Here are the books I brought to Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6 this month. There are two book-gifting ideas and one clever, chilling, binge-worthy read to keep you company while you do the holidays.
Holiday Coupetails by Brooke Bell and Brian Hoffman
Raise a glass to your brand-new favorite cocktail book—or the perfect gift for someone else who enjoys them. Holiday Coupetails is a festive collection of classic and modern cocktails crafted especially for beautiful and sophisticated coupe glasses. As the authors write: “A cocktail in a coupe glass always feels more special.” Also, there are several recipes here for delicious nibbles—appetizers and desserts, so savory and also sweet—to go with the drinks. The book is by local writers Brian Hoffman and Brooke Bell, and the drinks here are inspired by time spent with family and friends as well as their international travels—indeed the inspiration for it came to them at Dishoom, an Indian restaurant in London where—jet lagged and blurry-eyed—they waited for a table at the bar and indulged in a warm chai eggnog. That cocktail is one of more than 60 holiday-ready recipes here including a Polar Espressotini, Cranberry Manhattan, Gingerbread Eggnog, various mimosas, a classic French 75 and a Ginger Mezcal Mule. Food recipes range from Parmesan and Chive Gougeres to Citrus Olives to Chinese Five Spice Haystacks to Mulled Wine Brownie Bites, And I should mention that the photography is stunning, making this book perfect for gifting.
Lullaby for the King Written by Nikki Grimes with illustrations by Michelle Carlos
The poetry is beautiful and so is the watercolor artwork in this book that celebrates the awe and wonder of the Christmas story. It’s for kids, but Christmas-loving adults also will delight in this story where various animals travel across the ancient Palestinian landscape toward Bethlehem with gifts for the newborn King.
The caravan traveled through wilderness, uphill and down, for hours that spun into days. Then at last, glittering diamond-bright, Bethlehem appeared through the haze.
Rare ebony wood, a finely tuned harp, mustard and saffron, a zither, apricot cakes, and other treasures are carried to the manger. Then the animals bow low and join the music of the angels in a welcoming lullaby. This is a beautiful book to give and receive.
As you do your holiday shopping, I encourage you to pick up a book for a child you don’t know. The YWCA Central Alabama is collecting books for the children in their Early Childhood Intervention Program. My Les Dames d’Escoffier International chapter is collecting books at our holiday party to donate to their Santa’s Workshop, and I hope you’ll join us. The YWCA’s goal is to build a home library for each child in the center. The greatest need is for books for babies to age 4. You can drop off a book before December 16. Alternately, you can make a donation here.
The Broken Girls By Simone St. James
Here’s something just for you to enjoy—and maybe even binge—during this busy holiday season. It’s chilling and clever and suspenseful and pure escapism! The setting is a small town in Vermont, home to a boarding school for girls no one wants—troublemakers, illegitimate daughters, girls who are too smart for their own good. In the 1950s, four roommates bond over their shared fear that Idlewild Hall is haunted. Then one of the girls disappears. Fast-forward to 2014 and a journalist named Fiona Sheridan is writing a story about the school being restored by an anonymous benefactor. This story is personal for Fiona—20 years earlier, her older sister’s body was found on the school grounds. Early in the restoration, a decades-old body is found in an abandoned well, and as Fiona digs deeper, she realizes that her sister’s murder is tied to secrets meant to stay hidden.
I link to Amazon to show you exactly what book I’m talking about, but I love to shop locally at Church Street Coffee and Books, The Alabama Booksmith, Little Professor, and Thank You Books in Crestwood. And I visit my local library often in person and online!
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