Like many Kurt Vonnegut fans I became a devoted reader during my early adolescence. If memory serves, the first of his novels that I read was Sirens of Titan, but it could have just as well been Cat’s Cradle. Of course they weren’t teaching Vonnegut in English classes in American schools back then, the Existential prankster was considered too controversial and anti-establishment. Later, the author’s novels were dismissed as genre fiction or lacking in literary complexity. But Vonnegut endures and continues to attract new generations of readers. The TED video below makes a good argument for why we should read Kurt Vonnegut.
It’s hard to believe that it has been 38 years since the senseless murder of the voice of a generation.
H/t to Laura Pacheco and The Wild Detectives
Gaikotsu Shotenin Honda-san or Skeleton Bookstore Employee Honda, is a very funny anime series based on an equally amusing manga created by the eponymous bookshop clerk Honda. If you’ve ever worked in a bookstore, or spend lots of your time hanging in bookshops, you’ll definitely enjoy the wacky, colorful comedy series. The short weekly episodes expose what life is like for booksellers the world over. No need to speak Japanese, you’ll still get to chuckle at the antics of skull face and his equally bizarre co-workers. The show can be streamed for free via Crunchyroll although you may need to download the free app where you live.
The Book, Juan Gris 1913
This year’s annual Amsterdam Light Festival is taking place for the 7th season from November 29, 2018 until January 20, 2019. With the theme “the medium is the message”, 30 illuminated artworks adorn the canal ring, the River Amstel, and other locations in the heart of the city. Amsterdam is magical and surprising at any time of the year, but this festival really brings an ethereal charm only found in winter.
A big h/t to dedicated TBTP follower Bonnie B. for these fantastic bookshelf dioramas. The handcrafted wooden bookend inserts are created by Tokyo-based artist Monde with intricate details down to led lighting and shop fronts. Hopefully, they will be available soon outside of Japan, but for now we can just enjoy they artwork.
Over the years I’ve seen photos of the quaint Book-Cycle shop in Exeter, UK, but never thought to explore what it was all about until TBTP reader Evan S. suggested a post on the project. Since 2007, Book-Cycle has been quietly collecting book donations and offering them up through a clever model where customers can choose three books and pay what they want. Since Book-Cycle is entirely staffed by volunteers, all of the profits from book sales go to building libraries in schools and orphanages around the world.
Book-Cycle has three bookstores and a book bus in the UK and another store in Rome, Italy. They also do pop-up bookstores and sales throughout the year to solicit donations and to raise awareness about the project.
Along with library development work, Book-Cycle has three other important goals. They aim to improve literacy and increase the love of learning, they provide information and tech support on sustainability principles and practices, and they work to reforest Britain through tree planting and seed distribution.
Travel Between The Pages 