The one change that worked: I tried all the hobbies I thought I’d hate – and found friendship and escape I was in a work-commute-collapse cycle and didn’t know what to do. Then I began sampling activities I’d previously dismissed – book clubs, line dancing, chess – and it became oddly addictive

The one change that worked: I tried all the hobbies I thought I’d hate – and found friendship and escape

I’ve been doing this for YEARS and never been disappointed. Strong recommend!

Safe travels Simon, and best wishes to your mum for a quick recovery and back home soon.

I can still get books delivered to you before Christmas.

Even though it's mad busy and my suppliers are working their socks off to get books to you, I can still offer a 24 hour tracked service for deliveries.

How dreamy is that?

A book, called Nesting by Roisin O’Donnell, a bar of dark chocolate, and a peppermint and licorice teabag all piled up on a coffee table. Next to that is a silver gift tag with details of another reader who has been sent the same book in the festive book swap.

@biggreenbooks.bsky.social Thank you Simon. You’ve aced it again - I will enjoy these! Looking forward to hearing what my book buddy thinks too. Merry Christmas 🎄

A pile of nine books, all signed. These are the books you can win on the Big Green Books Christmas Raffle

CHRISTMAS RAFFLE (soft launch)

I'm doing a raffle.

Tickets are just £2 each!

You can win all these SIGNED books + £50 to spend.

More importantly, every ticket you buy will help buy books for two amazing schools.

TWO POUNDS.

More here.

www.biggreenbookshop.com/big-green-ex...

Please share.

Two books, wrapped in christmas giftwrap. On each of the books is a bar of chocolate and a pack of pukka tea.

The Festive Big Green Book Swap is back!

Let me know the kind of stuff you like reading & I'll match you up with someone with similar tastes.

I'll then post you both a book I think you'll like (+ choc & tea).

Read, chat & eat choc!

Just £15!

DETAILS HERE.

www.biggreenbookshop.com/index.php

A pile of twelve books, wrapped in red and white striped wrapping paper. The books are adorned in Christmas decorations.

A NEW CHRISTMAS THING!

The Big Green Books Advent Calendar!

Choose from 4, 6 or 12 books.

Your chance to unwrap a new surprise book every few days in the run up to Christmas.

The books will be chosen based on what you enjoy reading.

More info HERE

www.biggreenbookshop.com/simon-likes-...

Front cover of Malala's new book.

SIGNED BOOK NEWS.

"Finding My Way" by Malala Yousafzai traces Malala's path from high school loner to reckless college student to a young woman finally at peace.

We're getting SIGNED copies!

It's published later this month

PRE-ORDER HERE

biggreenbookshop.com/signed-copie...

"The 500 Club" update.

Raising money to send loads of books to loads of schools!

It was launched 5 weeks ago, but already, we have £220 raised.

THANKS SO MUCH

If you want to help out, here are all the details.

www.biggreenbookshop.com/big-green-bo...

Sir, I can attest to the power of handwriting (letters, Dec 26, 28, 30 & 31). My husband of 62 years and four months died a year ago. He remained my beloved until the end but I found that I couldn’t remember him as he was in his prime, which was distressing. During the Christmas break I found and reread for the first time the hundreds of letters we wrote to each other during our engagement: we lived in different countries, there was no internet, telephone was expensive and the post was cheap. It is wonderful therapy and a great comfort. I can hear and almost see him as he was then and I find myself falling in love with him all over again. Aude Fitzsimons Girton, Cambridge

Letter printed in The Times, 1st Jan 2025.

Hi Simon @biggreenbooks.bsky.social I’d like to #BuyAStrangerABook please. Anything goes, up to £15.

I can’t imagine the logistics involved in this, but it looks like a huge success. Great work as always Simon @biggreenbooks.bsky.social 👏

That looks lovely. Enjoy! Simon does such great things.

A pile of signed books, that I'll be giving as a raffle prize to the winner of Big Green Books Christmas Raffle. Authors include Susie Dent, Bob Mortimer, Rev Richard Coles Sir Trevor McDonald, Angela Harding, Jimmy Anderson and more!

ANNOUNCING

The Big Green Books Christmas Raffle!

Tickets are just £2 each.

All the money raised is going on books for three amazing schools.

You can win ALL these SIGNED books + £50 to spend on books of your choice.

Details HERE.

www.biggreenbookshop.com/index.php

Please share far & wide, ta.

Great job, Bear 👏

Hello.

It's absolutely lovely that you're following me on Bluesky.

Thank you so much!

Some of you are Twitter friends, but there are no doubt many of you who've followed me by accident, & don't know me from over there, so I though I should probs do an origin story (intro).

Here it is.

Thanks all SO much for sharing this.

The Festive Big Green Book Swap!

www.biggreenbookshop.com/big-green-ex...