your partner says, have a bath, go read your book. Yeah. Time is. That's what you'd want as a reader, wouldn't you? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you.