Category Archives: Writing

Resign yourself to the lifelong sadness that comes from never ­being satisfied.

Posted on February 18, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

I recently stumbled upon an interesting take on the “rules for writers” list from the great British author Zadie Smith. Her list offers an excellent balance of the practical, the philosophical, and the emotional. When still a child, make sure … Continue reading →

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

Follow That Author

Posted on February 16, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Bookfeed.io is a simple new way of following your favorite authors. You provide a list of writers you like, and Bookfeed generates an RSS feed with their new books. The website is a tool that allows you to specify a … Continue reading →

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

The Enemies of Books

Posted on February 15, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

The Enemies of Books is a book on biblioclasts and book preservation by the 19th-century bibliophile and book collector William Blades. The book was first published in 1880 and has been republished in different editions many times since. In the book, Blades, a well-known collector, … Continue reading →

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

Evil Books

Posted on February 9, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

 

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

This is the feeling I get before I take a plane

Posted on February 6, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

HOW TO WRITE Anne Waldman Perhaps I’m kidding myself about the life I lead Sometimes I feel I’m dying like a lot of things I see around me Then I turn on the TV and understand that everything must still … Continue reading →

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

Literacy and Justice

Posted on February 5, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

It seems that every day brings another story of book banning or book burning in the United States. Anyone who believes in protecting freedom of the press should be terrified by the assaults on liberty from the Christo-Fascist rightwing mobs … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Down and Out in Paris

Posted on February 3, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

In 1928, a former Colonial police officer and aspiring author named Eric Arthur Blair moved from his London home to Paris in order to buckle down and launch his writing career. The move didn’t work out so well, but it … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, History, Maps, Tourism, Writing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men

Posted on February 2, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

John Steinbeck took the title of his 1937 novel “Of Mice and Men” from a line contained in the penultimate stanza of ” To a Mouse”, On Turning her up in her Nest, with the Plough, November 1785. by Robert … Continue reading →

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

The Possibility of Evil (and much more)

Posted on January 31, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

I recently discovered a terrific Audiobooks on YouTube playlist of free audiobook readings with more than 130 different titles, each of which is a full book or short story, read in its entirety and available to listen for free at … Continue reading →

Posted in apps, Books, Tech, Writing | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Please Close The Door

Posted on January 30, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

I always enjoy a good Mark Twain anecdote and this one tickled my fancy. In 1908 burglars surreptiously entered his Hartford mansion and stole a set of silverware from the sideboard. In response, he posted this notice on the front … Continue reading →

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