Christmas Book Selection 2018

'Six Books to Make Christmas Giving Easier' 

 titles to amuse, intrigue and captivate!

It’s the run up to Christmas! Looking for the perfect present for a bookworm? Or something a little bit different for the man, woman, aunt or uncle who seem to have everything?  We’ve got some really unusual, classy and yet affordable titles on our bookshelves which may well be exactly what you’re looking for, whichever member of your family you have in mind (not forgetting your cat or dog!)

Here are my top six to which please visit our shelves reserved for ‘Little Bookworms’ where you’ll find some absolutely enchanting children’s story-books to delight both boys, girls and toddlers.

Although ‘Unladylike’ doesn’t sound very ‘Beatons’ this really speaks to our values of treating everyone as an equal and honoured individual. What’s more, it’s got an infectious shot of sparkle too – perfect for young and/or global-conscious women. It’s described on the website of the same name as ‘the guide for women and girls everywhere who are trying to find their way in the world.’ Authors Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin combine the history of feminism and make it zing with relevance, advice – and as an added bonus it’s packed full of infographics and witty illustrations by Tyler Feder.

For the gentleman? Petersfield best-selling author Mike Klidjian has just brought out another naval thriller of a novel – ‘Blue Streak’. I gave this to my father who admitted it kept sleeping as he kept on saying to himself, ‘just one more page’. His verdict: ‘Gripping. Plunges you straight in from the start.’

For all you budding (or aspiring) entrepreneurs? We spotted the extraordinary perspicacious Seth Godin has just published a new book: ‘This is Marketing’. Pulling the best of his advice from his blog, fresh gems when it comes to looking at how to get your products and services to the right audience, this is one we think will appeal to a broad audience (I’ve already devoured my copy and am already thinking of ways to apply his thinking to my out-of-hours Biodanza enterprise!)

Talking of consumption, we’ve picked ‘Tarts’ as our ‘Eat, Drink, Cook Book’ choice, because it’s a true classic at a very affordable price. The author, Frédéric Anton is holder of three Michelin stars and his innovative takes on classic dishes are inspiring, and the layout clear, precise and beautifully illustrated.

For something really fascinating for home, garden, nature AND ‘culture-vultures’ we’d recommend a fabulous book published by Unbound titled ‘Ladders to Heaven’. It’s about the fig tree and is utterly mind-blowing. A beautifully bound book which may hold secrets to saving the world underneath its fig leaves!

Finally, we have two stocking fillers for all our animal-loving customers. Local Beatons Tisbury author Gail Garbutt has a perfect present for all dog lovers: ‘Spot on – Dogs Names’. It’s is a real bit of fun about that peculiarly difficult task of naming a dog.

And for the purrfect (sorry Ed!) present for all cat lovers, we couldn’t resist stocking ‘Cats Paws’, an oddly smile-inducing little book of portraits of… cats’ paws! 

May your Christmas include time in front of the fire snuggled up with one of our very good reads.

  Liz Darcy Jones

Book Ambassador

Book of The Month: The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay

'The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay'

by Nicola May

The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay is the perfect summer read. It's light hearted and has an engaging plot with lovable characters – but don't be mistaken, this book has substance. We follow twenty five year-old Rosa embarking on a journey of self discovery with the help of her best friend Josh and side kick dog – Hot; when out of nowhere she is left a corner shop in a small village called Cockleberry Bay, Devon.

Nicola has managed to perfectly capture what it's like to be someone in their twenties, making lead character Rosa incredibly easy to relate to, almost to a point where you feel as if you're reading your own story. With ups and downs along the way, Rosa's story is completely captivating, and you can't help but keep turning the page to see what she'll do next.   

Emily Hoskins Jones 

How to Eat a Lobster and other Edible Enigmas Explained

Ever sat down at a dinner table, received a intricately arranged plate of food and wondered, how on earth am I supposed to eat this?!

Learn the answer to how to eat a lobster and other edible enigmas in this delightfully funny and practical book.

For food lovers everywhere, How to Eat a Lobster is the perfect handbook for handling every tricky dining situation you have every been in and perhaps ever will, with elegance and style whist avoiding embarrassing faux pas!

With easy-to-follow instructions and helpful illustrations, you’ll learn the answers to 50 food-related questions you’ve been afraid to ask...
 ‘What do you do when crayfish arrive?  Twist and snap off the head. Peel the tail and pull out the meat. Then suck the juices from the head. Seriously: you’re supposed to!’

A Beloved Bottom

Poem of the Month

At Beatons we love people of all shapes and sizes, here is Liz’ most popular poem celebrating this at the chocolate lovers favourite holiday, Easter! 

A Beloved Bottom

It dented the air –

great bellows of a bottom

begging to be squeezed

I watched in wonder as it filled the door

bumfounded by its beauty

all curves and soft it wore

its trousers clung on courageously

as it gently swayed from side to side -

an elephant came to mind

and its owner never knew

how her shy heart

kissed each of us...  from behind.

© Liz Darcy Jones 2005 edited 2016 with help from editing via Happenstance

Home Cooking - For Your Dog by Christine Filardi

It's not a dog's dinner once you've read this!

For any dog lover who takes seriously the task of ensuring that their pets, as well as us, eat well.

Having realized many years ago that cooking for a human partner reaps dividends in “brownie points”, it does not take a great leap of intuition to wonder if the same may be true for canine companions.

Home cooking for your dog (£11.99 hardback) is a helpful guide to doing this. With interesting and varied recipes, we discover some healthy and cost efficient suggestions to demonstrating to Rover (or in my case, Martha the poodle!) that we have their gastronomic needs in mind. Simple and easy to follow, the recipes are not marked for their “eew” factor-you will not be up to your elbows in gore!

The holistic approach described informs us, for instance, that a good feed especially of turkey based meals may increase production of serotonin, which may calm the more aggressive behaviours in our pets !

Now the festive season is over, it might be a good opportunity to enlist the help of smaller cooks in the family to both treat and look after your doggy pals. (thanks to Tim for this, the dog lover of the team at Beatons).