Today we have several events, and for each, a special book. These are not your average books.
First we have Curling is Cool Day. My library book is “Curling in Switzerland. A Treatise on the Principles of the Game, and Where and How to Play It.” by A. Noel Mobbs, and F. McDermott, 1929. With diagrams, pictures, and detailed tactics and techniques, this is an instruction manual, not just a history.
Next we have Pinnochio Day, today. There are two books on for show. First is “Pinocchio” by Tony Wolf, 1994. This is a nice pop-up book of the Pinocchio story. Along with “Pinocchio, the Adventures of a Marionette” by C. Collodi, 1937. Wonderful illustrations by Richard Floethe.
Lastly we have Mount Fuji day today. It is special holiday for me because I have climbed up Mt Fuji. This is dawn at the top of the mountain. Those are clouds in the background that we climbed through to get to the top. I will have a special entry later in the year about our adventure to Mt Fuji.
First book is “The Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” by Hokusai, 1968. This is a great japanese printed book and slipcase box. The paintings in the book show Mount Fuji from different perspectives. I have included the famous one “the giant wave of Kanagowa” where Mt Fuji seems to be engulfed by a wave. There is interesting map, that shows where each painting was probably viewed from.
“Mt Fuji” photographed by Yukio Ohyama, 1987, has some wonderful pictures of Mt Fuji.
Mt Fuji is a volcano. This beautiful shot is looking across the center of the crater. To the left is a Torii, and people standing at the lip.
This is looking down the inside of the crater at Mt Fuji. It is almost 800 feet deep.
I have another, hard to find, Mt. Fuji book of photography from Japan “Fugaku (Mt Fuji)” by Koyo Okada, 1959. It is a large book 11 X 13, and the photographs of Mt Fuji are unbelievable. There are shots from all seasons, it took 10 years for these photos to be put together.
Books that are slipcased, or have pages that fold out larger, or movable books like pop-ups are dear to me. There is also photography in some books that is amazing. They all show so much more than just the printed word. You are not just reading, you are enjoying books on many different levels.
While there is a saying “a wise man climbs Mt Fuji once, only a fool climbs it twice”, remember Einstein: “The only thing you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library”, And J.K. Rowling, “When in doubt, go to the library.”
Keep reading.
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