Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

How is a book like a spoon ?

I was recently asked by a TBTP subscriber why I never posted any stories about e-books or e-readers. My flippant response was to share the quote (above) from the late, great author/philosopher/bibliophile Umberto Eco from his book This Is Not the … Continue reading

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You’re next on my list

 

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Ring In The New Year

The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In, commonly referred to as The Chimes, is a novella written by Charles Dickens and first published in 1844, one year after A Christmas Carol. It … Continue reading

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Foxfires New Year’s Eve

Foxes gather at the large, old enoki (hackberry) tree on New Year’s Eve to prepare to pay homage at the Ōji Inari shrine, the headquarters of the Inari cult in eastern Japan (Kantō). The cult centers on the god of … Continue reading

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Before the Law stands a doorkeeper

Before the Law stands a doorkeeper. To this doorkeeper there comes a man from the country and prays for admittance to the Law. But the doorkeeper says that he cannot grant admittance at the moment. The man thinks it over … Continue reading

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Cranes are flying

The end of the year always seems like the appropriate time to clear out my overwhelming cache of saved images. Of course there are lots of travel posters. This time I found a small collection of Japanese travel related posters. … Continue reading

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What Alice Found There

This week marks the 150th anniversary of the first publication of  Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (also known as Alice Through the Looking-Glass or simply Through the Looking-Glass). Although First edition copies may indicate 1872 as the publication date, the book … Continue reading

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Are they really the best

No doubt you have noticed the proliferation of Best Books of 2021 or Best Books of the Year lists that seem to be appearing all over the internet and in print periodicals. Every December, I take a deep dive into … Continue reading

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the library is the place to go

“A library is many things. It’s a place to go, to get in out of the rain. It’s a place to go if you want to sit and think. But particularly it is a place where books live, and where … Continue reading

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Christmas at the Bookshop

h/t Tom Gauld

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