Hard to believe that it's been about eight years since Osa Johnson's I Married Adventure
Jeffrey Bilhuber mentioned that he had used I Married Adventure
Miles Redd touted the pink impact that Elsa Schiaparelli's Shocking Life
Larry Laslo listed not one but three books whose colorful boards rather than dust jackets captivated him. For a dash of red, it's Best of Flair
When asked for his opinion, Albert Hadley said "I hope people have more respect for books. Of course, if you have a pile of them, you do put the best-looking one on top." I think that I have one foot in each camp; I do have a weakness for a great dust jacket, but I also read the book as well. My pick for a book whose cover packs a punch? That would be Great Art Treasures of the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg (2 Volume Set)
(Photo at top House & Garden Nov 2001, Eric Piasecki photographer)
In this case I think it's reasonable to be of two minds - form and function!
ReplyDeleteThe malachite covers are gorgeous! It is funny but true, we do integrate books into our interiors, I usually gift a beautiful coffee table book, obviously based on their interest, to my client upon installation. Win-Win;)
ReplyDeletethanks,
Jaime
I used to LOVE- I Married Adventure and it's fun cover.
ReplyDeleteBut now that I see it everywhere the love has worn off. It seems that it is in every publication!
It's like that really large book with the coral on the cover that was always out on every cocktail table.
I have a rule-books are for reading and not just for decoration!
Beautiful books, all of them. I'm rather keen on shelves of matching books from certain publishers - Persephone Books for instance, and of course the elegant (but only if you have actually READ them and bonus points if you can read them in the original) Loeb Classical Library - red for Latin, green for Greek and sky blue for neo-Latin. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Grant. Seems there must inherently be a bit of the unexpected in order to call something witty. Thus, I Married Adventure seemed so witty and fun, until we began to see it everywhere. I have always wanted an Emily Post manners book for my coffee table, especially an old copy with some archaic bits of formality. That would be fun...and I believe they come in blue or white (to perfectly match my living room, too)...
ReplyDeleteYes, I still have the coral book- "Cabinet of Curiosities" but it's now on a bottom shelf in my library. Amazingly enough, I don't have the Johnson book. I LOVE the Loeb books.
ReplyDelete"Books do furnish a room" - so true that Anthony Powell used it as a title for one of his novels in the "Dance to the Music of Time" series.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Albert Hadley about respect for books. the Hermitage books are gorgeous- they reside on 1 of the lowest shelves in my library-huge,and considered reference. I always buy for content. I have found the flood of design books overwhelming and many are very disappointing-I skip ordering or return them if the content is repetitious. It is an interesting topic- I never add books to a project for the cover-that being said covers are alluring-extremely so and look great out in a home. I always give my clients books I want them to have and make suggestions but never "use" them as accessories. That is a sad thought-I'm glad it never occurred to me. Great and provocative topic! GT
ReplyDeleteI have many of these books and would love many more. My books serve form and function on a daily basis. I just did a blog post referencing how much I use books in my design. Nothing better.
ReplyDeleteTalk soon.
Gwen
I always love seeing I MARRIED ADVENTURE! The rest of the books are fabulous as well! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSick unto death of "I Married Adventure."
ReplyDeletePrettiest book in my collection: Jeremiah Goodman's. With the best red I've ever seen.
Anon- Goodman's book is one of my very favorites!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny that Mr. Bilhuber loves "I Married Adventure". I don't care much for that dull zebra stripe, but I absolutely LOVE the cover of his "Defining Luxury". I have two copies in different rooms of my house because it adds a wonderfully complex pop of color to a coffee table. And the yellow under the dust jacket is such a delightful surprise. Plus, it's a joy to read again and again.
ReplyDeleteI think I just saw IMA in the latest HB magazine.
ReplyDeleteI was at HG when they put out that piece about IMA and I probably put them up to it.,..LOL! I think I saw the book for the first time at Albert Hadleys house? On a lighter note of dark humor.... has anyone ever read IMA? The Johnson's were truly awful people, complete opportunists who treated the jungle, its beasts and the natives like their own private business. Just say-in....
ReplyDeleteI agree - I love to buy beautiful books, but one of the reasons they are beautiful to me is because I read them. I can't stand going into someone's apartment or home, shelves layered in books, and they don't have a clue what's in them. It's a bit soul-less. Books are so personal. I have a collection of books, a great many of which are NOT pretty (cheap paperbacks, read to pieces, etc.) along with some very attractive ones. My solution? Color coordinating. I've done a variety of mixes, but my very favorite was a display I did with books only with black or silver bindings - it looked great!
ReplyDeleteP.S. A HUGE congrats on your HB mention!!! I missed that somehow, and was reading through my copy tonight - and realized - I read that blog!!! Well deserved :)
ReplyDeleteBooks make a rooom to be sure. i eem to remember that was one of Billy Baldwin's mantras, as well. i liberated i married adventure from my soon to be ex wif'e's grandmother's house well before it become pooular as an acoutrement as opposed to something that was great to read. Weren't the Johnsons from Independence, Missouri? Any rate, a beautiful examlple of book design no matter the popularity. Even though I stole it, I'm losing it in the divorce. And there is no better example of a dog for design's sake than a Scottish Terrier, of which I've owned many...
ReplyDeleteAnon- Well I thought it was a great story! The cover alone may not have sold me on buying the book, but your comment has made me want to buy it and read it. I have a feeling not many people have actually read it, because this is the first I've heard about what's on the inside!
ReplyDeleteJeremiah- So sorry that you're losing your copy, but at least you know that you can buy another. I agree about the Scotties as well!
ReplyDeleteSanity Fair- Thanks for the kind words in your second comment, which for some reason won't post!
ReplyDeleteI love recommendations of my fave blogs for fave books.....you will have to come to my estate sale....and buy these books......I am way to busy reading you blogs to read these darn books....and I am getting OLD!!
ReplyDeleteWHAT IS THE SOLUTION??
Penelope
After I read about the book I Married Adventure on a design blog, I found a copy at a store for $150! It wasn't even a first edition. Then I searched eBay, and found one for $9.99. I love the look of the cover as much as I love the title and the story. I can't bear to put it away yet, even if it is over-used.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post!