Columns

[blue rare]On the Importance of Nonchalance

All living is hard living, there are no two ways about it.  This world will knock you about pretty good if you don’t develop the skills to properly navigate it; there are simply some things you just need to know to survive and thrive.  Unfortunately, we are not born with these skills, with this knowledge. … Read more »

Music Review—Forbidden

Artist: The Sweet Kill Single: Forbidden The Sweet Kill, a mesmerizing one-man post-punk project steered by the gifted Pete Mills, originally hailing from the lively city of Vancouver, has recently unveiled its latest sonic creation, “Forbidden,” signaling the release of the band’s second full-length album, titled Nowhere.  What sets this musical endeavor apart is not… Read more »

Fly on the Wall—At Ease, Monkey Brain!

We can be forgiven for feeling as though we live in a world on fire.  Literal firestorms engulf swathes the size of a small province each summer, and an El Nino year like 2024 makes forest fire fears a top story even in the depths of winter.  Meanwhile, global tensions have reached our back door… Read more »

Beyond Literary Landscapes—American Gothic

From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge.  Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile. From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and… Read more »

[blue rare] Here Comes the Future Again

When I was walking home in the early hours of the first day of 2024, a sports car drove by in the lightly falling snow.  It was a fine machine.  Sleek and built for speed, streetlights reflected in its chrome, headlights flashing, tail lights glowing, heading confidently towards its destination; a vision of the way… Read more »

Beyond Literary Landscapes—The Dictator Novel

From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge.  Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile. From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and… Read more »

Best of Beyond Literary Landscapes—Death and Dying

From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge.  Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile. From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and… Read more »