Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Surrealist Sunday

From French Surrealist writer and artist Gisèsle Prassinos’s early collection La Sauterelle arthritique (The Arthritic Grasshopper).  

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Reclaiming the Middle Seat

Anyone who has ever been stuck in middle seat hell will applaud the S1 (AKA the “Slip-Slide Seat”) clever redesign of airline middle seats from Colorado’s Molon Labe Designs. It sits a little back from the seats to either side, … Continue reading

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Arrivederci e grazie per le buone letture

Sicilian author Andrea Camilleri, who died last week at age 93, is probably best known as the author of 27 novels and multiple short story collections starring police officer Inspector Salvo Montalbano, many of which take place in the fictional … Continue reading

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Rules for Writing

Thirteen simple rules for writing from the tragic genius Walter Benjamin. I. Anyone intending to embark on a major work should be lenient with themselves and, having completed a stint, deny themselves nothing that will not prejudice the next. II. Talk about … Continue reading

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Philadelphia: Word on the Street

 Philly-based street artist Marisa Velázquez-Rivas  has launched a series of wheatpaste street art work around town titled Smash the Fash , which depicts Nazi and white supremacist symbols being crushed by a hand with some impressive nails. In a Facebook … Continue reading

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Picture yourself on a boat on a river…

You all know that I’m a big sucker for clever mash-ups that include book cover art. Well, it will be no surprise that I love writer and graphic artist Todd Alcott’s crazy re-imaginings of classic Beatles tunes and paperback books. … Continue reading

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The Reader Speaks

I recently was asked by multiple followers of TBTP : “What are you reading these days ?” Actually, it was just two followers, but I thought “why not?” So, here’s a photo of most of the summer reading pile. There … Continue reading

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Bookstore Tourism : Chicago

Chicago’s newest bookstore has recently opened in West Town. And while the launch of an independent bookstore is always cause for celebration, Semicolon Bookstore & Gallery is giving us even more reasons to cheer; it’s the only bookstore owned by … Continue reading

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Bibliophile Book Piles

 

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Train in the Rain

The Book of Questions, III Pablo Neruda – 1904-1973 III. Tell me, is the rose naked or is that her only dress? Why do trees conceal the splendor of their roots? Who hears the regrets of the thieving automobile? Is … Continue reading

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