books for christmas 2014

Books from Santa

I am an avid reader, I have always had a massive love for reading from a very early age and will read pretty much anything.  I love modern fiction, horror, comedy, biographies, non fiction… I am not bookist!

And so I thought I would do a post about some books I am hoping Santa will bring me this year.  Let me know your thoughts and also any books you have on your ‘to read’ list.

 

Vivienne Westwood by Vivienne Westwood and Ian Kelly

This looks AMAZING, she is an inspirational and outstanding woman and I can’t wait to get my hands on this one.  She has led such an interesting life and this is the first time she has written a personal memoir.  A living legend, I think this book will become a must have in the lives of British women.

vivienne westwood book

 

 

Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham

I don’t have Sky TV and so missed the whole ‘Girls’ phenomenon, but Lena Dunham has been on my ‘bad ass woman’ radar for a while and so I am looking forward to reading her book on how to be an awesome modern woman.  The book hit the headlines recently after she was accused of abusing her sister as she describes a memory of seeing her sibling’s vagina, I was impressed with how she dealt with the (ridiculous) criticism.

“I am not a sexpert, a psychologist, or a dietician. I am not a mother of three or the owner of a successful hosiery franchise. But I am a girl with a keen interest in having it all, and what follows are hopeful dispatches from the frontlines of that struggle.”

lena dunham not that kind of girl

 

 

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North

“Harry August is on his deathbed. Again. No matter what he does or the decisions he makes, when death comes, Harry always returns to where he began, a child with all the knowledge of a life he has already lived a dozen times before.” 

And with that sentence, I am hooked! The book was promoted by both the Richard and Judy book club and Radio 2 and it just sounds like the sort of great contemporary fiction that I like.

harry august claire north books i want for christmas

 

 

Ayoade on Ayoade by Richard Ayoade

Richard Ayoade is possibly one of the coolest men in the world.  I just read that back to check if I was exaggerating and I stand by it… A conversation with himself this book looks fantastic.  Worth a buy just based on this AMAZING interview with Krishnan Guru Murthy.

richard ayoade book christmas gift for readers

Revolution by Russell Brand

I am not a massive Russell Brand fan, I liked his comedy a few years ago but his political shouting over the past year has at times seemed ill thought and attention seeking.

But obviously that has worked because despite my feelings I am still intrigued enough that I would like to have a read of his latest book!

“Russell Brand wants you to join the revolution… This book makes revolution not only possible, but inevitable and fun.”

russell brand book

The Art of Asking: How I Learnt to Stop Worrying and Let People Help by Amanda Palmer

“Imagine standing on a box in the middle of a busy city, dressed as a white-faced bride, and silently using your eyes to ask people for money. Or touring Europe in a punk cabaret band, and finding a place to sleep each night by reaching out to strangers on Twitter. For Amanda Palmer, actions like these have gone beyond satisfying her basic needs for food and shelter – they’ve taught her how to turn strangers into friends, build communities, and discover her own giving impulses. And because she had learned how to ask, she was able to go to the world to ask for the money to make a new album and tour with it, and to raise over a million dollars in a month. In The Art of Asking, Palmer expands upon her popular TED talk to reveal how ordinary people, those of us without thousands of Twitter followers and adoring fans, can use these same principles in our own lives.”

This just sounds awesome…

amanda palmer book

There we go folks, if anyone fancies buying me one or two (hint hint Timm… Or Santa), or just a big, fat Waterstones voucher,  they would be gratefully received!

So what books are you hoping to find in your stocking on christmas morning?

Love Sam x

4 replies
  1. Kiran
    Kiran says:

    Hi Sam,

    Long time no speak. Your wedding looked absolutely amazing and you totally rocked the dress! Hope you get some of the books you want from Santa. I definitely want the Amanda Palmer one as I was completely and utterly blown away by her TED talk. She seems like an awesome human being.

    This prob isn’t the right place to post this but thought I’d share as when I saw this, I thought of you and how you’re an inspiration to so many.

    Medical Humanities Sheffield is proud to continue a series of open interdisciplinary lectures for students, staff and the general public.

    WEDNESDAY 26 November 2014

    Council Room – Firth Hall, University of Sheffield – 6 p.m.

    All welcome. No need to book.

    Professor Havi Carel

    What can the experience of illness teach us?

    Illness is often a profound and life changing event. It can lead those affected by it to reconsider their values, preferences and life goals and calls on them to reflect on how they live and the choices they make. So can illness be seen as an invitation to reflect, or philosophise? This talk will explore the idea that illness is a forceful invitation to philosophise. I will suggest that although illness is a largely negative and painful experience, it can also be surprisingly edifying and life-affirming.

    Reply
  2. Kiran
    Kiran says:

    Hi Sam,

    Long time no speak. Your wedding looked absolutely amazing and you totally rocked the dress! Hope you get some of the books you want from Santa. I definitely want the Amanda Palmer one as I was completely and utterly blown away by her TED talk. She seems like an awesome human being.

    This prob isn’t the right place to post this but thought I’d share as when I saw this, I thought of you and how you’re an inspiration to so many.

    Medical Humanities Sheffield is proud to continue a series of open interdisciplinary lectures for students, staff and the general public.

    WEDNESDAY 26 November 2014

    Council Room – Firth Hall, University of Sheffield – 6 p.m.

    All welcome. No need to book.

    Professor Havi Carel

    What can the experience of illness teach us?

    Illness is often a profound and life changing event. It can lead those affected by it to reconsider their values, preferences and life goals and calls on them to reflect on how they live and the choices they make. So can illness be seen as an invitation to reflect, or philosophise? This talk will explore the idea that illness is a forceful invitation to philosophise. I will suggest that although illness is a largely negative and painful experience, it can also be surprisingly edifying and life-affirming.

    Reply

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