There is something compelling about these photographs- taken in abandoned European buildings, some of former opulence and others of grim austerity, all now much decayed. Each photo features the author's dog, who, as my partner said, always 'looks as if she has lived there all her life.'

I bought this book because I loved the photographs, but when I started reading the text, I learned about the concept of 'urbex', which I had never heard of before. As this writer explains, urbex refers to deliberately seeking out and exploring long-abandoned sites- something I gather is usually done surreptitiously. van Kempen has parlayed that activity, as well as her considerable skill at photography and her very appealing dog, into a book of fascinating and evocative photographs. She has also taken the time to learn some of the history of the sites she explores, and she helpfully shares this background information with readers in the accompanying text- so I even learned a little history while reading this.

Donated to the Macleod Tr/Chinook area Value Village.