News Thu Aug 07 2008

GB Book Club Connects Readers

The Gapers Block Book Club is named as one of the "100 Places to Connect with Other Bibliophiles Online." You can find us in the blogs category, but be sure to visit some of the other great resources listed.

You can connect with us online here anytime, but remember you can also connect with us in-person this Monday, August 11, when we meet at The Book Cellar to talk about our current book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Hope to see you there.

- Alice Maggio | Comments (0)

News Thu Aug 07 2008

CPL Has Right Stuff

Okay, the headline is cliché. But last week the Chicago Public Library announced The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe for the Fall 2008 selection of the "One Book, One Chicago" program. Check out the link above because there are lots of copies still available. Grab them while you can.

To celebrate, the city is screening the 1983 film version of The Right Stuff, starring Ed Harris, Dennis Quaid and Sam Shepard, at Grant Park on Thursday, August 14 at 8pm. Visit the library website for more information.

- Alice Maggio | Comments (0)

Book Club Wed Aug 06 2008

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Discussion Questions

Below are some of the questions we'll use to discuss L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz next week. I'm looking forward to hearing what everyone thought about the book and how childhood familiarity with the story or sole familiarity with the movie affected your readings. It's a fast read, so if you haven't picked it up yet, you still have plenty of time to get through it and join us for discussion.

• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has been called the first American fairy tale and Baum's intentions were to write a fairy tale that differed from the older, European ones. How is this story different from other fairy tales you've read or are familiar with? Would you call Oz particularly American?

• Baum is said to have disliked the way traditional fairy tales taught morals and values. Does Oz express any particulary values or moral lessons? How does Baum communicate them in the story?

• Is this story accessible to a modern audience? Is there anything dated about it? Do you think it will continue to appeal to children in future generations?

• The Scarecrow yearns for a brain, but he's actually the most intelligent and logical person in the group. Is this irony present elsewhere in the story? What purpose does it serve?

• Why does the Wizard behave the way he does? Is his behavior excusable or not? He describes himself as a good man but a bad wizard - do you agree?

• Do money and capitalism play any roles in Oz? What is valued in the land of Oz compared to what is valued in the real world?

• In his Preface to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Baum says that he aimed to create a tale in which "wonderment and joy are retained and the heart-aches and nightmares are left out." Do you think he succeeded? Do you think that this type of optimism and pure entertainment are valuable?

• What are the power dynamics in Oz? How does one get and lose power in Oz?

• Baum's mother-in-law was a feminist and a suffragette. Do you think the ideals of feminism influenced Baum's writing of Oz? In particular, how would you view Dorothy and the witches in a feminist context?

  - Veronica Bond | Comments (0)

News Tue Aug 05 2008

Elizabeth Berg, Dunkin' Donuts and Oprah

Elizabeth Berg talks about her recent story collection The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted, doughnuts and how Oprah acted a sign that she needed to move to Chicago.

- Alice Maggio | Comments (0)

News Tue Aug 05 2008

Author of Loving Frank Talks to Trib

Oak Park native Nancy Horan was recently profiled in the Tribune, and there are some wise words for all beginning writers:

"What set Horan's life going in an entirely new direction was the moment she sat down with a yellow legal pad and a pen and began to tell a story. What truly mattered was the moment she decided that—long odds be damned—she would write about what intrigued her, in the way she wanted to, and try to get it published."

- Alice Maggio | Comments (0)

Events Mon Aug 04 2008

Event Spotlight: Harry Potter Terminus

I don't know whether this really kind of cool or really kind of sad. On the one hand, while the idea of people from all over the world gathering together to discuss a series of books and the impact they've made on our culture speaks to my literature-loving, sociology-enthused heart, the fact that the subject matter is Harry Potter remains a little disappointing. Nevertheless, this five day conference will take place on August 7-11 at the Hilton Chicago Hotel and even though it's only a few days away, you can still purchase tickets at the door for $60 per day or $200 for the whole she-bang. Programming includes presentations, roundtable discussions, fanfiction readings, art and writing challenges, Quidditch matches (though I doubt the organization was able to get the insurance coverage for real flying brooms, so don't get your hopes up too high) and much more. All of this information can be found by perusing the website. Lest you think this would be a great venture for your children, keep in mind that the conference is designed for adults and any children under 18 must be accompanied by a chaperone over 21. Email help[at]terminus2008[dot]org for any questions. (And next time we decide to have a worldwide conference on a series of books, maybe we could focus it on something with a bit more depth? Please?)

- Veronica Bond | Comments (2)

News Thu Jul 31 2008

New Art from Niffenegger

Audrey Niffenegger has a comic running in the Guardian called The Night Bookmobile.

- Alice Maggio | Comments (0)

News Thu Jul 31 2008

Trib Readers Respond

The Trib published some responses it received from its request for feedback about the (likely endangered) Books section. Responders include author Sara Paretsky and Roberta Rubin of the The Book Stall in Winnetka.

- Alice Maggio | Comments (0)

Events Mon Jul 28 2008

Event Spotlight: Funny Ha-Ha @ Hideout

Funny Ha-Ha's back with an all new installment of hilarious readings by talented writers. On Wednesday, Wendy McClure, Mimi Smartypants, Megan Stielstra of 2nd Story, Margaret Lyons of Time Out Chicago, author Amy Shearn, Lincoln Lodge regular Cameron Esposit and filmmaker Steve Delahoyde provide the laughgs. Hosted, as always, by very funny lady Claire Zulkey. $5 is the suggested donation for admission, all of which benefits the Neighborhood Writing Alliance. 7pm at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. Call 773-227-4433 for more information.

- Veronica Bond | Comments (0)

Quotable Fri Jul 25 2008

Quotable Friday

Every Friday is Quotable Friday on the book club blog, where we highlight a notable passage from a book with a Chicago connection. This week's quotable is by Morris Markey, writing about Chicago for McCall's magazine in March 1932:

"The thing was explosive in its effect upon the eye—more the fabulous projection of a city than a city itself. New York and London, Paris and Berlin and Vienna suddenly became old-fashioned in the memory. This was like a monstrous theatrical spectacle, when the curtain first goes up and you are a little dazed and you say, 'But heavens! It's more stunning than the real thing!' I felt as if the fireworks would commence at any instant, with rockets soaring and terrible detonations shaking the air, and that a flaming screen a mile high would begin to spell in red and white and blue: 'Chicago—World's Greatest City.'"

- Alice Maggio | Comments (0)