I just love Exclusive Books’ festive initiative this year! It is called “The Only Present You Can Open Twice”. So what does that mean, exactly?
“A book is the only present you can open twice—first peeling back the gift wrap to reveal a cover and then opening the magic inside, between the pages and the lines. For anyone who knows and loves books, you will know that twice actually doesn’t begin to cover it. A book that is meaningful and enjoyable is often dipped into again and again, sometimes as a source of comfort and escape, sometimes illumination and inspiration.”
My favourite thing to do? Paging through their Festive Catalogue!
This is my list of the “Top 10 Recommendations for Books to Give as Presents”
Booktok made me read it!
The Long Game by Elena Armas (Long Game #1, first in series) (As seen on page 6 of the EB Festive Catalogue)
Goodreads Choice Award: Nominee for Best Romance (2023)
The bestselling author Elena Armas presents a heartwarming love story where a disgraced soccer exec teams up with a retired soccer star to coach a children’s team in a small town. After an embarrassing video goes viral, Adalyn Reyes’ father assigns her to turn around a struggling soccer team in order to prove herself. However, she is surprised to find a group of nine-year-old girls instead. With the help of Cameron Caldani, a goalkeeping legend, Adalyn and Cameron must put aside their differences and work together.
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Sports Romance, Contemporary Romance, Adult
My thoughts on this book: The Long Game (Long Game, #1) by Elena Armas
Find it here on the Exclusive Books website.
The Fragile Threads of Power (Threads of Power #1, first in series) by V.E. Schwab (As seen on page 12 of the EB Festive Catalogue)
Goodreads Choice Award – Nominee for Best Fantasy (2023)
The Fragile Threads of Power is a new trilogy in the Shades of Magic universe. It continues the stories of Kell, Lila, Rhy, and Alucard, and introduces a new generation of magic and shadows. Seven years have passed since the doors between the worlds were sealed. Kell, Lila, and Holland saved the worlds of Red, Grey, and White London, but faced challenges along the way. Red London is currently in the midst of a conspiracy and uprising, while a young Antari is in charge of White London and performing sinister rituals. Lila and Kell have been tasked with retrieving a stolen artifact, and Tes, a young woman with unique powers, gets involved in the affairs of Antari and kings.
Genres: Fantasy, Adult, Magic, High Fantasy
Find it here on the Exclusive Books website.
Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald (featured on page 50)
The feminist ideas of Madeline Miller intersect with the #spice of Sarah J. Maas (with a substantial portion of Bridgerton’s seductive and clever banter) in this bold, new, and immensely enjoyable young adult fantasy retelling from a rising TikTok sensation.
To hell with love, this goddess has other plans…
Centuries ago, the deities made up the story of how Persephone was a mere pawn in the power struggles of other gods. They claimed that Hades abducted Persephone to become his wife. They spread the tale of how her mother, Demeter, was so devastated that she caused the Earth to wither and die.
However, the truth is far more captivating.
Persephone didn’t get taken to the underworld against her will; she chose to go. She refused to be married off to some conceited god who loved himself more than her.
Now, her task is to persuade the annoyingly attractive, arrogant, and frankly impolite ruler of the Underworld, Hades, to align himself with her plan. A plan that will shake Mount Olympus to its very foundation.
Yet, when you’re already in hell, the consequences can be lethal…
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Mythology, Greek Mythology, Young Adult, Retellings
Find it here on the Exclusive Books website.
Great gifts for Fiction Fans
Holly by Stephen King (As seen on page 9 of the EB Festive Catalogue)
Goodreads Choice Award – Winner for Best Horror (2023)
In this thrilling novel, Stephen King’s beloved character Holly Gibney returns to solve the truth behind multiple disappearances in a Midwestern town. Holly, a smart and tough private detective, is faced with unimaginably depraved adversaries as she investigates the case of a missing girl. Holly is adamant about learning the dark secret that the ostensibly respectable professors Rodney and Emily Harris are hiding, despite obstacles in her personal life and resistance. With her formidable talents, Holly must outmaneuver these twisted professors in Stephen King’s chilling new masterwork.
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Crime
My thoughts on this book: Holly by Stephen King
Find it here on the Exclusive Books website.
Unnatural Death by Patricia Cornwell (As seen on page 9 of the EB Festive Catalogue)
In this mesmerising latest installment of the bestselling series by the author who has sold 120 million copies, Dr. Kay Scarpetta, the chief medical examiner, is faced with a chilling case that takes her into the wilderness of Northern Virginia. There, she is tasked with examining the remains of two campers who are wanted by federal law enforcement. The bodies have been brutally mauled, making identification impossible. The evidence found at the scene, including an unusually large footprint, is both terrifying and perplexing. Scarpetta’s retrieval of the bodies is one of the most harrowing experiences of her career. Now, she must uncover the identity of the perpetrator behind these vicious murders and decipher their motive.
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Suspense
Find it here on the Exclusive Books website.
Biography
BiographyThe Light We Carry by Michelle Obama (Featured on 23 books of 2023 list – page 52 and 53)
“The powerful, inspiring follow-up to the critically acclaimed, multi-million #1 bestselling memoir Becoming.
In “The Light We Carry”, former First Lady Michelle Obama shares practical wisdom and powerful strategies for staying hopeful and balanced in today’s highly uncertain world. She considers the questions many of us wrestle with:
How do we build enduring and honest relationships?
How can we discover strength and community inside our differences?
What do we do when it all starts to feel like too much?
Michelle Obama believes that we can all lean on a set of tools to help us better navigate change and remain steady within flux. “The Light We Carry” offers readers a series of fresh stories and insightful reflections on change, challenge, and power, including her belief that when we light up for others, we can illuminate the richness and potential of the world around us, discovering deeper truths and new pathways for progress.
Drawing from her experiences as a mother, daughter, spouse, friend, and First Lady, she shares the habits and principles she has developed to successfully overcome various obstacles — the earned wisdom that helps her continue to “become.”
With trademark humour, candour, and compassion, she also explores issues connected to race, gender, and visibility, encouraging readers to work through fear, find strength in community, and live with boldness. “The Light We Carry” will inspire readers to examine their own lives, identify their sources of gladness, and connect meaningfully in a turbulent world.”
What I thought about this book: Review: The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama
Find it here on the Exclusive Books website.
Cookery – Local
Easy Al Fresco by Ilse Van Der Merwe (page 31)
When we dine al fresco – outdoors, beyond the confines of enclosed spaces – everyday meals become an intoxicating fusion of fresh air and flavors, accompanied by outdoor sounds and natural vistas. Whether this “outside” is our own backyard, garden, patio, or porch, a seaside caravan park, the bush, or a remote location surrounded by mountains, it matters little because we emerge revitalised, nourished, and thoroughly satisfied. And if the preparation of these meals does not require traditional electricity during the dreaded loadshedding, well, that is simply the icing on the cake! In Easy Al Fresco, Ilse van der Merwe presents a straightforward and inspiring manual for fantastic, effortless, and delectable dishes that can all be concocted with a limited range of basic tools and either a fire or kettle braai. As Ilse affirms, this should be the sole book you pack for your upcoming trail hike, fishing weekend, game reserve outing, or seaside vacation. So why wait any longer? Ignite the fire, grab a whisk, and peruse the pages of Easy Al Fresco – you will never regret it.
You can find it here on the Exclusive Books website.
Humour
Humour
Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Set 1 by Bill Watterson (page 36)
The initial collection of books compiling the timeless comic strip Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson comes in a compact and portable format, aiming to introduce a new generation of readers to the adventures of a boy and his stuffed tiger. This set includes nearly 500 comics from the strip’s inception in November 1985 until March 1987, serving as the first installment in a series of seven. The Washington Post once remarked that Calvin and Hobbes resonates with all American childhoods to some extent, which explains its enduring popularity. Since its debut in 1985, the imaginative world of a boy and his tiger has captivated readers across over 2,400 newspapers.
As Bill Watterson retired on January 1, 1996, this new compact format intends to bring the timeless charm of Calvin and Hobbes to a new audience, easily fitting into backpacks or collector’s shelves. With archival slipcase and cover art personally chosen by the author, The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium pays homage to the strip’s origins in newspapers while captivating both new and existing fans. This set consists of two paperback books, totaling 144 pages, and includes almost 500 comics from November 1985 to March 1987. It is the first of seven sets to be released between 2023 and 2026.
Find it here on the Exclusive Books website.
Teen
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell (page 44)
Waterstones Book of the Year (2023)
It was a beautiful day, until he encountered a creature attempting to devour him. Christopher, a young boy, is paying a visit to his reclusive grandfather when he bears witness to a torrent of mythical beings cascading down the hill. This is how Christopher discovers that his grandfather is the protector of one of the pathways connecting the ordinary world and a realm known as the Archipelago. The Archipelago is a collection of enchanting islands where all the creatures we hear about in legends exist and reproduce, coexisting with humans. These creatures have been shielded from discovery for countless years, but now, alarmingly, the protection is weakening, and creatures are managing to break through. Suddenly, a girl named Mal materializes in Christopher’s world. She possesses a flying garment, is being pursued by a murderer, and is on a mission to find a baby griffin. Mal, Christopher, and the griffin embark on a pressing expedition across the untamed beauty of the Archipelago, where sphinxes hold secrets and centaurs commit murder. Their objective is to uncover the truth, which will have unimaginable consequences for both their worlds. Together, they must confront the challenges of power, knowledge, and the demands of love.
Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens, Adventure, Dragons
My thoughts on this book Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
Find it here on the Exclusive Books website.
Murtagh by Christopher Paolini (page 44)
An extraordinary and captivating new fantasy from the globally bestselling writer of ERAGON, renowned storyteller Christopher Paolini, returns to the enchanting World of Eragon in this magnificent and awe-inspiring epic fantasy tale set one year after the dramatic events of the Inheritance Cycle.
The once safe and secure world has become perilous for the courageous Dragon Rider Murtagh and his faithful dragon, Thorn. Following the downfall of an evil monarch, they are left to confront the consequences of their reluctant involvement in his tyrannical rule. Now, they find themselves despised and isolated, banished to the fringes of society. Throughout the realm, hushed whispers speak of unstable ground and a faint scent of sulfur in the air – and Murtagh senses the presence of a sinister force lurking in the shadows of Alagaesia.
Thus commences an extraordinary and perilous journey through both familiar and unexplored lands, where Murtagh and Thorn must employ every weapon in their arsenal, utilizing their intellect and physical prowess, in order to locate and outsmart a mysterious sorceress. However, this witch is far more than she initially appears to be. In this enthralling novel featuring one of the most beloved characters from Christopher Paolini’s bestselling Inheritance Cycle, a Dragon Rider must discern his true purpose in a world that has forsaken him. Murtagh is the ideal entry point to experience the captivating World of Eragon for the first time . . . or to joyfully return to it once more.
Genre: Fantasy, Dragons, Young Adult, High Fantasy, Magic
This book is here on Exclusive Books’s webpage.
Who was I kidding? There’s no way I could limit myself to 10 books only, here’s 10 more!
Other books featured in the EB Festive Catalogue – as read, reviewed or featured previously:
- What I read: Bridge by Lauren Beukes (as seen on page 2) Goodreads Choice Award – Nominee for Best Science Fiction (2023)
- The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman (as seen on page 3) Goodreads Choice Award – Nominee for Best Mystery & Thriller (2023)
- The Spy Coast (Martini Club #1) by Tess Gerritsen (as seen on page 3)
- Gebeente deur Etienne Van Heerden (Local) (as seen on page 6)
- Die Melkweg en die Miskruier deur Jeanette Ferreira (Local) (as seen on page 7)
- 5 Ingredients Mediterranean by Jamie Oliver (as seen on page 29)
- Nostalgie deur Herman Lensing (Local) (as seen on page 29)
- Die Suid-Afrikaanse Lugbraaier Kookboek 2 deur Louisa Holst (Local) (page 30)
- The Stolen Heir by Holly Black (page 48)
- Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes (Featured on 23 books of 2023 list – page 52 and 53)
- Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr Julie Smith (Featured on 23 books of 2023 list – page 52 and 53)
- Spare by Prince Harry (Featured on 23 books of 2023 list – page 52 and 53)
Let me know which of these books you have read and/or plan to gift?
