I know it’s not quite December, but I am busy Christmas shopping – and between review posts for the next couple of weeks, I shall be recommending some books and bookish things that make ideal Christmas presents and stocking fillers. We’ll start with some stocking fillers…
Galley Beggar Ghosts
Those lovely people at Galley Beggar Press in Norwich sent me one of their little series of single short stories all about ghosts, as a thank you for using their on-line shop earlier this year.
The four pocket-sized little paperbacks are beautifully produced with stiff card covers. They cost £3.50 each – available on-line or in good bookshops. On-line, you can also buy the fourpack for £12. (+P&P)
There are four to choose from:
– The Eyes by Edith Wharton
– Honeysuckle Cottage by P.G.Wodehouse
– The Body Snatcher by Robert Louis Stevenson
– Lost Journey by A.L.Barker
I got sent Lost Journey by A.L.Barker – an English novelist who was new to me, but apparently her novel John Brown’s Body was short-listed for the Booker prize in 1970; she died in 2002. She wrote many short story collections from the late 1940s through to the end of the twentieth century.
Having polished off and much enjoyed this creepy little number in bed this morning, I’d be very keen to read some more of her, especially after seeing this quote by Rebecca West:
“I am a fanatical admirer of A. L. Barker. If you cannot read her it is your fault. You should ask your vet to put you down if you do not admire The Middling or An Occasion for Embarrassment.”
Lost journey is about a young (one assumes) man who takes pity on a voluptuous young woman pushing a cart up the hill in which sits a legless (no legs, not drunk) old woman. Gerda claims to the cousin of Robert Dudley, lover of Elizabeth I, and she wants to die. With the help of Lalla and the narrator, the cruel old crone might be able to enact her plan…
For more literary stocking fillers, see their sets of postcards – there are several designs to pick from and they come neatly packaged in a wallet. £3.50 per set of 6 (+P&P).
The postcards are what I bought loads of for my blog’s 6th birthday giveaway.
Although I received a free book from them, I have no connection with Galley Beggar Press other than previously having been a satisfied customer!
What little gems! I know a few people who would really appreciate this kind of present! Thanks for the tip.
My pleasure.
Lovely! I liked their postcards very much and I can see myself tracking down these little books as ideal stocking fillers!
They are cute and nicely made, so ideal…
They look so sweetly innocent in those pastel covers! I had no idea that Edith Wharton had written a ghost story. One for the list, I think.
I saw them in our local indie bookshop – the Wharton attracts me too.
I have to admit I’ve never heard of AL Barker – but equally I’m not ready to go to the vet for putting down just yet! So I will add these to my ‘what to buy the man who has everything Christmas list’ for this year!
I’ve invested 1p (+P&P) on a Barker omnibus to read on the basis of that quote!
Great idea. And thanks once again for the lovely postcards as part of your Blog birthday celebration. 🙂
My pleasure Pete.
Don’t temps me! A couple of days ago i bought all 5 of Penguin’s Christmas Classics (who can resist those covers?). Really curious about how the story ends!
Those covers are gorgeous – I was planning to feature them next week! This short story had a great sting in its tail – I won’t say more!
What adorable little books! Sooooo are you going to do a Gaskella Gift Guide sometime in December? Featuring these plus other bookish gifts to buy for the bookworm in your life? (Or bookworms, in my case…)
Sadly, I don’t have the time to do anything as organised as that Jenny – but there will be more Christmas ideas over the next couple of weeks. 🙂