Oly Reads discussion

I've been on a kick reading books that have a lot of visual appeal, inspired by my friend Dory. A few I have enjoyed lately...




[image error]

What are some of your favorite books that are also pretty to look at?

Can you even see those covers? I haven't attempted that before...

I can see them, Kelsey. I love these:





[image error]

Several of Alasdair Gray's books include his artwork, mostly illustrated frontispieces and illuminated capitals. The Amazon preview for Ten Tales Tall & True shows a bit of the artwork. Lanark: A Life in Four Books is his best work, both in terms of writing and art, but I can't find any decent images online. This site is the closest I came up with...

Those books look really cool, Brian, and they also look kind of hard to find! I just put a hold on "Unlikely Stories, Mostly." Sarah, I totally adore that "What the World Eats" book. Loved "the Arrival," too. Good choices.

I forgot to post my current favorite, The Oxford Project...

The Oxford Project

Yeah, I don't know why Alasdair Gray is so obscure here. He's won all manner of literary awards, Anthony Burgess and Will Self both describe him as one of the greatest contemporary Scots authors, Iain Banks' novel The Bridge is practically an homage to Lanark, and yet Gray's relatively unknown in the US.

A few unrelated graphic novels...

This is a photo essay about the transformation of the town where I grew up in inland Southern California from a largely agrarian community into a enormous housing-development boomburb. McCulloh began by looking at exploitation in the construction industry, but the project evolved into something bigger as the housing foreclosure crisis began in that area. Great B&W photography... There are a few preview pages on Scribd.

Kelsey - this reminds me of the little girl who was in the library last week and only wanted "pretty books".

The folktales adapted and illustrated by Demi are lovely.

Yes, also nice. Pretty books are underrated! I like pretty and BIG books.

Oh, I'm excited to see this thread. I get the "pretty books" question all the time from kids at CE and I've started a list for that purpose.

As for adult books with visual appeal, I really like Beasts! Book One from Fantagraphics.

That's a great one, Sheri. Dory first showed me that book. She is the absolute QUEEN of books that are pretty to look at. Another good one that she just hooked me up with recently- Animal House

My favorite visually pleasing book of the day, brought to me by my awesome coworker Jason...
[image error]

If any of you haven't seen this yet...

I hadn't seen the book, but last spring Mom, kid sis & I went to the glass museum, and Mom loved the display of some of those pieces. Might have to make a note of that for a future gift. :)

Also, saw this in the new non-fiction today and checked it out. I don't know if "appeal" is the word, but it's definitely visual. I'll have to bring it to book group.

Oooh, Brian. I look forward to seeing it. I'd put both of those books on hold immediately, but I have book-from-library-overload again. It comes in waves.

Another one. Are you sensing a theme with my books? I like to eat.

Oh, also...