I’m a bona fide bookworm, and so books about books are always appealing to me, so I was definitely interested in reviewing My Ideal Bookshelf, edited by Thessaly La Force and illustrated by Jane Mount.
As a bookworm, I’m not sure I got what I expected from this book, because I would have preferred in-depth discussion about specific titles that might have been familiar to me, but the essays accompanying the bookshelves are fairly broad. However, there are still nuggets of booklove in there, like photographer Todd Hido who said “Spend three hours at the Strand bookstore. Get out there and look” (page 92). I’m a huge fan of that wonderful New York City bookstore, so that statement made my heart leap.
Because of the whole package, this is a book I can recommend, though perhaps not solely for bookworms. My teen daughter is an artist, and so I’ve become much more aware of art, and this is a BEAUTIFUL book, so it would be perfect as a coffee table book or library feature. The entry from each person appears on one side of the page, and the other side has a full-page drawing of the books (similar to the one featured on the cover).
There are quite a few authors featured, but there are also several artists — from all sorts of fields — chefs and professionals from other careers, so the books that are featured are not for bookworms only. A sampling of contributors:
- Judd Apatow
- Jennifer Egan
- David Sedaris
- Chef Hugh Acheson
- Nancy Pearl
- Artist Marilyn Minter
- Interior Designer Tom Delavan
- Musician Rosanne Cash
You can enter to win a copy of this book for you or someone on your gift-giving list. Just leave a comment, and we’ll select a random commenter. The winner will be announced in our giveaway column on December 5.
- The winners of Astray are #13 Anita Yancey and #16 Sharon.
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Jennifer‘s ideal bookshelf would probably contain some novels that made her laugh and cry, a memoir or two, some magical middle grade fiction, and some Bible books. Just don’t ask her to choose which ones. She blogs at Snapshot, or used to, anyway.
I would love to receive this. I also love books about books.
Oh, how I would love this book!
Oh this looks neat! I really appreciate diverse subjects as well as artists and other creative forces in bookdom! Looks good. 😉 Thanks for the chance and your review. Hope to make it for WOMN this round.
Sounds wonderfully comprehensive of the arts. With so many variously gifted family members, i would be delighted to win this book.
What a lovely and unique book. Many thanks.
This book looks fantastic, I want to read it and pass it along!
This book is a treasure. Thanks for this chance.
A wonderful book which would be appreciated and read.
This looks beautiful! I would love to read it!
Excellent and special.
This book sounds great! I love to get a peek into what other people read and seeing what it might say about their personalities.
THanks!
Ahhhh….books…<3
Reading is my favorite pastime!
(Hopping up and down in the corner) Me! I saw this book and oh I want it!
Looks like a great book.
I need this book!
I would love to win a copy of the book. Thanks for the opportunity !
What a cool book! Thanks for the give away!
Would like to win.
How great is this?
I would love to win this book. Thanks for having this giveaway.