Lots of stuff to catch up on from the Herald, so let’s start with the big guns. The Opposite of Fate is the latest from Amy Tan; she calls it a "book of musings". Reviewer Philippa Jamieson calls it “a candid, funny and highly readable memoir” and says it’s “Highly recommended as an antidote to stress and other ills of the modern world.”

Nigel Slater’s latest concoction is also a memoir. However, Toast: The Story of a Boy's Hunger sounds uncomfortably gripping, to judge by this excerpt:

His poor mother is an indifferent to bad cook - the book opens with her scraping burnt toast; cake-baking simply "had to be done" - and, to his shame, the last thing Slater says to her, when she forgets to buy mincemeat, is "You're hopeless, I hope you die". By next morning she is dead of asthma.

Strewth. On a more cheerful note, Margie Thomson reviews a brace of kid's books. In brief:

• Napoleon and the Chicken Farmer by Lloyd Jones, illustrated by Graeme Gash: “Set in Corsica, this warmly funny morality tale will delight both its target audience, and the adults who read to them.”

• Oliver's Party by Margaret Beames, illustrated by Sue Hitchcock: “… children aged around 7 and under love the combination of Beames' ability to take a cat's eye view of the world, where there's adventure in every twitch and rustle, with Hitchcock's wildly active illustrations, adding up to vivid, charming storytelling.”

• Fred the (Quite) Brave Mouse by Murray Ball: “Very silly and incredibly dramatic, with comic illustrations that are virtually standalone, this is classic Ball.”

• Selafina by Catherine Hannken, illustrated by Trish Bowles: “It's a good reminder that the emotions of childhood are as heart-felt as in the adult world, and that it's in the realm of family life, especially multicultural families, that the richest stories and experiences are to be found.”

• Lyra's Oxford by Philip Pullman: “The book is a delight: more than just story, it contains a map, and all sorts of extraneous matter such as a postcard and advertisements that may or may not mean something in this book or in future ones, Pullman says.”

• Grass for his Pillow by Lian Hearn: “In this sequel to last year's popular Across The Nightingale Floor, set in a fantasy's medieval Japan, the writing becomes slightly moodier and characters gain in depth.”

It sounds like older, green-fingered folk will love My Garden My Paradise: The Garden in New Zealand Literature:

In the nick of time for Christmas comes this lovely little book, perfect for anyone with a dual love of gardens and words. Stunning photographs are complemented by snippets - witty, whimsical, philosophical, sentimental, heartbreaking - from 60 poets, novelists and short-story writers.

Steve Martin’s The Pleasure of my Company is tagged the “surprise of the year”. Reviewer Michael Larsen says:

...hilarious, sad, and brilliantly written, all in one. I found it occasionally too intense and had to take a breath or two, and then a great turn of phrase would lure me back for more.

And finally, Amin Maalouf’s Balthasar's Odyssey is “a thoughtful historical novel that leaves a gentle feeling of satisfaction in its wake.” The concept is intriguing:

The Koran has 99 names for God and that book, in revealing the 100th, is said to hold the key to the future of the world. And in his journey, undertaken reluctantly, Balthasar hopes also to find salvation with the woman he loves.

Before you groan that translations are always clunky, this one is better than most. It is simple and clear but retains a richness and lyricism that makes it a pleasure to read.

That’s all folks. Merry Christmas.