Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Scale the Stacks

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Another wonderful cartoon by Grant Snider for the NY Times.

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Books Are Sharks

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

“We were talking about The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which was something which resembled an iPad, long before it appeared. And I said when something like that happens, it’s going to be the death of the book. Douglas said, … Continue reading →

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Somethings may be beyond satire

Posted on July 2, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

This week’s issue of the New Yorker features a post-modernist satirical short story by the award-winning author George Saunders. “Little St.Don” is told in a series of semi-comic vignettes that aim to capture our living nightmare. I’m a big fan of Saunder’s … Continue reading →

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It’s all about the books

Posted on July 1, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

I loved this sweet, silly video about passionate bibliophiles from the suburban Vancouver BC secondhand bookstore chain The Bookman.  

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The Modern Novelist

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Tom Gauld  

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Almost As Good As New

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

You may have to look closely to get the gist of these clever ads for Lisbon’s Livraria Avelar Machado secondhand bookshop. The 142 year-old bookstore has a way with print ad campaigns.

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, Tourism, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Imagining Britain

Posted on June 28, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Austin, Texas-based artist and illustrator Chet Phillips has re-imagined vintage British travel posters in a marvelous series of fantasy and horror themed postcards and posters. The set includes a dragon, Doctor Who, a troll, Harry Potter, a giant, and Cthulu. … Continue reading →

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There was only one catch

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

California-based, award-winning photographer David Fokos has an ongoing exhibition at San Diego International Airport called The Book Pages Project. This terrific show is an appreciation of “real” books in their actual physical form—paper pages, fonts, ink, layout—and the powerful contribution books have … Continue reading →

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RIP Donald Hall

Posted on June 26, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Affirmation Donald Hall, 1928 – 2018 To grow old is to lose everything. Aging, everybody knows it. Even when we are young, we glimpse it sometimes, and nod our heads when a grandfather dies. Then we row for years on the midsummer pond, … Continue reading →

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Actual Cultural Appropriation

Posted on June 25, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

These days we hear the term cultural appropriation in reference to everything from music to hair styles, but there are more serious instances where the phrase takes on real significance. For example, a recently completed exhibition at London’s British Library Ritblat Treasures … Continue reading →

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