Book By Its Cover » The Best of BBIC: 2008

12.12.08

The Best of BBIC: 2008

This year I wanted to do a top ten of my favorite books from 2008. That does not necessarily mean they were published in 2008, it means they were reviewed here on BBIC this year. The sketchbook series is really my favorite thing to come out of 2008 but here are the top books you can buy-

My top picks for the year:
1. The Night Life of Trees- most beautiful book by far
2. ABC3D- most innovative, everyone can enjoy this book
3. Fraktur Mon Amour- beautiful book, plus a ton of typefaces on a cd
4. Captain Cavity Cereal- hand-silkscreened, really fun, comes with actual cereal
5. Beasts 2- a sequel to a great collection of contemporary artists and illustrators
6. Playpen- great overview of the best new children’s illustration
7. Gary Panter- massive books in box, a huge collection of his work
8. You Are Forgiven- (I’m a little biased here b/c Matt and I are friends) really nice collection of work, embossed hard cover
9. Anorak- really really awesome kid’s magazine, kids needed this
10. I Live Here- informative subject matter, unique format

The most commented posts this year starting with the most-
Sketchbook Series of Chad Kouri
Sketchbook Series Julia Rothman
Self Publishing On Blurb
Anorak Magazine
Sketchbook Series: Mike Lowery
Abby Hendrickson’s Zines
What It is
Inspiration: Lotta Jansdotter
Le Tour du Monde de Mouk

The most popular post according to the blog statistics is (drumroll…)
The Pictoral Guide to Sexual Intercourse

The most popular search word to bring someone to the blog from google was “intercourse”. Can you believe that? Really funny.

Please comment on your favorite books of 2008!

Also check out Drawn’s top book picks of 2008 here and here.

Next week Chad Kouri is guest blogging. I am really looking forward to it.

9 Comments

12/12/08 4:53pm

amelia wrote

Lines and Shapes might be the best impulse buy I have ever made, which was a result of reading about it on BBIC. Thanks!

12/12/08 8:05pm

Janet wrote

You are partly to blame for the vast expansion of my book collection this past year! Thanks for the great finds.

12/13/08 12:42am

THE ARGYLE ACADEMY wrote

wow! I made the top 5. Thanks again for posting my journal, Julia. It was great to get to share it. Also, whenever I don’t feel like typing in the entire web address, I just google “intercourse” to get here. Ok, that’s not true.

12/13/08 11:41am

ben wrote

awesome list! i can’t imagine the amount of books you have, and don’t know what my bookshelf would look like if i hadn’t discovered your blog.

12/13/08 7:45pm

Chad Kouri wrote

Most commented!? get right outta town! Thanks for puttin my sketchbook up julia! It’s an honor to be on a list of such talented people and to have the opportunity to share my misguided opinions with a truly wonderful circle of readers.

I look forward to the reviews next week as well… hope they are good! ha!

12/14/08 5:44am

Maria wrote

First of all: Thanks, Julia, for sharing all these books here. I discovered you in the middle of the year and enjoyed it quite a lot.
I bought “Paper Captain” and “Magic Books & Paper Toys” and am really looking forward to them – will get them ’round christmas.
My No 1 this year is Chad Kouri’s skechbook series. Loved it so much! And I’m looking forward to his guest post!

M.

12/15/08 12:27am

Top Six Ways to Bail on Your Blog for the Holidays » The Buzz Bin wrote

[...] The top 10, er 20 posts of the year by page view. Yes, the best and brightest by said blogger (my m.o. for the [...]

12/15/08 5:28am

rui vitorino santos wrote

Just five choices:

- Burma Chronicles â€” Guy Delisle, ed: drawn & quarterly

- Chicago Obituary Pictures – Tim Pigott, ed: soyfriends

- Embroidered Muscles – AndrÃ© Lemos, ed:opuntia books

- Ma Vie Avec Du Riz – Akinori Oishi, ed: rollo press at nieves

- This Kind of Livin – Taylor McKimens, ed: nieves

Thanks Julia keep showing your great collection.

12/15/08 10:19am

julia wrote

thanks rui- i have burma chronicles. i haven’t read it yet- thanks for the reminder!

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