Books for your new year's resolution
Date Added: 04/01/2021
Select and Collect
New year is the time for new year’s resolutions, and perhaps this year more than many we may welcome a new hobby, activity or interest to help us manage the additional time at home, and perhaps on our own. Whatever the interest, there will very often be a book written about it! So here are a few ideas to get you going, available from your local library, through Select and Collect. Click on the links to reserve titles with your library card number and pin. There are currently no fines or reservation charges.
Crafts - knitting
First of all, indoors. How about learning a new craft or starting a new project? Knitting is a recurrent popular interest and we have books ranging from how to guides, such as as the DK knitter’s ‘bible’, The knitting book; to patterns for new baby knits or party knits (something to look forward to); or for knitted animals. For something more challenging, try some Fair Isle Knitting. Instead of knitting yourself, how about reading This Golden Fleece: a Journey Through Britain's Knitted History, by Esther Rutter.
Crafts - sewing
Similarly, for sewing, you can find books on quilting, making accessories, using a sewing machine, and recycling clothes – reserve your copy of Mend it, wear it, love it: stitch your way to a sustainable wardrobe, published in February. There are also books on embroidery. There are armchair sewing books too, such as Threads of life: a history of the world through the eye of a needle by Clare Hunter, which is described as a global chronicle of identity, protest, memory and politics; or The golden thread: how fabric changed history by Kassia St Clair, which includes stories of fabrics used in ancient Egypt through to fabric for astronauts’ space suits.
Ideas for indoors
Other ideas for an indoor activity might be Crochet, which has seen a resurgence of interest, with books from making ocean animals to home design; punch needle; woodturning; photography; calligraphy; or vlogging – try The Vlogger’s Handbook.
Get fit
Looking to the outdoors now, the new year is traditionally a time for establishing a new exercise regime. Choose a book to inspire you, or at least to entertain you, if it is not possible to do your preferred sport at the moment.
Exercise and food are two things that determine our fitness. Cutting down on the meat we eat can make a difference as well as help the environment - so how about a no-meat Monday? Have a look at some of our vegetarian and vegan cookery books for inspiration. Memoirs can also be an inspiration: if Tom Watson can get fit, so can we! Or check up on the science in This book could save your life: the science of living longer better, published by NewScientist.
The great outdoors
Many of us have enjoyed more time outdoors over recent months. There are books on identifying garden birds and to help you plan your next season of home grown vegetables. Many books draw a distinct parallel between our mental health and our experience of nature, for example Bird Therapy by Joe Harkness, available in print and audiobook; The Natural Health Service by Isabel Hardman. Simon Barnes’ book Rewild yourself: 23 spelling binding ways to make nature more visible is a book of tips and suggestions to help us notice and understand nature better. Noticing more of nature would make a splendid new year’s resolution! And finally, Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin’s book Back to nature: how to love life - and save it is a call to conserve nature by becoming an environmental activist.