Category Archives: Books

Fillory and Further

Posted on November 16, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

I’m a big fan of author Lev Grossman’s The Magicians trilogy. The brilliant and always entertaining fantasy series is like a rollicking mash-up of Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia with sex, drugs, and rock and roll. The books come with some very cool Tolkien-like … Continue reading →

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Bookstore Tourism Lisbon

Posted on November 15, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Portugal is well known to traveling bibliophiles for its extraordinary bookstores and libraries. One of Lisbon’s most popular book browsing destinations is the popular Livaria Ler Devagar in the Barrio de Alcantara district. Set in a 19th century newspaper printing … Continue reading →

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Homage a George Seurat

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Homage a Seurat by Jonathan Burton h/t M. Wuerker  

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They Promised Me Ponies

Posted on November 13, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

I am not the least bit embarrassed to admit that I am a devoted fan of the Simpsons. The show often offers unparalleled insights into American culture and frequently functions as a guide to moral philosophy. From the first season, … Continue reading →

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Literary Dioramas

Posted on November 12, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Spanish artist Malena Valcarcel transforms abdondoned books into fanciful, poetic dioramas and book sculptures. You can see more of her lovely work, and even purchase a piece, on her Etsy site.

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Art of the Cover

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

As a book collector and a book seller, I have often purchased a book just because the dust jacket art caught my eye. In this terrific new book, The Illustrated Dust Jacket 1920-1970, author Martin Salisbury explores the transition from plain paper … Continue reading →

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At The Bookstore

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

“ I like to loiter around the city looking for interesting things,” the artist Jenny Kroik says. Her painting for this week’s New Yorker cover depicts a serious browser at the Strand Bookstore, the cherished bookshop in lower Manhattan. “I have … Continue reading →

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Have a literary coffee

Posted on November 7, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

I love this wonderful illustration by Italian artist and designer Gianluca Biscalchin.

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What The Font

Posted on November 6, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Monotype’s MyFonts font service has created a neat new app for both iOS and Android smartphones which use AI tech to allow users to identify random fonts. The app, which is called WhatTheFont, matches typefaces to an enormous database. There’s also a … Continue reading →

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It Takes A Train To Cry

Posted on November 5, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Deutsche Bahn (DB), the German rail operator, recently decided to name twenty-five new high-speed trains after historic figures. They crowdsourced suggestions and received more than 19,000 proposals. A jury then selected the final names, including one that has some folks scratching their heads: Anne … Continue reading →

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