THE BOOK/SHOP JOURNAL
One Great Reader returns with Series 3, and it gets a strong start with this very readerly conversation between interviewer Wes Del Val and New York Review Books founder and editorial director Edwin Frank. The indispensable NYRB series brings crucial books back into print, and does so with intelligence and panache. It's a generous-spirited venture that reflects real vision, and for 21 years that vision has been realized through the hard work and high standards of Edwin Frank. We couldn't wait to hear his thoughts on poetry, publishing, book collecting, and more. Click to read...
One Great Reader, Series 2, No. 15: Andrew Romano
Being an esteemed political writer to pay the bills for your side job (and true passion) of being an esteemed writer about architecture and design sounds like a nice problem to have, doesn't it? Andrew Romano juggles each with brisk, intelligent prose and a highly educated taste. We feel lucky to get a BTS look at the books that sharpen both Andrew's writing skills and design sensibilities in this week's installation of One Great Reader (the last of Series 2, by the way! We'll be back with Series 3 in late January.) Clear your schedule and get your clicker finger ready for Andrew's fascinating and heavily hyperlinked interview. Click to read more...
One Great Reader, Series 2, No. 14: Skye Parrott
What does a feminist look like? How about a mother of 3 small kids who unwinds with Great British Bakeoff and edits the new, incredibly bold iteration of Playgirl magazine? Skye Parrott founded the arts & culture magazine Dossier and worked with iconic photographer Nan Goldin before taking on her latest chapter: giving new, relevant life to an iconic seventies magazine that hadn't kept up with contemporary women. Skye has brought brains and plenty of great reading to the magazine's formerly skin-deep reputation. She knows what modern girls like. Click to read more...
One Great Reader, Series 2, No. 13: David Rimanelli
It takes a deep immersion in the art & literature of the past to write convincingly about those of the present, and David Rimanelli has written so well, for so long, about contemporary art that you just know there must be an ocean of great reading behind him. Little surprise then (but great delight) to see just how deep and far-ranging David's reading goes, and what fun he has with it, in this week's installment of One Great Reader with interviewer Wes Del Val. Click to read more...
One Great Reader, Series 2, No. 12: Jaja Hargreaves
In the image-soaked world of social media, it's a real feat to be one of those people who can always point us to the fresh, the arresting, and the rarely-ever seen. London-based Jaja Hargreaves has made her Instagram feed a must-visit for those of us seeking images from the past that feel exactly right for the present, and that unlock a way forward for art & style in the near future. People with deep visual knowledge aren't usually pulling that knowledge from the internet; they usually go right to the source, their own incredible collections of books & magazines. So, it's no wonder Jaja has a deep connection with books, and no wonder Wes Del Val had to speak to her for this week's installment of One Great Reader. Click to read more...
One Great Reader, Series 2, No. 11: Angelo Flaccavento
Italian fashion writer Angelo Flaccavento treats us to his fresh and frequently surprising outlook on writers' style (both fashion style and literary style), the kinds of home libraries he likes to see, the bookstore that shaped him, the way he organizes books, what he reads for work ("I keep myself interested in fashion by not reading about fashion"), and much else in a conversation of depth, great charm and very good book recommendations for this installation of One Great Reader with interviewer Wes Del Val. Click to read more...
One Great Reader, Series 2, No. 10: François Halard
Taking pictures inside famous houses is one of those dream jobs that sounds easier than it is. It's one thing to capture good angles in a house, but it's something else to capture the texture of the life lived there. And it takes a true artist to create an image both true its subject and to itself. French photographer François Halard is a true artist, his books capture the homes of legendary artists with an equally artful eye that has made him a giant in his field for decades. Halard’s palpable love of books informs a lot of what he does, and we're very pleased to share that love in this week's One Great Reader with Wes Del Val. Click for more...
One Great Reader, Series 2, No. 9: Gemma Janes
Paris-based Gemma Janes turned her Instagram book recommendations into the very personal book subscription service, Sendb00ks. And her career in modeling ensured that the finishing touches of her packaging and approach are both beautiful and chic. Of course those things only go so far if they don't come with depth and intelligence, and this week's installment of One Great Reader shows both Gemma and her service to possess all of the above. Click to read more...
One Great Reader, Series 2, No. 8: Isabella Burley
A lot of girls can say they "probably read too much Anaïs Nin as a teenager", but very few have been able to do what Isabella Burley has done, turning that sensibility into an estimable career as an editor in the worlds of art & fashion (most recently of Helmut Lang and Dazed), as well as a bookseller combining those worlds with her own fascinations around the culture of sexuality. In this installment of One Great Reader, Wes Del Val charts Isabella's maps of the weird, the cool, and the sexy. Click to read more...
One Great Reader, Series 2, No. 7: Lee Kaplan
Lee Kaplan, the bookseller behind L.A.'s indispensable Arcana Books, gives tips on what photobooks to buy now (while you still can), books as decoration, what's better than finding a 100 dollar bill in a used book, and much more in our longest One Great Reader interview yet. A real treasure and must-read for those who love to look behind the scenes of great bookstores. Click to read more...