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News Thu Aug 07 2008
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 |
News Thu Aug 07 2008
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 |
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 |
News Tue Aug 05 2008
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 |
News Tue Aug 05 2008
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 |
Events Mon Aug 04 2008
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 |
News Thu Jul 31 2008
Audrey Niffenegger has a comic running in the Guardian called The Night Bookmobile.
- Alice Maggio |
News Thu Jul 31 2008
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 |
Events Mon Jul 28 2008
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 |
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 |
This Month's Selection:
August 2008
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
by L. Frank Baum
This summer we are reading the classic children's story about the little girl from Kansas who travels to the land of Oz by cyclone, makes some unusual new friends, and seeks out the great wizard to help her get back home. If you've only ever seen the movie, you need to read this book.
Meet & Discuss
Join us at The Book Cellar at 4736-38 N. Lincoln Ave. (map) to discuss the book. We'll meet on Monday, August 11, at 7:30pm. New members are always welcome!

August 11
The Wizard of Oz
by L. Frank Baum
September 8
Native Son
by Richard Wright
October 13
Dirty Sugar Cookies
by Ayun Halliday
November 10
Sin in the Second City
by Karen Abbott

July 14
Free Burning
by Bayo Ojikutu
June 9
Naked
by David Sedaris
May 19
The Grass Dancer
by Susan Power
April 14
Middlesex
by Jeffrey Eugenides
March 10
Fire Sale
by Sara Paretsky
February 11
The Enchanters Vs. Sprawlburg Springs
by Brian Costello
January 14
Never a City So Real
by Alex Kotlowitz
~*~
2007 Book List
2006 Book List
2005 Book List

The Gapers Block Book Club is a reading group dedicated to reading fiction by Chicago area authors and nonfiction works about our city. We read a new book every month, and new members are always welcome.
In Person
The book club meets on the second Monday of the month at The Book Cellar bookstore in Lincoln Square (map).
&c.
Sign up for the book club mailing list to receive reminders about upcoming meetings and other special announcements.
To get in touch with Alice and Veronica, the book club moderators, email us at bookclub{at}gapersblock.com.
If you know you can't come to a book club meeting, do you still read the book?
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