COFFEE TABLE BOOKS
By Kate Carroll
Every year during the holidays the book critics always review the luscious coffee table books. With their glossy pages and colorful photographs, we drool and think how lovely they would be displayed on our coffee table. But realistically we know unless some generous soul reads our minds, we are never going to enjoy such a treat when there are so many other pressing, practical ways to spend our hard earned lucre. But I have discovered a wonderful FREE (yes I did say free) way to fulfill our dreams. You guessed it, the public library. In the oversized section are all sorts of “coffee table” books from art, to science, to theatre, wild life, you name it. And by checking them out you can change the book every few weeks. Here are a few of my personal favorites:
Extraordinary Chickens by
Stephen Green-Armytage is a visual treasure. On the cover is the most
“extraordinary” bird. It is a Polish chicken. If Phyllis Diller was a bird,
surely this is how she would look. The trite expression “laugh out loud” is
indeed very fitting. I suppose there are serious chicken lovers who will
actually read this book, but for the rest of us, it is just an enjoyable romp
through its pages.
If you have a favorite artist, you are certain to be able to adorn your coffee table with a book of art from the library. For example, who can resist Norman Rockwell? The West Warwick Library has half a dozen books displaying his illustrations. To me the most appealing is Norman Rockwell by Sherry Marker. Each page has a full color picture of Rockwell’s Americana that just draws you in and leaves you lingering over each image.
Another favorite artist of mine is Georgia O’Keefe. Nancy Frazier has created a magnificent book with glorious pictures from the full range of O’Keefe’s career. As you browse the art shelves you will find any number of artists. The problem will be which to choose.
The natural world is a popular subject for coffee table books. The Living Wild by Art Wolfe is such an amazing book I was actually tempted to go out and spend the $65.00 to own the book myself. Wolfe’s photographic images shot from all over the globe are works of art. Each page could be framed and displayed with pride. If you are an amateur photographer you will appreciate the description of how and with what equipment he captured each image. I enjoyed reading about how some pictures were a particular challenge. For example the penguins in Antarctica would block his lens investigating just what he was up to. Serengeti: Natural Order on the African Plain by Mitsuaki Iwago and America From the Air by Robert J. Moore Jr. are two other outstanding examples worth checking out..
With a title like Barkitecture you know this must be about doghouses. Oh! But what doghouses!! Architects designed these houses, which may be visually pleasing, or outright bizarre, but often the dogs preferred something more mundane. None-the- less as an object to adorn your coffee table this book fits the bill. Some of the houses mirrored the homeowner’s. It reminded me of Wiggins, the mascot of Rose Island Lighthouse, who resides in his own miniature version right here in Narragansett Bay.
As I perused the Oversize section I came across books on collecting, gardening, home decorating, history (both ancient and modern), travel, space and sports. You wouldn’t believe the number of books on Golf. Maybe in the depths of winter it is pleasant to travel by armchair to famous golf courses and imagine playing a perfect game. Something must explain the abundance of these books. Even the book History of the Motor Car captured my attention although usually I find the subject of cars a big yawn. Basically, this is a Guy Book. Any man would love it. Since 2003 was the 100th Anniversary of Harley-Davidson not surprisingly there are literally dozens of books honoring it. Here are just three to enjoy: The Complete Harley-Davidson Encyclopedia, Harley- Davidson The Ultimate Machine both by Tod Rafferty, and Harley-Davidson Rolling Sculpture by Doug Mitchel.
Suppose your library does not have these particular titles?
Do you have to travel to another town to get them?
Well, you could do that especially if you enjoy driving on the traffic
congested streets of Rhode Island. However, it is quite easy to place a hold
through the CLAN system. In just a few days the book will be conveniently
waiting for you at your own library. That
is just what I did with some of the titles I have just mentioned.
Some techno-savvy patrons even place holds from home on their PC’s by
visiting the West Warwick Library online at www.wwlibrary.org.
Does this make your eyes glaze over just contemplating it? Please don’t be
intimidated because the reference librarian will be happy to assist you in both
finding the Oversize books and in placing a hold for you or showing you how to
do so yourself.
Now if only some library in the CLAN system owned a copy of The Coffee Table Coffee Table Book ……