Jolabokaflod

Christmas Book Flood • Reading for Pleasure

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DAY 22 — The Last-Minute Book-Giver’s Guide

Jolabokaflod Advent Calendar 2025

There comes a point every December when the mood shifts.

The lists are shorter. The days are fuller. The sense of “I should have done this earlier” hums quietly in the background. And yet — this is often when book-giving becomes most intuitive.

Because when time is short, instinct takes over.

Last-minute book-givers tend to worry that haste leads to poor choices. But I’ve noticed the opposite. When we stop overthinking, we often choose better. We reach for books that feel right rather than ones that look impressive. We think about the person, not the prestige.

The secret to last-minute book-giving is not speed.

It’s matching.

Instead of searching for “the best book”, we look for the right kind of book — something that fits a personality, a mood, a way of moving through the world. Once you do that, the decision becomes surprisingly calm.

Today, on Day 22 of our Jolabokaflod Advent Calendar, I invite you to let go of the pressure and use this simple guide. No trawling. No panic. Just thoughtful shortcuts.

🎁 The Jolabokaflod Last-Minute Book-Giver’s Guide

For the Comfort-Seeker
Choose gentle fiction, reflective non-fiction, or familiar favourites.
Look for: warmth, kindness, reassurance.

For the Curious Thinker
Idea-led non-fiction, essays or books that invite reflection without heaviness.
Look for: curiosity, clarity, quiet depth.

For the Escapist
Immersive novels, rich worlds, strong atmosphere.
Look for: transport, absorption, momentum.

For the Reluctant Reader
Short books, clear voices, emotional immediacy.
Look for: accessibility, brevity, early rewards.

For the Aesthetic Lover
Beautiful hardbacks, illustrated books, elegant editions.
Look for: design, tactility, visual pleasure.

For the Nostalgic Soul
Classics, childhood favourites, seasonal rereads.
Look for: familiarity, memory, emotional resonance.

You don’t need to get it perfect. You just need to get it close. Books are generous that way — they meet the reader halfway.

📚 Today’s Reading Picks — “Last-Minute Book Wins”

Reliable, widely loved books that suit many readers:

You can explore the full Advent Calendar titles here:
👉 Explore the Advent Calendar collection on Bookshop.org

And if you’re choosing under time pressure:
👉 Visit the Giftable Hardbacks Shelf

  1. Journey — Dorling Kindersley: An illustrated history of the world’s greatest travels
  2. Jurassic World: The Ultimate Visual History — James Mottram: Definitive collector’s book, a must-have for fans of the action-packed dinosaur saga
  3. National Geographic Ultimate Visual History of the World — Jean-Pierre Isbouts: Here, in vivid colour and crisp narrative, is the sweeping story of the history of civilisation
  4. The Wonder of Life on Earth — Henry Gee: Astonishing and readable natural history giving an accessible introduction to the topic of life.
  5. The Illustrated World of Tolkien — David Day: Exquisite reference guide to Tolkien’s world and the artists his vision inspired.
  6. The Work of Art — Adam Moss: Guided tour of what goes on inside an artist’s head.
  7. The Natural History Book — Dorling Kindersley: Beautiful guide to Earth’s wildlife and natural history, including its rocks, minerals, animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms.
  8. Information is Beautiful — David McCandless: Visual guide to how the world really works, through stunning infographics and data visualisations
  9. Animalium — Jenny Broom: Rich, informative and truly wonderful cabinet of curiosities beautifully displayed in this imaginative book
  10. The Book of Symbols. Reflections on Archetypal Images — Taschen: Sets new standards for thoughtful exploration of symbols and their meanings
  11. The Illustrated Brief History Of Time — Stephen Hawking: Bring theories to life in a clear, captivating and visually engaging way
  12. The Secret Lives of Colour — Kassia St Clair: Excellent, innovative and idiosyncratic cultural history that will colour your thinking
  13. Atlas of the Invisible — James Cheshire and Oliver Uberti: Discover the hidden patterns in human society as you have never seen them before — through the world of data
  14. The Book of Trees: Visualising Branches of Knowledge — Manuel Lima: Stunning visual maps showing how humans organise knowledge.
  15. The Planets — Andrew Cohen and Brian Cox: Visually striking and intellectually generous.

If you’re giving a book today or tomorrow, trust yourself.
The fact that you’re choosing a book at all already says something generous.

And often, the gifts chosen in the quiet urgency of the final days
are the ones remembered most warmly.


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DAY 18 — Before You Wrap It: Your Own Reading Ritual

Jolabokaflod Advent Calendar 2025

Before the paper.
Before the ribbon.
Before the gift disappears beneath the tree.

There is a small, almost secret ritual I’ve come to treasure at this time of year: opening a book before it is wrapped.

Not to read it properly. Not to spoil anything. Just a page or two. Enough to meet the voice. Enough to sense the weight of the story. Enough to understand what kind of companion this book might become for the person who will receive it.

I started doing this accidentally one December evening while preparing gifts late at night. A book lay open on the table, waiting. I read the first paragraph. Then the second. Then I stopped — not because I wasn’t enjoying it, but because I’d seen enough. The book had introduced itself. And suddenly, wrapping it felt different.

Because once you’ve read even a fragment, you’re no longer giving an object.
You’re giving a relationship.

Books are unusual gifts in that they carry more than we can see. They contain moods, voices, pacing, silences. Reading the opening pages allows us to sense whether a book is gentle or bracing, playful or reflective, expansive or intimate. It helps us give with intention rather than guesswork.

This ritual does something else too. It slows the moment down.

In a season full of haste — last orders, final lists, hurried errands — opening a book quietly before wrapping it feels almost radical. It turns gift-giving into a pause rather than a task.

Today, on Day 18 of our Jolabokaflod Advent Calendar, I invite you to try it. Before you wrap a book this year, read just enough to understand why you chose it. Let that understanding travel invisibly with the gift.

🎁 Today’s Reading Picks — “Before You Wrap It” Books

Beautiful, gift-worthy books that reward even a few pages:

These are books where the opening pages already feel like an offering.

You can explore the full Advent Calendar titles here:
👉 Visit the “Advent Calendar” collection on Bookshop.org

And if you’re gathering ideas for thoughtful presents:
👉 Visit the Giftable Hardbacks Shelf

  1. Journey — Dorling Kindersley: An illustrated history of the world’s greatest travels
  2. Jurassic World: The Ultimate Visual History — James Mottram: Definitive collector’s book, a must-have for fans of the action-packed dinosaur saga
  3. National Geographic Ultimate Visual History of the World — Jean-Pierre Isbouts: Here, in vivid colour and crisp narrative, is the sweeping story of the history of civilisation
  4. The Wonder of Life on Earth — Henry Gee: Astonishing and readable natural history giving an accessible introduction to the topic of life.
  5. The Illustrated World of Tolkien — David Day: Exquisite reference guide to Tolkien’s world and the artists his vision inspired.
  6. The Work of Art — Adam Moss: Guided tour of what goes on inside an artist’s head.
  7. The Natural History Book — Dorling Kindersley: Beautiful guide to Earth’s wildlife and natural history, including its rocks, minerals, animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms.
  8. Information is Beautiful — David McCandless: Visual guide to how the world really works, through stunning infographics and data visualisations
  9. Animalium — Jenny Broom: Rich, informative and truly wonderful cabinet of curiosities beautifully displayed in this imaginative book
  10. The Book of Symbols. Reflections on Archetypal Images — Taschen: Sets new standards for thoughtful exploration of symbols and their meanings
  11. The Illustrated Brief History Of Time — Stephen Hawking: Bring theories to life in a clear, captivating and visually engaging way
  12. The Secret Lives of Colour — Kassia St Clair: Excellent, innovative and idiosyncratic cultural history that will colour your thinking
  13. Atlas of the Invisible — James Cheshire and Oliver Uberti: Discover the hidden patterns in human society as you have never seen them before — through the world of data
  14. The Book of Trees: Visualising Branches of Knowledge — Manuel Lima: Stunning visual maps showing how humans organise knowledge.
  15. The Planets — Andrew Cohen and Brian Cox: Visually striking and intellectually generous.

This Christmas, let yourself read just a little before you give.
Let the book speak — briefly — in your hands.

Then wrap it carefully,
knowing exactly what kind of story you are sending out into the world.