The previous post introduced a volume of Ukrainian poetry entitled Words for War: New Poems from Ukraine published before the 2022 Russia invasion of Ukraine. Who are these poets? Let their poetry speak for them. Born in Chortkiv, Vasyl Makhno left Ukraine in the late 1990s. Although he currently lives in New York chronicling a … Read More
“When arms speak, muses are silent” is the English paraphrase for an aphorism attributed to Cicero, albeit with a slightly different word order. Inter arma enim silent lēgēs is Latin for, literally, “For among arms, the laws are silent.” Currently both laws and muses are silent. Warnings such as “viewers discretion advised” or “Warning! Graphic content” … Read More
The issue of climate change has unfortunately become an integral part of our daily lives. It is impossible to get through a day without seeing something climate-related in the news, on the internet, via social media, etc. Whether it’s the latest science report on world’s escalating temperature, rising sea levels, or rough weather such as … Read More
Rabbit holes are curious things. One moment you click on an article that a social media algorithm tossed onto your feed based on your likes, clicks, and general activity, and three hours later you are an armchair expert in a subject you never paid attention to before. It may be a one-off thing. Maybe your … Read More
WARNING: This post contains graphic content dealing with sexual assault and war crimes against civilians. “You can’t possibly think anyone would publish a story with the slightest hint that the Heroic Soviet Liberators were amusing themselves by raping women in their spare time during World War II” read the rejection letter in 1981, sent by … Read More
When I was an undergraduate, my grandfather gave me a copy of Pogo: We Have Met the Enemy and He is Us. Walt Kelly’s comic collection from 1972 introduced me to graphic stories with a moral aim. The comics mock corporate greed, bureaucratic disconnect and the collective guilt of our society implicated in contributing to … Read More
I’ve been reading American Cuisine: And How it Got This Way by Paul Freedman. It delves into the history of “American” cuisine and how it was shaped by the country’s history. As can be imagined, there are many factors involved in this evolution, from the various cultures and backgrounds that are the heart of America’s … Read More
I had seen positive reviews for Matrix by Lauren Groff, so when I found the book listed in the Recreational Reading Collection, I picked it up. I have been interested in the history of the Middle Ages since high school, and reading historical fiction about the period inspired me to pursue Medieval Studies as one … Read More
I don’t think it is a moral slip to feel fatigued by the pandemic after two-plus years of masks and distancing. So why would it be enjoyable to read an off-duty book about this strange time? Is fiction not supposed to give us a break from reality? The quirky style of Our Country Friends makes … Read More
The Recreational Reading Collection is physically located in the Carr Library. More than 1,000 books are available for borrowing to current Rutgers affiliates. Rutgers NetID is required. But how do you find a book in the online catalog if you don’t want to drive over to check them out locally? You can browse the collection … Read More