As the weather warms up, I love to spend time in our city's beautiful parks. The Chicago Park District is the oldest and one of the largest public park districts in the United States. From public beaches to pools to tennis courts to playgrounds, Chicago's parks have something to offer all ages.
Recently I ventured to Humboldt Park to see what you were reading. Located in the heart of the Humboldt community on the West Side, Humboldt Park totals 219 acres and features a field house with fitness center, two gymnasiums, meeting rooms and an inland beach.
While I was out strolling through this beautiful landscape, I caught you sitting on a bench enjoying John Scalzi's first novel, Old Man's War.
Old Man's War is available in other formats.
I saw you laying out on a blanket near the lagoon reading Chuck Klosterman's new book, But What If We're Wrong? Klosterman asks questions that are profound in their simplicity: How certain are we about our understanding of gravity? How certain are we about our understanding of time? How seriously should we view the content of our dreams? There is no better place to ponder philosophical questions than in the beauty of a public park.
You were caught on the stairs near the field house reading Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon. This ambitious novel weaves issues of race, class, gender and generational lines together, showing how they continue to define us even as they're crossed.
Telegraph Avenue is available in other formats.
Finally I saw you nodding to Shrill, Lindy West's riotous memoir, near the tennis courts. Who said feminists can't be funny?
I hope you get out there with a book and take advantage of our beautiful parks this season.
Add a comment to: Caught Reading: Humboldt Park, June 2016