Wednesday, December 21, 2011

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By Jocelyn McClurg December 15,frey wille prices rings, 2011 9:10PM

They’re big, bold and beautiful. In the era of the e-book, we’re not afraid to proclaim our love affair with that holiday publishing perennial — the print coffee-table book.

THE FRENCH CAT

By Rachael Hale Stewart

Tabori & Chang, $29.95

What it’s about: A New Zealander — husband and baby in tow — moves to France, where her photographer’s eye is captivated by country and city cats.

What’s to love: The French Cat offers an irresistible combo: the beauty of France and a gaggle of Gallic felines. What’s not to love?

MARTHA’S
ENTERTAINING

A YEAR OF CELEBRATIONS

By Martha Stewart

Clarkson Potter, $75

What it’s about: Martha invites us to join the party (ies), with stunning photo shoots of gatherings at her homes in Maine, Bedford, N.Y., and the Hamptons.

What’s to love: With this sumptuous feast of a book,frey-wille prices, the domestic diva proves she’s still at the top of the food-world chain. It’s the coffee-table book of the season.

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

THE COLLEGE BASKETBALL BOOK

Greg Kelly, editor

Sports Illustrated Books, $29.95

What it’s about: SI writers and photographers bring their customary “A” game to college basketball through words and pictures.

What’s to love: Why wait for March Madness? Dramatic in-your-face (dunk) shots will have you rooting for your home team like you’re courtside.

PILGRIMAGE

By Annie Leibovitz

Random House, $50

What it’s about: Leaving celebrities behind, the Vanity Fair photographer treks to homes and sites associated with historical figures, from Abraham Lincoln to Emily Dickinson to Sigmund Freud.

What’s to love: A project of “renewal” for Leibovitz,schmuck frey wille hundertwasser, this intensely personal Pilgrimage — with its surprisingly dark imagery — is haunting, mysterious and moving.

100 UNFORGETTABLE DRESSES

By Hal Rubenstein

Harper Design, $35

What it’s about: The fashion director of InStyle magazine spotlights dresses that made a major “wow” statement — and the famous women who wore them.

What’s to love: “Unforgettable” doesn’t always mean beautiful — witness Rubenstein’s inclusion of Phyllis Diller in a 1960 tent dress. But there are plenty of knockouts too, from Princess Diana’s black “Revenge” dress to Halle Berry in revealingly embroidered Elie Saab at the Oscars in 2002.

THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW

REFLECTIONS ON AN AMERICAN LEGACY

By Deborah Davis

Abrams, $50

What it’s about: A big, glossy paean to the queen of talk — with tributes from fellow stars including Bono, Ellen DeGeneres and Julia Roberts.

What’s to love: As Oprah moves on to the “Next Chapter” on OWN starting Jan. 1, here’s a chance to relive the first 25 years of “aha” moments.

VISIONS OF EARTH

BEAUTY, MAJESTY, WONDER

By Susan Tyler Hitchcock

National Geographic, $40

What it’s about: A collection of dazzling photos drawn from National Geographic’s popular “Visions of Earth” feature.

What’s to love: Top-notch photographers circle the globe in search of things beautiful and wondrous. The result is an uplifting, unifying “vision” of our world.

THE LOUVRE

ALL THE PAINTINGS

Edited by Vincent Pomarede

Black Dog & Leventhal, $75

What it’s about: Reproduced in a single slipcased volume — all 2,981 paintings in the museum’s permanent collection.

What’s to love: Can’t get to Paris? Walk through the Louvre’s epic collection with your fingertips. (Comes with a DVD-ROM.)

KENYA

By Michael Poliza & Friends

teNeues, $95

What it’s about: An oversized photographic tour (safari!) through one of Africa’s most fascinating lands.

What’s to love: With its magnificent you-are-there photographs of Kenya’s landscape and wildlife, this is the ultimate in armchair traveling. Ah, wilderness.

Gannett News Service