Columns

Bittersweet Mystery of Life

I have always loved murder mystery novels, particularly those from the so-called golden age of detective fiction. Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham. Agatha Christie, of course. Pure escapism! Whisked away to some extravagant destination—an Edwardian-era architectural folly on a remote and atmospherically windswept stretch of Dorset coastline, perhaps, or a mysteriously seedy hotel… Read more »

Fly on the Wall—Lanterns and Spilled Milk

Picture it. Chicago, 1871, the windy night of Sunday, October 8th.. A little old lady named Catherine O’Leary was milking her cow. In the process of servicing the beast, the cow kicked over a lit oil lantern. Chicago at the time was a booming Midwest town largely of disorganized wooden shanties; soon a fire was… Read more »

Beyond Literary Landscapes—The Craft of Writing

From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge. Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile. From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and… Read more »

Seasonal Dwellings

The months we live through are not some abstract grid of days and weeks like those represented on a dentist’s or real estate agency’s complimentary calendar. We don’t just move through the seasons, we inhabit them. When I imagine the months of high summer, I think of them as a sort of enchanted, cozy cabin…. Read more »

Fly on the Wall—Bougy is As Bougy Does and Wears – But When?

“That’s a bit of a bougy getup you’re wearing!” This catchphrase, bougy, has gained currency lately to dress down a person’s perceived pretense.  At first blush its meaning is clear: the term bougy conveys a certain decadence and formality—privilege combined with trite aphorisms about opportunity, innovation, and networking (not the type that leads to terrorist… Read more »

Course Exam—GOVN 301 / POLI 301

The long-standing Voice column is back! This week’s Course Exam shines a spotlight on GOVN 301: Governance, the Public Sector and Corporate Power. Overview GOVN 301/POLI 301 is a three-credit, senior-level course offered by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.  It has no prerequisites, though a previous course in political science, governance, or public… Read more »

Cities in Six—Bergen, Norway

Bergen is on Norway’s southwestern coast, sheltered by islands and mountains.  It is Norway’s second-largest city, after the capital of Oslo.  Bergen’s stunning scenic setting is only eclipsed by its captivating history.  We were cautioned that it often rains in Bergen, but we enjoyed sunny weather during our visit in August 2012. The Rosenkrantz Tower. … Read more »

Beyond Literary Landscapes—Le Guin

From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge.  Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile. From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and… Read more »