Category Archives: Books

Better Know Middle Earth

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

I’ve been a huge fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books since I discovered the world of Middle Earth at about twelve. So, I’m always tickled to find ways in which obsessed readers help others grasp the complexity of the stories. Emil … Continue reading →

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How Orwellian

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Some perplexing news out of India this week reporting that George Orwell’s birthplace in Motari, Bihar is being developed into a memorial site—but to Mahatma Gandhi not Eric Blair. The little bungalow, where Orwell was born and lived until he … Continue reading →

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Manhattan, A Love Story

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Becky Copoper walked the streets and boulevards of New York City’s borough of manhattan from end to end. Along the way she handed-out blank maps to ordinary New Yorkers and asked them to map their personal Manhattan and mail the … Continue reading →

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Little Free Libraries

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

In the winter of 2013, PEN, alongside the Architectural League of New York and IDEAS CITY Festival, commissioned ten emerging architects to design their take on the idea of the Little Free Library. On May 4, the ten little libraries … Continue reading →

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Venice, City of Readers

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

A group of 100 authors in Italy have organized as Venice, City of Readers and have issued a manifesto protesting the disappearance of Venice’s bookstores. The writers, including Italian and international authors, gathered at the historic Salone della Libreria Sansoviniana … Continue reading →

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Who Will Save Our Books

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

I have never read any of his bestselling blockbusters, but I’m now a big fan of author James Patterson for this full-page ad that he placed in the New York Times Book Review. Patterson wants to know “Who will save … Continue reading →

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Is There Money In E-Books

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

This interesting infographic is from the folks at Write Your Novel, Now ! , which is an online writing coaching service (paid of course). The graphic is packed with lots of timely information about the recent growth in e-book publishing … Continue reading →

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How to grow a library

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Mexico City architects Arquitectura 911sc and Fernanda Canales have brilliantly surrounded a century-old two-story, brick and stucco house with a concrete and glass frame creating a 21st century library and cultural center. Situated in the southern district of Coyocán, the … Continue reading →

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The Last Bookshop

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

The Last Bookshop is a charming short film that imagines a future time when physical books have disappeared. One day, a young boy’s digital entertainment fails, so he decides to explore abandoned areas of his town. On his wanderings, he … Continue reading →

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Mental Map

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Anne Emond is a Brooklyn-based writer, illustrator and comic artist. If you read The Rumpus, you probably have seen her very amusing “comiques”. I had to share her hilarious Mental Map: An Illustrated Guide to A Writer’s Thoughts”. I’m sure … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Maps, Writing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments