The Way We Live

by Stafford Cliff

This book combines Stafford Cliff's keen eye with Gilles de Chabaneix's stunning photography, offering a captivating exploration of life by the world's oceans, filled with ideas to make the most of a seaside existence, as reflected in its sections.

Genres: Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published March 7, 2006

Reviews

[Puff Of]

Used book store treasure found. For looking at where we can dream of being, while we're here in this dreamy day.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

The photographs are beautiful but the blurbs next to them range from unnecessary to silly, taking in trite along the way.

I think the author would have been better to have a slightly longer introduction to each section, outlining his views on the way living by the sea has affected home design, rather than pointing out these elements over and over again in the photos.

Many are poorly written and/or superfluous. Anyone who can read the blurb can see the photo so they don't need to have what is in the photo spelled out for them.

Parts of the book felt like they were advertisements for luxury hotel resorts where you can live in your own isolated grass roofed hut, therefore an 'authentic island experience', and be waited on hand and foot.

Here are a handful of examples:

Pg 41, regarding cottages on the shore, sturdily built from stone - "Both examples have a robustness of construction, almost as though their original builders had intended them to withstand any threat from the elements" - surely that's the primary purpose of a shelter?

Pg 83, regarding a certain resort "the surrounding seascape reveals itself to the carefully placed viewing points" - or do you mean the viewing points have been carefully placed for visitors to enjoy the surrounding seascape?

Pg 123 - "The colour blue always seems associated with life by the sea" Does it? What about when it's in a house on a lake? Or perhaps you mean that the colour blue is, for obvious reasons, a frequent and unavoidable colour in decoration of homes, buildings and other furnishings by the sea.

Pg 128 - "Blue and white stripes - material always somehow suggestive of deckchairs" - umm, we know exactly why it suggests deckchairs. No 'somehow' about it. Also no 'always' about it either, since it is really only wide alternating stripes of blue and white which have this suggestion. Navy pinstripe suiting is not in the least reminiscent of deckchairs.

Pg 222 - regarding a certain boat "The Eola somehow serves as a metaphor for all the pleasant aspects of life on the water and the nautical environment." Does it? Or maybe you mean it encapsulates all the 'pleasant aspects' et al.....ad nauseum...

Pg 232 "The boat form as a metaphor for freshness and freedom is pretty well universal" 'You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.' Perhaps symbol would be a better choice here.

Now, all this may not bother you in the least. It annoyed me, hence the two stars. If you likewise are annoyed by repetitive, poorly written material, just look at the photos and ignore the writing.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always fallen prey to the seductive gravitational pull the Sea has. I lived by the sea a couple of years and it has been one of the best times of my life. This book is a photographic testimony of how people live by the sea. Whether on the coasts of Europe, Africa or Mexico the architectural language of these places is so harmonious and welcoming you can feel immediately at home (if you love water that is). The photos are great, and even though I enjoyed this book profoundly I was left with an aching longing to be living by the sea again.

[Michael Heath-Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book on seaside inspired architecture and interior design.

[EAL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some amazing photographs. Very relaxing.

I miss the ocean.