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A review by drj
Patternalia: An Unconventional History of Polka Dots, Stripes, Plaid, Camouflage, & Other Graphic Patterns by Jude Stewart
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
A whirlwind tour through the world of patterns. Checks, spots, squares, grids, and curves are described and discussed, related to each other and our societies.
A barrage of "fun facts" that at times threatens to overwhelm the reader, while at the same time not delivering any substantial thesis to grapple with.
The illustrations it has are nice enough but it desperately needs more, and they need to engage with the text. A description of a Jacquard Loom without a picture of even a punched card? Several pages on camouflage without a single illustration of one?
Occasionally the researcher is stretched and this shows through in clumsy sentences and inaccurate assertions.
I like the book design. Largely black and white with occasional use of a third accent colour: usually cream ranging to pale apricot. A generous space at the bottom of every page is used for footnotes and references to other parts of the book, with cute symbols to mark each one, like a whimsical hyperlink in print.
A barrage of "fun facts" that at times threatens to overwhelm the reader, while at the same time not delivering any substantial thesis to grapple with.
The illustrations it has are nice enough but it desperately needs more, and they need to engage with the text. A description of a Jacquard Loom without a picture of even a punched card? Several pages on camouflage without a single illustration of one?
Occasionally the researcher is stretched and this shows through in clumsy sentences and inaccurate assertions.
I like the book design. Largely black and white with occasional use of a third accent colour: usually cream ranging to pale apricot. A generous space at the bottom of every page is used for footnotes and references to other parts of the book, with cute symbols to mark each one, like a whimsical hyperlink in print.