Category Archives: Books

Utopia 14

Posted on August 26, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I was today years old when I learned that Kurt Vonnegut’s 1952 novel Player Piano was re-released in a paperback edition as Utopia 14 in 1954. Player Piano is the first novel by  Vonnegut, in it he depicts a dystopia of automation partly inspired by the author’s time … Continue reading →

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Do the Philly Crawl

Posted on August 24, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Dozens of indie bookshops in Philadelphia, Pa., are taking part this Saturday, August 26, in the first-ever Philly Bookstore Crawl, Philly Voice reported. The bookstore crawl will feature appearances from local authors, discounts, giveaways, and plenty of special activities. Iffy Books, for example, … Continue reading →

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feel the onward rushing power of the train

Posted on August 23, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

 

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Modern Classics Revived

Posted on August 22, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I was happily surprised to learn that Penguin Modern Classics has revived its crime and espionage series with titles by the likes of Josephine Tey,  John le Carré, Len Deighton and Chester Himes, published with an updated version of their … Continue reading →

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Recommending A Book

Posted on August 21, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

 

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So Long Simon and Schuster

Posted on August 20, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

The recent sale of the U.S. publishing house Simon & Schuster to some soulless private equity company that will probably sell it for parts reminded me of the story of the creation of the firm’s colophon. Richard Simon and Lincoln Schuster … Continue reading →

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The Last Bookshop of the World

Posted on August 19, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I was recently directed to a film that is likely to appeal only to bibliophiles, writers, and cinephiles. So, of course, I assumed that it was right up your alley as they say in oldtimey America. Most booklovers that I … Continue reading →

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This is just to say…

Posted on August 17, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

This Is Just To Say I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold -William Carlos Williams

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The Colour of Magic

Posted on August 16, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I have been a fan of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld  series for decades. Although the books don’t get the attention they deserve in the U.S., the fan base is growing. Maybe the rise of the wacky “flat earth” movement will create more … Continue reading →

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Bookstore Tourism: Happy Birthday to the world’s most famous bookshop

Posted on August 14, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

When I first visited Paris more than 40 years ago, I immediately stopped by the iconic Shakespeare and Company bookstore. And, like every other bibliophile, I was smitten. Although it seemed to be an ancient pilgrimage site for booklovers, it … Continue reading →

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