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Category Archives: Books
“Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.”
Like many old codgers from my generation, the Beat writer Jack Kerouac had a tremendous influence on my adolescent world view. His seminal novel On The Road encouraged wanderlust for millions of young people, including yours truly. This week marked the centennial … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Uncategorized, USA, Writing
Tagged Beat Generation, Jack Kerouac, On the Road
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Man serves the interests of no creature except himself
I first read George Orwell’s seminal anti-totalitarianism satire Animal Farm when I lacked the political sophistication to truly understand the significance of the story, but some how I managed to grasp the essential themes of idealism, power and corruption in … Continue reading
About suffering they were never wrong
W. H. Auden’s “Musée des Beaux Arts,” written in 1938, is one of the better-known examples of ekphrasis, or poems inspired by artworks, up there with Keats’s “Ode on a Grecian Urn” and Rilke’s “Archaic Torso of Apollo.”Auden’s subject is … Continue reading
Bookstore Tourism: The End of an Era
A 143 year legacy will soon be coming to an end after it was announced last week that Waterstones has bought Blackwell’s, the UK’s biggest independent bookshop chain. This will mean that Waterstones, Barnes & Noble, Foyles and Blackwell’s will all … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe
Tagged Bookselling, indie bookstores, Oxford, UK
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forever making poems in the lap of death
Humanity I Love You Humanity i love you because you would rather black the boots of success than enquire whose soul dangles from his watch-chain which would be embarrassing for both parties and because you unflinchingly applaud all songs containing … Continue reading
Ukraine: Finding Context
Like most people these days, I have been trying to learn more about the regional war that Putin has launched against Ukraine and to put it all in context. Sadly, I must admit that I have always paid more attention … Continue reading
It is the small everyday deeds of folk that keep the darkness at bay
If you are a regular visitor to TBTP, you are well aware that I am a Tolkien aficionado. I imagine that many of you are also fans. Then you will be happy to learn that the Tolkien Estate has launched … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Books, Libraries, Maps, movies, Writing
Tagged J. R. R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, Middle Earth, the Hobbit
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Books for Ukrainian Kids
Theodore’s Books in Oyster Bay, N.Y., is hosting a drive to send children’s books to facilities in Europe being used by Ukrainian refugees. Former U.S, Congressman Steve Israel, Theodore’s owner, said, “As a Congressman, I was able to support funding … Continue reading
Who remembers that famous day and year
On this day in 1807, the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine. During his lifetime, Longfellow’s poetry enjoyed extraordinary popularity at home and abroad. Many of his poems served as standard recitation pieces in American schools well … Continue reading
