The other day the kids and I ended up at the bookstore instead of the library. There was a book there that caught my eye immediately, for the beautiful graphics and the color palette on the cover. I started flipping through the book, my mind started racing with ideas, and I grabbed it.
The book is "Seasons" by French artist Blexbolex. Google him and you'll find all you need to know.
Each image and related word on each page is evocative. The pastoral, snowy images are the ones that really pulled on my heart strings. Anything that smells like winter in New England is bound to get my attention this time of year.
When I got home I started ripping. Images as simple and meaningful as these can't stay trapped inside a book. There are some I will save for our walls, like "SNOW", "SILENCE", "TRANQUILITY", "HOMECOMING" and "STILLNESS". And there are a whole lot of others which just became "thank you" notes and my new personal stationary. I have so many brown paper bag envelopes right now left over from an order I made for my holiday cards, so I've got somewhere to stuff these notes once I write them all.
I don't feel one bit bad about ripping this book apart. It has so much to give, it has to be shared. I did just order two more. Maybe to rip. Maybe to gift. Maybe to read. It is so beautiful.
What a great idea! Loved it, and that book looks simply delicious.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It is, and I think he's got another book called "People", which I'll have to look into!
DeleteClever you! I did get a jabbing pain when I saw the ripping but that is my hang-up! WE LOVE that book - our library has it and we had it out for like 6 weeks! I wish I had it right here so I could tell you my favorites! I might even be inspired to buy it - are you an Amazon affiliate yet?
ReplyDeleteI was totally thinking of you when I did this post, Ann! I didn't even get a chance to look at it with the kids while it was still intact. I'll have to wait for the new copies to show up. No, not an affiliate of anyone. But I did order the two extra copies on Amazon.
DeleteWhat a wonderful idea - love that you can share it with so many people!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dawn!
DeleteI never would have thought to do this. Normally, when I see something that stirs something within, I try to talk myself out of buying it because it's not a need. Now I'll think, who can I share this with.
ReplyDeleteI totally know what you mean, Sabrina. I quite often consciously wait for the urge to buy something to dissipate, as to not just keep consuming all the time. But with this book, we were in the shop for an hour, and I kept going back to it and picking it up and flipping through it. If the urge hasn't left in an hour, it's definitely a keeper. :)
DeleteWhat a lovely idea, I love those illustrations. I often want to rip out pages and hang them up !
ReplyDeleteSometimes you've just gotta do it! It totally depends on the book, though, you know?
DeleteTiffanie - that is such a genius idea. Obviously as a bookseller, I might be accused of having a vested interest in people doing this (perhaps!) but it is such a wonderful idea. And if you buy a nice set of thank you cards the price might be comparable. I think things like this are the future of the book, and may just save us from a completely digital future...
ReplyDeleteHi Mark! Thank you for the compliment, and what a thought, from someone as close to books as you are. A completely digital future makes me want to die, being a begrudgingly reformed luddite myself. Thanks for the twitter shout-out, as well. I am sincere in saying I am going to delve into your blog as soon as time permits.
DeleteMy only other venture into books on the blog so far, in case you've missed this gem of a book:
http://bloggingcornerblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/breasts.html
Cheers!