This book is flat out gorgeous. Williamson received a grant (or maybe it was a fellowship) to spend a year in Kyoto, Japan. The pages of this book are filled with watercolors and brief journal-like entries depicting and describing the sites and the food and the people of Kyoto. There are sumo wrestlers, cell phone charms, mochi, cherry blossoms, bicycles, geishas, and temples, among other things. On each page, Williamson focuses on one thing. Sometimes the art is accompanied by a description, sometimes not. I suppose this might be considered a graphic novel, but I think it’s more of an illustrated journal.
This book serves as both a beautiful memory of Williamson’s time in Japan, as well as an introduction to various aspects of Japanese life and culture. Plus, it’s just fun to look at.
And a few alternate covers (sorry for the smallness):
It looks beautiful. And thank you from a fellow citizen for helping to stimulate the economy!
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Review of “From Dead to Worse” by Charlaine Harris =-.
Love that illustration! Beautiful! Interesting format too.
That’s beautiful! I’ve seen this book around but wasn’t away that it was so art oriented.
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge =-.
I just saw this at Staci’s blog and thought it looked like something I would like. The illustration is beautiful. Love your note to the FTC-lol.
.-= Darlene´s last blog ..Book Review: Raising Rain by Debbie Fuller Thomas =-.
I just added this to my wish list after reading a mini-review on Life in the Thumb. You just confirmed that I did the right thing.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Review: In the Beginning =-.
How beautiful! I’ve seen this around the ‘verse and add it to my list every time.
.-= She´s last blog ..Oryx and Crake – Margaret Atwood =-.
This looks like a couple of Betty Reynolds books I read on Japan. I know this one has been much more popular around the blogosphere though. It would be interesting if I get a chance to compare them.
.-= mee´s last blog ..If On a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino =-.
That looks so pretty! What an awesome way to spend a year.
.-= Aarti´s last blog ..Review: Wish Her Safe at Home =-.
I hadn’t seen your review before I saw the book (and you!) in person today, but it IS gorgeous! (And thanks again for making the drive down to meet up!)
.-= Florinda´s last blog ..Week-End Review, "Two weeks of links" edition =-.
Did you notice that the woman on the cover at the top of your post is striking the same partial face pose as “you” are at the top of your blog? Coincidence? I think not! whatever that’s supposed to mean.
I want to read a book that’s ‘flat out gorgeous’! I’m in a bit of a funk, drifting from one to another.
Tell us more about the meet-up today (please)
.-= Dawn – She is Too Fond of Books´s last blog ..Children’s Book Review: *Kids’ Kitchen* by Fiona Bird =-.
I’ve been looking all over for this book…not in the library system or any of our stores. I’m going to have support the economy and place (yet another!) order with amazon.
.-= JoAnn´s last blog ..Weekend Cooking: Snickerdoodles =-.
Oh, this looks wonderful – I love books that are mixed narrative and artwork. And I just told Sharon L at lunch today that once I’m back from my Naples trip, Japan was next on my travel list! Or maybe Ireland … So many places, so little vacation time!
This does sound like a fun, beautiful book–but one that I would get from the library (sorry, economy).
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Hush, Hush =-.
The illustrations look gorgeous!
.-= Sakura´s last blog ..2010 Challenges =-.
Glad you enjoyed! I liked her pink cell phone with the.. was it a vegetable of some kind?.. attached.
.-= charley´s last blog ..Peace Like a River =-.
Sounds like an interesting book … I might look into giving it to my mom. We lived in Japan when I was a child and she is all into things Japanese.
.-= Jenners´s last blog ..Announcing The Take Another Chance Challenge =-.
I love the art in it and the cover is gorgeous too!
.-= Veens´s last blog ..Saturday Quotes! =-.