Beautiful, thoughtful, interesting.

David Mitchell, Cressida Cowell, Joanne Harris

"The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there." (84)

A map helps to make an imaginary place real. The more detail you put into your beautiful lie, and the more you base it on things that are true, the more it comes alive....The more the fantasy is rooted and anchored in time and space, the more believable it is. (Cowell, 85)

"...stories are maps...maps that can lead you anywhere..." (Harris, 110) ( )

Thank you to Hue Lewis-Jones, University of Chicago Press, and NetGalley for allowing me the extreme pleasure of access to an advanced reader copy of “The Writer's Map: An Atlas of Imaginary Lands” for an honest review.

I absolutely had to jump at the chance to request and review this book at the first glance of its title and synopsis. What could be better than a book of all the maps, both given to us, and inspired by, our favorite literary worlds? I was enamored from its first hint of existence, which made the experience transcendent once I received my copy.

The pictures are gorgeous, colored copies, laid out well against the places they've come from (text of novels, and poems, and epics, and on). There are reflections by those still writing now (about their past, present, and current worlds) who were included, as well as pieces from earlier decades and writers who penned our favorite universes, and who gave birth to our dreams and nightmares.

I recommend this to all people who love the magical lands we've traversed in our writing, and long to touch, just for a second, those worlds we've crossed and recrossed. ( )

This is a book that needs to be held with two hands. It’s a beautifully printed, heavy thing where the maps provide most of the value. The words (and their authors) are of variable quality, but oh! the maps. The maps printed are not only those from the authors' books, but cover much of printed literature and, indeed, map history. One such is a full page of colour from 1025. It’s printed opposite the map of the Isle of Berk from How to Train Your Dragon.

I do think a tighter rein should have been held on the writing in some cases. It’s quite enlightening how many of the storytellers failed to tell a story! That really doesn’t detract from the whole, though; there are less interesting passages in almost every book, but here you can skip over the words while ogling the maps.

I am so grateful that this book came to print. It’s a marvellous thing. ( )

Spectacular. A wonderful resource. ( )

The Writer’s Map has to be one of the most interesting concepts for a book that I’ve seen in quite some time. Within its pages, the reader is introduced to the great imaginary literary worlds and the maps that inspired them and the maps that came from their stories and descriptions. The book is divided into several section, with each being written by a current author or illustrator. Details are given as to what fueled their love for writing about faraway places or their experiences that led to their interest in literary maps. The sections hit upon such famous maps and places as Mordor, The Marauders Map, PL Travers London, Treaure Island and many more. I always appreciate a glimpse into the history of books and the authors who write them, so I was fascinated with this unique topic.

I do think a physical book would be the best format for this read, as it would enable the reader a better way to really view all of the details in the photos of the maps provided.

Overall, this was truly a unique look into both the history of maps and imaginary worlds and, also the stories behind our favorite authors.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher given in exchange for an honest review. ( )