So if there’s one thing that’s made a number of appearances on my wish list this year, it’s got to be books.  When I was a kid, it was rare indeed that you would see me without my nose in a book and I would often read by the light of a flashlight (torch) underneath my covers until my mom would inevitably yell at me to GO. TO. SLEEP.  And then of course, I would just wait until she had turned her attentions to something else and would continue reading very late into the night.  It was no wonder I never liked getting up in the morning.

That passion really never subsided completely and even today, I am an all-or-nothing person when it comes to reading fiction (ie., will read for 5 hours straight until it is DONE because I can’t bear putting it down kinda girl).  That being said, because my life will not often allow me such an indulgence (nor will it allow me such late nights), I tend to save my hard core reading for the holidays.

At the same time, I do love a good interior design book with beautiful eye candy that I can page through at my leisure, swooning over inspirational image over inspirational image.

And as we have a holiday coming up where I can indulge both of my pleasures, I’m adding these books to my ‘Please-Father-Christmas-I’ve-Been-Oh-So-Very-Good-This-Year’ list and thought I’d share them with you as well.

I’m a massive fan of designer Celerie Kemble and from what I’ve seen so far of her book Black & White (and a bit in between), she doesn’t appear to disappoint.  Black and white is such a timeless look that I’m eager to see what gorgeousness she’s put together.  Those dark walls on the cover?  Oh yespleaseandthankyou.

Next up?  A work of fiction with a provocative title.  When I Was Five I Killed Myself by Howard Buten, and “hailed as ‘one of the most charming voices since Holden Caulfield'” centering around an eight year old boy and his “unusual and occasionally bewildering narrative of love, loyalty and the injustice inherent in not being understood by the adult world.”  As a massive fan of Catcher in the Rye, I am hoping this will be a rather thought-provoking read!

Another work of fiction is also on my list by Norwegian author Erlend Low called Naive.Super about a 25 year old man questioning his place in the world.  Do I like mildly depressing, tongue-in-cheek novels?  Hmm.  I’m starting to think so.  Nonetheless, it was a huge success in it’s original Norwegian language and has received fantastic critical acclaim.  I’m up for a bit of deep thinking me.

My next design book that I’m eager to get my grubby mitts on is Grace Bonney’s Design*Sponge at Home.  No blogger worth their salt would want to miss this one with the powerhouse of fantastic info that her blog is.  I imagine there will be very much to delight in with her hard-backed offering as it promises lots of DIY projects!  Woohoo!

Next up on the fiction shelves is All My Friends are Superheroes by Andrew Kaufman.  At only 108 pages, I can do this one in one sitting and won’t even need a holiday to get the time.  A novel about love among superheros with a tender message.  I may need it after all the depressing shit I’ll have been reading.

By the same author and bearing a similarly petite size, I also would like to read The Tiny Wife which received equally positive reviews.  Just looking at the cover makes me want to pick it up and read it – does it do that to you too?  Who says you can’t judge a book by it’s cover?  Just try and stop me.

Image via Bookiemonster

Another design book I would love to own is Details: A Stylist’s Secret to Creating Inspired Interiors by Lili Diallo and photographed by Annie Schlecter.  With a great big gorgeous bubblegum pink tufted sofa on the front cover, I can not wait to see what else is in store!

Part of my job entails reading through loads and loads of editorial copy and with that comes proof-reading.  Not the sexiest thing in the world but being that I’m often called ‘The Red Pen Nazi’ at work (because I can’t help proofing much of anything put in front of my face – I’m sure I was a teacher in another life), I thought it was only fitting to finally add Eats Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss to my bookshelf.

I also have 3 books on digital marketing which I’m pretty sure you won’t care too much about and a couple others as well but these are the books I really want!

Have you got any books on your wishlist?  Any design books that are rocking your socks right now?  Are you like me and can’t stop reading fiction until you’ve turned the last page?  Oooh or are you asking for a Kindle?  I genuinely wouldn’t want one because I am rather old fashioned and I love the creak of breaking in the binding of a new book and feel of pages between my fingers!  Have you read any of these works of fiction and would you recommend them?

I’ve not really posted about books previously so it’d be nice to hear your own picks and thoughts on this one!  Don’t be shy, I do love to read your comments!


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