Book Nooks is a well written, logically arranged idea book for book nooks, reading corners, and book displays curated and designed by Vanessa Dina & Claire Gilhuly. Released 17th Sept 2024 by Chronicle Books, it's 144 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.
This is a thematically arranged book with do-able projects attainable for the average home/apartment crafter with average skills, tools, and budget. The designs are varied, from casual to modern formal, and across a range of sizes, from tiny to impressive (with room to grow). Much of the aesthetic is "insta-worthy" and uses books as decor elements more than as a working usable library.
It's arranged into thematic chapters: classic, small space, bedside, bathroom, baby, kids, cookbooks, bar, the collector (much love and inspiration for eclectic book nerds, hobbyists, and reading fanatics here), the gardener, the artist, colorful, and neutral.
There are no tutorials as such, with lists of supplies, materials, lumber footage, findings, etc. What the authors and photographer have done is provide a plethora of inspiration pictures which are well styled and very clear (and in color), for readers to pick and choose from.
The photography is the standout. It's clear, plentiful, and understandable.
The authors & publisher have also included some useful short appendices including an abbreviated list of worthwhile library destinations for more practical inspiration, a short couple pages (with photos) on Little Free Libraries, and some powerful words about book bans and the freedom and availability of books and their importance to humanity.
Three and a half stars. Delivers more or less what it promises. It would be a worthwhile choice for school or public library acquisition, home use, gardening and activity club libraries, etc. Warning to book purists: The authors DO occasionally mutilate books for decor purposes, so if that bothers you, look away.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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