Essay

A Review of Taylor Swift’s Reflective Narration in The Tortured Poets Department by Abigail Reed

A Review of Taylor Swift’s Reflective Narration in The Tortured Poets Department by Abigail Reed

It’s no wonder Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department resonates with a writer like me. For years, faithful Swifties have been acknowledging Taylor Swift as a poet. Lyrics from her two pandemic albums, Folklore and Evermore, captivated not just her usual audience but many sworn-never-to-become-Swifties, […]

Sleep. by Madalynn Mumme

Sleep. by Madalynn Mumme

How wonderful a state of consciousness is. An aspect of every living being – the proof of our humanity. Throughout history, it has been a pillar upon which we can strive. Work can only be properly done with proceeding slumber. There could be no change […]

On Dreams and Dreamers: A Liberal Arts Reflection by Davis Smith

On Dreams and Dreamers: A Liberal Arts Reflection by Davis Smith

Why is it that artists since the dawn of recorded civilization have constructed their works upon the archetype of the dreamer and the dream? Let us define “dream” not only as an ideal which rules our passions and pleasures—a synonym for “aspiration”—but as an epitome […]

Reading for Pleasure  by Hannah Dosch

Reading for Pleasure by Hannah Dosch

Have you ever been asked what you like to do in your free time? Did you ever respond with reading and get snarky remarks such as “Oh I never read. I don’t remember the last time I read a book, maybe it was in high […]

Death’s Perspective by Jenna Wahl

Death’s Perspective by Jenna Wahl

Memorial Library recently hosted a book club session featuring The Book Thief. After attending and having an interesting conversation about the unique omniscient narrator in this story, I was reminded of a paper I wrote for College Writing I. In this piece, I was supposed […]

Talking about Richard Blanco: 5th Inaugural Poet and My New Obsession by Libby Kassuelke

Talking about Richard Blanco: 5th Inaugural Poet and My New Obsession by Libby Kassuelke

Mr. Richard Blanco is a former engineer turned poet and has found great success. He received both his undergraduate degree as well as his MFA in creative writing from Florida International University and has gone on to publish five successful collections of poetry including Looking […]

The Seat of All Our Souls: Lenten Reflections on Poetry and Penitence by Davis Smith

The Seat of All Our Souls: Lenten Reflections on Poetry and Penitence by Davis Smith

This is the time of year for reflection. The sun-soaked, breeze-cooled April evenings are punctured with carilloning birds and the scent of burgeoning lilacs. These expectant days, teetering on the verge of tulips and triumph, always seemed ideal for meditation on renewal and redemption. The […]

Warriors Cats took over my life and now it will take over yours By Audra Dale

Warriors Cats took over my life and now it will take over yours By Audra Dale

About the piece: I wrote this piece for my Advanced Writing class as a sophomore in college. I really loved the Warriors Cats books as a child, and still love them today, so I chose them as my topic. It was a really challenging piece […]

Walls by Sabrina Seiwert

Walls by Sabrina Seiwert

About the Piece: “Walls” was originally a poem called “A Hill in Vernon,” but I wanted to try and see if I could write it as prose, while still keeping the flow and lyricism. This piece is about my childhood home in Vernon Hills, a […]

Review of Amor Towles’ The Lincoln Highway by Libby Kassuelke

Review of Amor Towles’ The Lincoln Highway by Libby Kassuelke

Rating 4.75/5 If you’re looking for (and I’m sure you are) an American adventure novel that will keep your wheels turning months after reading it, look no further. Amor Towles becomes a third-time author with this brand new novel The Lincoln Highway. His first two […]