Local Life - Wigan - December 2019

44
Winter reads
Whether you’re buying for someone else, looking for ideas for yourself, or plan to buy a book,
read it and then wrap it up (we won’t tell), there’s plenty to choose from this month.
Banksy You Are an Acceptable
Level of Threat
Gary Shove & Patrick Potter
This is so much more than
just a coffee-table-worthy
photography collection. For a
start, it’s snort-out-loud funny.
It’s been updated for 2019 and now spans Banky’s
career, from the early 90s to 2018. There are
anecdotes, irreverent biographical references and a
few hundred photos to pore over.
The Testaments
Margaret Atwood
The Testaments picks up a few
years after The Handmaid’s Tale
ended. It weaves together the
stories of three women – Daisy,
born in Gilead but raised in
Canada; Agnes Jemima, who’s
desperate to escape the life set out for her by her
step-parents; and the infamous Aunt Lydia. Perfect
for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale (book or TV series).
The Corset
Laura Purcell
Ruth Butterham is on trial for
murdering her mistress. She
confessed to the crime, but is
she guilty or delusional? The
more that wealthy prison visitor
Dorothea Truelove hears of the
beaten and broken Ruth’s tale, the less sure she is of
who the real villain is in the story. Is Ruth the killer,
is there another murderer at large or, as Ruth seems
to believe, is the real culprit something far more
unlikely? Gripping historical crime fiction sure to
appeal to fans of Sarah Waters.
Little Robin Red Vest
Jan Fearnley
This classic picture book is
now 20 years old. It tells the
story of how the robin got
his red vest. (Spoiler: Father
Christmas gave it to him as
a reward for the robin giving away his own woolly
vests.) A great story, beautiful illustrations and a
feel-good message. What more could a young child
want from a book on Christmas morning?
Burn After Writing (Teen Edition)
Rhiannon Shove
A journal with a difference,
Burn after Writing invites teens
to answer a series of questions
to paint a picture of who they
are, from ‘The song that makes
me want to dance’ to ‘If I had
a brainwashing machine, I would use it to’ and
‘Something I do that makes me feel proud of
myself’. Perfect for 11 to 14 year olds.
Veg
Jamie Oliver
Buying for a vegetarian? Or
just someone who enjoys
healthy food that tastes
great and doesn’t take hours
to prepare? This book is for
them. There are twists on
new classics, such as Veggie Moussaka and Vegan
Lasagne, and plenty of more inspired dishes,
like Masala Stuffed Peppers, Pulled Mushroom
Sandwich and Crispy Cauliflower Katsu. Some take
a few minutes to make from scratch, while others
are more suitable for chilled-out Sunday brunches.