Tower and Town, December 2022

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A Good Read

I don't want to keep banging on about men's reading and women's books, truly I don't, but recently a man came into the shop, brought a book to the counter and breezily told me he didn't expect I'd read it, it wasn't the kind of thing a woman would enjoy. Mindful of the fact that The Customer is Always Right, and not wishing to start a pointless argument, with a queue waiting, I made a non-committal noise, and raised an eyebrow as politely as I could. Perhaps he sensed a chilliness, because he hastily added “I mean, my wife wouldn't like it”. Oh dear. There's obviously much work left for me to do.

Having said that I now do my famous literary handbrake-turn and tell you that Did I Say That Out Loud? by Fi Glover and Jane Garvey might not appeal to all, or even many, men. The book is an extension of their podcast Fortunately, and is a celebration of 'the fabulous art of female conversation'. Another example (epistolary this time) is Between Friends the letters between Vera Brittain and Winifred Holtby, who wrote to each other constantly, discussing their novels and articles, political campaigning, families, friends and lives. Much the same sort of thing as Fi and Jane, really, just 90 years earlier, and perhaps a bit more serious. Either of these books would make excellent Christmas presents. (There, I've said it.)

I've complained before that no-one gives me books, for obvious reasons, but I'd be very happy to receive any of the following. In the spirit of the season Diplomatic Gifts by Paul Brummel is a look at the valuable, meaningful and bizarre offerings that have oiled the wheels of international relations - or sometimes thrown a spanner in the works - for centuries.

The whole of Britain is positively littered with stone circles, hill forts and tumuli. The Aerial Atlas of Ancient Britain is a collection of beautiful photographs of these mysterious sites. Country Church Monuments is another lovely gift book, full of images and information about monuments, stained glass, sculptures and assorted treasures to be found in parish churches around England and Wales.

But if you really love someone, you'll want to give them THE WORLD (see what I did there?), subtitled A Family History by Simon Sebag-Montefiore. It’s a hurtling narrative from pre-history to the present day, using dynastic marriages, inheritances and feuds as the theme that links people and events. Epic in scope, immensely readable, and you’ll feel cleverer just having this (enormous) book in the house.

Debby Guest