No comments about Greetings from San Diego.

2 comments about Postbooks: Cats.

1. There are so many breeds of cats and their characteristics are so different that sometimes the only thing they have in common are their basic shape of a head, body and four legs. There are longhair cats and no-hair cats. There are cats with long tails and cats with no tails. There are mild cats and then there are wild cats. There are some really big cats and some really small cats. Each of these breeds appears in the photographs of this collection. Generally, there are two photos of the breed, one with the cat solo and another where a human is somehow interacting with it. The photography is excellent, making this a book that all lovers of cats and those simply interested in learning more about the various breeds will enjoy.



2. Yann Arthus-Bertrand is an excellent photographer, known for a unique series "Earth from above" as well as for books dedicated to dogs and horses. I bought "Cats" because I am owned by a cat and also because my mother owns another book by Arthus-Bertrand "Dogs". Both books are designed on a similar plan, namely numerous breeds are presented with a brief description, informative and fun, next to a picture of a perfect breed representative with his/her owner(s). The quality of animal pictures is superb in both books, but it is the essential difference in natures of the animals that makes one book a smashing success and another somewhat disappointing. Dogs present striking similarity, or contrast with their owners, each picture looks like a family portrait, - nothing of a kind occurs in "Cats". These are the pictures of gorgeous animals - and different people, owners and cats could be shuffled without any damage to the overall impression. By contrast, looking at the pictures in "Dogs", one can't help but think:"This lady couldn't have had anybody else but Maltese". Nevertheless, photos in "Cats" are exquisite, texts on various breeds are informative and fun and the book surely is a nice addition to a cat lover's library. As for depth of cats' nature - well, it remains as impenetrable to humans as ever.

No comments about Royal Postcards.

No comments about Ontario.

5 comments about Boring Postcards USA.

1. First a word of clarification. These are not postcards to be mailed. I didn't read the description clearly. This was only my fault, but someone else out there might make the same mistake.
   
   Second, the publisher's description and viewers' comments are correct: These are boring, charmless, insipid images, that might tell us a lot about who we think we are -- perhaps of how proud small-town America was of its new airports, bus terminals and banks after the war. But I thought that not including any reflections by a student of our culture (Lord knows there are enough candidates), was just plain cheap, and makes this little book, well, boring.



2. I have owned this book for several years. Once in a while, I break it out if I yearn for something nostalgic or a break from the present-day pace. The sometimes placid and unassuming images cause the reader to consider a simpler time. It never fails to entertain. Yes, it has humorous images, some staged--yet others seem to be a snapshot of everyday life. The postcards depicting tacky motel room interiors are fun. Any reader could imagine a nice restful escape in these quarters. If anything, this book encapsulates a time gone by but not forgotten. Hardly boring as the title implies, these postcards are a comfort and a great page-turner for those that want to de-stress.



3. I bought this gift as a "funny" Christmas present. Most of the pictures don't even look like they were postcards (just pictures) ... nor can you tell when / where they are from... and most of them are just pictures of interstates... the commentary under each of the picture is sort of random too... just not what I thought it would be...



4. I read reviews before I purchased this book, and followed the advice of the positive ones. I actually sent this book back the day after I received it. Thank goodness for free return shipping. BORING BORING BORING
   Nothing fun about this book at all.



5. This is an awesome book, made up entirely of old postcards with pictures of highways, restaurants, airports, and other prosaic places.
   
   The postcards aren't like the ones you see today, photographs of beautiful places. They look like someone snapped a picture of the highway or restaurant, without even bothering to pick a scenic spot. Only, many of them have captions describing the pictures as 'beautiful' or 'scenic.' That only makes it funnier.
   
   On the one hand, I applaud the use of average, even somewhat ugly images in this book to convey a feeling of time and place. At the same time, I can't believe anyone thought these pictures would make good postcards -- even decades ago.
   
   The pictures are quirky and make me laugh. Best of all, they feel like a window into another time. I can look at these photographs and feel like I'm there... in that prosaic, rather ugly place, probably filled with real people with all their quirks and oddities. It's like a time machine!
   
   All in all, I'm very glad I acquired this book.

No comments about Pigs: A Book of 21 Postcards.

No comments about Historic Savannah.

1 comments about Cows of Vermont (Postcard Books).

1. I was disappointed in this book of postcards. While it does, in fact, feature cows, the photographer does not seem to love, appreciate or enjoy his subjects. They look boringly bovine, not divine. You can tell when a photographer truly loves his subject. That affectionate touch is missing here and it hurts.

No comments about Greetings from Denver: Postcards from the Mile-High City.

No comments about Fosforos Cubanos: 24 Collectible Postcards (Redstone Matchbox Number 4).