Best reads for Christmas - win £600 of books

The gift I'm most looking forward to giving this Christmas is my time. I'll be staying with my daughter. She's a single Mum with two young boys, a demanding full time job and has just moved house. The place was a tip, so a lot of scrubbing and elbow grease were involved but we got through it all with the help of a fair amount of and a shared sense of humour. I know how much my help was appreciated. So, for Christmas, I'll be responsible for much of the cooking etc. and looking forward to this time to relax and enjoy each other's company. I'm also giving her one of the books on your list and will make sure that the boys are entertained while she puts her feet up at some point with the book and enjoys a bit of 'me' time.

A home made Christmas cake to an old friend. It is much appreciated as he does not bake.

My partner and I are giving a friend new pyjamas, cashmere bed socks and the soon to be released triple album of David Bowie Live at Glastonbury. She was at the original concert so we thought she might like to relieve the experience but in comfort this time sitting in front of the fire at home

I am really forward to the presence of my 5 grandchildren at Xmas, and watching them unwrap the pyjamas and books I have bought for them.

I have bought my brother some very old cufflinks (mediaeval/17th century) as he uses cufflinks and loves history. Looking forward to seeing his face...

I asked GS (11 before Christmas) what he wanted as a gift. 'Loads of money', he said. So as well as a 'small' cash donation, I think I will provide him with a wallet to keep it in.

Family all going away together for Christmas - big splurge to celebrate my retirement, our 40th Wedding Anniversary and Christmas all within 4 days!
Looking forward to giving books for the wee ones - always buy English and Scots versions if I can, plus Spanish bi-lingual for one granddaughter. Got tights for the girls - only because my girls went through loads of tights and every Christmas my mother in law always gave me a Marks and Spencers gift voucher for myself and I always bought the girls loads of school tights with it. So Christmas for me equals tights! Also got them pyjamas and a small toy each (watch for one, knitted story characters for another. Experiences for everyone else - vouchers for afternoon tea or manicure etc. Hubby always gets a bottle of port just because my mum always gave him one so I continued! Traditions, traditions. When it comes down to it, no-one really needs anything - being together is the main thing.

I’ll be giving a copy of Alchemy to one of the homeless people I give supplies to on Xmas morning.

Money is always tight but we are blessed to have love in abundance. I tend to buy bits through the year & paint something for my children & grand children. Books always feature as we are all avid readers.
We are going to our eldest daughters for Christmas this year, she lives on an army base with her husband & their beautiful new daughter. Our son is also on the same base so he will be there too. To make life easier for new mum, we are bringing all the food (she picked the menu) ready prepared & pre cooked or part cooked where possible, with lots of extra nibbles too.
We will be doing the same for our other daughter at New Year too as she loved this idea.

I'm looking forward to placing a gift under the tree at church for a child in need. We do it every year.

My grandson is a bookworm and has just started a new series of books - I’ve found him one signed by the author, he’ll be so pleased.

Just looking forward to spending time as a family. Hopefully there will be a book or two under the tree. Well I know there will as I make sure I have something good to read over Christmas.

I can’t wait to give my daughter How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran. I think she’s finally old enough to read the rude bits without dying of embarrassment!

Finishing my manuscript would be the best gift I could give myself.

my eldest son is struggling financially so we have agreed no presents this year except for my grandson, we will be pooling the food and drink between us and having a great time together playing games and cards

My daughter, son-in-law and I have made a barn out of cardboard complete with stalls and a tack room for my granddaughters! They are both crazy about horses.. especially the eldest one! We are giving it to them on Christmas Day with a bundle of horses we bought! It has turned out really well, and tbh you wouldn’t realise it was made from cardboard! Lol x

I'm so looking forward to seeing my grandson's little face light up when he sees the scooter under his tree. He's very excited & hoping Father Christmas will bring him one

My friend and I are devoted knitters, so for a surprise I have knitted her a dolly dumpling standing at the shop counter which is covered in balls of wool. At her feet is a basket full of wool, and in her hands are yet another bagful of wool. I have also added a pattern book to rest on top of the counter. My friend is 89, have enjoyed knitting this and know she will be delighted with it.

I am looking forward to a pre-Christmas gift I am giving my two daughters: one has a birthday very close to Christmas. As a treat for the three of us, I am taking them both to London and have booked lunch in the Shard. I suspect we may then go Christmas shopping in central London. They have no idea where we are going or what we are doing. All will be revealed on the day! It will be such a treat for us all to have fun time together - a whole day!

I am going to give my lovely mum a smallish pink rucksack. She kept saying she fancied one so she could be hands free when she walks around gardens, however, someone then said that older ladies should never carry rucksack because they are for young people. This put her off. Well, if mum wants a rucksack she is jolly well going to have one!

I love Christmas Eve when the shops are shut and we are cosy at home with family and the tree lights on . All thefun to come and the planning and shopping over!

My best friend's youngest son, 32, very recently died of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia within six months of being diagnosed. Her oldest sibling, a brother aged 70, had a fatal Cardiac Arrest whilst on holiday in Spain three weeks later. I can't think of anything that will help her pain except time and love so that's the gifts I wish upon her this coming Christmas. I'll be spending the day with part of my family and will appreciate them even more than usual.

Happy Socks for my son and sons in law. The brighter the better. (and they do like them!)

I’m really looking forward to seeing my grandchildren’s faces when they unwrap the play kitchen we have bought them. I’m sure Mum and Dad will enjoy all the meals that will be ‘cooked’ for them.?

I’m looking forward to having our four grandchildren together. They are aged seven down to two and we give them each a stocking and then their main presents after the meal. It’s lovely to see them having fun as they get on well together.