The Stuff of Staying Together: Over the Rhine’s Linford Detweiler on Drunkard’s Prayer

Last updated on: November 20, 2013 at 10:17 pm By Guest Contributor

Over the Rhine’s album Drunkard’s Prayer continues to dazzle and delight fans and newcomers. But the story behind it—of the near-collapse of the marriage of Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist, and the remarkable salvation of their relationship and music—is, to say the least, inspiring… and a challenge to all who would know the hard-earned joys of marriage. This week I talked with Linford about the album, the experiences behind it, and the future. • Overstreet: There was a documentary film... Read more

Specials: DVD vs. Big Screen, Kiarostami

Last updated on: September 19, 2012 at 4:23 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Today’s specials: Welcome to Looking Closer, where the only cell phone ringing is your own. (more…) Read more

The Perfect… What?

Last updated on: September 19, 2012 at 4:33 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

The Perfect Man opens today… to responses like these: (more…) Read more

Peace Like a River… Starring Bad Santa?

Last updated on: September 19, 2012 at 4:35 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Wow. Leif Enger’s gorgeous novel Peace Like a River is going to be a movie starring Billy Bob Thornton. I am giddy about this news. Thornton will be great in this role. Now, let’s all pray they find some equally talented young actors to play his children. (more…) Read more

Anne and I are Coming to Santa Fe, NM.

Last updated on: September 19, 2012 at 4:40 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Have you considered The Glen Workshop? Faculty and Classes for 2005 Poetry – Andrew Hudgins, B.H. Fairchild Fiction – Erin McGraw Spiritual Writing – Paula Huston Playwriting/Screenwriting – Arlene Hutton Seminar – Elmer Yazzie Life Drawing – Barry Moser Mixed Media – Barry Krammes Watercolor – Laura Lasworth Musicians-in-Residence – Over the Rhine Read more

More from David Brooks in Africa

Last updated on: September 19, 2012 at 4:40 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Another stirring testimony from Brooks’ Africa venture. This week in Africa, I’ve been impressed by the level of medical expertise and depressed by the lack of moral, sociological, psychological and cultural expertise. The most subtle analysis of human nature I heard came in that church made of sticks. Read more

My Favorite Novel is Going to Be a Movie. Again.

Last updated on: September 19, 2012 at 4:42 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Hmmm. (more…) Read more

"Hard Goodbyes: My Father"

Last updated on: September 18, 2012 at 12:52 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Hard Goodbyes: My Father, which is set in Greece in 1969, reminds me of several other current films, and yet, it is also unique and powerful in its own quiet way. Like The Return, my favorite film of 2004, Hard Goodbyes is about a family in which two young boys must deal with their bitter mother and a father who’s rarely around to participate in family matters. In this case, the older son resents the father for his long absences.... Read more

Prayers for the Doe family

Last updated on: September 18, 2012 at 1:28 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Let me call a brief intermission from the mad, mad world of the Looking Closer Journal to ask you to join me and my wife Anne in prayer. (more…) Read more

Google ads – keep ’em or dump ’em?

Last updated on: September 18, 2012 at 1:27 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

A temporary post here regarding business. So… regarding the Google ads… I’ve had complaints. But ya know, in the past month and a half, they’ve brought me more monthly income to support Looking Closer’s site costs and related fees than any pleas for donations ever produced. So here’s the deal: If you like the Looking Closer Web site and are willing to offer a modest donation to keep things running smoothly … and if the donations I receive will equal... Read more