OFF THE SHELF Much Ado Books’ selection of must-read titles
The award-winning independent bookshop Much Ado Books selects its must-read literature for this month
THE UNNATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM by Viktor Wynd
(£35, Prestel Publishing Ltd) If you’ve ever stepped foot inside Viktor Wynd’s Museum of Curiosities in east London, then you may have an idea of what’s in store for Wynd’s new book, The Unnatural History Museum. As an artist and collector, Wynd’s menagerie of surreal objects knows no bounds, from the feathers and bones of extinct birds to the baked potato that he’s kept since burning it when cooking himself lunch back in 2013. Much Ado Books says: ‘He is witty, smart and obsessed – a great combination!’, adding:
‘this volume promises visual thrills and thought-provoking ideas.’ Wynd’s book will take you on a whimsical and somewhat warped tour around his collectibles, delving into his philosophy of collecting – it’s a true cabinet of curiosities.
CHROMA: A BOOK OF COLOUR – JUNE ’93 by Derek Jarman (£9.99, Vintage Classics)
‘A poetic, personal consideration of colour and nature and life,’ says Much Ado Books about the recently republished book by Derek Jarman, Chroma: A Book of Colour – June ’93. Written just a year before his death, and as his eyesight was beginning to fail, Jarman discusses the exceptional power that colour has – even when it’s being seized from his own life. With a career that spanned decades as well as genres, from painter, theatre designer and film-maker, to poet, writer and gardener, in this book Jarman draws on his own experiences as well as the work of colour theorists. Jarman takes the reader on a journey, with each chapter exploring a different colour, evoking personal memories, dreams and emotions from the author himself.
MUCH ADO BOOKS Based in a barn in Alfriston, this Sussex bookshop is run by Cate Olson and Nash Robbins. Visitors can drop in seven days a week to browse and buy titles old and new, including a selection of antiquarian books. 8 West Street, Alfriston, East Sussex BN26 5UX; muchadobooks.com
QUILTED: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL STORIES by Janine Vangool (£29, UPPERCASE Publishing Inc, circulated in the UK by Central Books)
Janine Vangool is the publisher, editor, designer and overall creative force behind publishing house UPPERCASE. Since 2016, it has produced seven volumes of an ongoing Encyclopedia of Inspiration, exploring topics such as Botanica, Ephemera and Print/maker. Much Ado Books comments: ‘Every one in the series has been a winner.’ The latest launch is Volume Q: Quilted, which explores the vast world of quilting, covering in-depth stories from a wide range of quilters. In a bid to fight the oversaturation of online platforms, where many people get their inspiration from, this book approaches the subject more intimately than most, giving an insight into each designer’s personal experience and creative techniques as well as their influences, all of which sit alongside imagery of their beautifully handcrafted work.