I had a recent realization that most that I read a lot of serious books, and mostly on history. Now doesn't feel like the time for such books though. I pulled together some feel-good reads and books that are sure to make you laugh. Memoirs Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me and Why Not Me … Continue reading Quarantine Reads
Hyde Park is out of the way for the average trip to Chicago. There are a few reasons to make the trek (I’m a Northsider – it’s a trek!). My number one reason to encourage visitors to make of day it is to get you out of downtown and into a real Chicago neighborhood. Hyde … Continue reading Hyde Park
Well, it took me a little while, but I finally read Becoming. As expected, it was excellent. Since I live in Chicago there's always someone on my commute reading it, but I still had that feeling you get when you see someone in public reading the same book as you, and you think how you … Continue reading Becoming
Living in Chicago means living up to the hardiness that others outside Chicago, especially people from the South and West, and often other countries. I've heard questions about how to dress for Chicago, how to prepare yourself for it. Preparation Tip #1: the City of Chicago does not shut down for snow or cold. Another … Continue reading How to bundle up for a Chicago winter
Some books are just a joy to read. Vera is barely old enough to leave home and heads to Chicago in the early 1920s. She quickly finds herself for falling for two gangsters from rival gangs. So yeah, it'll pull you in. Renee Rosen likes to take the first 50 pages or so to set … Continue reading Dollface
I love a good Chicago story. This one started the night of the Chicago Fire - and the night of the opening of the Palmer House. This isn't a true story, but is based in historical fact, and thoroughly researched. Either you way, you get a glimpsed of Golden Age society in Chicago, as it … Continue reading What the Lady Wants
Another Erik Larson books, and once again I need to remind myself I’m reading nonfiction. The Devil in the White City is a look at Chicago at a turning point. Seen as a rough tumble, gruff city on the edge of the civilization (I can only assume these views come from New Yorkers), Chicago had to earn its place among major cities of the world. Growing up there I have always known how great it is, and embraced it’s colorful history from Al Capone, and influxes of immigrants, factory workers and union battles to Mrs. O’Leary’s cow and rebuilding of the city after the Great Fire of 1871.
