‘Illustrated books are not just for children’
Illustrated books are not just for children and this week’s illustrated books cover everything from cookery to the great outdoors, from history and architecture to art and fancy writing. Sometimes you just need a book with pictures! They make great presents too.
The Donkey and Soul, KG Reilly, Amazon Kindle, €9
This is a chapbook with a story written entirely in verse, about the demise of an old farmer when he meets the Grim Reaper, who in this instance is disguised as a donkey. It’s original and quirky and the artwork by Donna Black is moody and effective.
A Vanishing World, Ed Robert O’Byrne, Messenger Publications, €25
A gorgeous book is this, featuring 20 historic Irish houses photographed by Fr Francis Browne, SJ, who is mostly remembered for his photos of the Titanic on her ill-fated maiden voyage. But he took lots of other pictures, including these 20 country houses. It’s a perfect gift for fans of history, art, architecture or just beauty, and offers some insight into the extraordinary talent of the photographer.
The Magic of an Irish Rainforest, Eoghan Daltun, Hachette, €24.99
Daltun has written before of how he came to own an Irish rainforest and that book was reviewed here, but this year he has travelled to other temperate rainforests in Kerry, Wicklow, Fermanagh, Mayo and other counties, photographing what he saw on his journeys. The result is this spellbinding, lavishly illustrated tome, presenting profoundly beautiful ecosystems that we’re barely holding on to. I think this is a book for everyone, not just for nature lovers.
The Story of Tayto, Bobby Aherne, Sitric Books, €19.95
It takes a brave man to write a book about a crisp, but Mr Tayto was well up to the task, with a little help from his ghostwriter Aherne! This is a gem of a book, tracing the history of Tayto from humble beginnings to national icon and integral part of our culture (ask any emigrant!), right through to finding Mrs Tayto and sailing the heights of the rollercoasters in Tayto Park. Definitely a novel Christmas gift, it’s both informative and tongue-in-cheek and packed with glossy illustrations that remind us of gentler times.
The Hike Life: 50 More to Explore, Rozanna Purcell, Black and White, €18.99
There are some fabulous pictures in this, Purcell’s second book on hiking trails in Ireland. She gives the skinny on every route, advises what gear to wear and to take with you, gives detailed information on the trails and reading through this book would give you the grá for a long stroll even if it’s not your normal ‘thing’. A really lovely book, it would make a really lovely present.
The Happy Pear 20, David and Stephen Flynn, Gill, €24.99
It’s hard to believe that the Happy Pear opened in Greystones 20 years ago. Feels more like five, but that’s life; it seems to have been lived in fast-forward after one reaches a certain age. And the two boys are no longer boys, though they’re wearing the years well. From a little greengrocer to the empire it is now, the message remains the same; eat more vegetables! This book is a food porn addict’s dream, the pics are delicious, and even the sweet stuff is good for you. A gorgeous gift idea for those who like to cook, with the emphasis on health and wellbeing.
The Emergency in Colour, M Barry and J O’Byrne, Gill, €26.99
These newly colourised photographs chronicle the small, personal experiences as well as the big events of state, as Ireland limped its way through WWII. Our neutrality did not preclude us from the suffering, and we too were sent our ration books, while everything from food to fabrics was in short supply. These photographs are mesmerising, more than 200 of them, from all over the country, and it’s a must-have for history fans.
The Irish Art of Calligraphy, Timothy O’Neill, Royal Irish Academy, €18
Delve into the history of Irish calligraphy in this little beauty of a book and while you’re learning about the story of this delicate and elegant work, you can be trying it out yourself. Subtitled ‘A step-by-step guide’, it takes the reader from the first strokes through to completing some really impressive work drawn from ancient Irish manuscripts. It also has a chapter on how to complete some basic bookbinding for your artwork when you’ve mastered the craft. Unusual, informative, practical and a great gift idea.
Swimming Wild Ireland!, A Deacon and V Allen, Black and White, €24.99
With lots of lovely pictures of happy swimmers, swimming in sunrises and sunsets, in fair weather and foul around the coastal waters of our country, this book would sorely tempt a person to give it a go. While writing their previous book on wild swimming, the authors met a gaggle of swimmers around Ireland, many of whom swim in groups with names like… er… Blueballs. And the Menopausal Mermaids. It’s not just about the swim for those folks, it’s the community, the scalding tea afterwards, the friendships forged in water and on land. This book tells their stories, but it doesn’t stop there, it also includes advice on how to safely go about your first wild swim. Apparently, once you start, it’s addictive. A lovely, life-affirming book.
Drawn to Nature, Don Conroy, Gill, €22.99
Renowned artist and seasoned naturalist Don Conroy proffers a beautiful volume of his paintings and sketches, along with information and reflections on our landscapes and the critters that inhabit them. So, for instance, he gives the reader invaluable tips on how to draw a fox, or a bird, or indeed anything you might come across in a natural setting, as well as including his own take on the animals and habitats he encounters. It’s a little piece of balm for the soul – a thoughtful, contemplative and useful book that would make a great gift.
Footnotes
The season is upon us, not just for pantos in Dublin, but for local ones and local plays, concerts, exhibitions, readings and writings. Look up your nearest arts centre to see what’s on, this is their busiest time of the year.