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 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, so please join us. (Available in multiple formats.) |
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Family pictures / |
Told from varying perspectives Jane Green's latest domestic drama tells the story of two women living parallel lives. When a secret is revealed that touches them both they find their lives are not what they seemed. Engaging from the start, this is sure to appeal to fans of women's literature. (Available in multiple formats.) |
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After visiting friends : a son's story / |
Michael Hainey, who grew up on Chicago's Northwest side, had long been haunted by his father's death, which occurred when Hainey was six. His father, a reporter for first the Tribune and the Sun-Times, was said to have been found on the street, dead from an apparent aneurism. The story never sat well with Hainey, who grew up to be a reporter himself. Approaching the age that his father was at the time of his death, thirty-five, he finally decided to investigate. What follows is his search for the truth. Hainey's story is touching not only because it reveals so much about his dad, but also about how his father's early death colored every aspect of his life and his relationship with his mother. With Chicago as a backdrop and many details of the bygone era of the newspaper business thrown in, this is a wonderful book that will appeal to history buffs, journalism enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the complex dynamics of families |
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The Supremes at Earl's all-you-can-eat / |
At Earl's All-You-Can-Eat in Plainview, Indiana, long-time friends Barbara Jean, Clarice and Odette have been getting together every Sunday for dinner where they can laugh, gossip and commiserate about their troubles. Close-knit since high school in the 60s, these three beauties have become known as "The Supremes." With a great big heart, this warm, feel-good story from Chicago author Moore will appeal to fans of Fannie Flagg and Terry MacMillian, but with its own unique voice it will win plenty of fans of its own. (Available in multiple formats.) |
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The best of us : a novel / |
A perfect book to tote along to the beach, The Best of Us tells the story of four college friends who reunite at a Jamaican resort. They're celebrating a birthday, but the baggage they've brought along on this trip also includes their struggles with motherhood, infidelity, and the past. It's a fun, breezy page-turner that will appeal to Jennifer Weiner fans. |
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The invisible ones / |
Penney's second outing after her highly acclaimed debut, The Tenderness of Wolves, takes us to the outskirts of London during the late 80s. Detective Ray Lovell has been asked to investigate the disappearance of a young Romany (Gypsy) woman who went missing some years ago. Ray reluctantly agrees to take on the case and soon finds himself entrenched in the lives of the Jankos, a family who cling to a culture that few still embrace and many outright shun. Beautifully written and carefully plotted, this mystery will keep readers guessing and may send them running back to read Penney's earlier work. (Available in multiple formats.) |
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Stoner / |
Hardly noticed upon its release, this slim 1965 novel was reissued a decade ago and has quietly resurged in reputation since then. Recently it has caught like wildfire in several European countries, perching at #1 on the Dutch bestseller list for the last couple months. This old-fashioned, realistic novel tells the piercingly sad story of a Midwestern man born to a dirt-poor farming family who decide to send him to college. There he discovers a passion for literature and eventually becomes a professor after World War I. A contemplative, philosophical story written in beautifully plainspoken language, it's a novel about the joys and sorrows of life and love. Heartbreaking and wise, it will especially appeal to you former English majors. |
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Oshin |
 Diiv's (formerly Dive after the Nirvana song) Oshin is effortless in that you can press play and then just soak it up. Pitchfork summed it up well: "this album is more of a sensory experience than an emotional one." Since it's mostly instrumental, it is very easy to get caught up in the music and just go with it. The occasional vocals blend in and often fade out and seem to disappear into the music. It's really a very soothing album without being at all boring. Labeled as dream-pop it certainly does fit the bill. |
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In time |
With Tex-Mex, Cuban and country elements to their music, Miami band The Mavericks sound a bit like Los Lobos, but vocalist Raul Malo's singing and songwriting style are also strongly reminiscent of the late great Roy Orbison. Songs like "Back in Your Arms Again," "Born to Be Blue" and "Come Unto Me" are pure pop heaven, upbeat and perfect for Summer. |
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Heartthrob |
Twin sister duo Tegan and Sara have been making music for awhile, but there's little doubt that they'll expand their audience with the release of their seventh album, Heartthrob. Its ten upbeat tracks, clocking in at a quick 36 minutes, are accessible and catchy pop tunes. The pair's complimentary and sophisticated songwriting and distinctive vocal styles provide for a more interesting listen than your run-of-the-mill dance pop record. |
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 Eliezer and Uriel Shkolnik are father and son, and both are professors of Talmudic studies. The father is a traditional purist (and a bit of a grump), toiling in obscurity while the son is a rising star in the field. When the father is named the recipient of Israel's top prize for scholarship, they find their lives turned upside down. This acclaimed drama is often drolly funny, while also being a serious look at academic rivalry, ego, family relations, and the question of how you should spend your life. Humane and observant, it's a thoughtful achievement. |
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Fran Lebowitz is a real character, a NYC author and intellectual of the old school who has scathing, provocative opinions on every topic you can name. (Think Camille Paglia, Oscar Wilde and Susan Sontag rolled into one.) Clearly Martin Scorsese finds her fascinating and entertaining, because in his documentary about her he lets her do all the talking. When you hear Marty at all, he's chuckling off camera. First shown on HBO, this documentary subsequently played in theaters (not the other way around) due to word of mouth interest. |
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The latest from Judd Apatow has Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann facing off once again (the two played opposite each other in Apatow's Knocked Up) as a married couple approaching the big 4-0. As each of them tries to come to terms with what this new stage in their life means for them individually, they also try to balance marriage, parenthood and careers. Often hilarious and at a times reflective, this is classic Apatow. |