Cover of "And the Pursuit of Happiness" by Maira Kalman
I find the art and books of Maira Kalman delicious. And sweet. And winsome.
If she weren't so sweet and winsome and smart, I'd be forced to hate her for being able to think and draw whatever she likes for a living. But how can you not love a woman who decides that Ruth Bader Ginsburg is her new imaginary best friend -- shoving aside Jane Austen?
Kalman does just that in "And the Pursuit of Happiness," her nearly 500-page visual diary of a year spent thinking about -- well, about how great it is to be an American.
Her vibrant gouache illustrations have illuminated the covers of the New Yorker, children's books and her own 2007 volume, "The Principles of Uncertainty." She brings an inquisitive mind and a joyous hand to her work.
That's the beginning of my Plain Dealer review of Kalman's new book. Here's your invitation to read the rest!
The review, here, stays on Cleveland.com for a while -- but not forever!
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4 comments:
I think it eminently possible for someone to not love a woman who would decide to make Ruth Bader Ginsburg her new imaginary best friend. But I thought the review was otherwise excellent and it made me want to read the book.
Hondo - I cannot imagine why a person wouldn't find it UTTERLY charming that Kalman imagines a Supreme Court justice as an "imaginary best friend," edging out the hitherto former imaginary best friend, Jane Austen. One's politics should not blind one to the charmingness of such a sentiment.
MUST PURCHASE BOOK....MUST!!!
Thanks for sharing. I had no idea it was out!
One last comment....I love this statement:
If she weren't so sweet and winsome and smart, I'd be forced to hate her for being able to think and draw whatever she likes for a living.
MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY.
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