The Book Package™

Once upon a time, curling up with a good book wasn’t a challenge. Then life/kids/box sets got in the way. This package has been put together to encourage the recipient to make an evening of it with snacks, something to drink and a selection of books written by fabulous women and men to entertain.

Contents:

• A Book (choose from the following):
  • Fiction:
    • The Heatwave by Kate Riordan – Atmospheric psychological thriller, set in Provence during a heatwave
    • Agent Running in the Field by John le Carré – A British spy thriller from the master espoinage novelist, in a tense and chilling portray of today
    • The Queens Gambit by Walter Tevis – The Queen’s Gambit, a thriller that follows the life of an orphan chess prodigy, Beth Harmon, during her quest to become the world’s greatest chess player. Now adapted as a hugely successful Netflix series
    • The Undoing by Jean Hanff Korelitz – A twisty, turny psychological thriller; main character Grace appears to have the perfect life, however everything changes when a gruesome murder takes place. Recently adapted for a TV series starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant
    • Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid – A much-acclaimed, captivating debut about race and privilege, set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both
    • The Second Sleep by Robert Harris – A historical thriller and #1 Sunday Times Bestseller, which poses challenging questions about the idea of progress and the stability of civilisation
    • The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney by Okechukwu Nzelu – A coming-of-age story full of warmth and wit, capturing the tricky nuance of life, love, race, sexuality and familial relationships
    • The Secret Commonwealth: The Book of Dust Volume Two by Phillip Pullman – A fantasy novel and the second chapter in Philip Pullman’s epic series, this is a powerful story about the truths that underpin our world, the divisions that lie between love and responsibility and what it truly means to grow up.
    • Death in the East by Abir Mukherjee – An award-winning gripping historical crime novel set in Raj-era India, with a return of the Calcutta police detective Captain Sam Wyndham
    • The Testaments by Margaret Atwood – The Booker Prize winning sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, Attwood returns to the dystopian world of Gilead with the dramatic conclusion, told through three different female characters.
    • The Guest List by Lucy Foley – A gripping, twisty murder mystery thriller from the No.1 bestselling author of The Hunting Party
    • Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens – A painfully beautiful first novel that is at once a murder mystery, a coming-of-age narrative and a celebration of nature, and a huge Number One New York Times bestseller
    • Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo – follows twelve characters on their personal journeys through Britain and the last hundred years. Winner of the Booker Prize 2019
    • The Guardians by John Grisham – The latest gripping crime thriller, in Grisham’s signature, easy style.
    • Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan – A Sci-Fi novel set in the 1980s in an alternative history timeline in which the UK lost the Falklands War, Alan Turing is still alive and the Internet, social media and self-driving cars already exist
    • The Eve Illusion by Giovanna & Tom Fletcher (Hardback) – The Eve Illusion is the second book in the bestselling Eve of Man trilogy from The Fletchers; a love story set in a dystopian future
  • Non-Fiction:
    • Straight Outta Crawley by Roman Ranganathan – Memoirs of a Distinctly Average Human Being. The hilarious and irreverent autobiography from comedian Romesh Ranganathan
    • Failosophy by Elizabeth Day – An essential handbook for turning failure in to success, looking at all the lessons learned from the award-winning How To Fail podcast, and distilled in to seven principles of failure
    • The Salt Path by Raynor Winn – Multi award-winning, honest and life-affirming true story of the couple who lost everything and embarked on a journey of salvation across the windswept South West coastline
    • Zonal Marking: The Making of Modern European Football by Michael Cox – An insightful, comprehensive and entertaining book about how European football has developed over the last three decades by the author of the much heralded The Mixer, Michael Cox
    • The Times Jumbo Crossword Book – A super-sized challenge for crossword lovers, selected by the Times2 Crossword Editor John Grimshaw 
    • Mind Over Mother by Anna Mathur – Mind Over Mother from Psychotherapist Anna Mathur is a warm and accessible guide to understanding and addressing anxiety in the first year of motherhood
    • Three Ingredient Baking by Sarah Rainey – Incredibly simple treats with minimal ingredients. 100 fuss-free family recipes for cakes, biscuits, breads, desserts, savoury bakes and frozen treats
    • Where’s My Happy Ending by Anna Whitehouse and Matt Farquharson – Where is ‘happily ever after’? And what do you do once you get there? Anna Whitehouse and Matt Farquharson, authors of Parenting the Sh*t Out of Life, set out to discover what it takes to make it to forever, by asking our greatest questions about love
    • The Self-Care Cookbook by Gemma Ogston – Over 60 plant based recipes to boost energy, help sleep and lift moods
    • Untamed by Glennon Doyle – Part inspiration, part memoir, Untamed: Stop Please, Start Living explores the joy and peace we discover when we stop striving to meet the expectations of the world, and instead dare to listen to and trust in the voice deep inside us
    • Good Hair by Charlotte Mensah (Hardback) – An essential, practical guide to caring for Afro, textured and curly hair, from the legendary Black British hairdresser
    • I Am Not Your Baby Mother by Candice Brathwaite (Hardback) – I Am Not Your Baby Mother; Part memoir and part manifesto, a thought-provoking, urgent and inspirational book on what it’s like to be a black British mother from popular influencer Candice Brathwaite
    • Sh**ged. Married. Annoyed. (Hardback) by Chris & Rosie Ramsey – The hosts of the number one podcast write hilariously and with honesty about the ups and downs and ins and outs of love, sex and relationships
    • The Roasting Tin Around The World by Rukmini Iyer – The greatest dishes from all corners of the globe, reworked into quick and easy one-tin meals; perfect for weeknight dinners, lunch breaks and family favourites
    • Skincare: The ultimate no-nonsense guide by Caroline Hirons – Straight-talking advice from the Skincare Queen; Caroline Hirons explains the facts and myths in the trademark style that accounts for her cult-like following. 
    • Gardening Through the Year by Ian Spence – Packed with essential gardening advice, RHS Gardening Through the Year is the must-have book for new gardeners and a trusty reference for old hands
    • More Than a Woman by Caitlin Moran (Hardback) – A hilarious and searingly honest guide to growing older, a manifesto for change, and a celebration of all those middle-aged women who keep the world turning
• Montezuma’s Giant Chocolate Buttons* in milk or dark chocolate (180g)
• Brown Bag Crisps in Cheddar Cheese & Onion, Sea Salt & Malted Vinegar
• Choice of one of the following:
  • Cosmopolitan Cocktail (100ml) – A modern classic with Ketel One, the tangy-sweet orange of Cointreau, cranberry and lime, from Nio Cocktails. Needs Ice Only, single serving
  • Garden of Russia Cocktail (Vodka) (100ml) – A fresh and fragrant take on the Vodka Sour with an elderflower twist, from Nio Cocktails. Needs Ice Only, single serving
  • Old Fashioned Cocktail (100ml) – Crafted with Bulleit Bourbon and aromatic bitters, from Nio Cocktails. Needs Ice Only, single serving
  • Tommy’s Margarita Cocktail (100ml) – A refreshing twist on the Margarita that allows the Jose Cuervo Tequila to shine, from NIO cocktails. Needs Ice Only, single serving
  • Lemongrass Citrus Cocktail (Alcohol-Free) (100ml) – Fragrant lemongrass stars in this refreshing tropical non-alcoholic cocktail. Needs Ice Only, single serving
  • Virgin Bitters Cocktail (Alcohol-Free) (100ml) – A delicious take on an alcohol-free Negroni, with notes of spice, citrus and bitters. Needs Ice Only, single serving
  • Teapigs Everyday Brew (15 temple teabags)
  • Teapigs Honeybush & Rooibos (15 temple teabags)
  • Teapigs Super Fruit (15 temple teabags)
  • Rave ‘The Italian Job’ coffee 250g
  • 2 x Luscombe Refreshing Soft Drinks – 1 x Elderflower and 1 x Rhubarb Crush
  • Bei Tempi Prosecco (200ml or 750ml) – Brilliant light colour, zesty with citrus fruit and flowery features and a light fresh finish
  • White Wine, Chenin, Roussane, Grenache Blanc (75cl) – ‘Arya’ from Doran’s Vineyard is a symphony of white pear, bright green apple and orange aromas
  • Red Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (75cl) – ‘Romy D’ from Doran’s Vineyard; an array of red fruits uplifted by aromas of cigar box and dark chocolate followed by fresh notes of cedar
  • Red Wine, Villa Montes Cabernet Sauvignon (375ml) – Deep, ruby red in colour. On the nose, the wine has blackberry and blackcurrant aromas. The palate is medium bodied, with soft tannins, crisp acidity and a lingering finish
  • White Wine, El Coto, Blanco Rioja (375ml) – Made from macerated Viura grapes with slow fermentation. Offers an intense aroma of flowers and green apples and is full tasty and fruity on the palate.
  • Organic Craft Beer & Craft Cider (330ml each) – A refreshing pale ale from Stroud Brewery paired with a Dunkertons cider, organic and suitable for Vegans
  • 2 x 330ml Organic Craft Beers by Stroud Brewery – 1 x IPA and 1 x Nelson. Organic and Vegan.
  • 2 x 275ml Bloom Gins (one with tonic, one with rose lemonade)
  • 2 x Beard & Sabre Hopped Ciders 33cl – Two 33cl bottles of this medium cider from West Country producers Beard & Sabre, ‘Dolores’ is a smooth drinking cider with notes of pineapple and lychee
  • Bottle of Bauget-Jouette Champagne (37.5cl) – With classic apple and some citrus notes. The palate is generously creamy with a refreshingly fine mousse and lingering finish. A Champagne to savour 
  • Pierre Mignon Champagne (75cl) – A crisp, well balanced champagne with citrus hints on the nose overlaid with touches of brioche and yeastiness