Books for Christmas 2016: Five Splash out in the Bookshop - subversive gift and humour for (not quite) grown-ups

It may seem a strange thing to confess, but at this time of the year we often get asked for book recommendations for 'people who don't read'. This may seem slightly paradoxical, but it's actually code for 'people who don't read a lot, probably not fiction, but I love books, and I really, really want to buy them a book'.

And of course - we can help.

This time of the year there are some innovative and imaginative books which work brilliantly as gifts, either because they are 'dip-in-and-outable' (that's an actual bookselling term), or they are packed full of facts, or puzzles - or just plain funny.

Humour books are perhaps the trickiest of titles to recommend as gifts. After all, a book says as much about you as it does for the person you are buying for. So here at Mostly Books, we want to help you walk that fine line between big smiles and strange looks by offering up our favourite funny books around this Christmas. And let's face it, after the year we've all had, we could do with a chuckle...

If last year was the year of the Ladybird spoof title, this year it's the Famous Five parodies. There are five titles, all written as a homage to Enid Blyton's originals (by ex-bookseller and author Bruno Vincent), with titles like 'Five Go Parenting' and 'Five Go Gluten Free'. Join Julian, George, Dick, Anne and Timmy the dog as they are thrust into the dilemmas of contemporary life with their 1950s morality intact.

Our pick is 'Five on Brexit Island'. If you've fallen out with someone over politics this year, this might just be the book to start a rapprochement...

Following on from the phenomenon that was the Ladybird spoof titles last year, this year they're back with titles such as 'the Ladybird Book of the Meeting' and 'The Ladybird Book of the Zombie Apocalypse' ("note: during a zombie apocalypse the police will be busy, and Wi-Fi might be patchy").

Brilliantly done, we reckon the 'Ladybird Book of the Sickie' is this year's stand out title. Remember: imaginary food poisoning is a great reason to be off work. It lasts for a short time, and no-one likes to hear about toilet details...

Whether this year's political developments have left you depressed, euphoric or just plain baffled, relive the rollercoaster ride of 2016 via the Private Eye Annual 2016. Top of our 'go on, take a sneaky look whilst browsing in the bookshop' titles, we actively encourage you to do this next time you're in.

All your favourites are here: Poetry Corner, Celeb, Nursery Times. And the year in 'Private Eye Lookalikes' is worth the entrance fee alone...

Last year, we loved Ranjit Bolt's collection of limericks, 'A Lion Was Learning' and this year Michael Palin - who has penned limericks privately for years - has decided to publish his favourites in a gem of a book entitled 'A Sackful of Limericks' (the ex-Python star is decent enough to admit his eye is firmly on the Christmas market in the extremely funny foreward, bemoaning the fact that none of the Christmas cracker companies had responded to his phonecalls, so he was forced to publish them himself).

The only thing that could make this book better would be copies signed by the great man himself - and we are delighted to say we have signed copies in the shop. Email us to reserve a copy...

An author we know well - and who has been to Abingdon several times - is writer Mark Forsyth, whose previous books such the Etymologicon have been previous Christmas bestsellers. So it's very appropriate that his latest book - 'A Christmas Cornicopia' - is again obsessed with origins, only this time, the origins of many of our Christmas traditions that often have the most bizarre and troubling beginnings.

For example, villagers would often go around guizing (basically "wassailing in masks") and anyone engaged in guizing was known as a 'guizer' (short for disguising) - and that's where we get our Cockney term 'geezer' from. This is full of 'well I never knew that' moments and a great gift. We have signed copies as well - whilst stocks last.

If you are buying for someone who a) loves little-known facts about famous people but b) wouldn't appreciate a Christmas theme, then we thoroughly recommend 'Rest In Pieces', a macabre-sounding and curious-looking book about the curious fates of famous corpses by Bess Lovejoy. It features the strange and sometimes wildly bizarre tales of what happened to a huge range of famous people - after they were dead.

From the theft of Haydn's skull (that took 150 years to solve and remedy), what the CIA did with Che Guevara's corpse and the frankly weird last request of utilitarian Jeremy Bentham, it all goes to show that death really can be the start of the next great adventure...

Talking of secret service personnel (strictly speaking, the CIA only advised the Bolivian government about Che), have you got what it takes to join GCHQ? Find out in what we feel will be the sleeper hit of Christmas, the 'GCHQ Puzzle Book'. Apparently (according to the blurb on the back of the book) British cyber-spies 'love a good puzzle'. Whether they're recruiting new staff, challenging each other to the toughest Christmas quizzes and treasure hunts imaginable, or engaging in disinformation with the popular press, puzzles are at the heart of what GCHQ does. Now they're opening up their archives of decades' worth of codes, puzzles and challenges for everyone to try.

A must-have for anyone in the family who loves puzzles - or fancies themselves as a cyber-sleuth!

If Lords and The Oval are more up your street than Cheltenham and Bletchley Park, then the 'Test Match Special Quiz Book' contains over 3,000 questions from the commentary box.

Pit your wits against Aggers, Tuffers, Boycs and Johnners - and try not to get caught out!

To some people, mention the following words "Viking, Fisher, German Bight" and their eyes will glaze over, and a happy smile will descend upon their face...

Yes, there can be nothing more comforting or British than 'The Shipping Forecast' on the BBC, and this beautiful little miscellany by Nic Compton tells the stories, people, poetry and imaginations that have been inspired across the globe by this most British of institutions - as well as providing a very real service for the nation's seafarers who might fall prey to storms and gales.

And finally, if you long for Britain that has long since disappeared, we have one final recommendation for you - this year's 'Giles Collection 2017'. A whole generation had their political awareness aroused by Giles in the 60s and 70s, and Giles himself was voted the 'best cartoonist of the 20th century'. This year's collection celebrates his most awesome creation, the curmudgeonly Grandma, as she battles power cuts, dockers strikes, and underperforming jockeys in the 3.30 at Haydock. A true legend.

For more inspiration, take a look at last year's recommendations on a similar theme - and here are the best of the rest:

• The Best of Matt - in our opinion, the worthy successor to Giles in the 21st century.
• Haynes Explains - the creators of 'The Haynes Manuals' have produced these little guides to explain complex aspects of life, such as Babies, Marriage, Pensioners and Teenagers
• Speaking In Tongues - Ella Frances Sanders follow up her sublime 'Lost In Translation' with more untranslatable expressions from around the world.
  
• The Brexshit Book - if you are having difficulty coming to terms with Brexit, lining up behind Farage, Johnson et al in 'turning your frown upside down' and 'making the best of it', this book may help. Or not. Happy Christmas, eh?

Living in Interesting Times: Buy Dad A Real Book for Father's Day 2016

This year's 'Buy Dad A Real Book' campaign might be slightly overshadowed by "events, dear boy, events" but that still doesn't mean, amongst the swirling chaos and uncertainty of the next few weeks (and that's just the football) we still can't carve out a moment of calmness and sanity, and treat Dad to a special book.

Yes, if ever there was a moment to pull the plug on the 24/7 world of news, punditry, opinions, trolling, tweets and status updates, Sunday June 19 might just be that day...

As has become customary over the past few years, here's our selection of books for you to choose from. We have many more recommends for you to pick in the shop, so why not come in and ask for a special recommendation for the Dad in your life.

And - as has also become customary, and with inclusion uppermost in our minds - we offer this piece of wonderful wisdom told us in the shop by a lady who remembers her Dad every year by reading a book she knows he would have enjoyed. Kudos.

Abingdon's ATOM Science Festival kicks off at the end of June, and ‘Atoms under the Floorboards’ is a light-hearted science read that gets down to the things around us and looks at them at an atomic level. Chris Woodford takes us on a fun and fascinating journey that will answer questions such as 'why dust never blows away' and 'why ice is slippery', to 'how you can split an atom in your living room'. Focusing on our daily lives, yet choosing imaginative subject matter, this will interest those curious about the scientific underpinnings of the modern world.

‘Anatomy of a Soldier’ is the riveting story of the everyday life of a soldier and coming to terms with a life-changing injury. Harry Parker tells the brave tale in an unusual but effective style, using objects around the soldier to demonstrate and explore the extremes both of boredom and danger. How does a solder deal with the ever-present threat, yet have to face and try to understand the enemy? How does he or she cope with the thoughts of those at home? A thought-provoking, at times chaotic book that looks set to become one of the must-reads of 2016.

A whole plethora of picture books has been published aimed at little ones, and celebrating the father-child relationship (bizarrely, many of them seem to feature animals - go figure). We appreciate that a title that seems unbearably cute to one chap might represent the epitome of saccharine queasiness to another - so our bookseller Imogen has hunted through the titles for the best of the bunch.

In ‘School for Dads’ the talented writing partnership of Adam and Charlotte Guillain (who wrote the brilliant 'Socks for Santa' and 'Treats for T-Rex') come up trumps with a great, inclusive celebration and an imaginative and respectful twist on the 'clueless Dad' character who seems to crop up a lot in contemporary culture.

All the dads that are late to pick up their children are sent to school for the day, where the children teach them everything from play time to ‘being fair’. The dads are made to do P.E. and are not allowed sweets for lunch, and the children begin to realise that it might be pretty difficult to be an adult sometimes. A sweet, funny story perfect for dad that will remind them of their own days at school, and the cold floor they had to sit on in assembly...

Little Monster can’t wait to grow up like his dad in ‘When I’m a Monster like you, Dad’ by David O'Connell. Little Monster can be big and scary, but Dad knows there is also fun in staying small and young, and playing games.


Thanks to big, bold illustration by illustrator Francesca Gambatesa, this is a really fun story about how dads and their little monsters can mess around like children and enjoy their time together.

If that dose of cutesiness has got you gasping for something a bit more in the way of good old British sarcastic humour (!), then look no further than 'How It Works: The Dad'. Another in the genius 'Ladybird Books for Grown-Ups' series, it's another brilliantly funny gem, featuring genuine artwork from the original Ladybird books.

It's a fine celebration of the institution of fatherhood. So if your Dad has superpowers (such as the ability to turn invisible whilst picking his nose in traffic) then we reckon he'd love to get a copy of this book...

There's no denying the boom in lycra-clad men on bikes in recent years, but cycling is most definitely booming, and we're extremely lucky in Abingdon to have arguably one of the country's most dynamic and exciting cycle shops, Outdoor Traders (they even have their own race team who won the Oxfordshire Road Race League in 2015).

So if you know someone who dreams of doing legendary Tour de France climbs but perhaps needs a bit of motivation to get there, we reckon they will love 'Tour de France Legendary Climbs on Google Earth' by Richard Abraham. They feature 20 notorious 'Hors Categorie' Tour de France Climbs, which you can follow through the power of Google Earth. From the dizzying heights of the 2,715-metre ascent of Col de la Bonette to the historic Great St Bernard Pass, this is a book to inspire (albeit from the safety of the living room and a laptop).

One of our favourite bike books of the last ten years was Robert Penn's 'It's All About the Bike' - about as infectious and inspirational exhortation of a life on two wheels as it's possible to get. But in the course of writing that book - partly from meeting artisan bike builders in California - Robert's latest book is 'The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees'.

With his trademark passion and enthusiasm, he travels across Europe and the USA looking at people who still use ancient techniques with the tree that has been used the most over thousands of years to make everything from wheels and arrows to furniture and baseball bats. With ash trees facing extinction on both sides of the Atlantic, this is also a poignant cri de coeur about keeping our connections with our environment.

As well as bike books, we're currently living through a golden age of sublime 'football literature'. Nick Hornby's 'Fever Pitch' and David Peace's 'The Damned United' come to mind, but also Jonathan Wilson's history of football tactics 'Inverting the Pyramid' (so gripping and readable, it's like a thriller) and Lynne Truss' 'Get Her Off The Pitch' (about how sport in general can take over your life).

Football arouses such passion amongst the British (from a hatred of football culture right the way through to a kind of religious passion) and right at the top of the pile sits 1966. We thoroughly recommend Peter Chapman's tour-de-force look at the wider context of England's last major football triumph in 'Out of Time: 1966 and the End of Old-Fashioned Britain'. It's a highly personal - and unflinching - look at both the exciting opportunities and grim realities of a country on the cusp of social change over the Summer of the 1966 World Cup. From cruel teachers, low expectations, industrial disasters and the London music scene, it's our big recommend for anyone who wants a corrective to the myth behind *that* football match and *that* legendary piece of commentary...

Moving from 1966 to 1666, we've loved introducing readers to Andrew Taylor's 'The Ashes of London'. An historical thriller, set in the aftermath of the Great Fire of London, it involves the son of a Cromwell supporter, jailed for treason, who is investigating a murder victim discovered in the ashes of the fire. Anyone looking for a new 'Matthew Shardlake' are not going to be disappointed, with Taylor pulling off CJ Sansom's trick of a cracking mystery with excellent period detail. We're already looking forward to a sequel.

Just out in paperback, one of Julia's favourite books of last year, 'Arcadia' by Iain Pears. It's a story of three worlds: One present (1970's), one future and the third an invention from the mind of a writer called Henry Lytten. When these worlds collide a whole heap of trouble occurs. A schoolgirl from the nineteen seventies is mistaken for a fairy. Security officers from the future are arrested as Soviet spies and Lytten enters his own story and is worshipped as a deity. This is an eclectic mix of fantasy, history, science fiction and dystopian future which together make an engrossing - and brilliantly original - read.

The 1966 players became rock stars in their day, and Neil Gaiman is the closest thing to a literary rock star (a 'ledge' as the kids might say). Whilst the author of 'American Gods' is viewed as a God by most of his fans, this collection of the best of his non-fiction writing allows you to get inside the head (and heart) of one of our most celebrated writers.

Read 'The View from the Cheap Seats' cover to cover or dip in, you'll find essays on everything from 'How to make good art' to working with Terry Pratchett, from the comic creations of Jack Kirby to the songs of Lou Reed. And if you fancy a treat on how good Gaiman's writing can be, take a look at possibly the finest advice ever offered to authors on how to write. Seriously, utter genius...

We reckon Neil Gaiman likes a drink (although perhaps he's teetotal. Or perhaps he just *says* he's teetotal to gullible journalists?). Anyway, if he *does* drink, we reckon he'd love 'Craft Spirits' by Eric Grossman.

Whilst the 'Craft Beer' movement has taken the world by storm, Craft Spirits is the next big thing, and Grossman is an enthusiastic guide through the international range of craft spirits, with the names to watch and spirits to try with new recipes for cocktails and the stories behind the spirits.

There we go - a dozen recommends for Father's Day inspiration. But don't forget that we are all about recommending for anyone you are buying for. Why not pop into the shop and we can put together your very own shortlist of titles to choose the perfect gift!

Elementary, In Trouble - and Off The Leash: Our Mother's Day Book Selection 2016

At Mostly Books, we try to resist stereotypes, and let's face it, 'Mother's Day' can be full of them: cue lots of images of immaculately dressed elegance, 1950s throwbacks and Von Trapp-style children. But where's the frazzled, barely holding-things-together, 'technically-it's-not-drinking-alone-if-the-kids-are-in-the-house' reality?

Still, we reckon that buying Mum a book is a good bet whatever the reality.

Buying a book as a gift conjures up the promise of unplugging from the world (at least for a while) and opening a door onto a wider world. These things go down extremely well (along with the flowers, chocolates, cups of tea and inexpertly-made breakfasts in bed of course). And reading is officially very good for you.

We're here to help you give Mum the day she deserves - so here is this year's Mostly Books Mother's Day recommends from everyone at the shop (several of whom are mothers themselves, and hence know about these sort of things).

'How It Works: The Mum' is another brilliantly-written, subversive spoof Ladybird title from the team behind 'How It Works: The Wife' and 'How It Works: The Husband'.

With the genius combination of nostalgic original artwork from the genuine Ladybird books, and sardonic observations on modern life that worked in earlier titles, this is definitely going to generate a laugh or two on Mother's Day, and will tide you over until the eagerly-awaited 'How It Works: The Student' is published this Autumn...

Continuing on the subversive, satirical theme, 'The Trouble with Women' by Jacky Fleming is an illustrated gem of a book that tells an alternative history of the ‘women history wrote out’. From 'Fallen Woman' (those that strayed outside their Domestic Bubble) to the men who have proved womens ‘puny’ intelligence, this is subversive, genuinely eye-opening, and very funny with plenty of historically-significant mothers (many with tell-tale ‘genius hair’...).

There's loads of new fiction out at the moment, and here are a few of our favourites which we think make extra-special Mother's Day choices.

One of Nicki's favourite children's authors, Meg Rosoff, has written her first book for adults - 'Jonathan Unleashed' - and it's a total joy.

New Yorker Jonathan has got a job, an apartment, a girlfriend - what more could he want? But when suddenly he also has two dogs, his life starts to painfully and hilariously unravel. Jonathan starts to see his life differently and feels perhaps there should be more...

A smart, funny book and beautifully written book about modern relationships (and dogs). For anyone who loved the quirky humour of 'The Rosie Project', it's a book that will surprise and go straight to the heart.

Mrs Hudson’s role in the Sherlock Holmes books was always being the woman whose main role in life was bringing Sherlock Holmes tea. Well, what if she is secretly covering up another brilliant mind, listening in to all Sherlock’s cases and longing to be a detective herself? That's the premise behind 'The House At Baker Street' by Michelle Birkby.

When Holmes dismisses a case of blackmail, Mrs Hudson, with the help of Mary Watson leaps in, determined to finally fulfil her dream and solve a case of her own. There is plenty of Sherlock-inspired fiction at the moment, but this is a triumph of imagination, exciting and thoroughly satisfying as a mystery in its own right.

Like Meg Rosoff, Lissa Evans made the leap from children's to adult books, although she was already an accomplished television director and producer. 'Crooked Heart' is a delightfully quirky story about the relationship between a struggling wartime widow and the evacuee she doesn't really want.

Vee reckons everyone is doing well out of the War, but she just keeps getting caught out. She takes in evacuee Noel, feeling there are opportunities to exploit his limp. They form a deep and touching relationship that survives both treachery and bombings in this heart-warming drama infused with both charm and moments of laugh-out-loud comedy.

In 'A Year of Marvellous Ways', 89 year old Marvellous Ways is waiting. She’s not entirely sure what she’s waiting for - but she knows it’s coming. Then Francis Drake arrives, a soldier fresh from war, and she sets out to use the power of stories to help him heal his past. Sarah Winman's tale is full of magical realism which gives the book a hint of ‘fairytaleness’. All in all it’s a book that will definitely whisk the reader away.

A good book cries out for a associated beverage, and if it's a lovely cup of tea then why not consider one of our range of mugs? Our bookish range from Scribbelicious have books on one side and quotes on the other.

It’s the perfect way to sink into a drink. And a book.

Some people may not agree with them being relaxing, but we have a collection of jigsaws at the moment (see 'Mother and Child' at left). What better to make, either alone, or with the ‘help’ of a son or daughter?

And do take a look at our pop-up 'flower' cards - the perfect way to send flowers through the post when you can't send flowers through the post!

A perfect present from a child? Try the following:

In 'My Mum is a Supermum' a wonderful, imaginative story celebrates mothers everywhere, written by Angela McAllister and illustrated by 'Claude' author and illustrator Alex T Smith. 

Does your mother have eyes in the back of her head? How about X-ray vision? Milo’s definitely does, since how else would she always know what he was doing?

There’s also 'Just Like My Mum' (now available in a board book as well as paperback). It's an extremely cute story all about a little lion cub and how he wants to be just like her - all drawn with the warmth and charm of Hugless Douglas creator David Melling.

Whoever you are buying for, just come into the shop and let us find the perfect gift!

Books for Christmas 2015 Part 2 - Adult Colouring and Books for the Child Within

If last week's selection of our favourite history titles seemed somewhat 'heavyweight', today's selection is much more on the lighter side. We are always on the look-out for gifts for family and friends who may not be big readers, but nevertheless you want them to have their nose in a book come Christmas morning.

The adult colouring craze which seems to have swept the country shows no sign of slowing, and no wonder. Sophisticated colouring books seem to work wonders for smart children, stressed adults, people recovering from illness, engaging in mindfulness and anyone looking to take a break from technology, or just wanting a good laugh.

Not all the titles are colouring titles (we have many more in the shop), and we already mentioned the splendid Harry Potter colouring book a few weeks ago. Some poke fun at the genre - and some spoof the 'back to childhood' vibe generally.

But here are our picks for the 'child within'...enjoy.

Haynes Cutaway Colouring Book (£6.99)

There are plenty of inspiring themes for colouring-in books in recent years, but amongst the flowers, animals and decorative patterns, with links to mindfulness and art therapies, this is possibly our favourite one at the moment that takes a more structured and mechanical approach.

The legendary Haynes black and white cutaway manuals seem tailor-made for colouring anyway, and this collection of 90 cutaways - with classic cards and a history of the Haynes Manual itself - seems a stroke (engine) of genius.

Sherlock: The Mind Palace - Mike Collins (£9.99)
The (colouring) game is afoot in 'The Mind Palace', a unique celebration of the rich visual landscape of Sherlock, featuring over 50 intricate pieces of artwork by artist Mike Collins. Recreate classic scenes, add colour to intricate interiors and illuminate the fascinating world of Sherlock with the power of your imagination.

The touch we particularly like is that within each scene there is a vital clue from each episode hidden within the black and white illustrations, and only by completing the scene can they be found. Surprisingly well-thought through, this is for a much wider appeal than just Cumberbatch-fans (though it will definitely appeal to them as well!) 

Lost Ocean - Johanna Basford (£12.99)

In 2013, a young Scottish illustrator started to create intricate black and white illustrations as a way to relax. Weaving in quests and stories into her pictures, her illustrations - initially published on her website - we're picked up by a British publisher, and 'The Secret Garden' has gone on to sell more than a million copies worldwide, translated into 14 languages and was - for a time - the biggest selling book in France.

'The Lost Ocean' is her latest - and beautiful - creation, and takes you on a magical journey beneath the waves. The book also features a large double-sided pull-out poster to colour with others and keep. We think it might prove an unexpected hit - and alternative - to a family board game on Christmas Day!

A Magical Christmas - Lizzie Mary Cullen (£9.99)

From Lizzie Mary Cullen, the illustrator behind hit colouring book 'The Magical City', comes a brand new treat for the winter. Settle down in your favourite chair and immerse yourself in this mesmerising new colouring book, with Christmas celebrations from across the world and throughout the years. There's at the Rockefeller Center to surfing in Sydney and frost fairs on the Thames to Victorian toy shops. Travel with the wise men following a star, spot Santa's sleigh skimming over the rooftops and discover dazzling gingerbread houses with Lizzie's intricate inky illustrations.

Crap Colouring in:Mindless Art Therapy for Modern Life - Joe Sumner (£7.99)

If you firmly believe that life isn't an 'Enchanted Kingdom', and you like your colouring-in a bit more age-appropriate, then 'Crap Colouring In' by Joe Summer is the book you've been waiting for. 

Over a hundred pages, from shopping trolleys to speed-bumps, leaves on the line and detailed grey clouds, it's adult colouring with a gloriously cynical British-humour twist. For those who like to vent as part of their art therapy!

The Ladybird Book of the Midlife Crisis - Jason Hazeley (£6.99)
Last year, we loved recommending the compelling (if disturbing) Scarfolk (which contained spoofs of the Ladybird genre, with mocked-up covers of books such as 'The Ladybird Guide to Bucolic Middle England'). Jason Hazeley has managed to go one better, with a whole raft of actual Ladybird books, using imagery from the original books, but squarely aimed at the adult reader.

Including such useful titles as 'The Ladybird Book of the Hipster' and 'The Ladybird Book of Mindfulness' come and have a peek at the range in the shop. We reckon you'll know in a very short space of time if these might be the gift you are looking for - we think they are extremely well-produced and very, very funny!