Ink Tue May 31 2011

Comic Vault Closing

Due to a personal family matter, Comic Vault's last week of new books will be tomorrow. Sad news, but starting this Saturday, everything will be 35% off.

— Rose Lannin

Miscellaneous Tue May 31 2011

Barbara's Bookstore is Hiring

Qualified to be a bookseller or store manager? Go here for more information.

— Rose Lannin

Miscellaneous Tue May 31 2011

You Should Be in YA Pictures

Margo Rowder is currently revisiting a Young Adult dystopian manuscript called Thirty Decibels, and she needs Chicago teen actors for its trailer.

— Rose Lannin

Events Tue May 31 2011

Reading Under the Influence: "Boxes" @ Sheffield's

This edition (happening Wednesday, first day of June, 7-9pm) features writing professors Daniel Hoyt and Shawn Shiflett (Kansas State and Columbia College, respectively), local authors Rick Markley and Erin Nederbo. The theme is "Boxes." 3258 N Sheffield Ave, (773) 281-4989.

— Rose Lannin

Interview Mon May 30 2011

Discussing Quarantined with Michael Moreci

With the release of his first full graphic novel Quarantined (reviewed here in depth), I sat down with writer Michael Moreci to discuss the genesis of his work, his influences, and what's on the horizon for this up-and-comer.

My first question would have to be, where did the inspiration for this graphic novel come from?

Inspiration is a funny thing. I think as a writer, you have to be more pragmatic with your work than anything. Ideas are fleeting things--every writer has them. The challenge is being able to sit down and put in the work required to develop those ideas, and to then discover which work and which don't. Some ideas -- good ideas, at times -- are just dead-ends, and it's hard to let them go.

Specifically to Quarantined, it was one of those concepts kicking around my head, had been for a while. And when it came down to having a proper vehicle for telling the story I wanted to tell, the concept behind Quarantined was a prefect match. I wrote the book, after all, in a relatively different time -- still under the Bush era, closer to terror levels, corrosive paranoia, all those things. So a book about a lurking threat in an isolated location made sense to me. It still does. I wanted to do what [John] Carpenter did, what [George] Romero did: analyze society through a microcosm. I can't stand all these apocalyptic stories that involve the F.B.I. and the president and global agencies -- it feels so absolutely inhuman. There's nothing to connect to. I wanted to isolate a cast of characters, to have them be at the same time very real and represent the inherent conflicts of society.

As for zombies, well, that's simple. They're a lot of fun, and there's so much you do with the genre. I grew up on horror movies; my older brother was a big fan, and I was introduced to stuff like Nightmare on Elm Street and Halloween at a very early age. It's in me to tell that kind of story -- I love being scared, and I love being able to mix in some brain candy with the thrills.

You touched on a proper vehicle for telling this story. To spin that a bit, why did you opt for paper printing? Was Quarantined always envisioned as a hard copy graphic novel or did you tinker around with the idea of web publishing at all?

I always saw Quarantined as a book, from the start. One of my favorite things about the comics form is serialized storytelling. Unfortunately, it's getting harder for that type of storytelling to exist. There's lots of talk within the comics community about sales, publishing models, inundation of weekly books, price points, etc, and they are all striking close to the heart of the monthly pamphlet. And while I think there is cause for concern, my main difficulty with the monthly pamphlet is staying current. Let's face it: We live in a hyperactive, dizzying culture. There is such a wealth of entertainment -- good entertainment, too -- and our attention span isn't what it once was. Comics shipping isn't like, say, AMC TV where you know a show will be on every Sunday for 12 straight weeks and then break; comics come out monthly, they're oftentimes late, and in the span of one month, so many other things have happened. If I read Daredevil one month, I probably read 20 more different comics before the next one comes out. When I sit down to read the latest Daredevil, then, I'm often wondering, "What the hell is going on is this book again?" That's why trades are becoming way, way more appealing to me. You get a complete arc, something whole and easy to reference when the next one comes out. Though, admittedly, a 25-year habit is making it tough to break away from my beloved monthlies completely.

As for digital, I'm all for it. There's a lot I still need to learn, but I'm excited about the prospects digital offers, in terms of new readers the technology can bring in and the extras you can add (Double Feature Comics, in fact, layers a great "director's commentary" component to their content, which I love). I have my own digital series, titled Reincar(Nate), being released with Viper Comics in the fall -- and we have a lot of fun, interesting bonuses that we're going to be adding with each issue. As a creator, I'm thrilled; if people are investing their time and money into my work, I want to give them everything I can. Combine technology, willingness, and the subtraction of print costs, and there are so many opportunities to do just that.

Continue reading this entry »

— James Orbesen

Bookmarks Fri May 27 2011

Bookmarks

Your literary weekend update:

• Tonight! Marie Kanger-Born reads from Confessions of a Chicago Punk Bystander at Quimby's .
• Tomorrow! Wilfred Santiago signs 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente at Chicago Comics.
• Tomorrow! Head back to Quimby's where Margaret Hicks reads from Chicago Comedy: A Fairly Serious History.
• Tomorrow! Red Rover Experiment #46: The Chicago-Denver Writers Exchange at Outer Space Studio .
• Sunday! The Chicago Way Reading Series at the Hidden Shamrock.

— Rose Lannin

Events Fri May 27 2011

Prepare Yourself for Printers Row

The lit fest is only about a week away! Next Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and 5, Printers Row (around the area of Dearborn Street, from Congress to Polk streets) will be filled with more books, authors/speakers, and book nerds than you can imagine for the 2011 Printers Row Lit Fest. Check out each day's event schedule, the full list of appearing authors, and Make Your Mark: Get Chicago Reading! The fine print: events and panel discussions are free; however, you need to reserve a free ticket for Harold Washington Library Center and University Center events to ensure entrance. So come one, come all and enjoy all sorts of special literature related events, such as Lit After Dark and Pitchapalooza!

— Emily Wong

Events Thu May 26 2011

Movin' On Up

The Poetry Foundation's brand spankin' new building will open to the public on June 25! And to celebrate, the foundation is inviting you over for a two-day open house on June 25 and 26, starting at 10am each day. Plan to not only be wowed by the beautiful new space but also by the entertainment, with readings from poets that include Billy Collins, Robert Hass, and Jack Prelutsky; a presentation by the building's architect, John Ronan; discussions; book signings; and much much more. Check out the schedule of events here, and reserve FREE tickets to any event(s) of your choice. It's only a month away! And you know how time flies when you're...reading poetry.

— Emily Wong

Events Wed May 25 2011

Ben Tanzer and David Masciotra @ Book Cellar

Ben Tanzer (You Can Make Him Like You) and David Masciotra (Working on a Dream: The Progressive Political Vision of Bruce Springsteen) read at The Book Cellar tomorrow night. There are promises of "interpretive dance numbers and a laser light show of uncertain proportions." Book Cellar, 4736 N Lincoln Ave., Thursday, May 26 at 7pm.

— Rebecca Hyland

Books Wed May 25 2011

A F**ing Epic Book Cover

Paul Hornschemeier, author of Book Club's summer reading selection, also drew the cover for Dan Sinker's soon to be released The F***ing Epic Twitter Quest of @MayorEmanuel.

Continue reading this entry »

— Rose Lannin

Events Wed May 25 2011

25 Years of Slammin' Poetry

Did you know poetry slams began right here in our fabulous city? And that they're turning 25 this year? In honor of the birth of poetry slams, Chicago Slam Works is hosting a birthday bash that will blow the top off of slams everywhere. The Poetry Slam 25th Birthday Extravaganza will take place at Cabaret Metro (3730 N. Clark) on July 30. The party will feature Slam Champions and slammers from all over the globe, including a group from Germany! And as if that isn't enough, there will also be live slam translations and music. Get your tickets now: the 6pm Pre-Show VIP reception package is $100+, and the 8pm Main Floor/General Seating is $45, with Standing Room tickets at $25. Go to the Metro website or the Chicago Slam Works website to buy. If you want to get in on some slam action early, check out the Slam History Salon at the Chopin Theater (1543 W. Division) on June 18. Just $12 gets you 3 hours with historical figures discussing their behind-the-scenes slam stories AND a "generous brunch." Call (847) 556-8679 for reservations.

— Emily Wong

News Tue May 24 2011

The Oprah Book Effect

Wondering how the impending absence of Oprah will affect book sales? As an avid reader, with or without Oprah, I tend to think that we REAL readers - those of us whose shelves are stacked with books we plan to read someday, who never go anyway without a book on their person, who get more from a good find at a used bookstore than most women get from buying a new pair of shoes - will barely take note of her show's passing. That may be a bit of snobbery (or plain annoyance from being asked, when you're reading a book Oprah happened to pick, if you've read any of "her" other books and you realize they're not talking about the author), but the picture painted by these Nielson BookScan numbers is pretty hard to ignore. As a champion of books of all kinds, I have to admit that this loss makes me sad, just a little.

— Veronica Bond

News Tue May 24 2011

Sourcebooks on Going E

Dominique Raccah, founder of local independent publisher Sourcebooks, talks to Crain's about getting involved in the ebook publishing world. Raccah says that the e-book revolution happened much faster than she expected - in her lifetime instead of her childrens'. She began publishing her first ebooks in 2000 and recently Soucebooks has turned some of their most popular nonfiction books into apps. Raccah's willingness to investigate new publishing formats clearly strengthens her company in a time when publishers all over are working hard to survive.

— Veronica Bond

Events Fri May 20 2011

Tamale Hut Cafe Presents Reading Series in Nearby 'burbs

Schoooool's...out...for...summer: Share readings from your hard-earned MFA manuscript at the Tamale Hut Café Presents tomorrow night for their first-ever MFA open reading invitation. Raise a glass to Randy "Macho Man" Savage as host Jenny Seay reads from her novel-in-progress steeped in the world of wrestling. Bring your student ID and get three tamales for the price of two. BYOB. Tamale Hut Café, 8300 W. Cermak, North Riverside, May 21, 7pm.

— Rebecca Hyland

Bookmarks Fri May 20 2011

Bookmarks

• Did you hear about our latest Book Club selection? Come talk to graphic novelist Paul Hornschemeier at The Book Cellar, Book Club's old stomping grounds, on 6/30.
• Kick off the weekend tonight with Cris Mazza (Various Men Who Knew Us As Girls) and Elise Blackwell (An Unfinished Score ) at the Book Cellar.


• Also tonight, Brickman Press debuts their "Revolutions" reading series, featuring music by As Told By Heroes, at The Hidden Shamrock.
• Fast-forward to tomorrow, and Dan Gleason (Dear Sweetness: Dan Gleason's Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 ) reads at Quimby's.
• If the event immediately above isn't your thing, there's also Lee Sandlin reading from Wicked River: The Mississippi When It Last Ran Wild at the Chicago Public Library, Roden branch.

— Rose Lannin

Events Fri May 20 2011

The Dil Pickle Club Presents BLACK/WHITE

A zookeeper, professor, and two shadow puppet-wielding sisters present their interpretations of black and white tonight at a gathering of the zine-based Dil Pickle Club, with a bonus return of the Dil Pickler. There will also be music, and a man in a gorilla suit. Takes place at the Original Billy Goat Tavern (430 N Michigan), Sunday May 22nd, 7pm-10pm. Free.

— Rose Lannin

Events Wed May 18 2011

Rebecca Skloot @ Harold Washington Library

Rebecca Skloot reads from The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks tomorrow night. Henrietta Lacks was a poor Southern tobacco farmer whose cells (dubbed HeLa cells) were taken without her knowledge and were of vital use in developing the polio vaccine, in cancer research and in gene mapping, among other things. Her cells helped launch a multimillion-dollar industry that sells human biological materials, yet her family never saw any of the profits. Seed magazine says "The history of HeLa is a rare and powerful combination of race, class, gender, medicine, bioethics, and intellectual property; far more rare is the writer that can so clearly fuse those disparate threads into a personal story so rich and compelling. Rebecca Skloot has crafted a unique piece of science journalism that is impossible to put down - or to forget." Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State, May 19, 2011 at 6pm.

— Rebecca Hyland

Reviews Wed May 18 2011

Review: Quarantined

Quarantined, courtesy of writer Michael Moreci and artist Monty Borror, is an engaging read that deals with a plague outbreak in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan that has symptoms akin to the tried and true zombie apocalypse scenario. However, aside from being a standard splatter fest, Quarantined is laced with enough mystery that it not only satisfies viscerally but also largely intellectually.

The easiest compliment to give this graphic novel is its effortless pacing. Weighing in at over 150 pages, Quarantined breezes by. Action scenes are peppered throughout but they don't dominate the show. Instead, proper attention is paid to the doings of the quarantined townsfolk in rural Michigan. This is aided by kicking off the narrative in media res.

Placing the action in a country setting is a breath of fresh air in the genre and harkens back to the papa bear of zombie flicks, George Romero's Night of the Living Dead. Rather than stuff the survivors in an urban area, as many zombie tales are wont to do, Moreci structures his narrative in a forested and deserted stretch of land occasionally punctuated by specks of civilization. Borro's art style reinforces these feelings of isolation and abandonment by opting for a moody, atmospheric and stripped down art style that is light on background and solely focused on the moment.

Nevertheless, there are instances where I felt Moreci let slip a golden opportunity to further elevate the story. Literary references crop up in places, such as books read, character's names, philosophies expounded and even where the survivors shack up, a library of all locales. Yet, these references are very superficial as in they are never capitalized on. The reader is pointed towards anticipating a more literary zombie tale but the groundwork laid is scarcely excavated. Perhaps these touchstones would have resonated more strongly if greater attention was paid to highlighting the tension between the literary foundations of the story and the pressing reality of the characters' struggles instead of focusing on side plots that are somewhat inconsequential to the overall narrative.

Aside from some sequential storytelling quirks and visual inconsistencies from Borro, the art helps sell many of the emotional triggers Moreci plays. Throughout the novel, the distinction between survivor and infected is visually muddled. The grayed color palette and lack of detail makes differentiating the two sometimes difficult. However, rather than chalking this up as a failure of the art, I feel it is entirely appropriate. These survivors are called upon to do some inhuman acts. Ultimately this calls into question the thin line that separates these two groups from each other, a theme which is played upon to good effect.

Despite a few missed opportunities, Quarantined is a fine first effort, and ends on a note of despair that seems sure to garner a sequel.

— James Orbesen / Comments (2)

Awards Tue May 17 2011

Ebert Honored with Carl Sandburg Literary Award

This year the Chicago Public Library Foundation will award Roger Ebert the Carl Sandburg Literary Award. The Sun-Times reports that their columnist was a "unanimous choice" from the foundation's selection comittee. Ebert will be honored at a gala on October 20 on the UIC campus, where the foundaton's 25th anniversary, the Harold Washington Library Center's 20th anniversary, and the One Book, One Chicago program's 10th anniversary will all be celebrated.

— Veronica Bond

Books Tue May 17 2011

Fresh Horror from DoubleFeature

Four Star Studios' newest digital comic, Horror Double Feature #1, is out with two stories that dabble in the dark and strange: "Monsterology" (B. Clay Moore & Ryan Browne) explores a black ops-scientist research team's investigations into creatures unknown, while "Kid Cthulhu" by Sean Dove is a tale of mystery and the student trying to get to the bottom of it with persistence, mystical tomes, and his unique ability to call the Elder Gods. Buy it for your iPad (or as a PDF) here.

— Rose Lannin

Book Club Tue May 17 2011

Book Club Event: Paul Hornschemeier Discusses Life with Mr. Dangerous @ The Book Cellar

The summer edition of our quarterly author discussion series goes in a sequential direction with cartoonist Paul Hornschemeier's latest, Life with Mr. Dangerous. The story of a young woman in the Midwest wading through the morose, hopeful, and quietly funny waters of her late 20's, the full-color drawings highlight both the gray and colorful moments in Amy Breis' life.

There will be an author discussion and signing on Thursday, June 30, 7:30pm-9pm. Free!

Here's what you do:

1. Read the book sometime in the next month.*

2. Come to The Book Cellar, 4736 N. Lincoln Ave., with your comments and questions, and share them with Paul Hornschemeier and the group. Get your book signed if you feel like it.

3. Hang out with other readers, meet the the Book Club editors, feel part of a greater reading community.

Questions? Let us know in the comments. Thanks, and hope to see you there!

*You can still come if you haven't read the book, but we really, really encourage it -- discussions are way more fun when everyone's on the same page (har har).

— Rose Lannin

News Mon May 16 2011

The Library of the Future...um, Present

The University of Chicago's Joe and Rika Mansueto Library opened today. Lest you think this is just another collection of long wood tables, dusty books, and handy places to hide for students' lacivious activites, think again: this library is for online work only. With no stacks to speak of, the library has an underground storage space where 3.5 million books are kept on 50-foot shelves and brought to students by a robotic system. Wired shares some thoughts on the futuristic, Helmut Jahn designed library, comparing this technology favorably to that of Google Books where copyrights limit full access to many works. Don't miss the comments where readers, including Chicago's own Sara Paretsky, offer some very real concerns, such as pertinent books are often stumbled upon on a walk through the stacks and this will no longer be possible, and what will happen to the library in the event of a robot uprising.

Curious about how the new, transparent dome library works? Check out this video, aptly titled "How It Works." (The image of that underground book holding area makes me think that this is how Trantor must have gotten started in Foundation, but I suppose that's neither here nor there.)

— Veronica Bond

Events Mon May 16 2011

Bombs Away

Bomb & Bird is the latest reading series taking place this Thursday, May 19, at Innertown Pub (1935 West Thomas St), starting at 7:30pm. Bring poetry, prose, what have you (the brave souls even say they'll accept your worst work as well as your best). The event is free, and you get five minutes of open-mic floor time -- first come, first-served. And the founders would like to leave you with these words...

— Emily Wong

Bookmarks Fri May 13 2011

Bookmarks

• Children's poet and author J. Patrick Lewis has been named as the nation's Children's Poet Laureate. Learn a bit about him here.
• Still time to score cheap books at
  Buck-a-Bag Day at Northwestern University's main library.
• Tonight! Make The Case book shelf decorating and fundraising party at Open Books.
• Also tonight, Maud Lavin discusses her new book Push Comes To Shove: New Images of Aggressive Women at the School of the Art Institute, Fullerton Hall.
  
• Tomorrow! Franny Billingsley reads from her young adult novel Chime at 57th Street Books.
• Tomorrow! Jack Grisham, leader of the punk band TSOL, reads from his memoir An American Demon at Quimby's.
• Tomorrow! Noah Gershman and Jacob Saenz at the Myopic Books Poetry Series.
• Tomorrow! Joanne Diaz reads from her collection of poetry, The Lessons, at The Book Cellar.
• Tomorrow! Menton J. Matthews signs his comic book Ars Memoria at Chicago Comics.
• Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! Orange Alert Reading Series at The Whistler.

— Rose Lannin

On the Web Fri May 13 2011

Sometimes a Title Is All You Need

Ever wish the title of a book would tell you everything you need to know about the story inside? Better Book Titles offers just that: a succinct description of the plot in the title alone. You'll find some local favorites, such as the much revered Texas Public Schools Suck (aka Fahrenheit 451) and Chicago: Home of the Worst Dads Since 1893 (aka Jimmy Corrigan), among many others.

— Veronica Bond

Events Thu May 12 2011

Tonight: Logan Square Literary Review Readings @ Ipsento Coffee House

The Logan Square Literary Review features authors they've published tonight at Ipsento Coffee House (2035 Western): Larry O. Dean, Lara Levitan, and Kristiana Colon serve up some local talent, starting at 7:15pm.

— Rose Lannin

Miscellaneous Thu May 12 2011

Strong Works Fires The Cannon

Strong Works is a new, Logan Square-based performance collective. Yesterday, they kicked off "The Cannon" a monthly reading series. Keep track of future events, literary and otherwise, on their website.

— Rose Lannin

On the Web Wed May 11 2011

Chicago's Brothel Makes News!

The Chicago Poetry Brothel, which consists of poetry whores, burlesque dancers, and musicians, is featured in an Associated Press video essay. Susan Yount, brothel madam and Columbia College MFA student, and Kathleen Rooney, poet/writer and Visiting Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at DePaul, are interviewed. Check out the video on Yahoo! news.

— Emily Wong

Events Wed May 11 2011

Kim Barker Does the Middle Eastern Correspondent Shuffle

Kim Barker brings to life her at times black-humored experiences as a correspondent covering the rising militancy in both Pakistan and Afghanistan in The Taliban 
Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan. She was also the Tribune's South Asia bureau chief from 2004 to 2009, and on Tuesday, May 17 she'll be at After-Words (23 East Illinois
) at 7pm, telling stories, taking questions, and signing.

— Rose Lannin

Events Wed May 11 2011

Bask In Culture At The Ol' Time Mississippi Fish Fry

This Friday, check out the Ol' Time Mississippi Fish Fry and Hip Hop Storytelling Revival. The night will feature Grammy winning rapper and former 20th Ward alderman candidate Che "Rhymefest" Smith, spoken word by the Neighborhood Writing Alliance, food and cooking demonstrations, a West Woodlawn TIF photo gallery and more. Brought to you by Blacks In Green , a community education and trade association working to foster and sustain green, neighbor-owned businesses in African-American communities. Da Sto, 460 E. 61st. Friday, May 13, 6-10pm, $35 for dinner, show and festival; click here for tickets

— Rebecca Hyland

Events Wed May 11 2011

Demetri Martin @ Barnes and Noble

Demetri Martin, the deadpan, Beatles coiffed star of the comedy sketch show Important Things With Demetri Martin , will be in Chicago this Thursday to sign copies of his new book This Is A Book. Author Malcolm Gladwell says "When I first saw Important Things With Demetri Martin, I said to myself, 'this is the funniest thing ever.' I was wrong. This Is A Book is better." Barnes and Noble Depaul Center , 1 E. Jackson Blvd., May 12, 6pm.

— Rebecca Hyland

Events Wed May 11 2011

Chelsea Handler @ Macy's

Late night talk show host Chelsea Handler will be at Macy's (née Marshall Field's) tonight signing copies of her new book Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me before her performance at the Chicago Theater. Contributing comedians Josh Wolf, Brad Wollack and Heather McDonald will also be appearing. Macy's , 111 N. State Street, lower level, Candy Department, May 11, 5pm.

— Rebecca Hyland

On the Web Tue May 10 2011

Take a Book to the Beach!

CBSChicago.com has its picks for must-have beach reads. And guess who's top on the list? Chicago's Wendy McClure with her latest, The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie. Pick up a copy and get ready to hit the shore!

— Emily Wong

News Tue May 10 2011

And the Ellie Goes To...

Poetry magazine! Up for a National Magazine Award for "General Excellence, Print," Poetry beat out the likes of Lapham's Quarterly, The Paris Review, The Sun, and Virginia Quarterly Review for the coveted Ellie. This is the magazine's second award from the American Society of Magazine Editors', as the Poetry magazine podcast won an award in the Digital Media, "Podcasting" category. Congrats!

— Emily Wong

News Tue May 10 2011

Whither Goest the Built-In Bookshelf?

With the advent of e-books comes another, unexpected demise--the built-in bookshelf is going the way of shag carpeting and mustard-colored kitchen appliances. According to Crain's, homeowners are either opting to drywall over their built-ins to make room for flat screen TVs and other entertainment accoutrement or using them only to shelve knickknacks. As someone whose dream home includes a room lined with built-in bookcases filled to the brim with books, I'm dismayed to read that people are just building over them. I can't help but wonder if some sort of Save the Bookshelf campaign should be started--perhaps for only $.29 a day, you too can sponsor an unwanted built-in. This doesn't even touch on the fact that the books you keep in your home speak volumes about you. How are we bibliophiles supposed to judge others without them?

— Veronica Bond / Comments (3)

Bookmarks Fri May 06 2011

Bookmarks

• Tonight! Come to the release party for Fifth Wednesday Journal's Spring Issue! Details here.
• Tonight! Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help, reads at Chase Auditorium. $20 includes a paperback copy of the book.
• Tonight! Ellen Wade Beals presents readings from the anthology Solace In So Many Words at Women and Children First.
• Tonight! Reception for the release of Hair Trigger 33, Columbia College's best of the best student fiction anthology.
• Tonight! Naked Girls Reading at the Everleigh Social Club.
• Tomorrow! Haikufest workshops by the Haiku Society of America at Evanston Public Library.
• Tomorrow! Bilingual Spanish and English poetry readings by contributors to Contratiempo and After Hours at Calles y Suenos.
• Sunday! Two With Water/RX Reading Series at Beauty Bar.

— Rose Lannin

Events Thu May 05 2011

A Ballerina Princess Tea Party

You and the ballerina princess bookworm kid in your life are invited to Princess Aurora's tea party, a celebration of Aleksandra Efimova's new children's book, The Sleeping Beauty Ballet. Sponsored by the Joffrey Academy of Dance, the party includes treats, Lilac Fairy's creation stations, and a performance of Sleeping Beauty by Academy of Dance Trainees and students.

$40 for adults, $25 for children. This all happens May 21 at 10 East Randolph. RSVP by May 17. All this information and more here.

— Rose Lannin

Miscellaneous Thu May 05 2011

Need a Sweet Beach Read?

I know, I know, it's not even spring weather yet, much less beach weather. But give yourself something to look forward to in addition to warmer temps... Chicago author Jen Lancaster's (Bitter is the New Black, My Fair Lazy) latest, If You Were Here, came out on Tuesday. See her read at the Barnes and Noble on Webster (1441 W. Webster Ave.) at 6pm this Saturday, May 7, and then add the new novel to your summer reading list!

— Emily Wong

Events Thu May 05 2011

Next Objectivists Poetry Workshops

The Next Objectivists are "a free school of poets and critics pursuing the techniques of writing poetry from outside the self" (think William Carlos Williams, not Ayn Rand). They meet the second and fourth Thursday of every month in Rogers Park. Tonight, their workshop will be held in conjunction with the Red Rover Reading Series as the Chicago Durutti Skool 2011, part of a nationwide series of workshops examining poetry as a catalyst for social change (yes, that means Marxism and anarchism). On Friday, the Chicago Durutti Skool continues with readings and discussions with
Frank Rogaczewski and Michelle Taransky at Outer Space Studio. Thursday, May 5 workshop: Mess Hall, 6932 N. Glenwood Ave., 7-9pm. Beginners always welcome; download free stories for discussion here. Friday, May 6 workshop: Outer Space Studio, 1474 N. Milwaukee Ave., 7-9pm.

— Rebecca Hyland

Events Wed May 04 2011

Make the Case @ Open Books

On May 13 Open Books is holding Make the Case, their first ever bookcase decorating contest where literature-loving teams will turn ordinary bookshelves into artistic masterpieces. Tickets to the event are $35 and include appetizers, drink, a discount coupon, a chance to vote in the People's Choice winner and more. At the end of the event, judges Jonathan Messinger, Patrick Somerville, and Amy Guth will award prizes to the bookcases that best convey the theme. The week following the event, Open Books will fill the bookcases with books and donate them to other local nonprofit organizations. The event is a great chance to support the Open Books cause and watch the art and literary love fly. 6pm-9pm at Enclave, 213 W. Institute Pl. Tickets can be purchased here.

— Veronica Bond

On the Web Wed May 04 2011

Ebert: "At the Library"?

Roger Ebert asks "Does anyone want to be 'well-read?'" After coming across a list of, what some would label classic, authors in an issue of The New Republic, Ebert writes that he felt a sinking feeling wondering who, indeed, is still reading them. However, what starts as a longing for more attention to the classics becomes a heart-warming ode to the importance of all reading:

My only goal is to enjoy reading. I learn that the average American teenager spends 17 minutes a weekend in voluntary reading. Surely that statistic is wrong. Do they mean reading of "serious" novels? I would certainly count science fiction, graphic novels, vampires, Harry Potter, newspapers, magazines, blogs--anything. Just to read for yourself for pleasure is the point. Dickens will come later, Henry James perhaps never.

At the end of the day, some authors will endure and most, including some very good ones, will not. Why do I think reading is important? It is such an effective medium between mind and mind. We think largely in words. A medium made only of words doesn't impose the barrier of any other medium. It is naked and unprotected communication. That's how you get pregnant. May you always be so.

A wonderful argument for reckless reading behavior, if I ever heard one.

In a related story you may have missed, Roger Ebert was also granted his wish to win the New Yorker's caption contest. Take a look at his win and some past entries.

— Veronica Bond

On the Web Tue May 03 2011

New(-ish) Silverstein

Riffing on the posthumous publishing trend, College Humor offers up a look into some new (made up) Shel Silverstein works. If you're one of the many whose memories off The Giving Tree aren't as fond as others, you might like this revision, The Giving Tree Gives Up:

The tree decided, "You know what? F*ck this kid. What's he bringing to the table? All of them, really. Ungrateful sh*ts. I'm an award-winning playwright and lyricist. I wrote 'A Boy Named Sue'! Did you even know that? I feel like nobody knows that." That was all still the tree talking, by the way.

Not so giving after all, that tree. A real posthumous, Every Thing On It, will be available in September, but I kind of want to hear more from this tree with the chip its shoulder. [via]

— Veronica Bond

Events Tue May 03 2011

Tuesday Funk @ Hopleaf

It's the first Tuesday of the month, time for your dose of Tuesday Funk. Tonight's readers include:

• Paul McComas is a teacher and the author of four books (Planet of the Dates, Unplugged, Unforgettable: Harrowing Futures, Horrors, and (Dark) Humor and Twenty Questions). He is the founder of Rock Against Depression.
• Tim W. Brown is the author of four novels (Deconstruction Acres, Left of the Loop, Walking Man and Second Acts) and a member of the National Book Critics Circle.
• Bradley P. Beaulieu is the author of The Winds of Khalakovo and an L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Award winner.
• Brooke Wonders is a Ph.D. student at UIC, where she studies trauma theory and nonfiction. A dark fantasy author on the side, this summer she will be attending the storied Clarion Writers' Workshop in San Diego on a partial scholarship.
• Scott Smith works at Chicago magazine and is Our Man In Chicago in the twitterverse.

— Rebecca Hyland

Miscellaneous Mon May 02 2011

Indie Booksellers Choice Awards Finalists

Color Chicago proud: Adam Levin is one of the finalists in the Indie Booksellers Choice Awards, for his debut novel, The Instructions. Booksellers are voting now, and the winner will be announced at an awards ceremony on May 23. Check out the other finalists here.

— Emily Wong

Events Mon May 02 2011

Ed Roberson @ Northwestern University

Ed Roberson, Northwestern's Distinguished Artist in Residence in the Department of English, reads tomorrow at Northwestern in The Hagstrum Room (#201), University Hall (1897 Sheridan Road, Evanston). The reading starts at 5pm and is presented by UniVerse. Admission is free!

— Emily Wong

One-Shots Mon May 02 2011

One-Shots: Jeremy Sorese

Although a recent graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design, Jeremy Sorese is already an accomplished illustrator and comicker, bringing his dense, detailed drawings to publications large (Oni Press) and local (Newcity). Rich with lines and color, his work brings to mind Walt Kelly's Pogo and Craig Thompson's Good-bye, Chunky Rice, with hints of Will Eisner in his writing and placement of text. These elements play into a unique style that we're lucky to have -- Sorese recently made the move from the East Coast to Logan Square. We talked about our chance meeting at C2E2's Webcomics Pavillion, how his work has changed since coming to Chicago, and what epic adventures he has planned next, both in comics and otherwise.

You can purchase Jeremy's comics at Quimby's, or online.

Name: Jeremy Sorese
Job: I work at Easel Art Studio on Milwaukee, a kids' art studio where we teach simple art history lessons and hands-on crafts. Our students start at around 10 months old, so if you have little ones it's definitely a wonderful place to be/work. I also teach a class on comics at Challengers Comic once a month.
Age: 22
Education: I have a BFA in Sequential Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design. I graduated last June.
Location: Logan Square
Hometown: Stafford, Virginia
Website: http://www.jeremysorese.com/
Favorite place in Chicago: Hands down, it's the Cultural Center. The two stained glass domes are absolute marvels, I love those crazy horned wall sconces, and that huge sign in the lounge that says "SILENCE" is so silly, I couldn't help but fall in love. Close second, the University of Chicago campus.

     
Self-portrait

What brought you to Chicago?
I didn't have a job after I graduated. I'd been in Chicago the summer before thinking maybe I'd come here, but I think the final moment was when I did a Newcity cover back in March. Trubble Club is based out of here (you know Aaron Renier and Laura Park) and they emailed me. They thought I was a resident of Chicago already. They were like you should come hang out with us, but I was still in school with four months left until I graduated. They said if you ever come to town, we'd love to hang out. And I was like, maybe I should give Chicago a shot.

Have you always liked comics?
Comics were always sort of in my world, but they were not the main focus that they are now. Now that I've gone whole hog with them, I don't think I could ever go back to being Comics Light again.

How did they become your focus?
I think school was a big influence...when I went into SCAD, I was into illustration, I read comics on the side. But I fell into a group of comics kids, very like-minded and very influential on what I liked and was interested in. I started taking more and more sequential classes and getting really into the Sequential department, hanging out with pretty much only sequential kids.

I think it boils down into comics being such an important thing for me right now, to be very focused in what I'm doing. Also, I used to do illustration work for Newcity, but my main goal in life was nowhere near, I have to draw the cover of Time magazine. It's not really up there on my list of what I want to do.

Was it ever on your list?
I think so. At one point I was thinking about doing New Yorker covers, and labeling for wine bottles for stuff seemed so awesome, so wonderful. But the way the market is now, I'm being more realistic about what I can achieve, what I can't achieve.

Are there any comics you've started since moving here?
When I first got there, I was working on a bigger project -- it's very American, a tale about the Midwest and relocating. I started it when I was in Savannah, and when I got here, it \ kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger, and I really...I'm still going to do it, but I hit a snag when I was writing it. I was just like, I'm not mature enough to write this yet, I don't know enough to do it properly.

What's the book you started here called?
It's called In the Parlor Room. It's an older story I came up with years ago, but I restructured it and drew it completely in Chicago.

Page 1 of In the Parlor Room

Continue reading this entry »

— Rose Lannin

Reviews Mon May 02 2011

Yi Soon Shin: Warrior and Defender #1 Review

Yi Soon Shin may be a name unfamiliar to many Western ears. His exploits during Japan's invasion of Korea in the 16th century are rarely explored by Western audiences, yet his story mirrors one of the West's greatest military engagements -- that of the three hundred Spartans at Thermopylae. Yi Soon Shin embodies the same spirit of King Leonidas, and Yi Soon Shin: Warrior and Defender is a fitting parallel to Frank Miller's seminal work of fictionalized history, 300.

However, the key difference between these two comics lies in the accuracy of facts, figures and grounding in historical reality. Writer Onrie Kompan imbues this debut issue with a history class worth of information that grounds the reader in the specifics and clearly lays out the who and the where. Speaking with Kompan, his enthusiasm for the subject matter is apparent, and the level of research he has conducted shows. Nevertheless, I felt a greater longing for more of the why, the underlying meaning of events generated by emphasizing the creative in creative non-fiction.

I mentioned that this work and 300 are similar but differ in terms of accuracy and reported information. While Frank Miller presented a stylized and somewhat fictionalized version of Thermopylae, he crafted in such a way that his lax attention to detail didn't matter because the reader, for the most part, was transfixed by the spectacle of it all.

Yi Soon Shin: Warrior and Defender, on the other hand, seems to be the inverse. While the first issue is heavy on exposition stemming from Kompan's need to place the reader in a particular time and place, perhaps too much accuracy is holding back some of the comic's entertainment value. There is a thrilling middle section highlighting a naval engagement, rendered in wide screen, visually stimulating strokes by artist Giovanni Timpano and colorist Adriana De Los Santos. It picks up the pace but it seems that there is a bit too much window dressing for this comic's sake. While this is the first issue and a degree of table setting is required, hopefully this concern can be corrected in future issues by throwing in more characters the reader can latch onto and identify with against the backdrop of conquest and invasion.

A largely factually accurate comic featuring a little known historical figure can be a hard sell. Nevertheless, the beginnings of a satisfying tale about the triumph of an underdog are there, as long as a better balance is struck between fact and truth. Keep an eye out for future issues to see how this project develops.

— James Orbesen

Events Mon May 02 2011

Just the Facts, Ma'am @ Sheffield's

Local mystery writers. Literary research. Archives and libraries. These things are interesting on their own, even more so when related, as in the case of this panel discussion at Sheffield's, where Libby Fischer Hellman, Frances Dean McNamara and Michael Harvey talk about where the find the information to flesh out their tales of intrigue and suspense.

It's happening Wednesday, May 4, 6pm-8pm, 3258 N. Sheffield Avenue.

— Rose Lannin