Jacqueline Fanchini (Reporter)The Christmas holidays are the perfect excuse for curling up with a good book in front of the fire – yes, even in Spain!
Add a nice hot cuppa and merry carols in the background and you’ll soon be infused with that warm yuletide glow.
The Olive Press sought out Stephen Davies from the Sabinillas Bookshop and Mike Cowburn from Bookworld in Puerto Banus to tell us what books are flying off the shelves this season.
Autobiographies and cookbooks were among their tips for the perfect gifts. Added Davies: “Children love the Guinness World Record book. We’re going to have to restock, as out of 25 we’ve only got one copy left.”
Here’s their pick of Christmas best-sellers that are bound to please:
For Adults
Jamie Oliver – Jamie’s Comfort Food
Jamie Oliver’s latest literary concoction is the perfect winter warmer – cosy cuisine that gives you a calorific cuddle. Whether you’re nostalgic, under-the weather or just feeling a bit naughty, Jamie’s restorative recipes from all over the world are the perfect pick-me-up.
Omar Allibhoy – Tapas Revolution
Dubbed ‘the Antonia Banderas of cooking’ by Hell’s Kitchen hero Gordon Ramsay, Allibhoy has picked out 120 classic recipes designed to spread a taste of Spanish allegria abroad.
The Madrileno chef goes back to basics with easy-to-make traditional recipes that work every time.
Russell Brand – Revolution
The controversial comedian has been very vocal about his animosity towards ‘the way things are’ and invites us to join his revolution. Although definitely on a mission to reject the status quo he promises to show readers how his brand of anarchy is workable, inevitable and, of course, fun.
Stephen Fry – More Fool Me
The witty raconteur and inveterate poster of Tweets shines a light into his hedonistic past to reveal some of the darker secrets of his rise to fame. Fry delves into excerpts and anecdotes from diaries he kept during the 1980s and 90s en route to becoming one of Britain’s ‘national treasures’.
Lynda Bellingham – There’s Something I’ve Been Dying To Tell You
Diagnosed with cancer in 2013, Britain’s well-loved ‘Oxo Mum’ kept her life private almost to the end before deciding to write this inspirational memoir. She shares the poignant realities faced by cancer sufferers and reveals how her family came to terms with tragedy.
Sophia Loren – Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: My life
With a career that spans nearly 70 years, Italy’s most revered actress takes us on a journey through her not-always charmed life. Loren, 80 this year, spills the beans on her 17-day prison stay and her love letter from American heartthrob Cary Grant, among other juicy stories.
For Children
Guinness World Records 2015
This compilation annual will settle the score in any family argument involving record-breaking feats and bizarre achievements. Packed with tantalising titbits, cool pictures and astounding statistics, it’s the perfect antidote to an overdose of TV and social networking.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! 2015
The ultimate collection of all that is strange and shocking, Ripley’s explores the world’s weirdest activities and individuals. Nature’s wonderlands, skateboarding mice, popping eyes and a man who has eaten 25,000 light bulbs are just some of the mind-boggling true stories on offer.
Jeff Kinney – Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
The ninth book in this popular series, Greg Heffley’s latest adventures unfold during a road trip with his family – one they won’t soon forget. Their holiday turns into an obstacle course as they face crazed seagulls, gas station bathrooms, fender benders and a runaway pig.
David Walliams – Awful Auntie
After young Lady Stella Saxby’s parents die in a tragic car crash, her conniving Aunt Alberta and her owl Wagner try to cheat her out of her inheritance. Thankfully she has Soot, the mischievous ghost of a Cockney chimney sweep, to help her through her ordeals.
Jacqueline Wilson – Opal Plumstead
When her father is sent to prison, Opal Plumstead’s dreams of going to university are shattered. Working in a sweet factory to support her family, she meets the remarkable suffragette Mrs Pankhurst and falls for her son. But the course of true love doesn’t run smooth as war breaks out.
