Talking Pictures: Images and Messages Rescued from the Past
Talking Pictures: Images and Messages Rescued from the Past book cover

Talking Pictures: Images and Messages Rescued from the Past

Paperback – October 16, 2012

Price
$19.99
Format
Paperback
Pages
384
Publisher
It Books
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0062099495
Dimensions
7.9 x 7 x 0.9 inches
Weight
1.8 pounds

Description

"I'm absolutely fascinated ... there's just enough written [on the photos] to make each image more powerful, and leave you wanting to know more." - Boingboing.net With the candid quirkiness of Awkward Family Photos and the confessional intimacy of PostSecret , Ransom Riggs's Talking Pictures is a haunting collection of antique found photographs—with evocative inscriptions that bring these lost personal moments to life—from the author of the New York Times bestselling illustrated novel Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children . Each image in Talking Pictures reveals a singular, frozen moment in a person's life, be it joyful, quiet, or steeped in sorrow. Yet the book's unique depth comes from the writing accompanying each photo: as with the caption revealing how one seemingly random snapshot of a dancing couple captured the first dance of their 40-year marriage, each successive inscription shines like a flashbulb illuminating a photograph's particular context and lighting up our connection to the past. Ransom Riggs is the New York Times bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, the writing of which was largely responsible for his current addiction to old photo collecting. Rather than seek treatment, Ransom channeled his compulsion into the compiling of Talking Pictures, a book he hopes will make you cry, and perhaps find a coveted spot on your coffee table. He lives in Los Angeles, where you can often find him hunting for old snapshots at the monthly Rose Bowl Swap meet. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • With the candid quirkiness of
  • Awkward Family Photos
  • and the confessional intimacy of
  • PostSecret
  • , Ransom Riggs's
  • Talking Pictures
  • is a haunting collection of antique found photographs—with evocative inscriptions that bring these lost personal moments to life—from the author of the
  • New York Times
  • bestselling illustrated novel
  • Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
  • . Each image in
  • Talking Pictures
  • reveals a singular, frozen moment in a person’s life, be it joyful, quiet, or steeped in sorrow. Yet the book’s unique depth comes from the writing accompanying each photo: as with the caption revealing how one seemingly random snapshot of a dancing couple captured the first dance of their 40-year marriage, each successive inscription shines like a flashbulb illuminating a photograph’s particular context and lighting up our connection to the past.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(145)
★★★★
25%
(121)
★★★
15%
(72)
★★
7%
(34)
23%
(111)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

Very moving and interesting

I was very pleased with this book. Though I have never 'collected' other peoples discarded photos, most of the photos in the book bore a striking resemblence to the old family albums my parents have kept over the years, many with captions as curious and quaint, sassy and self-deprecating. I'm always taken aback when I consider these were real people with lives and hopes and dreams, and we are given the priviledge of sometimes knowing what the years brought to them, after the photos were taken. It brings mortality home to appreciate how many came before us, stars in their eyes at what their future held, and the years unfolded and time did what time will do. I was especially moved by the grouping of photos of the young girl who died at the age of 10. Somewhere there's a whole story about why someone would choose to dispose of such a touching reminder of the short life of a girl so obviously well loved.

Also, the photo of Dorothy at the beginning, who died of leukemia, reminded me of a picture my mother has of her dear cousin who died of leukemia at age 17 back in the late 1940s. She, too, was so beautiful and seemingly full of life. Thank you, Mr. Riggs, for sharing your treasure trove with us.
29 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Fascinating book!

This is a fascinating book, probably more so for those with an interest in the past and the lives of people back then. The notes written (and occasionally typed) on the photos sometimes tease us with stories that will never be told. How and why each of these photographs ended up for sale or simply tossed out would make for some intriguing tales as well. The chapter dedicated to Janet Lee is especially sad, a series of several photos providing snippets of a life that ended too soon and a mother who obviously loved her daughter very much. If these photographs can teach us anything it's that aside from the era we live in we're no different than the people who lived, loved, laughed and cried many decades ago.
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Pictures

Awesome book full of awesome pictures. Even though it's not a "story" you can make you own story with the pictures
1 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Loved this book

Loved this book, I also pick up photos that resemble family members, usually i, more humerous situations. My aunt does as well we both also, collect pictures of children with interesting expressions, like my, ponytail is too tight, or I'm goi,g to clobber my sibling when this,is over or the fakey, let's just get this over with. I loaned the boom to my aunt a,d she in turn loaned it to a friend neighbor. God only k,owe when I'll get it back.
1 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Great book

I bought this because I love Ransom Riggs other work, and was not disappointed. If you've ever spent hours just looking through old photographs-which I have done-then this is your book. I found myself imagining these people's lives, their passions, their sorrows, etc. Highly recommended!
1 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

What a great book.

As an old photo fan, I was intrigued by this book. I'm so glad I ordered it. Every photo tells a story, but these leave me wanting more, and I hope Mr Riggs compiles more books like it.
1 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Good book!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and gave it as gift to friend with similar taste. Ransom Riggs is quite creative. I also recommend Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.
1 people found this helpful
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I'd recommend

I bought this off of the used marketplace. It came in great condition,I could not be happier with it
✓ Verified Purchase

Interesting and sometimes heartbreaking

I can see the fascination with old pictures. This book was very entertaining and sometimes made me want to dry. The tales a picture can tell are amazing. They really are worth a thousand words. I enjoyed it and it left me wishing it was longer. Hopefully there will be a sequel in the near future.
✓ Verified Purchase

Very strange and extremely interesting!

If you've read the books by Ransom Riggs, "The Peculiar Children of Miss Peregrine"...this book of his collection of "peculiar" photos is an absolute must. Extremely interesting and some very strange photos. Wonderful book.