Napolean - Timothy Wilson Smith

The Geographer's Library - Jon Fasman

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

Ancient Rome on Five Denari a Day - Philip Matyszak

An Object of Beauty - Steve Martin

This book highlights Martin's love of art, but it didn't go anywhere interesting.  Even the information about art wasn't enought to keep my interest up.

Modern Photography in Japan - 1915-1040

The Trial - Franz Kaftka

Let the Great World Spin - Colum McCann

A powerhouse of a book about New York City.  From the man who walked a tightrope between the twin towers in the 1970s to fascinating characters in the city, this book is is exquisite and moving.  McCann is a great writer who has written a great book that examines the pulse of New York.  Highly recommended.

Marketing Fine Art Photography - Alan Briot

Kafka on the Shore - Haruki Murakami

The Best of It - Kay Ryan

Leaving Van Gogh - Carol Wallace

A disappointing book.  The last days of Van Gogh are told from the viewpoint of his doctor.  Unfortunately, the doctor, rather than Van Gogh, dominates the book and his not a very interesting or sympathetic character.  I wanted to think more about art, Van Gogh and madness but the book did little to stimulate my thinking in those areas.  I was baffled by how the doctor instantly recognized Van Gogh as an artistic genius, but as an art collector, never purchased any paintings from Van Gogh.

Amateur Barbarians - Robert Cohen

now reading...

Train Dreams - Denis Johnson

This short novel is filled with complex emotions, unique characters, and a story that will stays long after you finish the last page--in other words, it is a great book.  I couldn't believe the impact that is achieved in so few words.  It as gritty and tough as the old days on the railroad it encompasses.

Drama, An Actor's Education - John Lithgow

A fun to read as watching Lithgow act.  The book is a fascinating tale of an actor's life.  The autobiography is told with humor, warmth and humility by the author.  If you like Lithgow or enjoy acting, the book is a good reading choice.  

Winning Digital Photo Contests - Jeff Wignall

This is actually a good book to learn about what makes a photo a winner.  I may try entering some online photo contests, but even for someone with no interest in contests, the book does a very nice job of displaying great photos and pointing out what made them work.  It is more educational than you might expect from the title. 

White Noise - Don DeLillo

Photojournalism - Reuel Golden

Subtitled, 150 Years of Outstanding Press Photography, this book offers a few paragraphs with a couple pages of photos from over 100 photojournalists.  It is well put together and offers some interesting insights into many well-known and iconic photos.  A leisurely read, especially enjoyable for photographers and news junkies.

The Forgotten Waltz - Anne Enright

Enright is an excellent writer in the tradition of great Irish storytellers.  Her original style and insights make this book worth reading, but not one of her best.  It lost some steam midway through.

The Things They Carried - Tim O'Brien

A novel told in a series of short stories.  It is a war, it is Vietnam, it is ugly, it is surreal, it is real.  O'Brien has written a book that will stop you in your tracks.  Devastating and tender, it is simply superb.

Learning to See Creatively - Bryan Peterson

A very basic book on photo composition that is flawed by the author's insistence of only using his own photos as examples.  It comes off as more of a promotion for the author than a real educational tool.  It would have been great to show examples of various photographer's different use of composition techniques.

West Wind - Mary Oliver

The Sound of Waves - Yukio Mishima

The Fall - Albert Camus

The Maid - Kimberly Cutter

The author claims that Joan of Arc was the greatest woman in history and after reading this book, I don't disagree.  Many have written about this amazing woman, but this novel brings to life the young girl who lead an army.  Cutter sticks to historical facts as she imagines Joan's life in this novel.  It quickly becomes a page-turner even though we all know the story.  The author has a wonderful style and the ability to involve the reader into what is perhaps the most real retelling of this tale.  It is blunt and gruesome in parts, but how could it not be describing that period in time.  An excellent book!

Paris Portraits - Harriet Lane Levy

This book is subtitled, Stories of Picasso, Matisse, Gertrude Stein and Their Circle.  It is a short book containing a variety reflections by Harriet Lane Levy.  For those who enjoy the changing art world in Paris as Picasso and Matisse come into their own, this book is a fun read.  The book is a collection of fragments written by Levy as she spent time in Paris with her friend Gertrude Stein as she developed her art collection and her famous salons.  I suppose it is not a coincidence that this book was released in the same year as the popular movie, Midnight in Paris, since it offers further insight into that romaticized period.  I enjoyed the book, although I did not find myself liking the author in her curious and somewhat detached relationships.  For those who can't get enough about this time in Paris, the book offers more small insights.

Let America Be America Again - Langston Hughes

This short book of poetry (21 pages) is a stirring collection of Hughes poems about America.  He notes the disconnection of the land of the free not being free for blacks, but remains optimistic that America can be what it dreams.  Langston Hughes is one of America's great poets and this short collection reflects his wonderful skills as a writer.

Invisible Cities - Italo Calvino

There are so many great books, but this one stands out among them for me.  Calvino has a spectacular mind and an ability to express himself in the most fascinating ways.  He seems to define creativity in this book.   This short book encompasses a vast array of thoughts about how we see and experience the world.  By focusing on different visions of a city, in this case, Venice, the author playfully examines the interaction of humans with cities.  Marco Polo sits in deep discussions with Kublai Khan...how can this book not intrigue the reader?  This book belongs on my desert island list.

Thousand Cranes - Yasunari Kawabata

One of Japan's greatest writers tells a complex tale in this classic book.  In a very simple and elegant style, deep emotions and complex human relationships are uncovered.  The Japanese tea ceremony is a focal point and provides a contrast between a deeply calm, reflective space and the many ways humans disturb that seemingly simple state.  Deceptively short in length, this book tells a deeply complex story with many surprises for the reader.

Just Kids - Patti Smith

This book surprised me.  I liked it much more than I expected to.  Patti Smith is a wonderful writer and tells us about a fascinating period in her life.  This autobiographical novel depicts the development of two artists, her and Robert Mapplethorpe, as they seek fame and expression in New York City in the 1970s.  It is a very touching story of friendship and mutual support for artist creativity.  The book also covers the craziness of two young people dedicated to their art while trying to make it in a harsh city.  Filled with many famous people, the book remains true to itself by remaining the tale of two kids holding to their visions.