This season of One Book, One Chicago, we're celebrating the theme of Music: The Beat of Our City through Greg Kot's book I'll Take You There. As we explore Chicago's rich musical heritage, we want to know, how well do you know Chicago Landmarks? Take our quiz, written by librarian Mary from the Municipal Reference Collection…
Going with Gonzo: Hunter S. Thompson by Those Who Knew Him
Hunter S. Thompson had a tendency to self-mythologize, and let's face it, many of the substances he consumed did not lend themselves to objective self-reflection. With that in mind, I'm putting forth a few books written by people who knew the Great Man best. Juan Thompson was Hunter's only son, and he writes of growing…
Caught Reading: Book “Lovers,” February 2018
Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love: Love for a person, love for a pet, love for that amazing book that you couldn’t put down even to meet the love of your life. This month, we spied a couple Chicagoans whose love of reading helped move a relationship along. First, my own story. Luckily…
Books to Celebrate the Illinois Bicentennial
Illinois became a state nearly 200 years ago, on December 3, 1818. The state's celebrating the Illinois Bicentennial all year long with events throughout Illinois. Here at CPL, we'll celebrate by recommending resources on our state's history and culture each month. To get us started, here are some suggestions for learning more about the history…
#TBT: Celebrating Etta James
One of my all-time favorite songs for a newlywed couple’s first dance is "At Last" by Etta James. Somehow it never gets old. The melodic notes, soaring rifts and gritty tones seem to predict the coming ups and downs of marital bliss, captivating young and old alike. For this Throwback Thursday, we celebrate the phenomenal…
Personal Finance: New Year, New Beginnings
For many, January brings a new list of resolutions. By the time the month is over, our resolve slowly fades away, along with the list. It's not that we don't wish to move forward, but perhaps these goals just overwhelmed us. Here's a short list of practical money management ideas to get this new year…
Meet Chicago Children’s Author Lindsay Currie
I've always been a fan of supernatural fiction. Especially when there's just enough of the creepy factor to give you chills. When I read about Lindsay Currie's debut book I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! It had all the things I love: horror, mystery and friendship. The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street…
Eat Local: A New Year’s Resolution
A new year means new resolutions. Maybe you’d like to lose some weight, improve your health or do your part to improve the environment. If so eating locally sourced food is a great option. Due to the growth of the local foods market, it’s not just a trend, it’s a movement that has so many…
Almost Human: Books About Artificial Intelligence
High technology is becoming ubiquitous in daily life, whether it's Alexa or the algorithms that Google uses to answer your questions and market to you. We keep trying to make our machines smarter, but at what point do they slip the leash and think for themselves? Three novels and one book of essays explore the…
#TBT: Janis Joplin, Queen of Psychedelic Blues
On the surface, the singers Mavis Staples and Janis Joplin don’t seem to have a lot in common—Janis came from a small segregated Texas town, a rebel who pushed all the boundaries and lived a hardcore rock 'n' roll lifestyle with booze, sex and drugs. Mavis grew up on the South Side of Chicago, heavily…
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