12 posts tagged “books”
Inspired by this amazing book I decided to have a go at making pop ups. I started simple with a custard monster, a little more daring with my troupe of teal monster, and finally the white woods. I really love the shadows they create, so I've photographed those too.
What's the best book you read this year?
This one, without a doubt.
Though these two came in a very close second and third.
When I was kid (about 10 or 11) I used to write down all the good words I found in books in a notebook. It was writen mostly in sparkly purple gel pen and I used it to help me get interesting words into my high school essays (very sucessfully I might add). I found it when I redecorated my room a few weeks a go and I decided to make a new one. I used this make your own notebook tutorial. The binding bit actually worked really well.
I've been reading Murder Ballad by the exceptional Jane Hill, and all the beautiful descriptions of the Appalachians made me want to draw little wooden houses surrounded by mountains. Also, yesterday I was killing time in Waterstones (my absolute favourite place to kill time), flicking though the huge A Series of Unfortunate Events display and reminded myself how much I love Brett Helquist's illustrations. Since then I've have passion for cross hatching and other forms of mark making, which is really rather well timed because my printmaking class starts next week. I draw this all in HB pencil and darkened up the lines in photoshop.
For my friend's 18th birthday I made her a book of our favourote personal quotes. We're pretty quotable people really. I used her favourite colours in the book design (teal and lime green), and my best handwritting.
There are stories to both the above quotes. The second is particularly funny because it freaked out our teacher a little.
I was reading The Testament of Gideon Mack and this line stuck out to me. 'The fourth, my maternal grandmother, died when I was three, leaving me with only the vaguest memory of a small, silent figure dressed in black from head to toe.' This line produced a very strong visual for me, which I immediately scribbled into my sketch book and later inked.
This is something I made for Katie for her birthday. To be honest I've wanted to post this for a while but I wanted Katie to see it first. I made the book from thick, stiff cardboard, brown paper, craft paper, sketch book paper and ribbon. And lots of PVA. I found quotes in books and on the internet that meant something to me, and I wrote them on the pages with pictures to match. If you click on each individual picture you can read the quotes. By the way, I'm not a total cheapskate; I bought her stuff too. :)
Also I thought I just say this book used up the last bit of brown paper I had. This is significant because the brown paper made the envelope that Jane sent to me. It was such gorgeous paper that I couldn't throw it away and used it lots of my drawings ('Gravity's on the Increase', the picture for my grandparents, etc.) I just though you might like to know that it went to lots of good use.
1. What’s your favourite word?
Surreptitious; it just rolls of the tongue. Also it always makes me think of hazelnut coffee syrup; they share a smoothness.
2. Least favourite word?
Any word that means vomit, i.e. puke, barf, hurl etc. I really hate them.
3. Least favourite phrase?
‘Brain child’ and ‘Eat your heart out’. My problem is that I always think of these way too literally.
4. What is the last book you read?
The last book I finished reading was the Miracle Life of Edgar Mint. I’m currently reading Northhanger Abbey.
5. What book should you read before you die?
As opposed to after? The Time Traveler’s Wife. Unless you’re planning on dying very young, in which case probably something a little more age appropriate.
6. What’s your favourite poem?
There’s Sky in my Pie. I love children’s poetry; it’s really quite embarrassing.
7. Quote a line from a poem:
‘I am falling off a mountain,
I am plummeting through space,
you may see this does not please me
by the frown upon my face,’
8. What is your favourite book to film adaptation?
Pride and Prejudice
9. What do you think of film to book adaptations?
Mostly rubbish.
10. Where’s your favourite place to read?
In the bath.
Book: Show us the latest book you bought, borrowed or received.
I just started reading this yesterday and I love it already. It's so cleverly and beautifully written.
What are your top 5 books of 2006?
5. Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier.
This is a fantastic story that centres around two family graves too close together and the people that they belong to. What I love about this book is that the story is told from so many different perspectives. It also flows incredibly well; the nine years it recounts are flawlessly paced. Plus there's a nice twist at the end.
4. A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly
This is one of those books that blur the line between adult and teenage fiction. A beautifully written and gripping story; it skillfully mixes the past and present (or present and future, if you will) of a young girl's life. This book deals with how things carry on after a loved one is lost, and the power of reading, writing and learning.
3. The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice
This is a charming story of love in the 1950s. Nothing too heavy here, just a beautiful story.
2. Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
What makes this books number two for me, are the gorgeous descriptive language and complicated relationships within the book. I adored all the references to colour and the description of the way the paintings were created. It’s a beautifully back story to a beautiful painting.
1. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
This is an incredible first novel, and a griping and moving story that will break your heart. It is without doubt the best book I have read this year. I would say it is 'cleverly told' but 'clever' doesn't do it justice; the way it weaves a tapestry of times future past and present is nothing short of beautiful.
