Liberal Lion, Ted Kennedy
Posted August 27, 2009
“Liberal Lion” Ted Kennedy died this past Tuesday in his home in Hyannis Port, Mass. Kennedy was one of the longest-serving senators in history — only Senators Strom Thurmond and Robert Byrd served longer — and the youngest of the Kennedy clan. He began his political career when he was sworn into office on November 7, 1962, taking over the seat vacated by his brother John F. Kennedy. Kennedy’s life was not without controversy, including his involvement in the Chappaquiddick incident that tarnished his reputation, but he was respected on both sides of the aisle for being an eloquent speaker and tireless worker. He championed many causes including health care reform and civil rights. Senator Kennedy was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor in May 2008 but remained upbeat and active until his passing. President Barack Obama noted at a press conference Wednesday morning, “Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States senator of our time.”
Ted Kennedy’s memoir, True Compass, will be coming out in September. Also of note is Edward Klein’s recently published, Ted Kennedy: The Dream that Never Died and Last Lion: The Rise and Fall of Ted Kennedy, put out by the team of the Boston Globe.
The Magicians
Posted August 25, 2009
The newest book from Time magazine book critic Lev Grossman has been garnering praise in the literary world including starred reviews from Library Journal and Booklist. The story centers around Quentin, a high school senior who discovers he has been granted admission to a magical college he didn’t even know existed. He decides to forge ahead and train to become a wizard rather than return to finish out his traditional education. Sounds like Harry Potter for the older set, but from what the critics are saying Grossman manages to pull it off. The Chicago Tribune has particularly high praise: “Grossman is a bewitchingly gifted writer, and the alternative world he creates is sumptuous and weird and yet completely plausible.”
Writers have been working magic into their fiction for years and we’ve taken notice and compiled a handy list of Magical Fiction for your browsing pleaure. We’d like to point you to a few more titles before you jump over to that list.
Fiction:
The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes
The Manual of Detection by Jebediah Berry
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Mr. Sebastian and the Negro Magician by Daniel Wallace
Non-fiction:
The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero by William Kalush and Larry Sloman
The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam by Ann Marie Fleming
Films:
The Prestige
The Illusionist
A Tale of Two Cooks
Posted August 20, 2009
Has there been a more book-happy movie in theaters recently? Julie and Julia, starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, is based on not one but two books, Julie and Julia by Julie Powell and My Life in France by Julia Child. It also tells the story of the creation of another, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. On top of that, both stories, that of Julia Child and that of blogger Julie Powell, are essentially about the struggle to get a book published. Any way you slice it, it’s been a recipe for success, resulting in big demand for all books involved. Beyond these few books, however, there are many more Julia Child books to be found in the Library. Following is a list of highlights, both books and DVDs:
Books
Julia’s Kitchen Wisdom by Julia Child with David Nussbaum
The way to cook by Julia Child
Julia Child & company by Julia Child with E. S. Yntema
Julia Child (Penguin Lives) by Laura Shapiro
Baking with Julia: based on the PBS series hosted by Julia Child by Dorie Greenspan
The French chef cookbook by Julia Child
Julia and Jacques cooking at home by Julia Child and Jacques Pepin, with David Nussbaum
DVDs
Julia Child: an appetite for life (Biography)
The French chef with Julia Child
Julia Child!: America’s favorite chef
Julia Child’s kitchen wisdom
Julia and Jacques cooking at home
Don’t Miss This: 1955
Posted August 18, 2009
Because there are so many gems from the past we don’t want you to miss, we’re starting a new occasional series highlighting some of the best books, movies and music worth discovering or rediscovering. Let’s start with 1955:
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
The first of several novels to feature Tom Ripley, The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith is a psychological suspense novel that was adapted twice for film: Plein Soleil (1960) and The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999). Fans of Hitchcock will delight in the amoral Tom Ripley and the subversive humor of this highbrow crime novel.
James Dean died a month before the film was released, but his performance in this melodrama depicting teenage angst is a classic. The film also features Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo, who both received Oscar nominations for their performances. Anxiety over teenage delinquency was widespread at the time, and this film presented viewers with a middle-class, dysfunctional family long before it was in fashion.
In The Wee Small Hours / Frank Sinatra
A break-up with Ava Gardner provided the inspiration for this concept album with arrangements by Nelson Riddle. These melancholy ballads represent some of Sinatra’s best work.
D.I.Y. Film Fest: John Hughes 1950-2009
Posted August 13, 2009
If you grew up in the 1980s you probably have many fond memories of John Hughes’ films. They brought so much pleasure to so many. Chicago fans possibly more than others because of his use of the city and its surrounding suburbs as locations for his many wonderful comedies. Since his death there has been an outpouring of emotions for the passing of this talented writer and director. One particularly touching note came in the form of a blog post from a long-time fan. In it she writes about how Hughes’ movies touched her life and how a fan letter led to a long correspondence between herself and Hughes. It’s a wonderful tribute. We’d like to suggest a D.I.Y. film festival to celebrate the life and work of a man who left a lasting impression on a generation of filmgoers. [Update: Also check out the recent book, Don’t You Forget About Me: Contemporary Writers on the Films of John Hughes.]
Sixteen Candles (1984) writer and director
The Breakfast Club (1985) writer and director
Weird Science (1985) writer and director
Pretty in Pink (1986) writer and executive producer
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) writer, director and producer
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) writer, director and producer
Home Alone (1990) writer and producer
Marc Kelly Smith
Posted August 11, 2009
Earlier this summer, an article in the New York Times profiled Marc Kelly Smith, king of the slam poetry movement whose headquarters is the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge right here in Chicago. Marc Smith has had an eventful year, with two new books about slam poetry, so it seemed like an excellent time to put the spotlight on them, and some related books from the modern poetry scene.
Take the Mic: the Art of Performance Poetry, Slam and the Spoken Word / Marc Kelly Smith with Joe Kraynak
Stage a Poetry Slam: Creating Performance Poetry Events, Insider Tips, Backstage Advice and Lots of Examples / Marc Kelly Smith with Joe Kraynak
The Spoken Word Revolution: Slam, Hip-hop & the Poetry of a New Generation / edited by Mark Eleveld; advised by Marc Smith; introduction by Billy Collins
The spoken word revolution redux / edited by Mark Eleveld
Word Warriors: 35 Women Leaders in the Spoken Word Revolution
Words in your Face: a Guided Tour Through Twenty Years of the New York City Poetry Slam
Southern Sleeper
Posted August 6, 2009
Kathryn Stockett’s debut novel has created quite a buzz. Published in February of this year to very positive reviews, it finally hit the New York Times bestsellers list in March and climbed all the way up to No. 5 this past week. Such staying power is rare these days.
The novel tells the story of a young white woman, Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan, living in Civil Rights-era Mississippi. An aspiring writer fresh out of college, she is inspired to write a book collecting the stories of local African American maids and their experiences working for white families. Little does she know how deeply this project will affect not only her and her subjects, but also their surrounding community. The Washington Post had this to say about The Help: “In a page-turner that brings new resonance to the moral issues involved, she spins a story of social awakening as seen from both sides of the American racial divide.” Sounds like a ringing endorsement to us.
If you’re among those who’ve already read it or are just looking for more Southern fiction with strong female characters and equally strong writing, check out these other titles:
Freshwater Road by Denise Nicholas
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
Four Spirits by Sena Jeter Naslund
The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg
Lollapalooza
Posted August 4, 2009
You have had a few weeks now to reminisce about the great time you had at Pitchfork, and it was an excellent warm-up to that other Chicago music festival, Lollapalooza. This year Grant Park will be filled with enthused music fans from August 7-9 to see their favorite bands play, and the lineup is impressive: headliners include Depeche Mode, The Killers and the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, but don’t forget to catch Chicago’s own Andrew Bird, the Decemberists and Vampire Weekend. It is going to be a cornucopia of sound. Can’t be there? Then grab some of these albums from the Chicago Public Library and recreate your own Lollapalooza weekend:
Only By the Night / Kings of Leon
It’s Blitz! / Yeah Yeah Yeahs
White Lies For Dark Times / Ben Harper & Relentless 7
Noble Beast / Andrew Bird
Vampire Weekend / Vampire Weekend
Two Suns / Bat For Lashes
Middle Cyclone / Neko Case
Day & Age / The Killers
Dear Science / TV on the Radio
Youth Novels / Lykke Li
Radio Retaliation / Thievery Corporation
Glasvegas / Glasvegas
Keep It Hid / Dan Auerbach
Swoon / Silverspun Pickups
Sounds of the Universe / Depeche Mode
Living Things / Peter, Bjorn and John
Microcastle / Deerhunter
Remind Me In 3 Days / The Knux
Merriweather Post Pavilion / Animal Collective
The Hazards of Love / The Decemberists
The Mountain / Heartless Bastards