2010 Reading List

By Veronica Bond

As we embark on our final Book Club selection for the year, Alice and I are preparing to pick our books for 2010 and we'd love to hear from you about what you're interested in reading. Remember that authors of fiction books must be connected to Chicago in some way and that non-fiction books must be about Chicago. Take a look at the sidebar to refresh your memory on all of our past reads, then put your suggestions in the comments or send them to bookclub[at]gapersblock[dot]com.

whet moser / October 15, 2009 12:55 PM

"Family Properties" by Beryl Satter. I will continue to repeat this until everyone in Chicago has read it.

"In America's Court" by Tom Geoghegan is also great stuff.

Betsy / October 15, 2009 1:35 PM

"American Skin" by Don De Grazia

"Indemnity Only" by Sara Paretsky

"Chicago Noir" by Neal Pollack (Editor)

"The People Are the News: Grant Pick's Chicago Stories" by Grant Pick

"Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth" by Chris Ware

mike / October 15, 2009 2:29 PM

"the spirit catches you and you fall down".

fantastic non-fiction about culture clash framed in the world of modern western medicine. 2 thumbs up!

Bill G / October 15, 2009 3:38 PM

The Neon Wilderness by Nelson Algren.

Sarah Y / October 15, 2009 4:11 PM

"Sharp Objects" or "Dark Places" by Gillian Flynn
"How to Hold a Woman" by Billy Lombardo

Nancy / October 16, 2009 10:54 AM

The Adventures of Augie March, by Saul Bellow
CivilWarLand in Bad Decline, by George Saunders
There Are No Children Here, by Alex Kotlowitz
(these may have already been read in past years, I didn't check)

Mark / October 16, 2009 1:01 PM

"Air Guitar: Essays on Art and Democracy" by Dave Hickey
"Under the Volcano" by Malcolm Lowry
"The Architecture of Happiness" by Alain de Botton

barbara j wells / October 16, 2009 1:41 PM

I suggest, "Be Careful of What You Wish 4", available through iuniverse (dot) com. A psychological thriller, written by a Chicagoan, in which Chicago is featured. The story begins on Halloween and ends on a coldass day

Steph B / October 17, 2009 9:44 AM

I suggest Dream City by Brendan Short. It's a Chicago novel with tons of interesting history, written by a Chicago-area writer.

Book Club Event

Coming soon!

Staff Picks

Claire:
The Universe In Miniature In Miniature
by Patrick Sommerville
Emily:
Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman
by Sam Wasson
John W:
A Visit from the Goon Squad
by Jennifer Egan
Rebecca:
Naked at the Feast: The Biography of Josephine Baker
by Lynn Haney
Megan:
Frank Sinatra Has a Cold, and Other Essays
by Gay Talese
Veronica:
The Help
by Kathryn Stockett