Author Archives: J. Davis

Notes from the CODEX IX International Biennial Book Art Fair & Symposium

Posted on February 10, 2024 by J. Davis

I got to spend a day in the book heaven of CODEX in Oakland after a six year layoff due to the pandemic. It was good to be back and inspiring to see the fair get bigger and bigger. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurry Slowly: News at the speed of a hand press, Loose Type: Fine Press odds & ends | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No Reply Press: an interview with Griffin Gonzales, Part II

Posted on December 26, 2023 by J. Davis

This is the second part of an interview and visit I did with Griffin last year. Enjoy! My soapbox with respect to private press publishing, and to a lesser extent fine press publishing, is that so much of what is … Continue reading →

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No Reply Press: an interview with Griffin Gonzales, Part I

Posted on November 30, 2023 by J. Davis

I had the luck to visit with Griffin at his No Reply press when passing through Portland in the early fall. We have been collaborating on this interview for the last few months and I was hoping to get some … Continue reading →

Posted in Fine Press Visits, Loose Type: Fine Press odds & ends | Tagged | 2 Comments

Preludes by T. S. Eliot; published by No Reply Press

Posted on July 27, 2023 by J. Davis

Upon receiving the beautiful edition of T. S. Eliot’s Preludes from No Reply Press, I realized that I have never reviewed my cherished Arion Press of The Wasteland. Mostly because even though I cherish that edition and love the poem, … Continue reading →

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Reading about 2022 in Review

Posted on January 24, 2023 by J. Davis

Somehow, I haven’t done a reading review since 2019 but I’m trying to motivate out of the pandemic induced malaise and post more on TWBE; so here you go. In 2022 I read 67 books and about 20,000 pages. That’s … Continue reading →

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Animal Farm by George Orwell; Published by the Arion Press

Posted on January 2, 2023 by J. Davis

Now, why in the world was I looking for a happy ending to this book? Or even a happy(ish) ending? This is George Orwell of 1984 and I’m reading it in 2022.

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The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame; Published by the Mad Parrot Press

Posted on April 27, 2022 by J. Davis

I’ve read this personal fave from my youngster days many times and have a hard time resisting new editions, especially handmade private press editions that feature one of my favorite illustrators. As they say, with every re-read of a book … Continue reading →

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Consider the Oyster by M.F.K. Fisher; Published by The Prototype Press

Posted on April 7, 2022 by J. Davis

Well, I swore off oysters a couple of decades ago after a reaction that I attributed to them. It was easy because I was just exploring them after refusing them while I grew up along the Chesapeake Bay and other … Continue reading →

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Eight World’s Wives by Carol Ann Duffy; Published by Fine Press Poetry

Posted on December 8, 2021 by J. Davis

I’ve been a poetry lover as far back as I can remember. At my age, that probably started, I think, with The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. The first “serious” poetry I remember, and by that … Continue reading →

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Unpacking the Mad Parrot Wind in the Willows/Quick Photos

Posted on December 7, 2021 by J. Davis

I was very excited to get this book today. It’s been a long wait as it always is for a hand-made book. Since this book was a gift from my generous parents, it made a brief stop under our tree … Continue reading →

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