And the Pursuit of Happiness by Maira KalmanPublisher: Penguin Press HC
Publication Date: October 14, 2010
Hardcover: 480 pages
ISBN: 9781594202674
Price: $29.95
Author's NYT blog
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Description:
My thoughts:Energized and inspired by the 2008 elections, beloved artist and author Maira Kalman traveled to Washington, D.C., on inauguration day, launching a national tour that would take her from a town hall meeting in Newfane, Vermont, to the inner chambers of the Supreme Court. This book is the result of this wholly idiosyncratic journey, a yearlong investigation of democracy and how it works.
With the delightful Kalman as our travel companion, we fall in love with Lincoln as she imagines making a home for herself in the center of his magisterial memorial; ponder Alexis de Toqueville’s America, witness the inner workings of a Bronx middle-school student council; take a high-speed lesson in great American women in the National Portrait Gallery; and consider the cost of war to the brave American service families of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Democracy, Kalman discovers, is at work all around us.
Oh, how I adored this book! It's like a grown-up graphic novel/memoir/history book. The artwork is stunning and the photography is gorgeous. The words are spare, but just right. It's full of little anecdotes and trivia and reflections on day-to-day life. I think I read the entire book with a smile on my face.
This book is really a celebration of America and everything that this republic stands for. It's optimistic and full of hope. There were just a couple of times the author got a little partisan in her politics, but for the most part, she stayed neutral and true to what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they organized this great country. I highly recommend checking this book out!
Other tour stops:
Thursday, October 14th: Suko’s Notebook
Monday, October 18th: Rundpinne
Friday, October 22nd: Chaotic Compendiums
Tuesday, October 26th: 1330v
Wednesday, October 27th: Daydream Believer
Wednesday, November 3rd: sfgirlbybay
Thursday, November 4th: Eleanor’s Trousers
Wednesday, November 10th: Til We Read Again
Thursday, November 11th: Booksie’s Blog
Monday, November 15th: Books Like Breathing
Wednesday, November 17th: Sophisticated Dorkiness
Thursday, November 18th: Joyfully Retired
Friday, November 19th: Drey’s Library
Friday, November 19th: Nonsuch Book
Source: I received this book from the publisher as part of the TLC Book Tour.
5 comments:
I've read several great reviews of this one, but you've just convinced me that I need to buy it.
After reading so many great reviews, I really WANT this book. :)
Thanks for pointing out that the author (generally) remains neutral regarding politics - one-sided books are a real turn-off for me, so I'm glad to know this book is not like that. It sounds like a fantastic book, one I'd like to add to my permanent collection.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts as part of this tour!
Isn't this book incredible?! :)
I loved it too, and the combination of photos and her art work was just perfect. Especially loved the shot of the back of the bride at the marriage hall.
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