Mailbox Monday – 10/4/10

Mailbox Monday is on a blog tour! The popular meme started over at The Printed Page blog is being hosted by She Reads and Reads for the month of October!

Here are the books we received this past week:

Boneyards: Detroit Under Ground

Holly’s Thoughts: On the first day that the chill of fall was nipping the air, this book arrived on my doorstep. I’m not a particularly morbid person – the book truly fascinated me. Richard Bak meshes stunning photography with smart and thoughtful commentary about historical burial practices in Detroit. Boneyards: Detroit Underground sets a tone of deep respect for the dead and the lives they lived, particularly in late 19th century America. The book is a fascinating mediation on the beauty behind deathly sorrow.

French Essence: Ambience, Beauty, and Style in Provence

Holly’s Thoughts: I’m torn on this one. As someone who lived a long time in Aix-en-Provence, I poured over the beautiful photos of this larger-than-life coffee table book. It is absolutely true that there is something about the South of France that is imitable. What I love about Provence is that its simplicity can morph into sophistication before your eyes, without warning. The book’s photography offers up those moments of accidental discovery that can be had daily. But to be honest, the author’s prose goes too over the top; sophisticated simplicity quickly morphs into snobbery and bragging. I loved the tour, but not always the tour guide.

Enjoy!