reviews – Words for Wayfarers

“Train Dreams,” Terrence Malick, & the Transcendence of Secular Cinema

This essay contains spoilers from The Tree of Life, directed by Terrence Malick. Back in high school, when I was still a devout Christian, I scribbled a quote from Marilynne Robinson’s novel Gilead in the front cover of my Bible: I have been thinking about existence lately. In fact, I have been so full of admiration for existence thatContinue reading ““Train Dreams,” Terrence Malick, & the Transcendence of Secular Cinema”

Introducing My Vampire Weekend Series

Nine months ago, when my wife and I packed our belongings and moved from West Michigan to Chicagoland, I did something I’d never done before: Alone in the U-Haul, I listened to four albums in a row by the same band, start to finish. Typically, when I’m on the road, I like to mix thingsContinue reading “Introducing My Vampire Weekend Series”