Let me start by saying I had high hopes for 'The Bedroom: An Intimate History'. As someone who loves both history and interior design, this seemed right up my alley. The book does deliver on its promise of being a thorough exploration of bedrooms through time, but with some significant drawbacks.

The biggest issue? It reads more like a compilation of random quotes about sleeping rather than a cohesive narrative. I kept waiting for the author to tie everything together with some central thesis or at least an organizing principle, but it never came. After the first few chapters, the endless stream of quotations started to feel repetitive.

That said, there are some genuinely fascinating historical tidbits here. I particularly enjoyed learning about how bedroom designs have evolved across different cultures. The section on Victorian-era bedrooms was especially eye-opening - who knew they had such elaborate bedtime rituals?

However, the factual error about Frida Kahlo really bothered me. Getting basic biographical details wrong about such an iconic figure undermines the book's credibility. And describing her as a 'disabled recluse'? That's just poor research and insensitive wording.

Would I recommend this book? Maybe as a reference for specific historical periods, but not as an engaging read from cover to cover. It's more useful for dipping into occasionally than reading straight through.