June 12, 2013
[youtube=http://youtu.be/mEPuoldGjmY] In honor of this week’s publication of Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane, here’s a video of Mr. Gaiman discussing the book that made him want to be a writer. Heather N.
June 11, 2013
Chicagoans are extremely serious about their grilling. I have seen neighbors struggling to cook meat in subfreezing January temps. While I’m not especially skilled at BBQ, I respect others’ ability to turn out a tasty offering after flipping, poking, basting, etc, until the magic moment that the food is deemed perfect. In this spirit, here […]
June 7, 2013
Judy Blume has been a best-selling author since her first novel Iggie’s House was published in 1970. Although she’s sold more than 80 million books none of them have been produced as a feature film until today. Her 1981 young adult novel Tiger Eyes will open in select theaters around the country – and has […]
June 7, 2013
We are thrilled to introduce local collage artist Maria Zamora Garcia as the next to be featured in our ongoing exhibition series Local Art @ EPL. From now through the end of June, her collection Sequences will be on display on the 2nd floor of EPL’s Main Library. A native of Madrid who splits time […]
June 6, 2013
Yes, the staff at EPL can haul weighty tomes with the best of them, but I’m referring here to a librarian who really lifts weights. Josh Hanagarne turned to body building as a way of coping with Tourette’s Syndrome and also became a librarian. He’s written a book (The World’s Strongest Librarian) about his experiences, […]
June 4, 2013
James Agee’s 1936 Fortune magazine article was the basis for his 1941 book on poverty in the South Let Us Now Praise Famous Men. That 30,000-word article, previously unpublished because Agee felt it was obscene to “pry intimately into the lives of an undefended and appallingly damaged group of human beings,” will now be published […]
May 31, 2013
Controversial Chicago priest Andrew Greeley died Thursday at the age of 85. Although he was an outspoken critic of the Catholic Church, “his criticism was seen as offering the faithful a route back to the church, and helping the church find its way toward embracing them.” In addition to his duties as a priest, Rev. […]
May 28, 2013
If you’re looking for something to do next weekend, keep the Printers Row Lit Fest in mind. There will be more than a few literary stars, fun activities, and interesting discussions. After skimming thru the list of events, I would say there’s an even balance between authors, poetry, food demos, and readings for youth, among other types of […]
May 28, 2013
Last Saturday evening I had the privilege of being the Pronouncer and moderator of the local level of the Illinois State Senior Spelling Bee. In addition to having loads of fun–I was channeling Alex Trebek and Will Shortz like crazy–I learned that Evanstonians are great spellers. There were 17 participants, ages 50 and up, and […]
May 24, 2013
Manuscript for a novel by Pearl S. Buck, discovered in a storage unit in Texas, will be released in October in paperback and e-book formats. Best known for her second novel The Good Earth, published in 1931, Pearl Buck is the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Renewed interest in her […]
