Category Archives: USA

nostalgie de la bibliothèque

Posted on October 26, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

While checking out book blogs I stumbled on a reference to “Spooks and Spirits and Shadowy Shapes” , featuring wonderfully atmospheric, period illustrations by Robert L. Doremus. Certainly not the most interesting Halloween reading, but personally significant as I remember … Continue reading →

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to keep my own heart free of hatred and despair

Posted on October 25, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

It began to seem that one would have to hold in the mind forever two ideas which seemed to be in opposition. The first idea was acceptance, the acceptance, totally without rancor, of life as it is, and men as … Continue reading →

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Tudor Books

Posted on October 18, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Recently, my favorite museum in North America the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City opened an impressive new exhibition, The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England. Spanning King Henry VII’s seizure of the throne in 1485 to … Continue reading →

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The Right to Read

Posted on October 17, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

In response to the ongoing rightwing hysteria of school students free access to books Federal legislation was introduced last week that would expand access to school libraries and codify student First Amendment Rights. The Right to Read Act (S. 5064 and H.R. … Continue reading →

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Room to Swing

Posted on October 16, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

It’s always good news when the U.S. Library of Congress announces the release of a reissued classic. The Library of Congress Crime Classics series features some of the finest American crime writing from the 1860s to the 1960s. Drawn from the Library’s … Continue reading →

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What then do we want words for?

Posted on October 13, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

“By the Numbers” by Hob Broun [1] THEY WORKED AT THE enclosed mall in King of Prussia. They wore plastic nametags, the corporate logo above a deep groove accommodating a Dymo label. Jenelle for the record store, Courtney for the … Continue reading →

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It’s That Shirley Jackson Time of the Year

Posted on October 11, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Like most U.S. students of my generation I was introduced to the work of Shirley Jackson through her story “The Lottery.” A small town in Vermont is the setting for “The Lottery,” and the town square where the locals gather … Continue reading →

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Mushroom Season

Posted on October 10, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

MUSHROOMS by Sylvia Plath Overnight, very Whitely, discreetly, Very quietly Our toes, our noses Take hold on the loam, Acquire the air. Nobody sees us, Stops us, betrays us; The small grains make room. Soft fists insist on Heaving the … Continue reading →

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This took me back to childhood

Posted on October 9, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

It’s always a bit serendipitous when one randomly discovers a blog post on a book that transports one right back to childhood.  This copy of ROBIN HOOD by Paul Creswick. (Philadelphia: McKay, 1917), illustrated by N.C. Wyeth, was one of the  volumes … Continue reading →

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Post Cards From The Future

Posted on October 1, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

The very trippy short video below titled “Convergence Station” was created by Andreas Nilsson for Meow Wolf’s Denver art center of the same name.  

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