Read all about it this Christmas

Whether you’re buying for your parents, sibling or that friend who seems to have everything, books make the perfect gift. We bring you some top picks to inspire you – perhaps even to spoil yourself!

The festive season is the perfect time to curl up with a good book. A quick glance around the shelves or online will reveal many Christmas-themed books. But this year why not forgo all those set in the festive season and get one of these best-sellers? The top five Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy by Helen Fielding This is the third Bridget book, released 14 years after the last. With Darcy gone, our unlikely heroine’s now a single mum of two and dealing with nasty mothers at the school gate. Fans of the original books have not been, and will not be, disappointed with the latest instalment. My Autobiography by Alex Ferguson This is a definitive autobiography by the man who dominated English and European football for over two decades. This will make a perfect gift for anybody with even a passing interest in the beautiful game. Autobiography by Morrissey Smiths frontman Morrissey’s memoir has been published as a Penguin Classic, a privilege normally reserved for elite writers like Austen, Darwin and Orwell. It is everything a fan could hope for – and quite a bit more. Saints Of The Shadow Bible by Ian Rankin In fiction, Ian Rankin’s newest crime novel featuring the author’s infamous detective John Rebus, is also likely to be among the big-sellers this year.

The Grumpy Dieter’s Handbook by Ivor Grump For some light relief, look for The Grumpy Dieter’s Handbook, which, despite its name, is not really a diet book at all. From The Father Ted Tribute diet to The Cross Channel Ferries diet, this one will have you in stitches. Other festive big-sellers Solo by William Boyd The latest writer to attempt a James Bond novel since Ian Fleming’s death – previous authors include Raymond Benson, Sebastian Faulks and Jeffrey Deaver – sees Bond posing as a French journalist in war-torn fictional Zanzarim inWest Africa. It’s up to Bond to derail the rebels’ cause, but

events escalate and the spy is left with a score to settle, which takes him around the world on a rogue mission. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt Tartt’s latest offering tells the tale of Theo who, aged 13, survives an explosion in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, while his mother doesn’t make it out alive. Alone, the boy has only a painting, The Goldfinch, which he stole from the rubble, to remind him of his mother. He’s taken in by a dysfunctional, wealthy family and has many adventures, including a Las Vegas expedition. Wars Of The Roses: Stormbird by Conn Iggulden This is the first novel of Iggulden’s new Wars Of The Roses trilogy and marks his first attempt at detailing Britain’s past, having previously focused on the Romans and Genghis Khan. Stormbird focuses on Henry VI, known as the Lamb, a weak ruler who relies heavily on those closest to him to run the country. The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton This year’s Man Booker Prize-winner is set in 1866, and follows Walter Moody, who travels to New Zealand to make money in the goldfields. He stumbles across a group of locals discussing a series of recent mysterious events, including the disappearance of a wealthy man and a large sum of money being discovered in the home of a reckless man. A story of twists and turns, mysteries and ghosts ensues. Letters Of Note: Correspondence Deserving Of AWider Audience by Shaun Usher Based on the hugely popular website of the same name, Letters Of Note is a collection of more than 100 letters, some funny, some inspiring, some very sad. The letters come from an impressive list of authors including Mick Jagger, Emily Dickinson, Charles Darwin, Elvis Presley and Groucho Marx. There’s an appeal for peace from Gandhi to Hitler, a job application from Leonardo Da Vinci and a recipe for drop scones from Queen Elizabeth II to US President Dwight Eisenhower. Ebook best-sellers The Beatles – All These Years: Tune In ( volume one) by Mark Lewisohn There’s always an appetite for Beatles analysis, and this book is the most dazzlingly detailed yet with the first volume covering the Liverpool and Hamburg years. I Heart Christmas by Lindsey Kelk Kelk has a rabid army of fans for this series so this is a solid safe bet as a best-seller. She lives in New York and tweets about gigs and nail varnish. The Kills by Richard House Booker-longlisted, this book, set in the aftermath of the Iraq war, focuses on noncombatants; the middlemen civilian contractors who enter a war zone for a short term to do highly paid work in the danger zone. A gripping, original thriller, likely to do brisk business with fans of David Simon’s mini-series Generation Kill. Autobiography by Morrissey Ebooks have perhaps made ‘give it a whirl’ purchases easier and more economical. Diehard Moz fans will want the Penguin Classic in paperback, but the rest can get it in this format and chortle with laughter. The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty Already among the Kindle ebook best-sellers, the story begins with a woman’s discovery of a dusty sealed envelope with the words “For my wife – to be opened only in the event of my death” written on it in her husband’s handwriting. The letter reveals his terrible mistake and how it could affect her life as well as the lives of others. If you like Jodi Picoult, you’ll love this.