Category Archives: Books

Mappamundi

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

The glorious Fra Mauro Mappamundi was created between 1458 and 1459 by the Venetian monk/cartographer/sailor/explorer/adventurer Fra Mauro. The map was commissioned by Portugal’s King Alfonso V and produced at the Camaldolese Monastery of Saint Michael on the Venetian lagoon island … Continue reading →

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Ecriture Infinie

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Beginning in 2006 at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, artists Bili Bidjocka and Simon Njami have been traveling the globe inviting creative types to hand write personal messages onto eight huge books. The extraordinary project, titled Ecriture Infinie, focuses … Continue reading →

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BBW : Celebrate the Freedom to Read

Posted on September 24, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Banned Book Week, which runs from today through October 1st this year, celebrates the freedom to read what we choose and the essential protections offered by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It highlights the many benefits of free … Continue reading →

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Solving Travel Mysteries

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Crime novelist Marcus Sakey will write and host a new Travel Channel television series called Hidden City Sakey  describes of the show: “It’s sort of Anthony Bourdain‘s No Reservations meets Castle.” Throughout the twelve-episode series, Sakey will travel to Anchorage, Atlanta, … Continue reading →

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Oxford Inklings

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Recently, while doing some research on an early edition of one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s lesser known books I ran across a brief article about the author’s life in Oxford and his social network there. The venerable university city of Oxford … Continue reading →

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Green (and metaphorical too)

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Columbian artist Miler Lagos works in many mediums, including video, collage, sculpture and installation. His work, which often incorporates repurposed reading materials, is often a metaphorical take on the precarious balance between human culture and the forces of nature. Miler’s … Continue reading →

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Tolstoy Saws Wood…

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Leo Tolstoy saws wood and more… Freud kills God… Kurt Vonnegut on censorship and power… Ray Bradbury loves libraries…

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BookLamp…what is it?

Posted on September 3, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Have you ever wished that  you could find new books the same way Pandora helps you find new music? Using a series of algorithms, BookLamp analyzes your favorite books for five style elements and then delivers you customized recommendations with … Continue reading →

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I Am Not A Witch

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Who doesn’t enjoy Washington Post fiction critic Ron Charles’ hilarious video reviews? Well, he out did himself with this parody of erstwhile Delaware Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell’s new memoir, Troublemaker: Let’s Do What It Takes to Make America Great Again.

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I Hate the “I Hate Reading” Facebook Page

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Last week some mindless troll took the time to create a Facebook page titled “I Hate Reading” and more than 437,000 other morons “Liked” the page. If that’s not sad enough, the “I Hate Books” page has over 271,000 “Likes”, … Continue reading →

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