The Book Lounge Christmas Stocking
A small selection of Christmas goodies and stocking fillers to make the shopping a bit easier…
The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story
by Lemony Snicket
A hardcover, foil-stamped, full-colour illustrated title well-suited for giving, receiving, or clutching selfishly in trembling hands! Latkes are potato pancakes served at Hanukkah, and Lemony Snicket is an alleged children’s author. For the first time in literary history, these two elements are combined in one book. A particularly irate latke is the star of The Latke Who Couldn t Stop Screaming, but many other holiday icons appear and even speak: flashing coloured lights, cane-shaped candy, and a pine tree. Santa Claus is briefly discussed as well. The ending is happy, at least for some. People who are interested in any or all of these things will find this book so enjoyable it will feel as though Hanukkah were being celebrated for several years, rather than eight nights.
The Now Show Book of World Records
by Hugh Punt, Steve Dennis and John Holmes
This book boldly tackles all the superlatives that other books of world records avoid. It does this by means of making stuff up and scrupulously avoiding too much research, insight, or fact. Unless the fact is funnier. And legal to mention. Categories include Least Frightening Aliens, Biggest Chin, Shortest Lived Pet, Most Pointless Public-Sector Job, Scariest GM Food Scare Story, Best Boxing Press Conference Threat, Dodgiest Election Result, Most Pointless Olympic Event, Least Enticing Theme Park, Silliest Dinosaur, Most Effective Wild Animal To Release Into The Big Brother House, Most Infuriating Time For MS Word to Crash, Most Pretentious Object Made By Damien Hirst, Crappiest Political Anti-Crime Slogan and more – very funny!
100 Facts About Pandas
by David O’Doherty
What do you know about pandas? Most people know that the panda snack of choice is bamboo and that they are fond of the odd nap. They also know that the shy and elusive panda bear comes from China, and is perilously close to extinction. Only a true panda expert, however, would know these startling facts: that the otherwise slow moving Panda can outrun a cheetah when moving backwards; that panda fur, when woven into a fabric, is bulletproof; and that a panda briefly replaced Ringo Starr in the Beatles. 100 Facts About Pandas chronicles for the very first time the amazing social, cultural and natural history of the panda, fully illustrated with photographic evidence, drawings and scientific diagrams and shocking case-studies. You’ll never see a panda in the same light again.
The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas
by Ariane Sherine
The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas is a funny, thoughtful handbook all about enjoying Christmas, from 42 of the world’s most entertaining atheists. It features everything from an atheist Christmas miracle to a guide to the best Christmas pop hits, and contributors include Richard Dawkins, Charlie Brooker, Derren Brown, Ben Goldacre, Jenny Colgan, David Baddiel, Simon Singh, AC Grayling, Brian Cox and Richard Herring. All proceeds will go to the UK HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust.
Why Steve Was Late
by Dave Skinner
Ever been late? Steve has. Lots. But he always has a good excuse. Here are 101 real corkers for you to enjoy. And maybe even borrow. They include - distracted by a surprisingly complicated Kinder toy; overcome by the urge to alphabetise my pets; forgot how trousers work; became temporarily feral; and got stuck in a romantic montage. Very useful for the tardy amongst you.
I Am Scrooge: A Zombie Story for Christmas
by Adam Roberts
Marley was dead. Again. The legendary Ebenezeer Scrooge sits in his house counting money. The boards he has nailed up over the doors and the windows shudder and shake under the blows from the endless zombie hordes that crowd the streets hungering for his flesh and his miserly braaaaiiiiiinns! Just how did the happiest day of the year slip into a welter of blood, innards and shambling, ravenous undead on the snowy streets of old London town? Will the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future be able to stop the world from drowning under a top-hatted and crinolined zombie horde? Was Tiny Tim’s illness something infinitely more sinister than mere rickets and consumption? Can Scrooge be persuaded to go back to his evil ways, travel back to Christmas past and destroy the brain stem of the tiny, irritatingly cheery Patient Zero? It’s the Dickensian Zombie Apocalypse – the perfect Christmas story!
Don’t Mess with the President’s Head
by Zapiro
Zapiro returns with his signature wry satirical style to ensure that his audience hovers between shaking their heads in rueful agreement and snorting in mirth. South Africa’s sharpest cartoonist also acts as our national conscience and once again ensures that no event passes by without comment…or a laugh.
Montegue Blister’s Strange Games and other odd things to do with your time
by Montegue Blister
Perfect for the long Christmas holidays - a hilarious compendium of weird, wonderful, warped classic and new games. Montegue Blister’s Strange Games is a pocket-sized compendium of the most hilarious, noisy, messy, and often vomit-inducing games ever written. Finally, the official rules for all the games you played at school as a kid, such as Finger Jousting, Peanuts, Slapsies and Thumb Wrestling. But that’s not all! Montegue Blister’s Strange Games includes dangerous variations on old classics such as Extreme Rock Paper Scissors, Bloody Knuckles, Shin Kicking and Toe Wrestling, plus a whole host of new, weird and wonderful games like Face Ball, Crazy Stair Climbing, Watermelon Skiing and Mosquito Squashing. Some games are violent, some are downright savage – and most involve a tiny bit of blood. But one thing’s for sure – they’re great fun! Montegue Blister’s Strange Games is the perfect gift for Christmas and beyond. Chapters in Strange Games in include: Hand and feet games; Urban Games; Festivals; Party Games; Trick Games; Playground Games; Throwing & Propulsion; Sports; Stand off Games; Animal Games.
Laugh It Off Annual 4
From adolescence to Zuma, economic Apocalypse to the South African zeitgeist – here is the 4th installment of the Laugh it Off Annual. This book captures the spirit of our young democracy from A to Z at this point in time in their full-colour South African Youth Culture Annual filled with the feelings, thoughts and ideas of young South Africans.
The Western Nostril volume 2
by Patrick and Alex Latimer
A new volume of the very funny and totally unique strip – as read by Archbishop Tutu himself. Nuff said.
More Things Like This
edited by McSweeneys
Curated by the editors of McSweeney’s, this unconventional book explores the intersection of text, humor, and illustration in art by cartoonists, writers, musicians, and fine artists in a hilarious and liberating mixture of high, low, and sideways. The eye-opening selection features nearly 200 images by more than 50 artists, including Raymond Pettibon, David Shrigley, Kurt Vonnegut, Maira Kalman, Shel Silverstein, Leonard Cohen, Chris Johanson, Andy Warhol, David Mamet, Tucker Nichols, Banksy, and dozens of others. Rounding out this beautifully designed package are insightful interviews with many of the artists illuminating the shared and divergent approaches they take to making this smart, funny, and immediately engaging work.
Asterix & Obelix’s Brithday: The Golden Book
by Uderzo and Goscinny
A collection of 12 brand new stories – all linked by the theme of Asterix’s anniversary celebration. For fans of all ages!
Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion and Jewelry
by Leanne Shapton
Lenore Doolan, a food writer for the New York Times, meets Harold Morris, a photographer, at a halloween party in 2002. He is dressed as Harry Houdini. In Leanne Shapton’s marvellously inventive and invented auction catalogue, the 325 lots up for auction are what remain from the relationship between Lenore and Harold (who aren’t real people, but might as well be). Through photographs of the couple’s personal effects – the usual auction items (jewellery, fine art, and rare furniture) and the seemingly worthless (pyjamas, Post-it notes, worn paperbacks) – the story of a failed love affair vividly and cleverly emerges. From first meeting to final separation, the progress and rituals of intimacy are revealed through the couple’s accumulated relics and memorabilia. And a love story, in all its tenderness and struggle, emerges from the evidence that has been left behind, laid out for us to appraise and appreciate. In Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris Leanne Shapton invites us to contemplate what is truly valuable, and to consider the art we make of our private lives
The Book of Marvels
by Mark Jenkins
This book is not about heroic tales of conquering poles and mountains; it is about the other side of exploration, the ‘delightful mystery’, or sense of wonder that has gripped explorers both celebrated and little known, from Marco Polo to Sir John Mandeville. Focusing on the era before mass travel and photography, Jenkins takes us to the poles when they were still known as ‘mystic circles’. Under his guidance, readers sail the South Seas with Captain Cook, trek an unexplored South America as described by Alexander Von Humboldt, and marvel at the wonders of western geography as observed by the first explorer of the Grand Canyon. A fascinating and beautiful book.
Extraordinary Clouds
by Richard Hamblyn
A fantastic selection of some of the most startling and unusual cloud formations, from the uniform streaks of ‘cloud streets’ to the odd bulbous ‘lenticularis’ that are commonly mistaken for UFOs. Each amazing photograph is accompanied by Hamblyn’s entertaining and informative explanation of how the cloud was formed and the conditions in which a similar one might occur. This is a real treasure.
Big Fun! Adventures of Meno
by Tony Di-Terlizzi
It is sunshine at the house of Meno, but where is Meno? Meno and Yamagoo are best friends. Join them on a big fun adventure as they wish for a new friend. Told in special ‘Meno’ language, and with bright, retro style illustrations, these quirky little picture books, created by award-winning illustrator, Tony Di’Terlizzi, make the perfect gift for any child or friend.
Alice in Wonderland
by Emma Chichester Clark
Step into the magical world of Wonderland in this gloriously illustrated picture book retelling of Lewis Carroll’s enduring classic, from the highly-regarded, prize-winning illustrator of Blue Kangaroo and Melrose and Croc. When Alice follows a white rabbit down a hole she discovers the extraordinary world of Wonderland, where a magical adventure begins. It’s not long before Alice finds herself attending a very unconventional tea party and taking part in a peculiar game of croquet, all in the company of such mysterious and unforgettable characters as the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and the Mock Turtle. Lewis Carroll’s classic story is brought alive for a new generation of readers in this exquisite picture book
Have You Been Naughty or Nice?
by Ethan Long
In Have You Been Naughty or Nice? our favourite duck excitedly awaits a visit from Santa Claus until he eats all of Santa’s snacks and realises he just put himself on the naughty list. But never fear, because the duck has a clever plan to get himself back on the nice list. This fourth book in Ethan Long’s duck series features a cloth Santa cap on the cover and a fold-out letter to Santa, and lends a fun slant to the classic Christmas dilemma – HAVE you been naughty or nice? Hmmm??
Little Penguin and the Big Storm
by Justine Smith
Little Penguin is furious when a howling storm comes and puts a stop to his day of play. He hates the wintry wind! But then he sees the interesting things the storm has washed up on the beach, and he has an idea for a brilliant invention. This beautifully illustrated story about a lovable penguin has a noisy sound to press on every page.
Once Again to Zelda: Fifty Great Dedications and their Stories
by Marlene Wagman-Geller
Charlotte Brontë dedicated Jane Eyre to William Makepeace Thackeray, setting literary London ablaze with gossip. Ayn Rand dedicated Atlas Shrugged to both her husband and her lover. Sylvia Plath dedicated The Bell Jar to her friends. And F. Scott Fitzgerald dedicated The Great Gatsby to his wife, Zelda, the tumultuous love of his life.
The dedication of a novel is the most personal and public of gestures, and yet we don’t often stop to consider how it came to be inspired. This charming ˜behind the scenes’ book traces the relationships immortalised in the dedications to fifty novels that are an intrinsic part of literary and pop culture.
Sometimes tragic, often romantic, and always engaging, these are intimate glimpses into the lives of the writers we admire and the people they loved.
My Really Big Charlie and Lola Annual 2010
by Lauren Child
Everyone’s favourite brother and sister have collected together all their interesting bits for you – with stories to read and fun stuff to do. Will keep you and your occupied through the long Christmas holidays!
The First Christmas
by Jan Pienkowski
Stunning silhouettes by Jan Pienkowski, the master of dramatic design, bring to life the story of the very first Christmas. With words from the King James bible, this is a truly classic and beautiful book to be treasured. It makes the perfect gift and keepsake for any child’s first Christmas.
All Known Metal Bands
by McSweeneys
This beautifully produced book from the McSweeney’s stable does exactly what it says on the cover – lists all metal bands known to man – and golly but there are a lot! No, really. A LOT!!
My Dog’s Brain
by Stephen Huneck
This is a gifty reissue of a bestselling author’s whimsical portrait of Sally, the famous black Labrador, via his trademark woodcut prints. Stephen Huneck’s beloved black Labrador Sally has spawned a whole series of children’s books, as well as woodcut prints, stationary, tote bags, t-shirts, and even rugs, but the genesis of this world was the now-classic first book, My Dog’s Brain. This volume was a project of passion as Huneck was inspired to create it after a life-threatening illness and two-month coma. The first woodcut he created was the first spread of the book, Life is a Ball, and all the charming ones that follow it portray the dog that brought him so much joy.
Our Front Pages: 21 Years of Virtue, Greatness and Moral Rectitude from America’s Favourite News Source
by The Onion
Since its founding by a bloodthirsty tyrant in 1756, The Onion has not merely changed the way we think about the news – it has changed whether we think about the news at all. As the first decade of this new millennium draws to a close, Our Front Pages shows us the first thing that presidents, kings, prime ministers, and popes saw when they opened their eyes each morning for the last 21 years. Now you, the common reader and citizen, can see what they saw and be as informed as they were with this important retrospective of the past two decades. You, too, will realise what generations before have realised and generations yet unborn will some day realise in turn: The Onion is not merely the chronicle of America. The Onion is America.
My Secret: A PostSecret Book
The second PostSecret book, My Secret, focuses on the compelling and personal messages that have been sent in by college students from around the world. Raw and revealing, these secrets express the hopes, fears and wildest confessions of young people everywhere. ‘This year, I overcame my fear of sleeping with the closet open. I’m 22‘, ‘People don’t change…They just find new ways to lie to you‘, ‘If I charged the people I babysit for by the scream, I’d be rich’, ‘I’m a cheerleader, but secretly I deal drugs’ and more. Astonishing, moving and often funny.
I Know How to Cook
by Ginette Mathiot
First published in 1932, Je sais cuisiner has been a best-seller for three generations. It is a household must-have, and a well-thumbed copy can be found in kitchens throughout France. Its author, Ginette Mathiot, was the queen of French domestic cooking. During her long career she published more than 30 recipe books, and this is her magnum opus. It is now available for the first time in English and, with more than 1,200 recipes for every occasion, is an authoritative compendium of every classic French dish, from croque monsieur to cassoulet. Clear, practical and comprehensive, it is an essential guide to the best home cooking in the world.
The Best American Magazine Writing 2009
This annual is a great favourite of the Book Lounge. Chosen from the winners and finalists of the 2009 National Magazine Awards, this year’s selections include the haunting story by Chris Jones of an American soldier’s final journey home; James Wood’s brilliant critique of the award-winning novelist Marianne Robinson; a compelling column by Naomi Klein on the return of class consciousness in America; two biting reviews of recent books on feminism by Sandra Tsing Loh; and a moving and insightful account by David Lipsky of David Foster Wallace in his final days. Also featured are a fascinating report by Ryan Lizza on the political making of Barack Obama; an unforgettable profile by Hanna Rosin of a transgendered child struggling to be normal in rural America; absorbing reflections by Tom Chiarella on apprenticing as a butcher in an Indianapolis meat market; and an unusual look by Sean Flynn at the legacy of the late singer and unstoppable personality, James Brown. Chris Anderson, popular commentator and author of the best-selling book The Long Tail adds his own, not-to-be-missed introduction. “Take a break from the screen and dive in,” he writes. “I think you’ll emerge, many pages later, no longer worrying about the future of print.“
Einstein’s Watch: being an unofficial record of a year’s most ownable things
by Jolyon Fenwick and Marcus Husselby
What is the value of Gandhi’s glasses or a collection of Braille editions of Playboy? And how much is an artwork consisting of ten million $100 banknotes worth? In this gloriously eclectic overview of 2009′s most ownable objects, Jolyon Fenwick and Marcus Husselby present a treasure trove of over 100 desirable things bought or offered for sale this year. Ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous, the cache of curios includes; a hard disk of MPs’ expenses over the last five years, Einstein’s watch, uncle Monty’s cottage from Withnail and I, the last ever cheque issued by Woolworths (it bounced), a holy water sprinkler (made by Parker pens), official posters from the Obama campaign, Captain Cook’s boomerang, Super Lemon Haze marijuana, Black Canary Barbie (described as filth by Christian Voice), the key to the binoculars storeroom on board the Titanic.
Eating Animals
by Jonathan Safran Foer
On the brink of fatherhood – and facing the prospect of having to make dietary choices on a child’s behalf – Foer’s casual attitude towards food takes on a new urgency. Here, he explores the many fictions used to justify eating habits and how such tales justify a brutal ignorance.
Stillewe
by Stef Bos
Stef Bos is al lank ‘n groot gunsteling onder Suid-Afrikaners, nie net vir sy optredes nie, maar (veral?) ook vir die pragtige lirieke van sy liedjies. Dit verbly dus die ahrt dat daar sopas ‘n nuwe bundel van sy lirieke en gedigte verskyn het – en dis nie net die woorde wat wonderlikis nie. Die glansbundel is ryklik ge-illustreer deur sy vrou, die kunstenaar Verushka Paschke. In ‘n glansryke hardeband is hierdie voorwaar ‘n kosbare voorwerp, en ‘n fantastiese present vir enigiemand met ‘n hart en siel wat ‘n aanvoeling vir skoonheid het: vir pragtige woorde, vir pragtige beelde, en vir ‘n pragtig bymekaargestelde boek.
Competition Time!
We have four Christmas freebies for you. Choose from the following…
1) Lady Anne Barnard’s Watercolours and Sketches
A much deserved tribute to Lady Anne Barnard. The book includes her Panorama of Cape Town, reproduced in full colour as a foldout, measuring 1.2 meters long. Some 200 years after Lady Anne Barnard selected and bound up her sketches and watercolours, the entire series, is published for the first time in full colour. This unique volume is limited to 1000 copies.
2) East of the Cape
A welcome addition to South African botanical literature. East of the Cape: Conserving Eden is a story about nature and people. It takes place in a region located on the south-eastern coast of Africa where nature’s diversity is manifest: rainforest, karoo, fynbos, grassland and savanna are juxtaposed in complex and intriguing ways. Aptly called Eden, this region is also home to thicket, a Lilliputian forest of great antiquity that harbours the ancient stock of many plant lineages found in southern Africa’s contemporary ecosystems
3) Orhan Pamuk Boxed Set
Contains copies of Snow, The Black Book and My Name is Red.
4) Phaidon 5 Great Documentary Photographers Boxed Set
Featuring the works of Eugene, Lewis Hine, Dorothea Lange, Eugene Richards and Ed van der Elsken.
Simply email your choice of one of the above titles to be entered into a draw, which will take place on 20th December 2009. Winners will be informed by email.
A very Merry Christmas to all our customers from The Book Lounge!
“Heap on more wood! The wind is chill;
But let it whistle as it will,
We’ll keep our Christmas merry still.”
Sir Walter Scott