Artists have long sought to capture the intimacy and tranquillity of reading in their work. There was a time, however, when female literacy was a r...
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reviews
Nov 14, 2011
Korri
rated it: 
I've never taken an art history class (well, not 'flat' art anyway; I studied design history) so reading this book was a pleasure. Visual culture has so much information to tell us about the habits, attitudes, and environments in which it was created.
Karen Joy Fowler wrote a thought-provoking foreward about gender, history, and the nature of reading: 'Is reading, in its inextricable essence, a combative act, the woman so engaged being temporarily self-interested and independent rath More...
Karen Joy Fowler wrote a thought-provoking foreward about gender, history, and the nature of reading: 'Is reading, in its inextricable essence, a combative act, the woman so engaged being temporarily self-interested and independent rath More...
May 19, 2009
Becky
rated it:
The foreword by Karen Joy Fowler was fascinating and contained a great history of women reading as well as quotes by reading (I now want to read A History of Reading by Manguel).
The majority of this book is a collection of paintings and photographs of women reading. It contains the history of the artwork and sometimes the subjects themselves.
I would have given this book 4 stars except for the fact that it has half a dozen nude (or almost nude) paintings. Come on artis More...
The majority of this book is a collection of paintings and photographs of women reading. It contains the history of the artwork and sometimes the subjects themselves.
I would have given this book 4 stars except for the fact that it has half a dozen nude (or almost nude) paintings. Come on artis More...
Oct 06, 2011
Emily
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The selection of images are as impressive as the introduction and the foreword. The texts accompanying each image failed to do them justice, but then again, I've never been one for the lingo of art history.
Dec 16, 2008
Crystal
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I really enjoyed this book that combined part art with the way women and literature were viewed in that culture/society and specific time period.
Dec 19, 2008
Miranda
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Coffee table conversation piece, interlaced with striking art from around the globe and an informative introduction. Thank you MKC.
Mar 10, 2009
Elizabeth
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Beautiful paintings, photographs, sketches/drawings of women reading. Short commentaries explain each piece of artwork.
My favorites:
Reading Abandoned, 1924 Felix Vallotton
Lee Miller and Tanja Ramm, Theodore Miller
My favorites:
Reading Abandoned, 1924 Felix Vallotton
Lee Miller and Tanja Ramm, Theodore Miller
Nov 01, 2011
MB
rated it:
How nice to see all of these artworks in one collection! Very interesting that a woman reading alone has been considered subversive and dangerous in past times. I would like to have small reproductions of a few of these paintings so that I could frame them and put them near my bookcases. Perfect for a library!
FYI: This book has been re-titled in a later publication as Women Who Read are Dangerous, a title which is much catchier and more suitable to the content. More...
FYI: This book has been re-titled in a later publication as Women Who Read are Dangerous, a title which is much catchier and more suitable to the content. More...
Oct 20, 2011
Women who read are interesting, real, sexy...
I will be actively looking for this book.
I will be actively looking for this book.
Jun 25, 2011
Kathleen
rated it: 
Who would have thought that so many artists had painted or photographed women reading?
This is a rather lovely coffee table book, with a good introduction and excellent text with each full-page painting reproduction. We're told about women's reading habits, about the movement (for all readers) from reading aloud being the norm, to it being the rarity, and we're told a little about art. If I had spare $$ at the moment I'd be going online to try and find a copy to buy.
This is a rather lovely coffee table book, with a good introduction and excellent text with each full-page painting reproduction. We're told about women's reading habits, about the movement (for all readers) from reading aloud being the norm, to it being the rarity, and we're told a little about art. If I had spare $$ at the moment I'd be going online to try and find a copy to buy.
Jan 02, 2012
Yvonne
rated it:
I enjoyed the paintings of women reading and the explanations of how women were initially reading aloud and only later were permitted to read privately, changing what they read. This is a large art book with lots of illustrations.
Jun 25, 2011
I love in the forward, Fowler explains that the reason paintings of women reading are so amazing is because we are seen as such a "busy" sex, that us reading is like us stealing time. The paintings are beautifully displayed and Stefan Bollmann is a great story teller!
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