April – Booklist
All About Architecture
Architecture is more than blueprints and buildings; it is a physical record of human history. From stunning cathedrals to the quiet rooms of our homes, the structures we inhabit reveal who we are and what we value. This collection of factual histories and immersive fiction uncovers the secrets, dramas, and triumphs built into the walls around us.
Nonfiction
At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson
Tracing the evolution of private life, Bill Bryson uses the architecture of his own Victorian home to anchor a sprawling history of domestication. Each room serves as a gateway to a broader subject. Bryson shows that the history of the world is ultimately found within the very fabric of our houses.
Architecture: A Very Short Introduction by Andrew Ballantyne
Led by an architect and professor, this book explores how the world’s buildings—from ancient Egyptian monuments to modern offices—reveal the shifting values of human civilization. Complete with a glossary, it is an essential guide to how the Western tradition defines and creates “great” buildings.
Many Masks: A Life of Frank Lloyd Wright by Brenden Gill
A longtime friend, writer, and critic, Gill chronicles the turbulent career and private life of the gifted American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. The author provides unique insights into the creative genius and difficult personality behind the masterpieces.
Kicked a Building Lately? by Ada Louise Huxtable
In this collection of compelling, articulate articles by a distinguished American architecture critic focusing on style, urban livability, and the protection of historic landmarks, the author provides a sharp-witted defense of the buildings that define our cities. Pulitzer Prize Winner 1970.
Fiction
The Pillars of Earth by Ken Follett
Set against the sweeping backdrop of twelfth-century England, this historical epic follows a visionary prior and a master mason as they struggle to build a magnificent Gothic cathedral. Voted one of Britain’s best-loved books, it is a tale of ambition, faith, and the enduring power of human creation. This is the first book in a trilogy, read all three!
The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif Shafak
Set in the lavish backdrop of the Ottoman Empire, this novel explores the clash between scientific progress and religious tradition through the eyes of a young architect’s apprentice. While tending to a royal elephant and falling for the Sultan’s daughter, Jahan witnesses the construction of history’s greatest buildings amid a storm of professional jealousy and court secrets.
Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie
Newly arrived in England, Gwenda Reed finds the perfect home—only to realize she may have lived there in a past life or witnessed a murder within its walls. A chance encounter with the brilliant Miss Marple turns Gwenda’s frightening flashes of memory into a cold-case investigation. Together, they peel back the layers of a decades-old mystery to reveal a killer still hiding in plain sight.
The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis
The Frick mansion holds secrets that span generations in this atmospheric mystery of art and obsession. Highlighting the dramatic tales of two women in 1919 and 1966, it is a brilliant exploration of how New York’s most famous landmarks can hide the darkest of family secrets.
Image Description: A rendering of a beautiful modern home surrounded by tropical plants in the center of the image, fades on all sides into a rough blue print drawing with notes and calculations.