Churches

Rating:
Summary: Architecture and Churches
Review: A fascinating, clever book about why churches are the essence of architecture. Anyone interested in the reasons why travelers flock to churches throughout the world to view the beauty that is represented in those structures, will be unable to put this book down.

Rating:
Summary: More than an architectural book!
Review: A simply wonderful book! For those who love architecture and history, it is first rate - the photography is outstanding, the essays document the history and styles over a number of centuries. It is a real pleasure to just peruse the pages.

More impressive to me than the documentary aspect is the humanity found in the essays. The author maintains a thread throughout the book - that of our ever-present desire to reestablish and maintain a relationship with God. Each church has a very human story behind it, illustrating this point and bringing the often grand scale of the structure into something more relatable and meaningful.

I found the book heartening and warm. It seem particularly appropriate in these times of uncertainty. I can't recommend it enough.

Rating:
Summary: SIXTY OF THE WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL CHURCHS
Review: Anyone who has travelled, particularly through Europe, will attest to the fact there are some magnificent examples of architecture, culture and history to be found in exquisite churches. This book is a fine example of the history that has been preserved throughout the years. The reader will marvel at the unique shot of St. Peter's Square, the intricate restoration of the Sistine Ceiling and the breath-taking wonder of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Spain has, without quesion, some of the most incredible, historic churches in existence. I thought the book could have been a more conventional size in dimension. It is rather cumbersome, but overall the book is still a prime example of the elegance, grace and splendor of many impressive and majestic churches.

Rating:
Summary: Opening the Door to the History of Churches
Review: As like Judith Dupre's other books on architecture, the physical form immediately connects you to the subject matter: "Churches" opens in the center like an ancient tabernacle, and begins it's display of remarkabley picked photos of the world's most important historic churches accompanied by a finely researched text comparable to Dupre's other literary landmarks for architecture. Each page also contains famous quotes, important first-glance facts, and a delicate strip of passages from the bible leading from one page to the next. Begining with the Pantheon, the book's historic churches are contrasted by contemporary works by architects such as Ando, Pelli, Johnson, Fay Jones, Siza, Legoretta, etc. Many of the photos themselves are historical, such as the oldest known view of Wall Street, or the opening day of the second Vatican council, to the first IKONOS image of St. Peter's Square taken 400 miles above earth. And so these extraordinary images are accompanied by fascinating stories and facts that immerse you into the voyage of humanity's unending quest in making the house of worship. "Churches" also opens with the first in-depth English interview that Mario Botta, a preeminent church-builder in Europe, has ever given. From the cover, to the endpapers, to the center's two-page lay-out of the restored Sistine Ceiling, the book is a joy to handle, and every page a joy to turn as you enter into an informative and visual journey of history's most fascinating places of worship. Thank you Ms. Dupre'!

Rating:
Summary: Opening the Door to the History of Churches
Review: As like Judith Dupre's other books on architecture, the physical form immediately connects you to the subject matter: "Churches" opens in the center like an ancient tabernacle, and begins it's display of remarkabley picked photos of the world's most important historic churches accompanied by a finely researched text comparable to Dupre's other literary landmarks for architecture. Each page also contains famous quotes, important first-glance facts, and a delicate strip of passages from the bible leading from one page to the next. Begining with the Pantheon, the book's historic churches are contrasted by contemporary works by architects such as Ando, Pelli, Johnson, Fay Jones, Siza, Legoretta, etc. Many of the photos themselves are historical, such as the oldest known view of Wall Street, or the opening day of the second Vatican council, to the first IKONOS image of St. Peter's Square taken 400 miles above earth. And so these extraordinary images are accompanied by fascinating stories and facts that immerse you into the voyage of humanity's unending quest in making the house of worship. "Churches" also opens with the first in-depth English interview that Mario Botta, a preeminent church-builder in Europe, has ever given. From the cover, to the endpapers, to the center's two-page lay-out of the restored Sistine Ceiling, the book is a joy to handle, and every page a joy to turn as you enter into an informative and visual journey of history's most fascinating places of worship. Thank you Ms. Dupre'!

Rating:
Summary: What next ?
Review: I own and love two earlier books by Judith Dupre ("Bridges" and "Skyscrapers") both of which include truly exceptional b/w photographs. I'd heard that she was working on "Churches" and I anticipated it to be similar to the others.

Well, in some very positive ways, it is. The degree of diligence in her research is the same. Her choice of subjects is, as before, impeccable. The quotations she includes are apt and inspire further exploration by readers. Her selection of Mario Botta, prominent Italian architect, to write the introduction was a brilliant move.

All this, and then, COLOR photos, wonderful color photos ! Upon opening this book, I felt a kinship with the discoverer of King Tut's tomb when first he laid eyes on the riches therein.

I'm looking forward to her next publication with great expectation.

Rating:
Summary: What next ?
Review: I own and love two earlier books by Judith Dupre ("Bridges" and "Skyscrapers") both of which include truly exceptional b/w photographs. I'd heard that she was working on "Churches" and I anticipated it to be similar to the others.

Well, in some very positive ways, it is. The degree of diligence in her research is the same. Her choice of subjects is, as before, impeccable. The quotations she includes are apt and inspire further exploration by readers. Her selection of Mario Botta, prominent Italian architect, to write the introduction was a brilliant move.

All this, and then, COLOR photos, wonderful color photos ! Upon opening this book, I felt a kinship with the discoverer of King Tut's tomb when first he laid eyes on the riches therein.

I'm looking forward to her next publication with great expectation.

Rating:
Summary: What next ?
Review: I own and love two earlier books by Judith Dupre ("Bridges" and "Skyscrapers") both of which include truly exceptional b/w photographs. I'd heard that she was working on "Churches" and I anticipated it to be similar to the others.

Well, in some very positive ways, it is. The degree of diligence in her research is the same. Her choice of subjects is, as before, impeccable. The quotations she includes are apt and inspire further exploration by readers. Her selection of Mario Botta, prominent Italian architect, to write the introduction was a brilliant move.

All this, and then, COLOR photos, wonderful color photos ! Upon opening this book, I felt a kinship with the discoverer of King Tut's tomb when first he laid eyes on the riches therein.

I'm looking forward to her next publication with great expectation.

Rating:
Summary: "Churches: Mostly American' would be a more accurate title
Review: I was a bit disapppointed with this book. I like the scale of it, and some of the photos are excellent. But it is very heavily slanted for the American market - there are more churches from America here than from Italy, for example - which for a book called just 'Churches' is, er, surprising... It's worth pointing out too that the front cover opens out down the middle (hey, that's just like a church!) , so you have to be careful when handling it.

But of you like big magazine-supplement style layout and have a specific interest in American Churches, this could be for you.

Rating:
Summary: Churches
Review: Judith Dupre has clearly done extensive research for this book. The text goes far beyond giving us the basic facts about each church. Ms. Dupre explains the history of each church that she has selected for the book in a manner that makes us understand its unique significance. I noticed that she acknowledged church staff for providing relevant (and probably elsewhere unavailable) information. The book also includes an impressive collection of photographs.