Book Review: Out Stealing Horses, by Per Petterson

They take their lumps quietly, like proud old men. And so do the teenagers in Trond’s recollections, imitating their fathers from the start.

The character development hardly suffers from the minimalist dialogue, however. The old men’s charm consists in their brevity and their nervous friendships and the simple, hardworking lifestyles they embrace. It also consists in their idiosyncrasies: Trond’s lifelong fondness for Charles Dickens, his friend Franz’s penchant for cursing (“Flaming hell” he often exclaims), his friend Lars’ penchant for cigarettes.

[Read the whole review here.]

Fulfillment

I’m going to serve as the Collegian’s News Editor next year.

I remember trying not to feel intimidated when I started attending newsroom meetings, during the early weeks of my sophomore year. I hardly dared to think I would ever edit our largest and most important section.

Thank you, Joy.

Joy Pavelski will act as our Editor-in-Chief. Longtime friend Chase Purdy will serve as Managing Editor.

Briefs

Raney to direct Honors Program

2009 class officers announced

Top five musical crimes perpetrated by Stevie Wonder in the ’80s and ’90s

1994 brought an interesting twist to the song’s legacy, when Kurt Cobain quoted the refrain in his suicide note.

As the story goes, he became so afraid Nirvana would embody everything he hated – money and hype, mostly – that he caved under the pressure and took his own life.

I’m no Nirvana expert, but I think it’s safe to say that prolific heroin use and Cobain’s wife Courtney Love played major roles, too.

Neil never intended to push other artists toward suicide; in fact, he felt so broken up about Cobain’s death that he dedicated his next album, “Sleeps with Angels,” to Cobain.
The point?

There must be some middle ground between taking one’s own life and going the way of Stevie Wonder.

[Read the full column here.]

Health violations hit food

Hillsdale Dining Service, Hillsdale College’s food service, racked up 15 violations during its January 21 inspection from the Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency.

The service received seven critical violations and eight non-critical violations. It received more critical violations than any other establishment in the county during January and February, said Rebecca Burns, the health agency’s director of environmental health.

[Read the text version here.]

Professors enjoy local diner, ethnic cuisine

“Better not eat that pepper you just found,” said James Holleman, music department chairman, to a customer sitting near him at the Coffee Cup Diner.

“Have you made that mistake?”

“Not in a long time,” said Assistant Professor of Music Omri Shimron, sitting between Holleman and the customer.

[Read the text version here.]