The Art of the Brick - A Life in LEGO by Nathan Sawaya - Book Review.

The Art of the Brick -

A life of Lego by Nathan Sawaya

Now I do have to admit the biggest sin of them all, I missed my chance to go and see the amazing The Art of the Brick exhibit when it was in London. I regret not going. After seeing on-line images and reading this book by the artist Nathan Sawaya, just makes me feel worst about it. With a growing interest and artist fascination with the simple brick; the art world has grown bigger and bigger with more artist coming out of the wood work.

Now in my opinion Nathan is the best Lego Sculpture artist I have ever seen. Using only a simple brick to create these beautiful sculptures. From up close the sculpture is blocky and pixilated but from a far the piece seems smooth and realistic. Allowing the artwork to change perspective of the item from different distances.

Nathan creates a miscellaneous types of sculptures. Some a recreations of day-to-day items (for example, apples a dog), artworks (for example, The Kiss by Gustav Klimt) and a number of unusual modern art human sculptures (for example, Yellow). Some of these sculptures are actually featured in the book.

Looking at the book itself, is a high quality book. The book is full of amazing images of each sculpture which is described on every page. The great thing about this book, is how its written by the artist himself; rather than a critic who describes what he thinks of each art work depicted. Doing the book this way allows the reader to get a glimpse in the world of the artist and the inspiration behind each piece. Giving you, the reader, a personal perspective and the true idea behind the art, rather a false interpretation of someone else.

MOC inspired by

Nathan Sawaya

Okay you might be saying 'why don't you like art critics opinions?' That's not what I am trying to say, they all have valid opinions and art is there to be interpreted. Each view of a piece of art will be in fact different and comes from how the viewer feels about the art work in question. Art is there to be bring out those emotions and ideas. Although it can be far more interesting to learn the inspiration of the artist and their intention of the piece itself. For example, one may look at Yellow a say, it about a broken heart. The gapping whole of what was once there when they were loved. Which is completely valid; although Nathan, the artist, will say its a person opening their true self to the world without fear and how this has shown in his own life experiences. So the explanation by the artist can be more valuable than others as it gives you more of an insight.

Well then would I suggest to you to get this book? Yes, would be the simple answer. If you are a fun of Lego and/or art then don't hesitate to get this book. This book is valuable as it give you a insight into the world of the artist, Nathan Sawaya and his fantastic pieces of art he loves to create. Getting this book will be the most fascinating thing you will do today.

The Lego Architect Book Review.

The Lego Architect

by Tom Alphin

Ever since the creation of the plastic brick in 1949, building creation and recreations out of the interlocking brick system has fascinated fans for generation. So it's not surprising it has branched out to architecture. Seeing many beautiful creations of buildings using many interesting techniques of Lego building to recreate these iconic sites. With this interest saw the introduction of the product series by Lego with Lego Architecture in 2008 and onwards.

This book by Tom Alphin, takes a look at the many different types and techniques of architecture and Lego creations. In each is a reasonable length of description on the history and definition of the type of architecture which is used. The interesting aspect of the book is the inclusion of building tips to help with creating your own model. I have never personally seen this in any Lego book before and I do wish to see more of it in more variety of Lego subjects. 

The Prairie House model

After the definition a number of amazing Lego model recreations by other great Lego builders which relate to this type of architecture that's mentioned.

After this there is a section to build your own little model as Tom Alphin has designed some great small Lego instructions to follow. Unusually the models you can create only uses one colour, white. It is interesting why he may have used a single and plain colour; as he might have been referring to architect design models which are normally used by architects to show and display their designs before it is built. 

The uses of the white can also be very helpful on obtaining the parts you need to build the models as a great source of this would be the Lego Architecture Studio set. However, not all the parts you need are in the set. Although using the Studio is most likely the easiest option you will still need to get a few additional pieces especially if you wish to make all of the models in the book. If you wish to do this I would advise to get more than one Lego Architecture Studio set.

The Art Deco

Movie Theatre model

Overall the book is interesting and full of information and Lego ideas to think about. The book is a beautiful addition to your bookshelf and a interesting read to past the time with. If you like the Lego Architecture series, architecture or architectural history. Worth a buy. 

Brick Shakespeare: Tragedies & Comedies book REVIEW

Brick Shakespeare
by McCann, Sweeney & Thomas

The Brick Shakespeare books takes a unique look at Shakespeare's most famous plays. The version I got housed two books one on the tragedy plays and the other comedy. You can buy them separately depending on what plays you wish to read. With the version I got you receive a double sided poster with Lego Romeo and Juliet on one side and The Taming of the Shrew on the other.

Poster of The Taming
of the Shrew

As the all of the plays they decided to recreate in the book are long they haven't created the full versions. So they handpicked the scenes which are the most interesting and significant to the story-line. 

This whole book is illustrated by scene by scene photos. The sets they uses in the images to illustrate the books are very basic. They hardly house imagination or effort put towards the design of them. They could have done better. I have seen many books similar to these with far more interesting sets which background the scenes they recreate. 

I don't normally talk about the covers of book in my reviews but with this one I am going to make a exception. They are unusual. The cover isn't of one picture like most but it is made up of many. Now I don't know about you but I never really seen many books like that. I see what they are trying to do with this; they are trying to showcase all the plays they are depicting in the book but this me think of some Instagram page and not a book cover.   

Poster of Romeo and Juliet

As I said above each play is depicted in Lego images in a scene by scene style which isn't unusual for Lego books like these ones. However, the script which is written below of each frame is placed within a scroll like backdrop and the font made to look like handwriting. This way of displaying the plays seem silly and unnecessary. This trying to create a theatrical feel to the book. I see what they are trying to achieve with this; they are trying to make it seem old to give the reader a sense of place. Although this only makes me see a childish feel for the book.   

Great Lego Sets - A Visual History book REVIEW!

Great LEGO Sets by DK

With this large book, the Great Lego Sets by DK, you receive a exclusive micro-scale space cruiser. This small spaceship is inspired by the 1979 LEGOLAND Space Cruiser and Moonbase set, #928. Which you can find documented within, and displayed on the cover the book.

Like most of the Lego history books by DK, they take you through year by year. Far as I know this book doesn't look at all of the Lego sets which have been produced but a selection of over 300 of the best sets.

For each set you get a detailed 'Guided Tour' which takes you through the sets and the 'Brick By Brick' that takes a look in more detail on the elements which are used in the sets.

Exclusive Micro-Scale
Space Cruiser

However, what makes this book so different from the Lego books produced in the past is you learn about some of the designers themselves. These small profiles on the designers are only depicted with ground breaking sets, such as one of the largest Lego set, the Taj Mahal #10189, 2008.  

Medieval Lego History book REVIEW!

Medieval Lego by Greyson.

Medieval Lego by Greyson Beights is one of the best Historic books which is illustrated with Lego I have ever read. The whole book inside and out just shows high quality in the information and materials. 

Greyson and with the help of Medievalist Scholars, created a book that looks at the overview of important events which made  the Medieval world as a whole. You'll will be able to learn about the Battle of Hastings, the signing of the Magna Carta and other great events. 

Greyson gives us a nice balance of Lego Photography and information, which you don't necessarily see in a lot Historic Lego books. Most of the time Historic Lego books give you a lot of photos with so little information accompanying them. This book however gives you a equal display of both.
  

Even the price seems generous for such a great  and small book. The only thing bad, that I can think of, is there isn't enough of it. Give me more! 

The photos themselves are great, everything you see is done in shot, as it seems there was no use of Photoshop at all. Oh and the builds that make up the scenery are amazing. Beautifully designed and built. 

Magna Carta 1215.

If you're a Lego purist then you would be happy to hear that everything in this book is Lego, no custom accessories or minifigs. Definitely a great book for both Lego and History fans of all ages.  

I Love That Minifigure! Book REVIEW!

I Love That Minifigure by DK.

With this small Lego book you receive a exclusive minifigure, a Zombie Skateboarder which is a recreation of the first Lego Skateboarder from the Minifigure Series 1. A great minifigure. Many people simply got this book just for the minifigure alone but the book is equally as good as well.

It is very similar to the Lego Minifigure Year by Year book although it looks at a smaller selection of minifigures, shows more detailed information and shows how exclusive and rare each of them are. It rates the minifigures rarity, on how many were made and how many sets had it in. Funny enough it also describes the exclusive minifigure that even comes with the book.   

Exclusive Minifigure,
Zombie Skateboarder.

Now if you aren't a huge Lego fan then I wouldn't suggest reading this, as this book is more for a Lego enthusiast and collector as it isn't a book for a light read. This book would be extremely useful for anyone who collects minifigures and wants to know information about their collection or to see which ones they might not have. 

Lego Minifigure Year by Year - A Visual History Book REVIEW!

Lego Minifigure Year by Year
by DK

With this very large book, official Lego book by DK, you receive three exclusive minifigures, a plain Townsperson, Stormtrooper and a Robber. The minifigures aren't really that special, I wouldn't advice anyone getting the book just for the minifigures alone. They wouldn't be worth it. Although the book is, as long as you have a huge interest in Lego minifigure. 

You can learn the history of the Lego minifig, how they are made and how they have evolved to the little yellow figures we know and love today. As it shows in the name of the book it goes through each minifigure year by year. Telling you different information about each one. It even touches on the elements that makes up each minifig, such as, the different hats and hairpieces they may use.

Exclusive Minifigures, 
Townsperson, Stormtrooper 
& Robber     

Now if you aren't a huge Lego fan then I wouldn't suggest reading this, as this book is more for a Lego enthusiast and collector as it isn't a book for a light read. This book would be extremely useful for anyone who collects minifigs and wants to know information about their collection or to see which ones they might not have. 

Revolution! The brick chronicle of the American Revolution and the inspiring fight for liberty and equality that shook the world - BOOK REVIEW

Revolution is a history book by Brendan Powell Smith, which looks at the both the American and French revolution. Published in 2014. You can purchase a copy from Amazon. 

Revolution! The brick chronicle of the
American Revolution and
the inspiring fight for Liberty
and equality that shook the World.

Brendan is a Lego photographer, who has undertaken many different Lego projects such as the Brick Bible, where he has done a similar thing with his history books but also famous scenes from the Bible. Such as Adam and Eve and the Last Supper. 

Brendan's Brick Bible push started his new historic projects including the Assassination! and Revolution!; hopeful there will be even more of this calibre in the near future.

A scene of a Continental army massacre.

Looking at Revolution, I can see how much in approvement Brendan has made from his previous book, Assassination. Using the same methods of putting the events across to the read, with step by step scenes along side the facts. Although, the book seems to be divided in quality and realism. As I have said before in may last review of Assassination, he has made history seem more palatable but he somehow makes a lot of his work as realistic as possible, no matter how shocking or gory he has made it work in the materials he has available, Lego.

George Washington,
Commander-in-Chief
of the Continental army. 

The construction of some characters do sometimes spoil the amazing representation of history using Lego. He tries to recreate the fashion of the time of long stocks and high boots. His portail of this makes them look like they are short and standing on stilts to make them taller. Shown here with Washington. This seems to be very unnecessary creativeness but sadly doesn't look too good as the rest of the illustrations throughout the book.

Ichabod Alden being killed
by Iroquois outside
a fort at Cherry Valley.

It is also a shame that some of the scenes do look like that Brendan has used photo shopped for things that were hard to recreate out of Lego. Such as a scene of Ichabod Alden being killed with a tomahawk. Which is a shame as it destroys the idea of having all of it naturally made up of Lego. Although it does make it realistic.

On a happier note, in this book I could not find any typos, in comparison to in Assassination. Which is a great improvement.

Invasion of Quebec
by General John Burgoyne.

In Revolution, you will be able to see more hat and hair creations which make the scene so much more realistic. This technique can be seen in the recently released LEGO MOVIE. This is been portrayed in this book contrast to Brendan's other creations. Although this is a good thing, I have seen constantly inconsistency in the idea as well as the result of paint or colouring of the back of the heads to seem like there is hair. For example, the invasion of Quebec, General John Burgoyne has Lego hair and hat but the captured Continental soldiers have coloured in hair. Even though these are detailed in doing so, it doesn't look great with the inconsistence of Lego hair.

Brendan Powell Smith,
the Author of Revolution
and Brick Books. 

Moving past the mistakes and faults of the book, it is a great historic book to read and flick through. Has looked at both sides of the events of the revolutions which show bad and good events. Allowing the reader to gain all the facts to give their own judgement on the facts that are given to them. Making the book in some respects un-biased, which is rare in writing about history and past events. Most historians and writers seem to lavish themselves in putting their own point across but it seems that Brendan has skipped and ignored the idea. This makes a great read for history and Lego fans alike.

I can't wait to see if Brendan Smith publishes anymore books because I will love to read them and enjoy.

Assassination! The brick chronicle of attempts on the lives of twelve US Presidents. BOOK REVIEW!!!

Assassination is a history book by Brendan Powell Smith, who looks at the many attempts on twelve different US Presidents throughout history. Published in 2013. Which you can purchase a copy on Amazon 

Assassination! The Brick chronicle 
of attempts on the lives of 
twelve US Presidents.

Brendan is a lego photographer, who has undertaken many different Lego projects such as the Brick Bible, where he has done a similar thing with his history books but with famous scenes from the Bible. Such as Adam and Eve and the Last Supper. 

Brendan's Brick Bible push started his new historic projects including the Assassination! and Revolution!; hopeful there will even more in the near future.

JFK being shot by Oswald in 1963

With the Assassination book he has laid out it out to have step by step stages and scene of the event that have unfolded. Giving you the information as well as a photos of each scene that is described in Lego. He has made history seem more palatable but he some how makes a lot of his work as realistic as possible, no matter how shocking or gory he has made it work in the materials he has available, Lego. 

Although in most cases the scenes are amazingly constructed but in small cases there is some room for improvement which looks like he might have achieved in the next book - Revolution!

John Booth Shooting 
Abraham Lincoln
in 1865 at Ford's Theatre.

It is such a shame that some of the scenes do look like that Brendan has used photoshopped for things that were hard to recreate out of Lego. Such as the smock of the gun when John Booth, after shooting Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Which is a shame as it destroys the idea of having all of it naturally made up of Lego.

There could have been better attention given to the typos which should have been picked up before publishing. For example he meant to put "Schrank", who attempted to assassinated Theodore Roosevelt but spelt his name as "Shrank". This is quite obviously a typo because he uses the correct spelling throughout the rest of the chapter that uses Schrank's story.

As a dyslexic I can understand some of these mistakes but to get this far in production of the book seems silly, ignorant of the publishers, printers and sorry, the author. 

Brendan Powell Smith, 
the author of Assassination 
and other Brick Books.

Moving past the mistakes and faults of the book, it is a great historic book to read and flick through. Brendan has looked at the events from many angles, such as looking at the background of the assassins and looking at the facts rather than casting judgement upon them. This allows the reader to think for themselves to bring their own thoughts about them. Making the book in some respects un-biased, which is rare in writing about history and past events. Most historians and writers seem to lavish themselves in putting their own point across but it seems that Brendan has skipped and ignored the idea. Which makes it a great read for history and Lego fans worldwide. 

I can't wait to read his next book, which I will post my own judgement upon soon.