Category Archives: Writing

Escape to New York

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Every year, the New York Public Library publishes humorous Black Friday ads that promote things like free books and 100%  off coupons. This Thanksgiving the library offered a  “Book Your Dream Getaway.” The “Black Friday travel deal” is an “all-inclusive … Continue reading →

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Remember the sky that you were born under

Posted on November 25, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

  Remember Remember the sky that you were born under, know each of the star’s stories. Remember the moon, know who she is. Remember the sun’s birth at dawn, that is the strongest point of time. Remember sundown and the … Continue reading →

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The Freedom to be Free

Posted on November 23, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Penguin Great Ideas is a series of mainly non-fiction books published by Penguin Books. Titles contained within this series are considered to be world-changing, influential and inspirational. Topics covered include history, philosophy, politics, science and culture. The project has resulted in six series of twenty … Continue reading →

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Uses of Books

Posted on November 21, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Uses of Books at the End of the World by Kristen Radtke  

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The Epistemology of Loss

Posted on November 19, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

“The Ball Poem” by John Berryman What is the boy now, who has lost his ball. What, what is he to do? I saw it go Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then Merrily over—there it is in the water! … Continue reading →

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Here Stood Mayakovsky

Posted on November 14, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

The Brooklyn Bridge literally loomed large in my Brooklyn family’s history for a century, so I was intrigued when I stumbled upon this impressive limited edition volume. The accordion-fold book Brooklyn Bridge with a poem by the 20th century Russian poet Vladimir … Continue reading →

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We’re All Mad Here

Posted on November 13, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

I maintain the firm belief that we can never have enough new editions of Alice in Wonderland, especially illustrated versions. So, I was happy to see the Pushkin Press has issued a very special Alice that features the marvelous artwork of the brilliant Dutch … Continue reading →

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Bookstores make you feel

Posted on November 12, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

 

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…but then you read

Posted on November 10, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Inspired by James Baldwin’s powerful 1963 book The Fire Next Time, musician and poet Meshell Ndegeocello created this intriguing short film based on Baldwin’s writing.

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be an ingenuous reader

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

“I must be a very ingenuous reader, because I’ve never thought that novelists mean to say more than what they say. When Franz Kafka says that Gregory Samsa woke up one morning transformed into a gigantic insect, it doesn’t strike … Continue reading →

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