Category Archives: Writing

A Village After Dark

Posted on October 6, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

This year’s Nobel prize for literature was announced yesterday. I don’t usually pay much attention to these types of awards, but I really thought that this would be Margaret Atwood’s year. Still, even though I was surprised by the selection … Continue reading →

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

Fun With Kafka

Posted on October 5, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

If you are a regular reader of TBTP, you know that I’m a big fan of London-based cartoonist and illustrator Tom Gauld. Along with his weekly comic strips in the Guardian and the New Scientist, Gauld’s work regularly appears in … Continue reading →

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

Bookstore Hopes

Posted on September 30, 2017 by Brian D. Butler
Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Writing | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Resist Much, Obey Little

Posted on September 27, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

In recognition of Banned Books Week, here are some quotes from surprising literary works that have been banned or censored over the years.

Posted in Books, Freedom of Speech, Libraries, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Words Have Power

Posted on September 22, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Libraries, booksellers, publishers, schools, writers’ groups, and other organizations in North America are gearing up to mark Banned Books Week 2017, which runs from September 24 to the 30th. Many bookshops and libraries have gotten a jump on the upcoming … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Freedom of Speech, Libraries, Museums, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Go Ask Alice

Posted on September 20, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll with illustrations by A.H. Watson, Collins 1939.

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

Bench Press

Posted on September 16, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Poland’s Zaczytani Foundation recently completed the installation of a series of benches modeled on open books. The colorful seating, which can be found in the center of Warsaw, Gdansk, Kracow, Poznan, and Wroclaw, references works by famous Polish writers, such … Continue reading →

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

J.R.R. reads The Hobbit

Posted on September 10, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

In 1952, J.R.R. Tolkien stopped by to visit a friend and to pick-up a manuscript. While he was there, the friend persuaded the author to record a bit of his novel The Hobbit. The 30-minute recording session wasn’t filmed, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Books, Europe, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

New York Loses Its Voice

Posted on August 25, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

The Village Voice, New York City’s iconic alternative weekly newspaper, has announced the end of its print publication. Co-founded by writer Norman Mailer in 1955, the Pulitzer Prize winning free paper is shifting to a completely digital platform. The paper has … Continue reading →

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

How Meta

Posted on August 24, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

I ran across the gif above on a book blog and was skeptical when it was described as a clip of Humphrey Bogart on the set of Howard Hawks’ 1946 film noir classic The Big Sleep. With just a little sleuthing, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Film, History, movies, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment