Monthly Archives: January 2015

500 Days of Marianne & Willoughby

By Robin Bates | Published: January 9, 2015

The film “500 Days of Summer” has a lot in common with Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility.” Realizing this can make us feel better about the ending of both works.

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Twelfth Night and the End of Carnival

By Robin Bates | Published: January 8, 2015

Twelfth Night in New Orleans, as in Shakespeare’s play, seems to be about carnival time winding down.

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A Deep Faith in Lit’s Redemptive Powers

By Robin Bates | Published: January 7, 2015

In his overlooked classic “Stoner,” John Williams makes a compelling case for art’s redemptive powers. Art is authentic, unlike much of modern culture.

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Overlooked Novel Teaches Us How to Live

By Robin Bates | Published: January 6, 2015

John Williams’ “Stoner” is a breathtaking campus novel that captures a professor’s love of literature.

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Alice in Standardized Education Land

By Robin Bates | Published: January 5, 2015

“Alice in Wonderland” can be read as an early attack on standardized education.

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Where Do the Magi Go from Here?

By Robin Bates | Published: January 3, 2015

In this Muriel Spark poem about the Epiphany, the three kings are not sure about their next step, now that traditional kingship appears to have been surpassed.

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By Robin Bates | Published: January 3, 2015

Sports Saturday has been suspended. I will continue to blog from time to time on sports and sports-related issues  but there will no longer be a special Saturday feature.

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Lost Cities Spur the Imagination

By Robin Bates | Published: January 2, 2015

An amazing Christmas gift–a journey to Machu Piccu–has me reflecting on “lost cities and vanished civilizations.” Selma Lagerlov’s “Adventures of Nils” works into the discussion as well.

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Tell of Winter’s Tales and Mirth

By Robin Bates | Published: January 1, 2015

Robert Herrick’s “New Year’s Gift” urges us to celebrate fully the twelve days of Christmas in the same spirit as that which he urges young virgins to gather their rosebuds while they may.

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