Category Archives: Writing

Mild Case of Bibliomania

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

As a seller of antiquarian and collectible books, I’m frequently asked to explain the attraction of “old books’ to non-bibliophiles. The questions usually come from customers seeking to purchase a book as a gift for a book lover in their … Continue reading →

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F. Scott Redesigned

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

The release of Baz Luhrman’s bastardized film version of F. Scott Fitzgerald‘s masterpiece The Great Gatsby this year stirred renewed interest in the iconic Jazz Age author’s novels. And, of course, we saw a number of new print editions of Fitzgerald’s … Continue reading →

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Halloween II

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

All houses wherein men have lived and died Are haunted houses. Through the open doors The harmless phantoms on their errands glide, With feet that make no sound upon the floors. We meet them at the door-way, on the stair, … Continue reading →

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Happy Halloween

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Happy Halloween : via the ever witty webcomic The Gentleman’s Armchair.

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Free Haruki Murakami

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

In a dramatic reversal of Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis , Haruki Murakami has turned the fabulous tale on its head with his new short story titled “Samsa in Love”. You can read it for free over at the New Yorker. And, … Continue reading →

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Jilted Books

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

I rarely give up on a book once I’ve started reading.; it seems so unfair to the author. In fact, I will usually finish a book even if I dislike it just to try and discover something redeemable about it, … Continue reading →

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Reading Halloween

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Way back in 2011, Nebraska-based Fantasy author Sabrina Zbasnik created a wonderful series of Halloween/horror-themed posters designed to encourage children to read. The original set of posters were based on iconic horror flicks drawn from classic novels like Mary Shelley’s … Continue reading →

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Terror of the Soul

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

This month marks the 164th anniversary of the mysterious death of Edgar Allan Poe and the opening of the exciting new exhibition called Edgar Allan Poe: Terror of the Soul at New York City’s amazing Morgan Library and Museum. The … Continue reading →

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Just In time for Halloween

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

I was browsing in the remodeled store of a local book chain and ran across some amazing new editions from Penguin that sport covers curated by Academy Award-winning filmmaker and sci fi/horror writer Guillermo del Torro. The series, which includes … Continue reading →

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Does Not Translate

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Do you ever get that melancholy sense of dépaysement when you’re traveling far from home? Does the lambent glow of Autumn kindle the wonder of komorebi for you ? Or, does it encourage you to seek the sublime feeling of … Continue reading →

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