The Principles of Uncertainty | List Price: $29.95
Discount Price: $16.32
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Binding: Hardcover
Random, charming thoughts [Posted on 2008-07-02]
This isn't really a book for reading, it's a book that you'll dip in and out of, reading the humorous and sometimes touching vignettes at your whim - much like the blog that spawned this book. Some of the illustrations are better than others - I particularly like the historical portraits and full-colour pages. Nonetheless it's a beautiful illustrated book and a sweet gift for someone.
Elements of Whimsy [Posted on 2008-07-07]
This book holds a permanent place on my coffee table. It is a wonderfully illustrated and observed year in a life. Page by page, it offers captivating visual and written poetry of the everyday, as well as ruminations on "the big picture."
Poignant and thought-provoking fun [Posted on 2008-08-24]
I enjoyed Maira Kalman's lovely illustrations and her musings about the mysteries of the world. Having read many of her children's books, I was not surprised at her trenchant observations about the more grown-up parts of life, but I was gratefully surprised at the delicacy, poignancy and humanity of her images. Her work deserves admiration for its honest portrayal of reality, but with the wonderful twist that a real artist can bring. The Principles of Uncertainty is structured around the journal or diary form and I think it benefits from being read that way rather than reading it from front to back. It's hard to stop,once you start, but save a little for later!
Witty, funny and wonderful [Posted on 2008-10-15]
Everything Maira touches turns into the most funniest, quirkiest and happiest thing. This is one of my favorite books, its sort of like a new version of Chicken Soup for the Soul. The illustrations are amazing, color combinations are vibrant, writing is witty that it just becomes such a pleasurable visual read. She is even more funnier when she speaks. She's like the intelligent, amazing and awesomest aunt that you wished you had.
Left me cold [Posted on 2009-01-05]
I bought this book because I was fascinated by the illustrations, but I subsequently found the text to be absolutely mediocre and undeserving of more than a passing glance. The author ruminates repeatedly on who she, or anyone else for that matter, is. Also prevalent are musings along the lines of "What is the point in any of this?" If it had been written by someone in her youth, recently thrust into the world, the author might have pulled it off, but to me it came off as tired and repetitive. I decided this book was definitely not worth the $30 and went so far as to return it the day after I bought it.
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