“A Wrinkle in Faith” – Books and Culture on Madeleine L’Engle

Last updated on: February 26, 2013 at 5:54 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

John Wilson’s Books and Culture newsletter brought back from the archives a 1998 essay focusing on Madeleine L’Engle to mark her passing last week. Madeleine L’Engle’s journey has taken her to a rather peculiar array of roadside stops. How many Christian writers speak both from the pages of Ms. magazine and Today’s Christian Woman, are invited to speak both by the Library of Congress and the Gaithers’ Praise Gathering, and serve as writer-in-residence for Victoria magazine and for Regent University?... Read more

A Colorful Review for “Auralia’s Colors”

Last updated on: February 23, 2013 at 12:04 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

What’s better than a double Americano with your breakfast? A review like this, from the voracious book lover “SuperFastReader”: Auralia’s Colors is the first in a proposed series of four, to which I say, “Bring it.” It’s an astonishingly accomplished debut, and falls prey to none of the lazy traps to which fantasy writers are prone. The characters are strong, the concept and plot inventive and original, and the prose is lyrical. … Auralia is a fresh creation, a character... Read more

Honeydripper (2007) – A Guest Review by Kenneth R. Morefield

Last updated on: February 26, 2013 at 5:51 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Here’s our second report from Kenneth R. Morefield of Campbell University at the Toronto International Film Festival… and now he’s got me adding yet another must-see to my already long list for the coming months. It’s exciting to read that the John Sayles I know and love is still doing what he does best. – I have seen fourteen of John Sayles’s first fifteen films, most more than once, and the only one I didn’t like was his last one (“Silver City”).... Read more

Fantasy and Myth at a Seattle Brewery

Last updated on: February 26, 2013 at 5:53 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Would you like an evening with… -great ale -good company -and a lot of stimulating discussion about the power of fairy tales and myth? Would you like to gather with kindred spirits (and some rather tasty spirits… of the beverage kind) to toast the career of Madeleine L’Engle? (more…) Read more

Here Come the “Civilians”

Last updated on: February 26, 2013 at 5:54 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

The album I’ve been waiting for all year comes out tomorrow. Here’s Thom Jurek’s review. Read more

Pavarotti’s Return to Catholic Faith

Last updated on: February 23, 2013 at 12:02 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

At ArtsandFaith.com, Steven Greydanus has noted this detail about Luciano Pavarotti that was overlooked in most obituaries. The diocese had received criticisms that it had gone overboard in honoring a remarried divorcé. But Pavarotti’s parish priest, Fr. Remo Sartori, said the twice-married singer had been reconciled with the Catholic faith, reported the Sydney Morning Herald. Pavarotti had received the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick before losing his battle against pancreatic cancer last Thursday, aged 71. Church leaders and pastors,... Read more

Scott Cairns in the Cleveland Daily Banner

Last updated on: February 26, 2013 at 1:30 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

An article about one of my favorite human beings has popped up in the Cleveland Daily Banner. Read more

Persepolis (2007) – A Guest Review by Kenneth R. Morefield

Last updated on: February 26, 2013 at 6:10 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

I’m thrilled to offer the first of what may be several reviews coming from Kenneth R. Morefield, who has occasionally contributed some fine guest reviews to Looking Closer in the past. Morefield is an Assistant Professor of English at Campbell University. Morefield’s at the Toronto International Film Festival having a grand time, and he’s enthusiastic about this particular release: Persepolis. Sounds like a unique film, and a must-see. Here’s his report… (more…) Read more

George R. R. Martin’s Epic… on HBO?

Last updated on: February 26, 2013 at 6:07 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

I just stumbled across a head-spinning revelation on SuperFastReader’s site. George R. R. Martin, one of the greatest fantasy writers living today, is on Book 5 of the popular series A Song of Ice and Fire. (more…) Read more

SuperFastReader on Madeleine L’Engle

Last updated on: February 26, 2013 at 1:27 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Following up my earlier post on Madeleine L’Engle’s passing, here’s the super SuperFastReader remembering her, in two posts. Read more