Category Archives: USA

Bookmobiles are the best

Posted on June 28, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Open Books, a nonprofit bookstore and literacy organization in Chicago, Ill., has launched a bookmobile to bring free books to under-served communities. The Open Books Mobile made its debut on June 8 during the nonprofit’s annual Slide into Summer event, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Library Spy

Posted on June 19, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

You don’t have to be a certified library geek to grok the fun little website called Library Spy. “This is a live, unfiltered look at what books are being checked out of the Seward Park library, a branch of the New … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Libraries, Uncategorized, USA | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

My First Bookstore

Posted on June 5, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

My First Bookstore by Edward Hirsch 1. Another Family My grandfather liked to hang around Moishe Cheshinsky’s bookstore on Lawrence Avenue. We were usually the only ones in the stacks. The back room was dusty. Most of the books were written … Continue reading →

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I can’t believe that NYC is #17

Posted on May 30, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

To paraphrase Tolstoy’s famous opening line: All happy cities are alike; each unhappy city is unhappy in its own way. Maybe that’s too clunky a way to introduce the 2025 Happy City Index, but I’m seriously jetlagged so it will … Continue reading →

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It’s going as planned

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Passenger train networks: United States vs Europe.

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It Explains So Much

Posted on May 26, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

“Neglect” by Joy Williams from 99 Stories of God The Lord was asked if He believed in reincarnation. I do, He said. It explains so much. What does it explain, Sir? someone asked. On your last Fourth of July festivities, I … Continue reading →

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In my dreams the world would come alive

Posted on May 24, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

In my dreams the world would come alive, becoming so captivatingly majestic, free and ethereal, that afterwards it would be oppressive to breathe the dust of this painted life. But then I have long since grown accustomed to the thought … Continue reading →

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Nobody can explain a dragon

Posted on May 21, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

So these are reports of my explorations and discoveries: tales from Earthsea for those who have liked or think they might like the place, and who are willing to accept these hypotheses: things change: authors and wizards are not always … Continue reading →

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Who reads what where

Posted on May 19, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

If you believe the main stream media reports, it would seem that folks across the United States have given up on reading and spend all of their time glued to a mobile phone. But those of us in the book … Continue reading →

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The gods wait to delight in you

Posted on May 18, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Charles Bukowski // “Your life is your life. Don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission. Be on the watch. There are ways out. There is light somewhere. It may not be much light but it beats the darkness. Be … Continue reading →

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