Jesmyn Ward is a poet who writes novels. The lyricism of her prose starkly contrasts the gritty realism of her plots, but that is part of the joy of reading her. Her novels hold a gilded mirror to life’s imperfections. Her characters live in a world where murder can be termed as a “hunting accident” so long as the victim…
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Visiting MUN: High-End-Asian-Fusion Dining in Haidhausen
Upon first walking into MUN, you are confronted with a plush chair and a darkened staircase. It’s almost as if the world were saying: take a moment; take a seat; take a breath; and when you’re ready, descend. It’s certainly an odd feeling to walk through a door and not know where you’re going, but at the stairs end, whatever…
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Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Blind Assassin’: Novels-Within-Novels-Within-Novels
Written by the renowned Canadian author, Margaret Atwood, at the turn of the millennium, The Blind Assassin won both the Booker and Hammett Prize, despite a lengthy list of harsh criticisms. Atwood is perhaps best known for her 1986 novel, The Handmaid’s Tale. A dystopic nightmare about the loss of a woman’s right to her own body and selfhood, The…
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Restaurant Gabelspiel: A Not-So-Hidden Gem in Obergiesing
Are you looking for a fine dining escape in Obergiesing? Restaurant Gabelspiel is a dream hiding in plain sight. Located on the ever–buzzing Tegernseer Landstraße, this quaint standalone next to the Giesinger Grünspitz truly feels like a world of its own. Owned and operated by a smart, youthful couple—Florian and Sabrina Berger—Gabelspiel blends a calm and easy mood with a…
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Colson Whitehead’s ‘The Underground Railroad’: Reimagining the American Slave Narrative
Last November, I attended a reading of The Underground Railroad at Ludwig Maximillian University. Throughout this event, I was struck not only by Colson Whitehead’s personal eloquence, intelligence, and charm but also by his dedication to authenticity. During the interview portion, for instance, he described himself as feeling unprepared to do justice to a subject matter as substantial and serious…
