Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Books on Maps

Posted on June 28, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

If you stop by TBTP regularly, you probably know how I feel about maps and literary websites that manage to combine books AND maps. Books On Maps: is a new project that is mashing up cartography and novels. You don’t … Continue reading →

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Rules for Writers

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Raymond Chandler’s 10 rules for writing a detective novel: It must be credibly motivated, both as to the original situation and the dénouement. It must be technically sound as to the methods of murder and detection. It must be realistic … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Bookstore Mapping

Posted on June 26, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

The Pandemic had a devastating effect on the book trade in Philadelphia. Over the last two years, the city has lost some of its oldest and most beloved bookshops. I was heartened however to discover that the city’s surviving booksellers … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Maps, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Roman ruin that’s not just for cats anymore

Posted on June 25, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Invariably when I visit Rome I always seem to wander by the Largo Argentina to gape at the inaccessable Area Sacra where Brutus stabbed Caesar on the Ides of March in the year 44 B.C.E. Until just recently, the site … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Europe, History, Museums, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Living in the Real World

Posted on June 24, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Most reasonably educated adults—other than flatearth nincompoops—are well aware that the way we map our planet distorts the actual size of countries and continents. For centuries, we have generally ignored the wildly misleading maps that are used in most publications. … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Asia, Europe, Maps | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Five for Friday

Posted on June 23, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Hermann Hesse // “This day will never come again and anyone who fails to eat and drink and taste and smell it will never have it offered to him again in all eternity. The sun will never shine as it … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Libraries | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Mid-Summer’s Eve or publication day

Posted on June 22, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

 

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The water was black and warm

Posted on June 21, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Much has been written about the great American novelist Cormac McCarthy since his recent death. I have long admired his writing, but often found his books to be grim. Ironically, my favorite work is The Road, which is about a dark a … Continue reading →

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To My Enemies

Posted on June 20, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Watching the nonstop maddening show of U.S. politics and culture these days, I have been reminded of the poem “To My Enemies” by the under-appreciated American poet Bert Meyers. Meyers was born in Los Angeles on March 20, 1928. The son of … Continue reading →

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Cut & Run

Posted on June 19, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

“Most artists have an obsession that defines their work,” reads the message from Banksy on the wall of Glasgow’s GoMA gallery. “Monet had light, Hockney has colour, I’ve got police response time.” Everyone’s favorite graffiti artist just launched his first … Continue reading →

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