Question of the Week: What Picture Sums Up Your Reading Tastes?
by Jenners • 06/16/2010 • Book Talk • 32 Comments
This week, I’m answering a question posed by Simon at Stuck In A Book, who challenged his readers to:
Post a picture which sums up your reading taste, or a section of it. I’m looking for a picture which doesn’t include a book in it, or a character from an adaptation, or anything like that. It can be a photograph you’ve taken, or a painting you’ve seen, or anything … have fun with it.
He is collecting the posts that people have done here. Perhaps you have seen some of them around the book blogosphere? Well, this was just too interesting for me to pass up. After quite a bit of Googling of various terms, I found a visual artist–Erik Johansson–who captures almost perfectly what I look for in a book (Trust me … you want to go visit Johansson’s web site, which is why I am linking to it three times in this post.) Erik is a 25-year-old photographer from Gothenberg, Sweden who uses retouching to create some memorable images. It was incredibly hard for me to pick just one of his images, but I finally settled on this one.
I picked this image because I love to read books that:
- surprise me
- have something unexpected below the surface
- have a sense of humor or whimsy
- may not be what they appear to be at first glance.
Have you taken Simon up on this challenge? If not, I encourage you to do so!
What a fun choice!
oh wow ~ such a cool picture!!!
I saw your post go up a few days ago but have been letting my Reader fill up over these last few days of school. Anyway, the second I saw it I thought "yep, that looks right"! I love this project!
Thanks for the link to this artist's work. I am a digital artist and I do a lot with Photoshop, but I can't even imagine how he managed to create some of those images.
I taught myself Photoshop, but this fall I will be taking a course at my community college to learn what I don't know. (My community college offers free credited classes for Senior Citizens, as long as the classes aren't filled.)
I haven't been blogging much lately, but I sure have been doing my share of summer reading. After reading Craig Nelson's excellent biography of Thomas Paine, I suddenly got interested in the Revolutionary period. I'm reading Founding Brothers (Joseph Ellis) and 1776 (David McCullough). I've also read the latest Lee Child book, the latest Sue Grafton, The Glass Castle (excellent) by jeannette Walls, and about a dozen others. Mostly my husband has me slaving in the garden.
Ha. Awesome picture choice. I'd be too much of an eclectic reader to sum up my reading tastes (if it's a book, I'll read it).
That picture is very good, but I'm still trying to figure out why you didn't use the one of the girl brushing her underarm hair…lol
I think that fish is just creepy! But as a representation I think it's very cool
hah! great choice, and i love your reasoning for choosing it.
A wonderful and interesting image
A great choice!
What a great picture! TOTALLY represents everything you stated.
BTW…it's been a while since I actually clicked through my reader to visit your site. I see the new header pic. I'd liketo know when you came by my house to take that photo because I swear, I have a shelf that looks just like it.
I absolutely love that picture….and you're right, it's the perfect choice.
Fabulous choice!
Clever choice!
Before I even read the reasons, I was thinking this picture was definitely appropriate.
I love the picture you chose. It's so cool! I can't think of what kind of picture would reflect my reading.. that's a toughie.
I love the idea behind this post and this picture is great! I even did one myself because I was so inspired! Very nice
quite a picture!
I don't know about books, but it makes me scared to ever step on an island again.
That is a fantastic image! I have been seeing these posts around, and every time I am stumped at what I would use as an image to sum up my reading tastes. I'll have to give it more thought.
What a perfect choice. I love the image and I love the explanation even more.
I've seen that photo before and I LOVE it!!!
I think it does a great job of illustrating what you describe as your preferences in reading.
What a fun challenge! I'm not sure I could come up with an illustration.
That's quite a challenge… the photo is odd! But a good choice, because I would expect nothing but oddballness from you.
I like your new bloggy look. I think you've found "the right one"!
Awesome pic! I'll need to see what I can come up with…
A great choice of picture, I think it sums up everything you say about your reading tastes.
Fantastic!! I love that photo! I think the originality of it also sums up something I'm looking for in a book.
I've just been over Johansson's website and I am very impressed. I've never been that interested in art, but I could look at those images all day.
I love the look of your blog! And I love the picture you use to describe your reading taste!
Hey, when did you change your look? I guess recently based on Jill's comment – hee hee. I know I've been out of touch for awhile, but I'm back. I love your picture choice. It is perfect for you!
That is one awesome image! I love it! I also love the new image up top.
What a fantastic image! Your blog has a bit of a different look-you've been redecorating!!
That's a great photo–and the explanation is fun.
Cool! Great explanation for your photo choice.
Very cool. I love his work and what a great idea of a picture, I'll have to think on that one.
Great choice of picture! But, ahem, someone fell down on his or her vow not to mess with the look of the blog again, not that I would be so petty as to point this out, but just so you know (and not to mention any names)….