Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new ‘top ten’ challenge is posted – anyone can join in. This week’s topic is Top Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Bringing Me – I found this one a cinch.
Since I’ve been taking part in the Mount TBR challenge, I have curtailed my book buying dramatically (of course that doesn’t stop me obtaining new titles via NetGalley…). So, over the past few months, my Wishlists have been getting a real workout. I could fill this list ten times over with novels but usually at Christmas I ask for those big, glossy coffee-table books that cost a bomb. Here’s some I have my eye on (and I hope those responsible for buying me presents are reading) –
1. In the Spirit of Miami Beach by David Leddick – I was lucky to visit Miami last year, indulging in all things Art Deco. And I stayed at The Raleigh Hotel that is featured on the front of this book (. The Raleigh’s spectacular pool was made famous by the glamorous Esther Williams and has been touted ‘the most beautiful pool in America’ (I concur).
2. The Art Deco House by Adrian Tinniswood – I’m obsessed with Art Deco design (and equally obsessed with growing my collection of books on Art Deco design).
3. Backyard Oasis edited by Daniell Cornell is a collection of photographs taken of pools in Southern California from 1945 – 1982 (example above). Cornell says – “As a private setting, the backyard pool became a stage for sub-culture rituals and clandestine desires.” Huh. I want a bit of that on my coffee table.
4. Pools: Reflections by Kelly Klein
5. Poolside with Slim Aarons by Slim Aarons
I don’t actually own a pool… But can you tell that I wished I did?
6. Books Do Furnish a Room by Leslie Geddes-Brown – a design book about books in design. I have a growing collection of books about books.
7. Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin – I got lots out of The Happiness Project. In the sub-heading of this book is ‘…abandon a project’ – certainly an attractive concept…
8. Miss Hope’s Teatime Treats by Hope and Greenwood – I really want this for the sandwiches (I love dainty sandwiches).
9. Tiny Food Party by Teri Lyn Fisher – in the same genre as dainty sandwiches, is tiny party food. Love it.
10. Jamie’s 15 Minute Meals by Jamie Oliver – Oliver’s books are the most-used in my cookbook collection. He can do no wrong.
Jamie! 15 minutes is quite the time crunch though…
And I would kill for a pool, sometimes almost literally. It is super hot where I am (in the summer) and there’s no water. I couldn’t have the books though, the envy it would cause would be too much.
Must admit, still tackling 30 minute meals… not sure I will be ready to halve my time by Christmas 😉
Great list! The Gretchen Rubin book looks interesting, I remember her Happiness Project was quite a hit last year at the bookstores.
Here’s my TTT for this week 🙂
If you haven’t read The Happiness Project, it’s well worth a look – something in it for everyone, even if you only read bits and pieces.
Happier at Home is on my list too: http://annabelsmith.tumblr.com/post/37136353542/christmas-books
As long as the project you abandon is not your Mount TBR it should all work out!
I got lots out of The Happiness Project (even though self-help books aren’t really my thing… it’s possibly the only one I’ve ever read!). And no, I won’t be abandoning Mount TBR although I have found this particular challenge much more difficult than I anticipated!
I also got a lot out of The Happiness project, and so many things have stayed with me, especially ‘Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good’.
It’s weird how certain things languish on the TBR – they seemed enticing at the time but then the next big thing comes along and they lose their sparkle. My Goodreads ‘to read’ is full of books that sounded great at the time but I’ve somehow never got round to them.
I’ve avoided adding lots to my TBR list by getting Kindle samples of books so I can check out the first chapter before buying the whole book. Although this is good in theory…. I have a million samples waiting to be read! 😉
I see great minds think alike! I found this week’s TTT really fun, especially thinking about all those glossy books I’d never actually buy for myself. I love all your pool books — makes me dream of a sunny vacation. Enjoy!
Pool books are kind of sweet torture!
I have that Jamie Oliver book…. I can’t quite manage to get them finished in fifteen minutes (I have timed myself) but they are tasty and don’t take too long to cook.
I’m working hard on the 30 minute meals… hoping to improve my times by Christmas! 😉
I also love coffee table books for Christmas! I feel that I can read novels at the library. Nice list!
Funny, I never hesitate to buy novels for myself but a ‘coffee table book’ seems like an indulgence.
Pools are more work than they’re worth…:D One of my friends has a house with a pool, and they’re always fixing this crack and doing that thing so that doesn’t happen anymore, and the cost of filling the pool!
I still want one of my own, too, though! 😀
I wish Santa would bring me a pool!
or at least a shovel and a how-to book right?
ha ha!
These all seem like such fancy books! One of my dreams is to have a pool in my house.
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