{"title":"Margaret Bienert","description":"\u003cp\u003eMargaret Bienert offers a distinctive exploration of \u003cstrong\u003earts and culture\u003c\/strong\u003e through her evocative storytelling and keen observation. Her work invites readers into vivid settings where atmosphere and aesthetic detail are brought to life with subtlety and grace.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a focus on places and their cultural resonance, Bienert’s writing provides a thoughtful reflection on identity and environment. Expect narratives that blend insightful character studies with a deep appreciation for the textures of everyday life.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"hotel-kitsch-by-margaret-bienert-9781648292040","title":"Hotel Kitsch","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA visual celebration of novelty and “honeymoon” hotels from the couple behind the hugely popular TikTok phenomenon, A Pretty Cool Hotel Tour\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1963, the savvy owners of the Cove Haven Resort in the Poconos unveiled their heart-shaped tub. Like Elvis Presley and \u003ci\u003ePlayboy\u003c\/i\u003e magazine, it launched a postwar phenomenon that defined a new era of pop pleasure: the “honeymoon” hotel. Destinations across the country were soon racing to catch up, installing not just heart-shaped tubs but all types of over-the-top design flourishes, from pink shag carpeting to immersive “worlds” worthy of a Broadway stage set, in order to create a sense of romance, fantasy, even adventure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the photographers and inveterate travellers behind the TikTok phenomenon A Pretty Cool Hotel Tour, \u003ci\u003eHotel Kitsch\u003c\/i\u003e celebrates dozens of creative, nostalgic, one-of-a-kind hotels that span the heart of the Poconos and across the United States to Mexico, Spain, and the UK. Discover, in the middle of Iowa, a jungle room with fake trees and foliage surrounding the bed as if it had taken its cue from \u003ci\u003eWhere the Wild Things Are\u003c\/i\u003e. Or Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo where the rooms are reached by scuba diving. An Arctic Cave room at a hotel in Kentucky with its carved blue walls and not a window to be found. And on the California coast, the iconic Madonna Inn featuring 110 rooms, each themed and no two alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlong the way, authors Margaret and Corey Bienert uncover too many wild details to mention, including unconventional beds (a Cadillac, a clamshell, a sandwich), mirrors on mirrors on mirrors, in-room swimming pools, full suits of armour, and fibre-optic star ceilings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhile it’s not a travel guide, every destination in \u003ci\u003eHotel Kitsch\u003c\/i\u003e is open for business. Time to check in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47486116233452,"sku":"9781648292040","price":70.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781648292040-hotel-kitsch.jpg?v=1775728985"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/margaret-bienert.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}