Category Archives: Writing

Magic persists without us

Posted on December 26, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

“the Egyptians loved the cat were entombed with it instead of with the women and never with the dog but now here good people with good eyes are very few yet fine cats with great style lounge about in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Restaurants, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Holiday Cheer

Posted on December 23, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Way back in 1993, the American Beat writer William S. Burroughs wrote and narrated a 21-minute claymation Christmas film which was produced by Francis Ford Coppola. And, as you can well imagine, it’s not your typical smarmy holiday flic. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Art, Film, Restaurants, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Never Ending Read

Posted on December 18, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Did you know that there’s a book no one will ever be able to finish reading in their lifetime, and it only has 10 pages? In 1960, the French writer Raymond Queneau introduced what is probably the world’s longest book. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, Restaurants, Writing | Tagged , | 2 Comments

God Bless Us, Everyone

Posted on December 17, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

On this date in 1843, Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol. Dickens wrote the novel after his first commercial failure. His previous novel, Martin Chuzzlewit had flopped, and he was suddenly strapped for cash. Martin Chuzzlewit had been satirical and pessimistic, and Dickens … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, History, Libraries, Restaurants, Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

A Wonderland for Christmas

Posted on December 16, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Just in time for Christmas, the NYRB Kids imprint has published a new edition of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland illustrated by the Finnish author and artist Tove Jansson. Jansson is most famous for her Moomin books, which remain … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, Restaurants, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

I hang on the edge of this universe

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

I hang on the edge of this universe singing off-key talking too loud embracing myself to cushion the fall I shall tumble into deep space never in this form or with this feeling to return to earth It is not … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Restaurants, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

All day the stars watch from long ago

Posted on December 8, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

 

Posted in Books, Restaurants, Writing | Tagged | 1 Comment

A Farewell to Arms (copyright)

Posted on December 6, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

It’s that wonderful time of the year when we anticipate all of the amazing works of art and literature that will lose their copyright protections. So, if you’ve been hankering to write that sequel to A Farewell to Arms or paint your … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Film, movies, Music, Photography, Restaurants, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Today is a fog bank in which I am hiding.

Posted on December 5, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

PENTATINA FOR FIVE VOWELS Campbell McGrath Today is a trumpet to set the hounds baying. The past is a fox the hunters are flaying. Nothing unspoken goes without saying. Love’s a casino where lovers risk playing. The future’s a marker … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Restaurants, USA, Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“For every five people who read this book four will go insane.”

Posted on December 2, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Charles Fort’s Book of the Damned: “For every five people who read this book“, wrote novelist/playwright Ben Hecht, “four will go insane”. If you are feeling courageous, the book is available for free right here. In 2020, Stéphanie Colaux discovered an … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, ebooks, Europe, Museums, Public Transport, Restaurants, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment