Paper is something we both take for granted and appreciate. Every day we make use of, or come across, paper in a multitude of ways. I never knew just how much until I read this book. The book covers our cultural history of paper with fascinating tales.
I’m liking
The book is beautifully presented (how lovely it is to hold a letterpressed book jacket) and feels timeless when reading it. I learnt a lot of little things about the history of paper and its vast uses.
Things that made me go hmmmm
I wanted to love everything about this book (some people get giddy about shoes, I do about paper) but personally found the writing style quite meandering and dry at times. Reminded me of listening to a great talker but secretly hoping they get to the point. I skipped some of his asides so I could get back to the main story he was telling. Each chapter can really be read independently too so it’s easy to pick up and put down again.
The conclusion
A good read, though I would have liked to have loved it a lot more. If you know someone who likes going into stationery stores, always collecting more notebooks or sketchbooks, they may well really enjoy this book. For everyone else, there’s something new to be learnt about paper.
