The Principles of Uncertainty
Maira Kalman
2009
336 illustrated pages
I wish I could draw. I also wish I could just drop everything and gallivant off to Paris on a whim. You know, call up my (non-existent) sister and say, “Hey, let’s go to Paris!”
And okay, I also wish I wasn’t so envious, because maybe if I wasn’t (so envious) then I would’ve liked this book a bit more.
Jealousy can be an ugly thing.
To be honest, though, this is usually the kind of book that I love. Pictures, travel, journally thoughts. And filled with off-the-wall facts that I never knew. But it just didn’t resonate with me…I found the author to be a bit weird (and hey, I LIKE weird) and pack-ratty, and disjointed (pot, meet kettle), and kind of name droppy in a way that really isn’t dropping names.
Maybe I should’ve gone with the George Washington book* instead?
Also…I read this in January, which was filled with some pretty kick-ass books. It might be suffering from a bad case of comparison to those other books that I adored with all of my heart.
*And The Pursuit of Happiness…thank you google.
I wish I could go somewhere at the drop of a hat too. Sorry this didn’t float your boat.
I really like this title – makes me feel that this is a thought-provoking philosophical book. Sad the book didn’t work out too well.
Awww. I love Maira Kalman’s art so much that I don’t care when she gets all discursive. Was this the same situation as her other book, where it was a collection of monthly columns? That’s a reason she can come off discursive.
I have this book. I’ve only glanced thru it. But I am intrigued by keeping a journal with ‘drawings’ in it. Too bad I can’t draw. I’m going to have to go home and re-glance thru it.
And the Pursuit of Happiness is a great book. It sort of reminded me of Sarah Vowell, although I’m not sure why since it’s not really snarky or funny like she is. But I think it had the same sort of respect/concern for democracy that Vowell has, just in a different way?
Spontaneity died when I was about 25. Damn you middle class adulthood. Damn you.
You can call me to gallivant off to Paris any time.
I love, love. love Kalman
I adore Maira Kalman. I wish she lived next door to me. Preferably somewhere in Paris.
It doesn’t sound like this narrator and you got along very well together, and it’s always stinky when a book like this ruins a long streak of books that you love. Sorry about this one.
I love the cover though. I’d frame that cover if nothing else.
Well, I don’t have a sister either, but you could put out a call to your online bookish sisters. I bet you’d get some takers for a trip to Paris. I’d sign up if you could provide babysitting.
Envy can be an ugly thing.
But I get it. I wish I could draw and just go to Paris whenever I felt like it (like right now).
I’m sorry that this book didn’t work for you. I haven’t read it but it sounds to me like it might have been trying to do too much.