A Small Press Life: Books. Art. Writing. Life. Tea.

Not just a blog, a philosophy

[Book Nerd Links] Vintage Bookstore Photos

Posted on April 12, 2014 by maedez

Beautiful Vintage Photos of Bygone Bookstores [courtesy Flavorwire]

Seven Years Later…

Posted on April 11, 2014 by maedez

…you are still missed.

Kurt Vonnegut in his U.S. Army days

“A purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved.”-Kurt Vonnegut, The Sirens of Titan

11 April: John O’Hara

Posted on April 11, 2014 by maedez

John O’Hara died on 11 April 1970.

John O’Hara, 1945

“They say great themes make great novels…but what these young writers don’t understand is that there is no greater theme than men and women.”-John O’Hara

Books in Pop Culture: Gloria Swanson

Posted on April 10, 2014 by maedez

Gloria Swanson amongst the stacks…

Gloria Swanson

[Book Nerd News] Peter Matthiessen is Dead

Posted on April 9, 2014 by maedez

Peter Matthiessen, 1927-2014 [courtesy the Paris Review]

Quote

Posted on April 9, 2014 by maedez

“I don’t believe that responsibility in an author ever worked. I don’t believe that any author ever did any good because he was feeling a responsibility. I believe some authors instinctively feel a certain love for the human being, and they will do a lot of good, I hope. And some of the ones don’t, and that’s all.”-Jean Renoir

Jean Renoir Drawing by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1901

Books in Art: Nurse Reading to a Little Girl by Mary Cassatt

Posted on April 6, 2014 by maedez

Nurse Reading to a Little Girl by Mary Cassatt, 1895

Quote

Posted on April 5, 2014 by maedez

Allen Ginsberg Quote

[Book Nerd News] Arthur Conan Doyle/Edgar Allan Poe

Posted on April 4, 2014 by maedez

AN UPDATE ON SAVE UNDERSHAW: Arthur Conan Doyle’s house to be converted into special school [courtesy The Guardian]
Boston’s Edgar Allan Poe Statue Will Be Unveiled in October [courtesy Boston Magazine]

Happy 100th Birthday, Marguerite Duras!

Posted on April 4, 2014 by maedez

Marguerite Duras was born on 4 April 1914.

“She had lived her early years as though she were waiting for something she might, but never did, become.”-Marguerite Duras, The Ravishing of Lol Stein

The tomb of Marguerite Duras

R.I.P. Norman Lloyd (1914-2021)

Norman Lloyd, long a personal favorite of mine, was a fascinating man and performer. Norman Lloyd Dead [THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER]

R.I.P. Geoffrey Scott

Geoffrey Scott was from a younger generation than the performers I normally write about, but his handsome presence was ubiquitous during my 1980s childhood. From Dynasty to The Love Boat, Night Court, and Battle of the Network Stars, his charisma and acting ability lit up the small screen for decades. He will be missed. Geoffrey […]

Kirk Douglas: 1916-2020

[2019 Reel Infatuation Blogathon] But Baby Think of Me Once in Awhile: On Andy Travis as Television’s Best (and Hunkiest) Boss

Welcome to the 2019 Reel Infatuation Blogathon! Baby, If You’ve Ever Wondered: It still seems like yesterday that the idea for RI popped in my head. It was actually in December 2015, while in a hotel room getting ready for a holiday party, when it occurred to me that there was a gap in the classic […]

Announcing the 2019 Reel Infatuation Blogathon!

This is one of my favorite events of the year, and not just because I’m the co-hostess. It’s simply that good. And fun. Oh, so much fun! Here’s my original announcement. ANNOUNCING THE 2019 REEL INFATUATION BLOGATHON I hope you’ll join us!