Reflections

Architect Charles Belson's new memoir, REFLECTIONS, reads like a novel where great expectations, social class divisions and the realities of real estate economics often collide head-on with architectural ambition.

Unlike other books, REFLECTIONS can be judged by its cover for three good reasons. First, because Charles was the architect who designed his own Greek Revival house featured on the cover. Second, because he was the photographer who took the iconic photo of his house reflecting upon itself. And third, as a writer in search of a one word title, Charles decides that REFLECTIONS is perfect.

REFLECTIONS has an interesting narrative. At age four Charles runs away from home and ends up in The New York Foundling Hospital. His father who is an FDNY fireman, and his resourceful mother, both come to his rescue. Years later he sprints through Yale and Harvard, earning two degrees. He marries his college soulmate, Janer Danforth, who earns three degrees.

Architecture comes alive in Belson's book. His buildings are characters with stories to tell. As a site architect at both the Pyramids and the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, he surveys monuments and prepares drawings for publications. When his progress is temporarily interrupted by the Yom Kippur war, he writes war stories. After returning to America, Charles heads up a team designing a new concert hall for Hamilton College. His acoustician explains to him how architecture is frozen music, and then demonstrates how the eye can fool the ear. Based upon success at Hamilton, Charles heads up a team for a new performing arts center at Skidmore College. He, Janer and their children move from their house near Philadelphia, into a new larger house designed by Charles near Cleveland.

REFLECTIONS is an illustrated memoir. It is a story about adolescent dreams that come true. Unfortunantely not many memoirs are written by architects in any given year. There is a young audience in high school and college libraries that could benefit from reading an inspirational book like REFLECTIONS. Intriguing memoirs such as this one may help dispell the popular belief that architecture is a profession only for a rich man's son or daughter.