Customer Reviews

Extra/Ordinary Objects: Colors (Vol 1) (French Edition)

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I was walking around the bookstore, and this book popped out at me! I'm not normally an art fan, but I'm big on pop culture, and I had to pick it up to look at it!

I found it a strange book, which I loved. It's just filled with ordinary and not so ordinary items that we may have used ourselves. (or not)

Example: Do you remember Squeez-its? I remember drinking those juices in elementary and junior high. What happened to them?

There were Japanese "blood type" condoms that are said to sell 2 million every year in Japan.

One very interesting item I found was "Doti," which is hardened termite excrement, believed to give strength because they are rich in minerals. Women in Zambia eat it during their pregnancy.

One very disturbing picture I found was of an Aryan doll that KKK members give to their children to play with. One good thing I read was that the membership is dwindling, from five million in 1920, to two thousand, five hundred in 1998. Not perfect, but getting better.

Basically, it's a good small coffee table book that will generate some interesting conversations. It's written in French and English. I think that it would be good for all cultures to read, in order to understand each other better.

Don't forget to look up the "edible cow pie!" Which is really chocolate, caramel, and pecans, which is destined to turn some heads.

Of course I'm going to buy the two books together, the first one was so interesting!

On the cover, shows some Petrodex, which is toothpaste for dogs, something that I actually used in the past! It gives some useful information that not everyone knows, which is: if you don't brush your dogs teeth often, it can lead to gum---AND heart disease. If you buy them toothpaste, don't forget to buy "music for healthy pets," which has a cute puppy on the cover. The Japanese veterinarian Norio Aoki claims that, "Cheerful but serene music is good for dogs and romantic music is good for cats." I wonder how he found that out. Keeping with the pet theme, don't forget "Thirsty Dog!" It's a pet drink in crispy beef flavor, and fish flavor for cats. Who knew?

I thought that the "teddy bear passport," was really cool. Basically, they started being handed out to children to keep abductions from happening by parents who don't have custody. Now, Japanese, British, and Australian babies have to have them. There are two teddy bears on the cover, and their are instructions inside how to keep "teddy" safe.

Of course, just like the last book, it shows the ugly side of things. There is a "Kaba Kick," Russian Roulette for kids. You point the gun at your head and pull the trigger. If the gun doesn't fire, and the pair of feet don't kick out, you win points. Disturbing.

One more I found was the "Battered Doll." Basically, it's this smiling doll with missing teeth, a bandaid on his cheek, a bruise on his forehead, and a black eye. It claims that, "physical and psychological abuse is a serious problem in Spain." Psychologists have said that "if they (children) see a battered child, they won't find it alarming. They get used to holding it, find it cute, and this desensitizes them." I couldn't believe this but, they tried to ban it, and they failed!

Once again, this book is in English and French and gives you a little peek into other cultures and their daily home items. I want to get more books like this! Very interesting!

If you enjoy COLORS magazine and the interesting oddities and world trivia that magazine is known for, this book follows that format. Great detailed photos and explanations of the curiosities from various cultures with some humor and the occasional reminder that the world can be a weird place to live.