Customer Reviews

Trading in Memories: Travels Through a Scavenger's Favorite Places

5 star:		(1)
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3 star:		(1)
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This little book is almost a treasure trove in itself. The author discusses her penchant for finding all manner of interesting bits and pieces, much of it discarded, in flea markets, bazaars, fetes and even rubbish bins on her travels throughout the world. The book itslelf is beautifully bound and reproduced, with gorgeous illustrations of bits and pieces and observations. I especially liked the chapter which tells of the punishments meted out to people who attempt to acquire a "Danger Landmines" sign in the Falklands.

But a small criticism - this would have made a wonderful, much longer book. We have only a taste of the author's penchant for the odd and discarded - I would have liked many more tales. I'll have to satisfy myself with wondering what her house looks like!

This book is so much fun; especially for those who love to loiter in dusty shop corners looking for mementos from the past...If Ephemera is your middle name, this book is for you. Ms. Hodgson takes you through years of her wanderings in world capitals and byways looking for whatever takes her fancy...things which might include old picture albumns, theater and sports stickers and tickets from the early 1900s or earlier, old containers and other cast off treasures. The only problem with this is that it's too short...More books like this, please!

Certainly not for everyone.I enjoyed this book because I am big fan of Barbara Hodgson and having read her other works, I was able to make the connections between her travels and how they influenced her books. However I do believe that someone who just happened to pick this book up might be bored to death. It was like an "inside joke" in that respect. It reminded me a little of Nick bantock's 'Artful Dodger'; the behind the scenes look at his other published work. Hers was not so disclosing. I am not sure exactly what the intention of this publication was meant to be now that I have read it. It isn't a guide to these places, nor is it a biography or memior of the author exactly, it is almost a confession of someone plagued by obsession. Which isn't to say that a passion for ephemera is sick and wrong but, her writing almost suggests that it is a affliction she can't escape and this is were it has brought her.The photos are (as always) absolutely lovely and are what makes this book a page-turner as you find yourself eager to discover the story behind each strange and unusual image.It isn't her best so don't judge her work by this if you haven't read her other books, but if you are familiar with her writings then you may be one of the select who will find this book interesting.