Monthly Archives: May 2022

One ring to rule them all

Posted on May 11, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Who am I to disagree with George R.R. Martin’s assessment that “The Lord of the Rings is the mountain that leans over every other fantasy written since.” A book of that magnitude deserves a stunning new edition for every generation … Continue reading →

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Words Are Music To A Bibliophile

Posted on May 10, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

I recently had an email from a former book customer asking if I could recommend a bibliopegist. My first response was: What’s a bibliopegist. I was only a little embarassed to admit that I didn’t know that it was another word for bookbinder. This … Continue reading →

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Amsterdam in the Alps

Posted on May 9, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

As I have mentioned numerous times, I am a big fan of Amsterdam. It’s the city outside of the United States that I have visited most often and genuinely love. So, I was shocked to discover an alternative version of … Continue reading →

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The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Posted on May 8, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

 

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“Where they burn books, they will also ultimately burn people.”

Posted on May 7, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Sadly, book banning and even book burning continues to be in the news here in the USA. Just this week, I saw a video of members of a State legislature demanding the books that they found objectionable be removed from … Continue reading →

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Forgotten Books, Forgotten Stories

Posted on May 6, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Last month, I found a very interesting piece in Smithsonian Magazine titled “How Much Medieval Literature Has Been Lost Over the Centuries,” which linked to six-minute video from the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the journal Science … Continue reading →

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Do Not Pee Towards Russia

Posted on May 5, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

The brutal and unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to serious discussions about expanding NATO and frequent examinations of existing European borders. Russia has land borders with fourteen countries, but just five of them are currently NATO members. Ironically, … Continue reading →

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Haunted Library

Posted on May 4, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Who doesn’t love an old fashioned haunted library. I recently learned about the library at Felbrigg Hall, a 17th-century country house in Norfolk, England that is home to a genuine bibliophile ghost. Set in a grand National Trust country home, … Continue reading →

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A little water music

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Bergen Norway is a stunningly beautiful small city with lots to offer any visitor. One morning last year the town was treated to a unique musical event that was created by the Native American composer Raven Chacon. Four ships in … Continue reading →

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Dracula Daily

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Starting tomorrow you can participate in a brilliant web project featuring the iconic vampire novel by Bram Stoker. Dracula Daily: “Bram Stoker’s Dracula is an epistolary novel – it’s made up of letters, diaries, telegrams, newspaper clippings – and every … Continue reading →

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