Monthly Archives: October 2021

Small is beautiful (bookshop version)

Posted on October 12, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I’ve visited bookstores all over the world, including some really, really small shops. Probably the tiniest of all was Twizel Bookshop in the little New Zealand mountain town of the same name. Here in North America, the cozy Poet’s Corner … Continue reading →

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One Hundred Seconds to Midnight

Posted on October 11, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

One Hundred Seconds to Midnight is a new collection focusing on the literary and scientific history of climate change dating back to the fifteenth century.  The innovative exhibition will go on display at the London Frieze Masters Art Fair this month … Continue reading →

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Rules for Flyers

Posted on October 10, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Although I haven’t been in a plane for nearly two years, I still ruminate about proper travel etiquette, such as armrest access. This article from the website Jalopnik settles the ongoing arguement regarding equitable sharing of airliner armrests. Here’s the … Continue reading →

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Seeing Into Tomorrow

Posted on October 9, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

In my early adolescence I was deeply moved by the powerful writings of Richard Wright. It was difficult to imagine that anyone who read his novel Native Son or memoir Black Boy would not be enraged by his depictions of America’s … Continue reading →

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“The mystery of life isn’t a problem to solve, but a reality to experience.”

Posted on October 8, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I must admit that I am more than a bit curious to see the latest film version of the sci-fi classic Dune. Although David Lynch’s Dune is regularly panned, I enjoyed it with some reservations when it was first in theaters. My first exposure … Continue reading →

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Song of the Open Road

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Feeling wistful and nostalgic these days for the open road. What better poet to capture the way of the road than Walt Whitman. Song of the Open Road, 4 The earth expanding right hand and left hand, The picture alive, … Continue reading →

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Gothic Essentials

Posted on October 6, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

 

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Why Fall Into Autumn

Posted on October 5, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Yesterday’s post got me thinking about why we English speaking folks in North America use both Fall and Autumn to describe the season between Summer and Winter. Why does it have two acceptable and apparantly interchangable names? And why do British speakers of English … Continue reading →

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a wistful omen of the first sign of autumn

Posted on October 4, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

austice n. a wistful omen of the first sign of autumn—a subtle coolness in the shadows, a rustling of dead leaves abandoned on the sidewalk, or a long skein of geese sweeping over your head like the second hand of … Continue reading →

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Nothing is more important than an unread library

Posted on October 3, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

“Collect books, even if you don’t plan on reading them right away. Nothing is more important than an unread library.” ― John Waters, director, author & national treasure  

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