UGH, while we're on the topic of birthdays, can someone PLEASE buy me The Enlightenment Book Lamp as an early birthday present for me?
Or it could be a late Easter present. Or an early Victoria Day present. I'll accept it for any occasion, really.
Jane, I think you should order this Bamboo Bathtub Caddy with Wine Glass Holder for your birthday, which is today. I would have bought it for you if I had seen it sooner, and if I weren't already insane with jealousy over your ability to take baths in your deep clawfoot tub. It would utterly kill me if I gave you a present which then enabled you to take long, relaxing baths in your deep clawfoot tub while reading a book and drinking a glass of wine.
I know, I know, I should just buy a plug from the dollar store and quit complaining.
Blackstock's Collections may just be my new favorite thing. The entire book is filled with pages of visual lists, hand-drawn by Blackstock himself, a self-described "austistic and artistic savant".
Maybe it's the little bit of obessive compulsive in me, but I absolutely love love love these collections of images. Even more endearing, is the hand-written autobiography that Blackstock includes, which should completely melt even the coldest of hearts.
I think everyone needs to go and grab a copy of Adria Vasil's Ecoholic {when you're addicted to the planet}.
Do I really need to explain why? Really?
Vasil's NOW Magazine articles were always insightful, but now it's all in a giant book!
I'm trying so hard to plough through it before my non-renewable library copy is due back tomorrow, and I can't put it down! It's really comprehensive and easy to absorb, and full of ways that we can actually, like, be responsible for what we buy and what we do.
Hollie, if you ever want to be on Jeopardy, you need to get this book, written by Noel Botham and the Useless information Society (Okay, maybe the website is a little un-cool, but c'mon, it's full of useless information!).
Where else could you learn that tigers have striped skin and striped fur, or that Keanu Reeves once managed a pasta shop in Toronto, or that a third of Taiwanese funeral processions include a stripper?
I also give this book extra props for having a squirrel on the cover.
Religion is such a tricky debate (personally my very articulate position would be of the "STOP SHOUTING! All of you, geez" sort). So I was a little apprehensive when I received 'A Year of Living Biblically' for Christmas... was my soul going to be saved with wit? Or will this be a biblical bashing good time? Both prospects didn't hold my interest. Extreme belief, either way, makes for a long and repetitive 400 pages.
Thankfully, A.J Jacobs (an agnostic New York Times liberal with a Jewish background, I love how this book requires reviewers to state their spiritual preferences) is able to keep an open mind while probing all areas of the Judeo-Christian tradition (Evangelicals, Snake Handlers, Orthodox Rabbis, Atheist support groups as well as more moderate religious academics). The twist? His explorations are framed by his insistence on being literal... he would follow all, even the strangest, rules laid out in both testaments (hence the beard). He even pelts or 'stones' a mean old man with pebbles!
Honest in everything from his shifting spiritual mindset, opinions of dogma and even the events in his life during this strange year (the struggle to conceive and the birth of his second son is another major theme), Jacob's narration is a very human record of our struggle with some of the bigger questions. In a strange way, I think its a book both sides of the debate would enjoy.
I (heart) unusual maps. I (heart) books on unusual maps. I'm not sure how well it plays to the rest of the population, but I thought I'd put this book out there, in your consciousness, just in case.
Trust me, maps are cool.
P.S Tragedy! The Amazon UK is vastly overpriced.
Yes, Jane, we are huge nerds. We do things like... keep up with the latest Harry Potter headlines. An example? Amazon has released a summary of The Tales of Beedle the Bard... the newest 'book' by JK Rowling, sold at auction to the online bookseller for £1,950,000 (going straight to charity, natch). Since the contents of the book have been kept tippy top secret thus far, it was pretty nice for Amazon to let us have a peek, especially, as some of us are either bored, high on Tylenol 3's and missing a few teeth this afternoon (so I hope this post makes sense).
Also, as a book design nerd, the actual photographs make my day
I think the wonderful thing about this website, is that all the people contributing came to terms with the fact that we're a little bit nerdy a long time ago.
That's why I present to you, dear readers and writers, this fantastic collection of How & Why Wonder Books over at White Elephant Vintage. I fell in love with this series a few months ago when we stumbled upon one lone book, and now we have 13 glorious volumes! The illustrations are amazing, and I really can't say enough about how great these are.
Is anyone still looking for a Christmas present for Daryl? Because I think we found it for you...
My first impression of England, and I'm speaking "right off the plane, walking through the terminal to customs" first impression, was that the place smelled like books.
That seems too whimsical to be true, but it is (ask my jet lagged mom). It smelt like a library. That is how I knew that this country and I would get along.
That being said, the smell of old paper isn't really pretty. But since I am a fan of their baked goods scents, I trust the folks at Demeter know what they are doing by introducing Paperback: a perfume that smells of books. And to be completely honest, I am dying to try it.
Joey Comeau is one of those guys you wish you were friends with. He worked with my roommate in Halifax, and I was pretty much 100% fascinated by him. He writes books about math porn and mails ridiculous cover letters to jobs he never intends to get, and he got fired once because his supervisor thought he peed in a bucket. The comic he makes with Emily Horne, called A Softer World, is just great.
In short, I have a crush on Joey Comeau.
The last time I didn't feel well, I googled my symptoms and diagnosed myself with either Leukemia or a brain tumor. I was fine.
My point?
Someone needs to keep this book away from me.
People!
Two of my favourite things have officially merged: NYLON has teamed up with Urban Outfitters!
-tear-
It just makes me so happy.
While my heart bursts at the thought of friends/family living so far away, I have a special little agony for my puppies. Oh! How I miss their annoying barks and quizzical expressions!
And while (most) of you are less than thrilled with dog-hair trousers, everyone has to agree they are beautiful dogs. So beautiful, in fact, they caught the eye of a certain successful Canadian illustrator while on their daily walkies. End product? Roxy is now a covergirl for the relaunch of Lassie (the book)! My mom already has three copies.
Fun fact: The 'rock' she is standing on, is really our couch!
So last night was one of the best nights of my life. I attended a reading of Douglas Coupland's new novel The Gum Thief, and got to meet the very man himself. I thought I loved Mr. Coupland before, but after meeting him, I'm experiencing a whole new set of gushy feelings even stronger than love. He was so charming, so humble, so kind.
Now, I can't say that I've finished the book, but I have read his entire collection, and have loved them all. So I feel confident in saying that eventually I will love this book. A lot.
The only real New Year's resolution that I've kept up with this year is my goal of reading 25 books by the years end. I've only finished twelve, and since I have a long way to go still, I thought that this The Story Behind The Bookmark at Greener Grass Design will perform the dual function of being another book to add to the list of completed ones, plus a totally amazing bookmark to use on all future reads.
I love love love these bookmarks from Jessica Pope. They have a special 16 page built-in booklet inside that you can make little notes in as you read, and secure snugly to your book with an elastic band so that you'll never lose your page.
Plus, they come in gorgeous prints like this Buttons bookmark.
(via Design Sponge)
And while finishing my little online shopping trip at Urban Outfitters, I thought I'd mention this stupendous book, Yo Momma Vocabulary Builder.
The english language is slowly morphing into oblivion anyway, why not go out in style?
Word.
I gotta admit, I'm usually not a fan of pornography. Even thought I took a whole "Bawdy Body" course during my academic studies in University. It's just not something I enjoy.
But in both cases, this is different. I love this book because it makes me laugh and cry inside at the same time.
Each page juxtaposes a good-looking man doing house work with a quote that goes something like "I wouldn't dream of letting you change the litter box.", or "Have another piece of cake, I don't like you looking so thin."
-le sigh-
I came across this adorable little tale whilst browsing around Chapters.
Um, cute!
a gorgeous sense of hope is one of the sweetest little books I've seen in a while. It inspires me to get all crafty-like. And anything that makes me want to do that is a good thing.
