A list of all staff recommendations past and present is available in the library catalog. Many are also available in downloadable formats. For further reading and entertainment suggestions, check out our Books, Movies and More page and talk to your local librarian. Belong to a book group? We have many helpful resources just for you.
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The warmth of other suns : the epic story of America's great migration / |
 Chicago Public Library's One Book One Chicago series has been expanded, with plenty of great programs, events and discussions to attend throughout the rest of the year. This year's book selection is Isabel Wilkerson's much-lauded The Warmth of Other Suns. The book is about the Great Migration of African Americans in the 20th Century from the Jim Crow South to the northern cities in search of opportunity. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Wilkerson's bestseller blends academic research with captivating oral history to give us a page-turning and informative narrative. We'll also be using this book as a springboard to talk about the greater themes of migration and the classic American pursuit of happiness, and we would love it if you would join us. (Available in multiple formats.) |
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Whitey Bulger : America's most wanted gangster and the manhunt that brought him to justice / |
Although there have been a few books about Whitey Bulger since his arrest in 2011, this comprehensive account of Bulger's life of crime is particularly good. Boston Globe reporters Kevin Cullen and Shelley Murphy provide a well-researched, highly engaging account of Bulger's life from juvenile delinquent to FBI informant to head of the Irish Mob. It's an absolutely gripping piece of narrative non-fiction. |
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The great Gatsby / |
What with the recent books about Zelda Fitzgerald and the upcoming movie adaptation of Gatsbyfrom director Baz Luhrmann starring Leonardo DiCaprio, people are taking a keen interest in this Jazz Age classic once again. Narrated by Nick Carraway, it's the tale of his friendship with a millionaire who's famous for the wild, lavish paties he throws on his estate on Long Island. The story also concerns Nick's cousin Daisy and her husband Tom, a snob from old money who looks down on this Gatsby fellow. If you've never read the book, consider checking out this memorable, brilliant novel that moves as fast as a new car at top speed. And if you haven't read it since school, you may be surprised at how funny Nick is, how modern the novel still feels, and what a pack it still punches. (Available in multiple formats.) |
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Z : a novel of Zelda Fitzgerald / |
It seems there has been a recent surge of interest in the roaring twenties. Recently Paula McLain captivated readers with her story of the first Mrs. Hemingway in The Paris Wife. Now we have Fowler's biographical novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, whose tumultuous marriage to F. Scott Fitzgerald has made her the subject of much conjecture. This well-researched look into the life of such a colorful character is sure to appeal to fans of historical fiction or anyone with an interest in this pivotal and lively period of literary history. |
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How to get filthy rich in rising Asia / |
Hamid's inventive novel, How To Get Filthy Rich In Rising Asia, doubles as a self-help manual. Written in the second person, Hamid instructs "you" on how to do just that - get filthy rich in rising Asia - by telling your rags-to-riches story. It's a tale of how a young impoverished boy living in rural Asia, ostensibly Pakistan, transforms into a successful businessman. Clever, funny and timely, this novel is sure to appeal to fans of The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. (Available in multiple formats.) |
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Fresh off the boat : a memoir / |
Chefs' memoirs are all the rage recently. This latest from NYC chef Huang is engaging because of the wonderful portrait Huang draws of his tight-knit Chinese-American family. He is up front and bold in his honesty about the somewhat dysfunctional nature of his home life, but that's what makes his story so universal. His depiction of his mother and their relationship is particularly endearing. Of course, his story would not be complete without descriptive tales of his love of food and where his passion for cooking came from. Add to this Huang's writing style, infused with humor and plenty of pop culture references, and this is one enjoyable read, and not just for foodies. (Available in multiple formats.) |
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Storm kings : the untold history of America's first tornado chasers / |
As Chicagoans know too well, the Midwest is infamous for its weather, especially the tornadoes of the prairie states (imagine the Wizard of Oz without its storm). In this book, author Sandlin ("Wicked River: The Mississippi When It Last Ran Wild") looks at these famous and fearsome storm systems and the history of the scientists who study them (including Ben Franklin and that kite of his). Are you a secret Weather Channel addict? This one's for you. (Available in multiple formats.) |
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Bloom |
 Hailing from Baltimore this duo has aptly been tagged with the dream pop label. It will come as no surprise then that upon first listen to Bloom the word that springs to mind is ethereal. Their first single "Myth" is a perfect introduction to their sound. It draws you in with its sparse, almost airy feel. "Lazuli," the second release, expands on this style with a bit more heft and an even better display of Victoria Legrand's beautiful voice. Mellow and wistful, this album benefits from repeated listening. It just gets better and better. |
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We are the 21st century ambassadors of peace & magic |
Lots of bands find inspiration in the sounds of older artists, but Foxygen's ability to channel the Velvet Underground and Pyschedelic-era Beatles into something new is exceptional. Songs like "San Francisco" and "No Destruction" may have you looking around for a hidden time machine that brought back a young Lou Reed and John Lennon. The whole album has a late 60s vibe you can get lost in, and you'll want to. They'll be at Pitchfork this summer as part of a typcially amazing lineup. |
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Back to love |
The R&B scene has so many great and talented artists right now that it's like a renaissance. One of the best singers of the last decade is Anthony Hamilton, whose latest album was nominated for several recent Grammy awards. It's easy to see why with a voice like this. Highlights include the title track, "Pray for Me" and "Woo." Recently featured on the Django Unchained soundtrack, Hamilton's profile is as prominent as ever. All his albums are excellent, and this is as good a place to start as any. |
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 Adapted from a one-act play by Lucy Alibar, Beasts of the Southern Wild is an imaginative, otherworldly visual feast with a plucky young heroine. Hushpuppy, the young narrator, lives in abject poverty with her father in a bayou of Louisiana called the "Bathtub" because it's cut off from the mainland by the levee. He drinks and is sometime absent, but he loves her. The Bathtub has a strong sense of community despite the squalor and dysfunction. It's Hushpuppy's gritty resilience and wonder-filled imagination that make this film so compelling; this is a story, or a fable really, about the strength of a child's spirit. If Lewis Carroll had been from a different place and time, his Alice might have looked a lot like Hushpuppy. |
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This entry in the superhero movies is a pleasant throw-back to old school action/adventure films. We've got our hero and we've got a baddie. Captain America's origin story is laid out. Dating back to WWII, which maybe why it calls to mind an earlier era of Hollywood, we are introduced to Steve Rogers, an underdog if ever there was one. Rogers is transformed into Captain America by way of a military science experiment, and while he starts out as more of a poster boy, he soon grows into his role as hero. While the story is your classic good defeats evil with some superpowers thrown in, it is refreshing in the way it is told. Undoubtedly there will be follow-ups to this Avenger's story, and if they are all as well-made, they will be welcome additions. |
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At the start of this award-winning Belgian film, a 12-year-old boy in foster care is searching for his absentee father and his bike at the apartment where they used to live. When the authorities discover him, he flees to a nearby doctor's office and clings to a woman in the waiting room. As the story goes on, we are asked to consider just what place this friendly stranger has in the boy's troubled life and whether she'll be able to help him. Shot in a naturalistic, low-key style, this story is nonetheless constantly moving forward, like the kid himself, who's always running or zooming around on his bike. A moving and inspirational journey. |