Whether it’s a Thought or a Raving is up to you.
I’ve been feeling guilty about the supposed non-usefulness of the artistic and intellectual gifts I’ve been given. Teaching makes sense to me — it’s clearly a service and a sacrifice. But writing, reading, and contemplation are hard for me to justify, possibly because I love them so much. Does society really need another writer, another … Read more
I’ve been reading Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment and — to say the least — really enjoying it. As with The Brothers Karamazov, I’m always resisting the urge to post certain brilliant passages to Facebook, to people who probably don’t share my enthusiasm and some of whom must wonder who Dostoevsky is. This is the latest in … Read more
Es ist offiziell. Ich lerne wieder Deutsch. (… !!!!!!) Over a week ago I abruptly broke off the winter fling I’d been having with Russian, and I ran falling back into the arms of German — my first love! Ach, Deutsch, die Wahrheit ist, dass ich immer in dich verliebt war! Das lässt sich nicht … Read more
What is it with me and my enduring passion for all things Teutophone? I mean the enduring passion that causes me to fiercely defend the aesthetics of the German language; squeal in delight to hear German spoken in my vicinity; feel my heart race in love and wonder when I hold a German-language novel in … Read more