Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Unspoken Autumn

Posted on October 17, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Everything that Acts Is Actual BY DENISE LEVERTOV From the tawny light from the rainy nights from the imagination finding itself and more than itself alone and more than alone at the bottom of the well where the moon lives, can … Continue reading →

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bureaucrats who have no imagination

Posted on October 16, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I am a big fan of New Zealand and of its most resilient city Christchurch. However, I was disappointed to learn this week that the Christchurch city council has eliminated the job of official Wizard and axed the legendary Ian … Continue reading →

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A Little Treasure (Island)

Posted on October 15, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

One of the very first “grown-up” books that I read as a child was a fabulous edition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island. I can’t be certain, but I believe that it was a well-worn copy with wonderful illustrations by … Continue reading →

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I would prefer not to

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Writer Clive Thompson has created and shared a new online tool allows you to visualize any piece of writing by stripping away everything but its punctuation. His free web tool—”just the punctuation”—allows you can paste in any piece of text … Continue reading →

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Glooskap the Divinity

Posted on October 13, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

There are some of the great illustrations to be found in The Algonquin Legends of New England (1884). The collection of Algonquin folk tales presented in the book is a result of the collecting efforts of folklorist Charles G. Leland … Continue reading →

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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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