Plus: The Soul Of Public Education And A Path To Library Amnesty

Over the transom.
1. “Larry Howe is counting the days until he returns to Quarry Farm,” writes the Star-Gazette of Elmira, New York.
“The American literature professor and Mark Twain scholar at Roosevelt University in Chicago stayed for five days in October at Twain’s summer residence, and he’s coming back for the month of July so he can research and finish his second book on Twain, tentatively titled Mark Twain in America’s Ownership Society.”

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Posted on March 12, 2013

By The 7th-Graders Of Polaris Charter Academy

“This is a video created for Indiegogo as a way to help fund our school’s 7th-grade project.

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Posted on March 11, 2013

Plus: The Death Of Books And Journalese

Over the transom.
1. American Shooter.
“Arlington Heights author Gerry Souter will discuss his book American Shooter: A Personal History of Gun Culture in the United States, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, in a Society of Midland Authors program at the Harold Washington Library Center.
“In the book, Souter takes a personal look at gun ownership, handgun bans, shooting sports and the controversy over how to interpret the Second Amendment, writing from the point of view of a liberal gun owner and enthusiast.

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Posted on March 6, 2013

By Robert Chambers

Near the end of Bull Durham, the greatest sports movie ever made, career minor-league catcher Crash Davis (played convincingly by Kevin Costner) famously offers immature superstar-in-the-making pitcher Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh (played convincingly by Tim Robbins) essential advice about handling media interviews:

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Posted on March 1, 2013

Plus: Drugpins And Supper Clubs

Over the transom.
1. Remembering David Hernandez.
Chicago’s unofficial poet laureate.
2. Northwestern history professor Garry Wills appeared on The Colbert Report to discuss his new book Why Priests? A Failed Tradition. Here’s a brief look:

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Posted on February 26, 2013

Jamaica Kincaid vs. Roxane Gay

Over the transom.
1. Jamaica Kincaid.
“After a 10-year hiatus, Caribbean author Jamaica Kincaid, most known for At the Bottom of the River, is returning to the literary scene with last week’s release See Now Then and making a stop at Printers Row on Feb. 21 to speak with Pulitzer Prize-winning Tribune columnist Mary Schmich about the novel and Kincaid’s career. This will be the author s only Chicago appearance related to the release.”

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Posted on February 14, 2013

A Visit To Paradise

From the YouTube channel of Selectively Mute this week:
“The wonderful Mike Scott was doing a bit of a book signing at Readings Bookstore in Carlton, Australia. He was reading antidotes from his new autobiography Adventures Of a Waterboy. In this video he talks about his experience visiting a gospel church in Chicago.”

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Posted on February 13, 2013

Plus: On John Boehner’s Desk

Over the transom.
1. “Time is running out on the 2012 Great Chicago Book Sale.”
And I’m already writing 2013 on all my checks.
But seriously, check it out.
Books in every subject up to 80% off!
Many gift editions at deep discounts!
Sale must end February 28!

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Posted on February 5, 2013

With Awesome Bonus Video

The Guild Literary Complex continues the eighth year of Palabra Pura with an evening of bilingual poetry titled “Whether in Chicago.”
Curated by Rafael Franco, this event asks us to consider what role, if any, weather plays, whether significantly or not, in writing and how that writing might weather the winds of literary exploration. The event will include poetry in Spanish, English, and Spanglish. Featured readers include Emily Rose Giddings and Alex Bonner.

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Posted on February 1, 2013

Not Just For Books: Koran Holders, Prayer Mats, Calendars And Other Gift Items

“IQRA’ International Education Foundation is a non-profit Islamic educational establishment (waqf) instituted to creatively respond to the growing need of our children, youth, and adults for sound Islamic instruction in the modern global village.”

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Posted on January 28, 2013