Karl Whitney: Don’t let the spoils of the old year ruin the lure of the new 

End-of-year lists can flatten culture into sameness; real taste is built by curiosity, scepticism, and a willingness to stray off the well-worn path

The wheelie bins are full of wrapping paper and empty bottles; the decorations are ready to be returned to their cardboard boxes for another 11 months. However, good books are for life, not just for Christmas. Picture: iStock

The new year begins surrounded by the spoils of the old. 

The wheelie bins are full of wrapping paper and empty bottles; the decorations are ready to be returned to their cardboard boxes for another 11 months; books received as presents sit in an uneven pile in the corner.