Founder: Sasha Soren
(Random Magic)
Come join the discussion!
* Every Sunday*
schedule
Today’s host: vvb32 reads - me-me-me
Next week’s host: The Fluidity of Time
This week’s discussion open through: Wednesday, October 19
Guests this week:
Guest blogger: AimeeKay of Reviews From My First Reads Shelf
Guest blogger: Christina the Book Addict
Guest blogger: Sarah Says Read
Guest author: Crystal Johnson, author of The War Game
Guest author: Prue Batten, author of A Thousand Glass Flower
AND, you’re invited!
QUESTION:
What are your thoughts on books that are an unusual size? (i.e. coffee table books, larger than mass market or trade paperback or hardback, miniatures, non-rectangular, pop-up books)
Related topics to consider:
-Do you own any unusual-sized books?
If so, what was it about them specifically that appealed to you?
-If you don't own any, do you have any on your wishlist?
Please provide title(s) and author(s).
vvb - the host, first in the hot seatBrunch Beverage pick: mexican mochaccino (my fave at home drink)
omg! a vlog! -- my first.
While I love unusual sized books because of their unique-ness, I only own a few.
by Prue Batten
Miniature book: 2 1/4" x 1 1/2"
Hardback: 46 pages with 6 illustrations
My first mini that is a story and not one of those off-the-shelf novelty ones with quotes.
by Nick Bantock
Size: 8.1 x 7.9 x 0.6 inches
Hardback: 48 pages with color illustrations
This is an interactive books with illustrations galore and an actual story told with postcards and letters. I have the trilogy which just thrills me.
Imperial Russian Fantasies Poster Book
by Christopher Forbes
Size: 14.7 x 10.6 x 0.4 inches
Paperback: 64 pages with color photos
One of my favorite coffee table book acquired at a museum influenced by the art exhibit of Faberge eggs.
Poems by the Modern Animal
by Jeff Van Bueren
Size: 9 x 6 inches
Paperback: pages with stamped artwork
Limited edition
Handmade book by the author, my bro-inlaw ;-D
Guest: AimeeKay of Reviews From My First Reads Shelf Brunch Beverage pick: A Green Tea Frappucino with whipped topping and caramel from Starbucks! I decided to treat myself to something special for this one.
First I would like to thank Velvet for inviting me to her Bookie Brunch!
I have a love/hate relationship with Books of Unusual Size, or B.O.U.S.'s. (Yes that's a reference to The Princess Bride! Love that book and the movie!) I love them because they are almost always guaranteed to be unique and enjoyable.
by Christopher Paolini
My collection includes books that are large to books that are small. I especially love my Ology books, Dragonology or Egyptology for example, with their amazing pictures and little add ins. Such as the letters from explorers that are folded and tucked into little envelopes or the dragon scales. But even the ones that are over-sized books are entertaining, with big glossy pictures.
I can't however leave out my smaller books. I have one or two that have found their way to my library by way of my children that hold special places simply because of fond memories. But I also have others that I have collected over the years.
My favorite of these being Caesar's Gallic War, from David McKay Company, Inc. New York, copyrighted 1896 by David McKay. It has been severely beaten on over time, but it still holds a place of high regard in my library if specifically because of its age and size.
The smaller books I always find special because when you hold them it is like holding a special secret. They get lost in the shelves and are pulled as if from no where, it feels as if they have some mysterious importance that must be hidden away again once you are done reading them.
Of course that last part kind of leads into why I hate B.O.U.S.'s. They are almost impossible to shelve!!!! The big ones are sometimes TOO big for the shelves and have to be laid flat. If they have special designs or embossing on the front it makes it hard to stack them that way also. As for the small ones, they get lost so easily amongst regular sized books, or slip back so that there isn't a neat row of bindings, but a small slit left at some point that makes you think all the books aren't placed neatly together. It's very frustrating when you are trying to organize shelves and do away with clutter. Sometimes they are even too small to put with the rest and you have to find someplace special just for them. Which isn't always a bad thing, except when one is pressed for space.
As for ones I do not own, or are on my wish list. I actually would like to acquire the entire Ology series. Such as Monsterology: The Complete Book of Monstrous Beasts by Dr. Ernest Drake and Dugald Steer or Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter's Companion (Ologies) by Captain William Lubber and Dugald Steer. There are many more than this, however the list is long and I don't want to take up the whole post! As for smaller B.O.U.S.'s I do not have anything specific on my wish list at this time, however I would love to own a set of those little letters that Velvet uses in the picture on her In My Mailbox posts!
Again thank you Velvet for inviting me, and the drink is delicious! I can't wait to hear other's takes on B.O.U.S.'s and which ones are their favorites!
Guest: Christina the Book AddictBrunch Beverage pick: apple juice
Guest: Crystal Johnson, author of The War GameBrunch Beverage pick: Spiced Apple Cider, served piping hot!
Answer:: I love unusual sized books, they catch my attention right away. Usually, the books that catch my eye are often graphic novels, photographic memoirs, and just odd little quirky books.
Usually, when a book is oversized, that means that there are fun things to open and discover in them! I love books where you can read “private” letters, unfold clues, and manipulate it so the pictures on the pages move.
Some favorite unusual sized books come to mind:
by Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie
This book is an adult graphic novel about Wendy, Alice, and Dorothy (yes, those characters from your favorite children’s literature), uh, “discovering their womanhood.”
by Robert Sabuda
I used to collect Alice in Wonderland books since the copyright is so old any company can produce their own illustrated versions. I stopped after I got to 25 books (I even found an “Alice In Bibleland”). Some of which were awful, some were great. This one, clearly, falls into the great category.
by Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg
My favorite and most coverted book. In elementary school, I would race to get it off the shelves as soon as story time ended. Until I receive a copy from Santa, of course.
by Terry Jones
A fun and quirky book. It’s fairy good!
FYI: coming soon...
by Crystal Johnson
-fantasy, YA
Release date: tba
Pearl, a teenage orphan of a lesbian couple and an illegal citizen of an Untied State, is shuffled around from camp to concentration camp. She meets John at a former amusement park turned prison and they hatch a plan to escape to Canada (because, as the saying goes, “You Can in Canada!”). But various threats-from whispers of “cards”, a place called Camp Z, soldiers doing their daily “shopping”, and an arranged marriage, threaten to tear them apart.
Guest: Sarah Says Read Brunch Beverage pick: coffee with italian sweet cream creamer
He's Just Not Into You by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo
The Kiss
Great Lies to Tell Small Kids by Andy Riley
Cyanide & Happiness by Kris Wilson, Matt Melvin, Rob Denbleyker and Dave McElfatric
Suggestion by Illegal Art, Michael McDevitt and Otis Kriegel
Santa Claus by Rod Green
Guest: Prue Batten, author of A Thousand Glass FlowersBrunch Beverage pick: If it’s a late brunch then I would like champagne with organic Tasmanian strawberries floating in it.
Answer:
I don’t mind at all if it’s an author I like or subject matter I crave. The thing with non-fiction coffee table books is that they are so luscious to look at it, how could anyone not want them, size notwithstanding? But I crave even smaller ones as well… right down to miniatures.
Related topics:
I do. I own a specially large and stunning coffee-table book called Fairie-ality: The Fashion Collection from the House of Ellwand by Eugenie Bird and David Downton, Walker Books, 2002 It is the most superb catalogue of fairie garments actually put together from eclectic botanical pieces. It’s gorgeous!
There are quite a few other books of the same size; in fact I have six bookshelves with quarto-sized books! But from the biggest to the smallest - I have a neat little collection of miniature books on many varied subjects. My favourite miniature currently is Gisborne which is created by Pat Sweet and contains a short story inside written by myself.
With the larger books, it is always subject matter and divine illustrative work. With the miniatures, it is the subject matter, divine illustrative work and the manipulative skill of the artist.
I do have a wishlist:
Andrew Zega’s and Bernt H. Dam’s Architectural Alphabets...
and also another of theirs entitled Chinoiserie...
They are absolutely stunning to look at. Never to be afforded. $US300 for the former and $US1100 for the latter.
And many others by a host of authors, including the miniature Traveler's Library from Bo Press Miniature Books.
FYI: kindle version just released in August...
by Prue Batten
-fantasy
Release date for print: Christmas 2011
side note: a very happy birthday to Prue today!!!
Visitors:Please share your thoughts on the topic in the comments section, so they can be included in the discussion.
And share what brunch beverage you enjoy.
This is an active discussion though Wednesday, so feel free to stop by again later on.
goodies *-*-*WIN this...
How Jane Austen Conquered the World
by Claire Harman
About: When publisher Thomas Cadell declined an unsolicited manuscript offered to him by a Hampshire clergyman in 1797, he made one of the biggest mistakes in publishing history, for the manuscript was an early version of Pride and Prejudice, and the clergyman's daughter was destined to become one of the most recognizable names in literature...
- Claire Harman, author of the book Jane's Fame: How Jane Austen Conquered the World
Shown above: Modern Jane, concept photo by Theo Westenberger; Jane Austen signature circa 1817
Jane’s Fame tells the story of writer Jane Austen’s renown, from the years of rejection the author faced during her lifetime to the global recognition and adoration she now enjoys. Almost two hundred years after her death, Austen remains a hot topic, constantly open to revival and reinterpretation and known to millions of people through film and television adaptations of her work.
In Jane’s Fame, Claire Harman gives us the complete biography - of both the author and her lasting cultural influence. Trade paperback. 320 pages
Shown above: Enjoy a leisurely audio talk by the author about her book, including some quick notes on the private life of writer Jane Austen. Part one of two.
Shown above: Part two of the author's discussion about her book, Jane's Fame.
Mentioned in clips: Becoming Jane | Portraits | Memoir
Browse this book: Preview
Details: This would be an engaging light read for anyone who enjoys Jane Austen's work. To win this brunch gift, please leave email info and thoughtful or interesting comment below. A winner will be picked at random. If host and guests agree that a specific visitor comment is substantial, outstanding, or in some other way has particular merit, they can override random.org pick at their discretion.
International. Through December 15, 2011, 12 midnight EDT.
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Contest has ended - winner is here
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Brought by: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)
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Jane Alert! Please join us at this blog on November 14-19, 2011,
for this year's Pemberley Ball. - save that date!
Last season: The Party Scouts | Gallery of Gowns | Dance Card
Jane Alert! Enjoy spontaneous festivities worldwide - or throw your own party - for Talk Like Jane Austen Day (Oct. 30)
* Bookie Brunch is a weekly meet-up, held every Sunday, where book bloggers can have a cup of tea and chat about a particular bookie question of interest. The discussion is open from Sunday through Wednesday, and you’re welcome to drop by any time to add your opinion or read what other people have to say. This discussion is open as well to general readers or bloggers in a different field, authors, publishers and publicists. More details can be found here.
Contact Bookie Brunch
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* Courtesy guidelines: Thank you for coming! All thoughtful comments will be considered and probably get a response from fellow bloggers. In fact, you’re encouraged to talk about it and share viewpoints or include links to relevant materials. We’d like everyone to have a nice time. Differing viewpoints are just fine, even if strongly expressed, but inflammatory or off-topic comments will be removed.
* image source drinks: champagne-strawberries, hot apple cider, apple juice
* HUGE THANKS to this week's guest bloggers and authors - y'all rock!
