Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Book Recommendations

Posted on March 3, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

 

Posted in Art, Books, Tech, Writing | Tagged , | 1 Comment

A Change is Going To Come

Posted on March 2, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

For decades, U.S. citizens traveling to most European countries have been exempt from visa requirements. Sadly, this ends on January 1, 20121, when all Americans traveling to any Schengen Zone nations will need an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) Visa. … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Tourism, Uncategorized, USA | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Fun With Maps

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Those of you who regularly visit TBTP know how fond I am of maps—both real and fictional. New York City-based artist Jake Berman does deep dives into archives and library collections to discover historic plans and engineering documents from municipal … Continue reading →

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Libros Para el Viaje (Books for the Journey)

Posted on February 28, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Libros Para el Viaje is the brainchild of Denise Chávez owner of Casa Camino Real Bookstore in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Since the summer of 2018, she has been collecting books and distributing them to refugees at the southern U.S. border … Continue reading →

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Wise Men Fished Here

Posted on February 27, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

In 2005, the legendary Gotham Book Mart in New York City closed its bricks and mortar store. By 2007, the iconic Manhattan bookseller was out of business for good.  Fortunately, the University of Pennsylvania was gifted much of the contents … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, History, Libraries, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Brits are so over Jane Austen too

Posted on February 26, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

I was somewhat surprised to recently read that a letter writing campaign and a steady barrage of public criticism ended plans for a statue of formerly beloved author Jane Austen. It seems that Winchester Cathedral commissioned sculptor Martin Jennings to … Continue reading →

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Blue Mondays

Posted on February 25, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Death Croons the Blues. James Ronald. New York: Phoenix Press. (1940). First edition. Original dust jacket. Mystery in which a blues singer is murdered and the murder is solved by a crime reporter.  

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Faroe Islands Closed For Maintenance

Posted on February 24, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

During the past year, it’s been impossible to read a travel magazine or blog without being told that the Faroe Islands is the next in place to visit for travelers who want to get off of the tourist trail. Of course, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, ebooks, Europe, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Take A Stand

Posted on February 23, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Today is the birthday anniversary of African American sociologist, historian, writer, educator, poet, scholar, and civil rights leader W.E.B. Du Bois. Born February 23, 1868, Du Bois was the first black man to earn a doctorate degree from Harvard University … Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom of Speech, History, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

But What Happens To The Books

Posted on February 22, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

When I read about the death of fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld the other day, my first thought was “what happens to his books?”. To be honest, I don’t know much about the German tycoon other than the reports from a … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, Libraries | Tagged , , | 4 Comments