I really wish I had a chance to read this topic sooner - this is a tough one. So in no particular order other than they came to mind ...
1. Griffin and Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence by Nick Bantock (and the other two as well). These were beautiful books, though some of the artwork was very, um, odd. They chronicle a conversation between London card-designer Griffin Moss and South Pacific islander Sabine Strohem conducted on handmade postcards.
2. Masquerade by Kit Williams is a children’s book, with lavish artwork that concealed clues for a treasure hunt for a jeweled golden hare that was hidden somewhere is Britain. It was really depressing that the person who 'found' the treasure cheated. Sigh. Also that it wasn't actually a puzzle that could reasonably be solved by a child. However the artwork is still masterful. 
3. The Plant Hunters by Caroline Fry contains folders with maps of historic gardens and other facsimile documents that you can pull out and handle. Plus the illustrations are gorgeous.
4. I have a facsimile of the Voynich manuscript which is a 15th century (1404–1438) illustrated codex written in a constructed language, code, or perhaps just complete gibberish, that has never been deciphered. Nobody has any idea what it says, or if it actually means anything at all, though it is a pretty elaborate piece of work just to be filled with nonsense.
6. Hippolyte's Island: An Illustrated Novel by Barbara Hodgson was quite unique. Again, something very lavishly illustrated and with the added bonus that you have no idea of everything is real or an elaborate hallucination. Honestly, I am still not quite sure what I thought of this book. It was sometimes boring and/or frustrating. Then it would get interesting and it was always lovely to look at. 7. Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout by Lauren Redniss is a unique approach to biography. I am reading this one right now and I am still not sure what I think of the artwork. It definitely stands out.
8. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick- I am sure that most everyone is already familiar with this one but I still like it, as does my son.
9. Still can't make up my mind for this one. How about Flotsam by David Wiesner. Absolutely beautiful and there is no text but it tells a clear and compelling story.
What an interesting list. I think I could stare at these illustrations all day. Thank you for sharing.
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What a great approach to this prompt. I didn't even think about approaching the visual and physical presentation of books as an element in my selections. Loved Hugo Cabret, and have both Lauren Redniss's book and S. on my TBR mountain which is starting to make my study look more and more like a cave filled with stalagmites.
ReplyDeleteCave is an excellent way of describing my office - if I could figure out a way of hanging books from the ceiling I would! Then we could complete the motif and have stalactites as well :)
DeleteSuch a great list. Lauren Redniss is fantastic, and I can't wait to see what she does next. I felt unsure about her art qua art, too. The colors were gorgeous, though, and the story was amazing. Ditto Nick Bantock -- I love the art he does. And I obviously love a book where I can take letters out of envelopes and read them.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I'd completely forgotten about Masquerade, but I remember the excitement it engendered when it came out. And the Voynich manuscript is a fascinating puzzle. As for your TBR mound... join the club! ;-)
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