Four years ago we opened up our monthly country read to something a little different. Everyone seemed to love the topic & ended up adoring the winning book as well. So we’ve decided to do it again.
We’re going to leave it up to fate which country we end up reading. We’re looking for books written by native authors about their country which either includes a story that focuses on an icy location—snowy scene, wintry vista, or cold environment OR a book that touches on the winter holidays. This includes any festivity real or imagined from the more traditional like Christmas, Hanukkah, & winter solstice to the more celebratory like Junkanoo (the December masquerade in Jamaica, Belize, & the Bahamas) to the imaginary like Hogswatch (see Hogfather on Amazon) & Smekday (see The True Meaning of Smekday on Amazon). If the book is sci fi or fantasy that works too.
But there’s a catch. These books must not be from the countries that a lot of folks—especially in the US—read the most during this time of year which means you can’t send in suggestions from the US, UK, Ireland, or Canada.
Aside from the above & our usual club requirements, the sky’s the limit & we can’t wait to see your suggestions!
You’re also welcome to suggest any of the previous books sent in for this topic that we haven’t read yet.
But first, let me introduce you to what Nigella Lawson calls, “A magical, cosy hug of a cookbook” written by someone The Guardian calls the “greatest cookery writer of them all”.
The Christmas Chronicles is the story of Nigel Slater’s love for winter, the scent of fir and spruce, ghost stories read with a glass of sloe gin, and beeswax candles with shadows dancing on the ceiling. With recipes, decorations, fables and quick fireside suppers, Nigel guides you through the essential preparations for Christmas and the New Year, with everything you need to enjoy the winter months.
Taking you all the way to the end of January, The Christmas Chronicles covers everything from Bonfire Night, Christmas and New Year to Epiphany. Throughout the season, Nigel offers over 100 recipes to see you through the build-up, the celebrations and the aftermath. Here are much-loved classics such as goose and turkey (and making the most of the leftovers), mincemeat and the cake; recipes to make the cold months bearable, like ribsticker bread pudding with Comté and Taleggio, salt crust potatoes with blue cheese and goat’s curd, and hot-smoked salmon, potatoes and dill; as well as bright flavours to welcome the new year, including pink grapefruit marmalade, pear and pickled radish salad and rye, linseed and treacle bread.
Packed with feasts, folktales, myths and memoir all told in Nigel’s warm and intimate signature style, The Christmas Chronicles is the only book you’ll ever need for winter.
“A dream of a book. Slater … has produced such a hymn to winter that we’ll all be able to cope with it this year.” —Telegraph
HAVE ANY BOOK CLUB SUGGESTIONS?
Just let us know your icy/wintry or holiday-themed suggestions by Tues., Nov. 28 11PM ET. (That's NYC time. See this converted to your local time below.)
You can comment with your suggestion below or in our online book club in Facebook.
We'll use your suggestions & suggestions from the book club management team to compile a list of 6 books. The book judged as best will then be read.
Please note - We're specific in our books & even more so this month. Your suggestions this go around must:
Focus on icy/wintry locations, OR touch on a real or imagined winter holiday
Take place in the author’s country of origin (unless the world described is an alternate reality) & be written by a native author (i.e., an author born in that country who has spent a good portion of their life there)
Not be from the US, UK, Ireland, or Canada
Exist in paperback & ebook available on both Amazon & Kindle at least in the US & hopefully elsewhere
Also, we love it when folks suggest books which are also available in audio format. While we know this isn’t always possible so it is not a requirement, it is more inclusive & something for which all of us should strive.