Customer Reviews

For the Love of Old: Living with Chipped, Frayed, Tarnished, Faded, Tattered, Worn and Weathered Things that Bring Comfort, Character and Joy to the Places We Call Home

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

There is a certain type of person who is drawn to stray dogs, sad stories, and unfortunates of all sorts. I believe it is the same type of person who often "adopts" other people's cast-off objects. A chair past its prime; crackled paint on an old cupboard; or the worn pads of an old Teddy bear speak to our hearts of home, childhood, and simple comforts. Author Mary Randolph Carter is definitely a connoisseur of the crumbling.
Collectors, lovers of garage sales and flea markets, and those who enjoy feathering their nests with their finds will love this book. I knew it was special the moment I saw the endpapers, a montage of sewn-together printed silk patches that appear to be old cigarette silks--a premium that came with each cigarette pack. Carter has this item displayed in her Garden Hutte, pictured on p. 201.
All of Mary Randolph Carter's books are special, and I treasure them not only for their obvious merits, but also because each is imbued with the author's heart and soul. Check out the chapter called "The Secret Cupboard"--her stash of precious childhood mementos--and you'll see what I mean. I love the glimpses of her private world, the rooms and things she treasures. Her love for her family is touchingly evident, just as it is in her other books.
Beautifully photographed by the author, "For the Love of Old" is divided into chapters detailing Carter's collecting interests: tarnished metals; worn textiles; old photos; etc.
If you aren't a junk devotee already, Carter's book will help you look at other people's discards with a new eye. You, too, will find yourself on the hunt for the unloved, abandoned, and imperfect. This is not your ordinary "shelter" book. It will appeal to not only collectors, but to those disillusioned with our throwaway culture.

I was so disappointed with this book! I wanted to see clear, colourful pictures of rooms glorying in sagging wing chairs and balloon shades that have seen better days, but most of the photos were fuzzy close-ups of peeling dolls, family photos or *evocative* bowls of rocks. I love *old* but I guess I am a still a Middle-Aged Fogey who cannot appreciate the Romance of Rust.

By the way, what's with the ribbon marker, Rizzoli? I thought this book was supposed to be about the Joy of Living with Dust.

I like the ultra-personal aspect of this book very much, including grainy photography, distinctive typography and "extras" like the
ribbon book mark and gold-stamped touches. The book provides behind-the-curtain insight into a designer who loves creating a creative and distinctive home, using anything that comes to hand. Her trademark appreciation of old worn things and chipped distressed surfaces is a strong point of this book, and she is unapologetic about her love of funk and junk. Well-done. However, I had the feeling that some "evil twin" made her add an overabundance of "household cleaning tips" to the text of the book, and these needlessly-fussy instructions are distracting and trivial. For example, a grainy close-up of tarnished silver knives with ivory handles is over-printed with "Dishwashers can do in your cutlery by producing rainbow-like stains. When this happens, try wiping them down with a little lemon juice!". Perhaps this kind of information, if needed at all, could have been organized into a final chapter or "almanac" at the back of the book? I thought the insistence on adding housekeeping information alongside images of frankly-distressed and funky/relaxed interiors was an unfortunate decision that ruined an otherwise-distinctive book.

Ever since I first saw "Family Style" I've been a huge fan of Mary Randolph Carter. I've bought all of her so called "Junk" books and thought them fabulous, but this new offering from Rizzoli looks like so many other
decorating with vintage volumes. The lettering style is difficult to read and doesn't contrast with the cover photo. The layout seems full of wasted space and the hand lettering style doesn't work well with the type style. Despite the book's weak design direction the photos and text are great. "For the Love of Old" needs to be less self-conscious and more down to earth.

I love her other books, I was so looking forward to reading this one over a long afternoon. I fell hook, line and sinker for her romance with flea markets and flea market treasures. This one looks like she took the leavings off the cutting room floor from her other books, packaged it nicely and called it good. Except it is not, good that is. Sorry but this stuff just looks like junk that I would not give a second glance to at a yard sale or flea market. And the price is so high!! Mutton done up as lamb.

Many, indeed virtually all, of the books we see on interior decorating show rooms set with furnishings that are either brand new or antiques that are pristine and beautiful. They are a very, very long way from those long ago college days when glasses came from empty jelly jars and none of the plates or silverware matched.

Ms. Carter's book is a celebration of the old, the frayed, etc. The individual table settings don't have to be all alike. They just need to be interesting, attractive, have a story to tell. I particularly liked her comments regarding silver, probably because I've gotten a lot of it from my mother and grandmother.

Ms. Carter has an artistic eye that sees art where other people see junk. She matches her eye with her photographic skills that enable her to show exactly what she means. It's a book to be celebrated by those of us who like garage sales, thrift shops and making that special find.

AN AWESOME, INSPIRING, AND COMFORTING BOOK FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE OLD AND ECLECTIC LIFESTYLE. SIMPLY WRITTEN AND BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOS FIT FOR FRAMING. A GREAT RAINY DAY READ AND SUITABLE FOR THE COFFEE TABLE.

I received this as a gift on Christmas. The cover was absolutely lovely. I couldn't wait to look inside. YIKES! The photographer did a terrific job, the book itself is very pretty, great colors, could make a lovely coffee table book. However the content is TERRIBLE!!! . I agree with the reviewer that all those pictures of the tatered dolls and other items/artifacts are very creepy indeed. Frankly it just looks messy, gloomy & dusty. I adore old things, books, beautiful photographs and antiques but this book is horrible. Unless you have seen this book in person and like it, DO NOT waste your money. I cannot imagine paying 50 dollars or even the amazon discounted rate. Buyer Beware on this one....

I loved Mary Randolph Carter's book American Family Style so much and this book seemed to me like a part two of that original book. Although this book wasn't filled with pictures of her family it was filled with the same warmth and comfort as the original. Even though it may not be filled with exactly the things I might put in my own home it is something I enjoy reading. You can tell the author truly LOVES these lost, rusty, beautiful things. I truly can appreciate that.

As an avid reader, and collector of books, it's been years since I have added a title in this genre to the permanent resident shelf. As both writer and photographer M.R. Carter has captured the soul of old things and the people who love them. It is a work of art- pure pleasure. The author's personal journey in the pursuit of her treasures is engaging, and refreshing in its non-elitist approach. Anyone can discover a little something to place in a special spot. Those little "altars" of homeliness make nesters happy, and make our homes truly reflect us. Just in time for the winter season "For the Love of Old" is a delightful companion.
bursting with good, simple pleasures and wonderful ideas.