Review by Booklist Review
It is difficult to imagine a world without books physical and digital. Soon it may be just as challenging to think of decorating without books, a tribute to artist-author (The Repurposed Library) Occhipinti's perception and imagination. In lovely words and sentences Every book, in its own way, has touched you, informed you something not many inanimate objects can do is one example she more than seduces even the most fumble-fingered into trying one of her 20 book-rejoicing projects. First, though, she thoroughly covers the art of collecting, of creating a library, of preserving and protecting restoring or repurposing paper friends into memorable designs. Sidebars, for instance, capture her suggestions and caveats well, whether about shelving do's and don'ts or reviewing a book-condition guide (for sellers and buyers). Then the projects, which bibliophiles will enjoy: a lighted book box, sturdy ladder shelves, fanciful page proofs, and a child's storytime mobile, among others. An elegant layout and excellent instructions pay appropriate homage to many of our best friends.--Jacobs, Barbara Copyright 2014 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In a world starved for space with 10-by-10 Tokyo apartments and 282-square-foot tiny houses, why would anyone attempt to find more cubbyholes and corners for physical books -- those things with paper and spines that get dusty and take up precious space? Occhipinti (The Repurposed Library), an artist, responds that books provide "an intimacy that is grounding, and a counterpoint to the swipe of a screen." She provides the means to preserve that connection to the bibliophilic past, with instructions for replacing worn covers and gifting books after preserving and conserving. Suggestions are offered on sourcing and budgeting for a home library. Her ideas for crafting with old volumes are more hit and miss. Books hung on twine or slung on a rod look more huh? than handsome. Covers and pages photocopied onto fabric is more promising: A moveable feast table runner, anyone? Projects are suitable for all skill levels, with detailed directions. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
