Category Archives: Writing

The Nature of Middle-Earth

Posted on December 6, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

H/T to faithful reader Bonnie B. for this post Fans of the Tolkien Universe will be happy to hear that a veritable treasure of unpublished writings from J.R.R. Tolkien will be released this coming June by HaperCollins. Titled “The Nature … Continue reading →

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Reading is still the path

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

“The gears of poverty, ignorance, hopelessness, and low self-esteem mesh to create a kind of perpetual failure machine that grinds down dreams from generation to generation. We all bear the cost of keeping it running. Illiteracy is its linchpin…. Frederick … Continue reading →

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Dear Tourists

Posted on December 2, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

DEAR TOURISTS Johannes Göransson Dear Tourists, You can grope for moist souvenirs in the basement, but you’ll need patience because nobody down there will warn you about the floor. In the street you’ll find squirrels; on my scalp, bumps. If you … Continue reading →

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2020 Reading Habits

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic forced most of the world to spend more time at home and provided many with unexpected time for leisure activities. Some folks decided to learn a new language, others took up new hobbies, but booklovers discovered … Continue reading →

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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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