5 Books You Should Read This Christmas

She had many job aspirations over the years. An actress. A teacher. Someone who worked with animals. A singer. But there was always one constant. The desire to be a writer. Bound by ink, a weaver of dreams. A guardian of tales, a scribe of feelings untold. She would place a pen in her hand,  feel the energy course through her veins. As a symphony of letters painted landscapes of hope and despair. Navigating the intensity of emotions, letting the catharsis spill out on the page. The words would be like a magic salve. Pressed upon her heart with kindness. Capturing moments that were frozen in time, a vessel of truths. It was her best friend ever since she could remember. Her one constant. A guiding light in times of darkness, a beacon of joy. Journals lost over the years, but the memories still with her. Scrawling on notebooks, passages in time. Watching the ink fade, splotches of mistakes. And yet, there was an inspiration behind her love of writing. Her second love… books. In realms of whispered spells, where stories dwelled. Parchment dreams chasing the constellations of stars. The fluttered breath of yellowed pages, like fading leaves. Non-Fiction, Fiction, Cookbooks too. Self-help books, fantasy, historical fiction to boot. Her bookshelf alive with over a thousand books collected over time. Where imagination danced, knowing no fear. Immersing herself in books like sweet wine. So finding books you should read this Christmas would be hard to narrow down. Dusty shelves with books in a rainbow of colours. Red, green, purple and yellow. Blues, whites, golds and silvers. Bound celestial spheres that kindled passionate flames. The power of knowledge and creativity seeping into her brain.

She reached into her book pile, closed her eyes and counted to ten. Five books that leapt out at her, that wasn’t just for Christmas. Books for every season. Books that brought joy, that brought colour into her life. There would be the cookbooks, dazzling in teal blues, and faded oranges. Exploring recipes around the world, where flavours danced and aromas would swell. An alchemy of spices, a treasure trove of herbs. Classic recipes, and classics with a twist. Each page a written canvas, a photo beautifully illustrated. An indulgent Christmas gift that would open up your tastebuds. Embracing beginners, an invitation to explore. Fiction books wrapped in fantasy. A guilty pleasure read, an escape into an ethereal realm. Tales of paranormal romances, beneath the moon’s soft glow. A love story written in celestial planes. Through astral planes, waltzing side by side. Brushing stardust off the veils that divided. And who could forget the non-fiction books that were just as captivating. Self-help and self-love. Self-care and discovery. Books that taught you to look within yourself. To find the missing piece. Five books to get you through the Christmas season. A timeless union, a love that transcended all rhyme. But what would she read first?

Fiction 

Bright Midnights 

She had never met a ghost. That drifted in shadows cloaked in cerebreal gauze. Apparitions cloaked in translucent laws. Like fragments of time watching over Christmas. But did she have unusual experiences that couldn’t be explained? Everyone did. A radio unplugged turning on in the middle of the night. A sudden rush of chill, like the icy claws of Christmas day. Dreams that came true, prophetic musings. The sensation of someone watching over you. Of being followed. She noticed it in the times where silence would scream. In the witching hour, the realm between dreams and the unknown.  Unseen passages of history untold. She wasn’t even sure if she believed in ghosts. And yet, she loved the idea of a Christmas ghost story. Star-crossed lovers yearning to be remembered. Lost souls aching for validation. Echoes of laughter from years long left behind. Whispered scerets from the darkness, longing and woe. Did she see want to see a spectral symphony, a glimpse of timeless space? Not exactly. And yet, there was a certain kind of magic. To hearing stories that loved ones that had shared. Their own ghostly visitors, some good, some bad. Ghosts of loved ones past. A sign from forgotten times. A shudder ran through her. In her eyes the only ghosts she wanted to see where the ones that were in stories.

Bright Midnights by Lexy Delorme understood the assignment. A dystopian paranormal romance, seeking solace, elusive and sublime. Amelie, the protagonist who would wander in the corridors of time. Fast asleep in her room. Connected with Clovis, her first love. And yet, he wasn’t what he seemed. An incubus, who danced with darkness. Who came out in the midnight hour, his presence luring. A flicker of temptation, untamed fire. Preying among the dreams of mortal mind. Caressing thoughts, smouldering desire. Who could resist? And yet Amelie was special. Not quite human herself. A lifetime conditioned by abuse, neglect and exploitation. A strong teenager, whose powers knew no bounds. Who had to protect herself from the debauchery of the people around her. Who used, and abused her for their own gain. She didn’t want to give it all away. But the novel haunted the crevices of her mind. Like ghosts, a reflection of her own fears. Dribbling into the clear rivers of her own tears. When it came to books you should read, Bright Midnights was at the top of the list. It was hard to put down. A young adult novel that transcended time. Tales of all kinds of love. Toxic love, forbidden love. Lust, and hatred. Ugly kinds of love, the ones they left out in movies.

Felix Unbound 

She awoke from sleep, rubbing the dust from her eyes. Smiling at the sight that lay before her. Three cats wrapped up in Christmas bedding. One, a tortoishell curled up with one paw stretched out. Yawning, unveiling sharp teeth. Ginger and white, with a smattering of black patches. Emerald eyes narrowed in annoyance. The other two grooming each other, half-asleep. A large black cat with sharp green eyes barely awake. A tabby cat massaged by her best friend. Hazel eyes closed shut. She yawned, imitating them. Legs stiff from sleep. Slipping out of the bed, leopard print blanket in tow. Trudging downstairs, unable to escape the yawns. Before she knew it, the cats followed, their breakfast time was here. Splashing biscuits into personalized plates. Pouring fresh water into a green shared bowl. The sound like white noise. The crunching of the biscuits. The scrabble towards the food. The long tongues lapping at water. The stretch of three cats satisified. Three cats with distinct personalities. Imagining what it would be like to have them as humans. Cats gone wild at Christmas.

Felix Unbound seemed to have all the answers. A debut novel centered around Felix. Who was once a Tom-cat turned human. A novel that bordered on bizarre, that at first glance was a fantasy novel. And yet it was so much more. It explored relationships, the good and the bad. Felix in particular reminding her of so many men she had dated. Who would lovebomb, and show you attention. Only to ignore you, manipulate you, and leave you down in the dumps. It was just as well she was in a loving relationship. Her fifth Christmas with the man she loved. Still, the story drew her in. Felix who had many guises. The artist, the creative. The one with endless energy that left you captivated. Loved and hated in equal measure. Not loyal by any means, unlike her actual cats. Still, after reading Felix Unbound, she was pretty sure that she didn’t want them to turn human. Bordering on the absurd the cross between comedy, fantasy, crime, mystery, and even history was compelling. Twists and turns that she didn’t quite see coming. So when it came to books you should read Felix Unbound was a unique pick. Not for everyone, but she loved it.A cautionary tale of love’s ambiguous fight, a phantom of the night’s delight. The secret lives of cats if they had the power to be human. The revolving stories of the people around them.

 

Cookbooks

 

Dishoom From Bombay With Love Cookbook 

Her spice cupboard was a love letter to India. Cardamon all dressed in green. Aromatic essence, a heavenly address. Haldi, a saffron hued ballet. Anti-inflammatory, painting curries. Cloves like fragrant buds of love. A kiss of festive warmth, the touch of winter’s core. Ginger, robust and earthy brown. A fiery kick waking up tastebuds. And who could forget the celestial scent of cinnamon. A secret refrain in the sweetest of desires. For Indian cuisine was a marriage of flavours. Aromatic whispers in every bite. A vibrant tale of love and culture, her favourite cuisine. Someone who was brought up loving spice. Whose favourite meal was a vegetarian curry, flanked with rice. Butternut squash tenderized, serenading chickpeas. Swimming in a creamy coconut sauce, layered with tomato. The fragrant poetry of birayani, slathered in ghee. Star anise hiding in saffroned grains. Garlic naan hunks, sitting on a plate. No matter what time of year it was, Indian food was her favourite cuisine. Christmas was no exception. Memories of a cookbook where they had a couple’s feast at home. Their own Christmas together. Whispering tales of love like an enchanting Meander.

Dishoom From Bombay With Love was that cookbook. A veganized version of their infamous ‘Chicken Ruby’ that D loved so much. Vegan chicken blitzed in a fragrant chilli marinade. Garnished with ginger matchsticks. Pomnegranate seeds bobbing in an orange-red sauce. A sprinkle of chopped coriander. A take on butter chicken done the vegan way. A second curry, soothing and hearty. Rajma, with kidney beans and a squeeze of lime. Spice, freshness and comfort food in one bowl. But the Christmas feast wasn’t over just yet. A bowl of greens dashed in lime and chilli. Broccoli serenading baby spinach. Mangetout plunging into butter. But the best side of all? Gunpowder potatoes just like they did them at Dishoom. Grilled new potatoes tossed with toasted spices. A smattering of spring onion, a hint of chilli. Slathered in kabab masala. Washed down with their version of a Colaba Colada, hold the chai. Pineapple juice dancing with coconut cream. Slices of lime, and coriander leaves. Small ice cubes melting. For it might not have been a traditional Christmas meal but the couple loved it still. Adding it to their list of books you should read this Christmas.

Non Fiction 

The Seven Destinies Of Love

Five years ago she fell in love when she was least expecting it. Endless date after date, who would have thought she would have met her Prince Charming. Her who was imprisoned in toxic relationships. Where she questioned her self-worth. Where she sacrificed her self-respect. Stuck in an endless cycle of relationships where she didn’t feel like a priority. They were like demons, feeding upon her vunerabilities . With dark eyes that gleamed with hunger. Luring her into their poisonous arms. A flicker of temptation, untamed fire. Cloaked in the allure of twilight’s call. Desire springing, longing coursing through her. And yet, it was a venomous sort of the love. The kind where she felt older than her years. A waltz that spun her dry, into a vortex of despair. A dance with darkness, a heart broken. Not real love as she once thought. Meeting her partner five years ago changed everything. What it felt like to be really in love. Where she felt calm, safe, in a relationship of equals. Where they were each other’s best friends.

Though she found love, she realized that she hadn’t loved herself for a long time. Stuck in a vicious routine of self-doubt, harsh criticism and self-loathing. Emotional self-harm and not taking care of herself. Burning the candle at both ends. When she discovered ‘The Seven Destinies of Love earlier in the year, she found guidance. The stages of love from birth to death. Not just towards others, but towards ourselves. She would learn how to love herself with purpose and awareness. Understanding the agreement between her body, mind and spirit. Building a relationship with her inner wisdom, and listening to it. She had a tendency to disconnect from relationships when things got tough. When really, she should bypass the hurt child and open her heart to new beginnings. Christmas was the time for that. To retrieve the lost parts of herself. To create a frequency of love that would change her present. She would be patient, change didn’t happen overnight. Making a commitement to treating herself with kindness. Even if she didn’t have all the answers, her mind was open. After all, self-love was her destiny. No matter whether it was Christmas, Valentine’s Day or her Birthday, she would learn to love herself again and again.

What Books Should You Read This Christmas?

*Disclaimer 

Please note I have been gifted these books. However this does not affect any opinions I have. I would love to know what books you should read this Christmas that aren’t on my list!