Book By Its Cover » The Principles of Uncertainty

11.12.07

The Principles of Uncertainty

Maira Kalman

I can’t tell you how excited I am about this book. If you are a fan of Maira, which you should be, this book is a must-have. It’s a collection of her yearlong blog column for The New York Times which posted every first Wednesday of the month. The book is the size of a normal hardcover paperback but the inside is like a painted journal. Maira tells us about life in general, and Russian history, the major hairdos she saw at Coney Island or about her mother who didn’t marry the man she loved, all in handwritten text and beautiful paintings. It’s intimate and personal and funny. She has a great sense of humor. My favorite is when she writes and paints her collections- boxes, sponges, Mosses of Long Island, and her candy collection- “The jewel of the collection is the Cratch bar purchased in Cuba. It sounds like a disease more than a candy treat, and I like to imagine the naming session.” Mostly we get a chance to see what her eye is drawn to-”The woman in the huge coat who could barely walk in her impossible shoes”or “The silent sink in the Corbusier house that speaks the truth.” The book is also really honest and touching- there were some pages where I felt that lump in my throat I get hearing a live orchestra. In the back of the book there is an index (not so different from Abbey’s in the Bird Feeder) where you can look up the pages that have forgiveness on them or bundt pan or awful lot of hair. Then there is an appendix with a honey cake recipe, postcards, tickets with numbers on them, photos of sofas and things that have fallen out of books. There is also a tear out map of the world drawn by her mother that is very wonderfully wrong. I can think of six people I am sending this book to because I know they will love it. Pick up yours here. Watch a fun short excerpt from a documentry about Maira here. (She has a Wheaten Terrier like my Rudy!)

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9 Comments

11/12/07 12:21pm

karin wrote

Very beautiful. I definitely want this!

11/12/07 2:00pm

Janis wrote

Hi Julia,
I just got the book yesterday and I am waiting for the right moment to slowly savor every page… I’ve been following her work since she collaborated with David Byrne on the book, “Wake Up Late” and was fortunate to catch her book tour for “Max in Love.” That was a long, long time ago and the amazing thing is that she has never lost her touch - always genius, always and a huge inspiration.

11/12/07 2:13pm

Jim wrote

This book is amazing. Kalman stares down really big issues like life and death, what are we doing here, what is the purpose, etc but her observations are always touching and funny and true. And it’s all presented via her beautiful illustrations. I really think she’s a genius.

11/12/07 4:53pm

Janet wrote

I’ve been a longtime fan of the Max the Dog series and just picked this up last week. She, (and her late husband Tibor) are amazing artists! Have you seen her latest ads for CB2?

11/12/07 5:59pm

natalie wrote

kalman’s original gouaches for the book are on view through november 24 at the Julie Saul Gallery. she is amazing. my friend ellie, who’s like 5 now, first turned me onto her work.

11/12/07 7:56pm

sophik wrote

oh!!!.. YES. I just purchased this book over the weekend. I fondled it for so long at the Newberry Library bookstore and had to take it home with me. She has such a witty sense of humour and the illustrations… oh my oh my… such talents!

11/13/07 10:58pm

sosser wrote

i’m CRAZY for this book! it is tops on my holiday wish list. don’t miss maira kalman’s moleskine sketchbook on you tube as well - a real treat!

12/4/07 5:26pm

Deepa wrote

Thanks to Natalie’s info above, I went to the gallery on the last day of the exhibition all the way from Philadelphia. Enjoyed the show immensely. Was sitting on a bench outside planning my next move when I saw Maira Kalman crossing the foyer to get to the elevator. Luckily I had my copy of the book with me which she graciously signed and added a little drawing. I came home on a cloud with the book clutched close to my chest. Love the internets.

07/24/08 1:45pm

Amrita wrote

I’d like to know about the original documentary, does anyone have any info? I did some googling with no luck.

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© Julia Rothman 2007