Martha’s Vineyard Coffee Table Books (part 2)

4.   The Houses of Martha’s Vineyard by Keith Moskow.  11.5 x 9.4, 223 pages, $50.

Again, oversized, gorgeous glossy photos.  This time: Profiles of 24 houses built in the past 20 years on Martha’s Vineyard by a variety of renowned architects.  The photos show the way these houses fit into their surroundings, as well as interior shots.  What’s special about this one?  It actually includes architectural plans as well, so for the armchair architect, this book is fantastic.

 

 

5.  A Garden Lover’s Martha’s Vineyard by C.L. Fornari.  10.4 x 8.6, 132 pages, $34.95.

This one features some of the gorgeous gardens of the Vineyard… all those lovely spots you can’t necessarily see as a visitor.  What makes this one special?  It has a pretty narrow focus, but I think everyone knows that one special gardener who would love a book like this.  And it doesn’t just have pictures: there’s quite a bit of text concerning the particular challenges of gardening on the island, and some great tips for gardeners everywhere.

 

 

6.  Martha’s Vineyard at its Best with photographs by Andrew Borsari.  10.85 x 8.6, 60 pages, $14.95.

These are the pictures you know and love of the Vineyard.  Lighthouses, beaches, sunsets over harbors, gingerbread houses.  What’s special about this one?  It’s paperback.  So it’s easy to mail as a gift, take home in luggage, and flip through on your lap.  And for the person who wants all those postcard pictures they remember, it’s perfect.

 

 

 

7.  Vineyard Voices, interviews by Linsey Lee, published by the Vineyard Oral History Center of the Martha’s Vineyard Historical Society. 12 x 9.2, 296 pages, $29.95.

Other than size, this is not at all a typical coffee table book.  The pictures are black and white, it’s text heavy, and it’s all portraits, no scenery.  And it’s fantastic.  What makes this one special?  Each interview is a 2-4 page story told by an Islander.  75 people are featured with stories ranging from race relations to the presence of skunks on island.  It’s a pleasure to pick up the book, read one snippet, and set it back for next time.  We’re a lucky community to have such a great resource.

 

This list of books is nowhere near exhaustive… Just a nice variety.  I’m sure as time goes by, I’ll take the occasional big old book of the shelf and talk about it here… stayed tuned.