Category Archives: Writing

Bookshop.org’s 100 Bestselling Books of 2025 (So Far)

Posted on July 14, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

The online bookseller bookshop.org recently released a list of their bestselling books of the year (so far). The list is quite a bit different than what you might see from larger booksellers and looks more like what your local bookstore … Continue reading →

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The Poet Anticipated the Shortcomings of AI

Posted on July 9, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

The author Rainer Maria Rilke anticipated the inevitable shortcomings in the use of AI in the arts. He articulated the  essential conditions for creativity in his only novel, reflecting on what it takes to compose a great poem, but also … Continue reading →

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“There is a great deal of art to creating something that seems artless.”

Posted on July 3, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

There is writing which resembles the mosaics of glass you see in stained-glass windows. Such windows are beautiful in themselves and let in the light in colored fragments, but you can’t expect to see through them. In the same way, … Continue reading →

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A Visit To Narnia (with guest star)

Posted on June 8, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

 

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Apologies in advance

Posted on June 6, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Apologies in advance for what may be a flurry of random posts about my recent experiences while traveling in Japan. I had so many wonderful experiences and also moments of recognition involving random things that I stumbled upon. In that … Continue reading →

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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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Dickensian Celebration

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

To celebrate the exact 155th anniversary of Charles Dickens‘s death and the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Charles Dickens Museum in London, the museum will be free of charge to all visitors on June 9 when it will … Continue reading →

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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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Watching the Detectives

Posted on May 23, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

“Detective Novel” by Robert Walser translated by Tom Whalen HE PRETENDED to possess technical expertise. Anyway, the title seemed quite brilliant. I resolved to learn more and started reading him, but he left much to be desired. Both he and … Continue reading →

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