Review | Angelopolis by Danielle Trussoni

Sequels are never easy. Whether it’s in the form of a book, a movie, or a graphic novel, sequels are a place where all expectations and theories are put to the test. However, the one trick that every reader should keep in mind is that it’s not about what the sequel’s story should be, but what the story is. In both cases, Danielle Trussoni’s Angelopolis fell short of its promising beginning.

Law Students Sweep Competition in Broomball Tournament

An article written in the Spring of 2014 about the law students’ annual broomball tournament. Quite the interesting sight to see.

“The air was chilly, the ceilings and walls were covered in varying shades of blue and white, and the room was filled with the sounds of cheers and the furious clacking of sticks. Within an icy arena, teams of men and women faced off against one another in order to either taste the sweet flavor of victory or the bitter tang of defeat.”

Read the full article here: [link]

Federalist Society Lecture Focuses on the ‘Rise of the Warrior Cop’

An article I wrote covering a special lecture hosted by the Washington University School of Law in the Spring of 2013.

“Washington University School of Law’s Federalist Society recently hosted a presentation on the ‘Militarization of Police Forces.’ The discussion elucidated the growing number of conflicts brought on by the increased militarization of America’s police, and how it has impacted society’s perception of the police force as a whole. Matthew White, President of the Federalist Society, introduced lead speaker Radley Balko, senior writer and journalist for The Huffington Post and author of the upcoming book, Rise of the Warrior Cop. Providing additional commentary was Adjunct Professor David Rosen, former Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri.”

Full Article Here: [link]

Review | Belka, Why Don’t You Bark? by Hideo Furukawa

There are lots of stories about men and dogs out there (or women and dogs, or dogs and dogs), but rarely do those stories place the dog in something other than a supporting role. Usually it’s the human’s story, filled with their dramas and their struggles. This does wonders for solidifying dogkind’s role as humanity’s best friend, but what if it were the other way around? What if the dogs had their own interests, and their time spent side by side with humanity had a different purpose than what we imagine? This is a question that few books explore, and none in as interesting a manner as Hideo Furukawa’s Belka, Why Don’t You Bark?

Review | Deva Zan by Yoshitaka Amano

Whether you know his famous design work from the long-running Final Fantasy series, the art from Vampire Hunter D, or even his brief partnership with Neil Gaiman in The Sandman: The Dream Hunters, there’s no denying that Yoshitaka Amano is a talented man. He has an art style all his own, a respect for classic mythology, and a creative flair that few can equal. One of the few things he’s had little of up until this point is a written voice, but that’s all changed with his latest work, Deva Zan.

Review | The Fifty Year Sword by Mark Danielewski

How do you place a value on a weapon? Do you judge it by how many lives it can extinguish? How efficiently it can take them? Suppose someone forged a weapon sharp enough to rend a memory in two, powerful enough to destroy a season in a single stroke; how much would such a blade be worth? These are the questions posed at the end of Mark Z. Danielewski’s The Fifty Year Sword.

A Novel Approach: Alumna Publishes Second Thriller

An article written in Spring of 2010 about legal expert and novelist Julie Compton and her second book, Rescuing Olivia.

Julie Compton, AB ’85, JD ’88, has successfully mixed her legal background with her love of writing to become a published author of two psychological thrillers— with a third one on the way. Compton’s second novel, Rescuing Olivia, was released in February to enthusiastic reviews. Set in her current state of residence, Florida, the book centers on Anders Erickson, a man who is told that the love of his life, Olivia, has died in a motorcycle accident. He then discovers that he was deceived and that she had been stolen away from him. The story encompasses his quest to find her by sifting through the life she left behind. What Anders finds is a tapestry of lies, conspiracies, and hidden violence as he strives to save her life, and, consequently, his own.