More of Chicago's Beloved Independent Bookstores
Daniel HautzingerAugust 22, 2018
Independent bookstores remain an irreplaceable asset, with their staff recommendations and sense of community. We've already featured three Chicago stalwarts, but here are the stories of a few more of the city's beloved indie bookstores.
Chicago's Independent Bookstores
Daniel HautzingerAugust 14, 2018
If you love books, you probably also love bookstores, and independent bookstores remain irreplaceable gems, with their staff recommendations, unusual selections, and sense of community. Discover the stories behind a few of Chicago's beloved indie bookstores.
How a Harry Potter Fan Reimagined the Characters As She Saw Them
Daniel HautzingerJune 14, 2018
Chicago native Eliyannah Amirah Yisrael is an ardent Harry Potter fan who wanted to extend her time with the characters she loved, so she made a web series about a 25-year-old Hermione, using her love of reading and power of empathy to reimagine Hermione in her image.
From the Archive: 'Dune' Author Frank Herbert
Daniel HautzingerJune 4, 2018
The author of the world's best-selling science fiction novel discusses the broad base of knowledge he draws on in imagining other worlds, as well as his environmentalism. "I refuse to be put in the position of having to tell my grandchildren, 'I'm sorry, there's no more world for you, we used it all up.' "
Can You Guess the Book by Its Cover?
Daniel HautzingerMay 21, 2018
We're always being told not to judge a book by its cover, but in this case you should: can you identify 20 books from The Great American Read's list of America's 100 favorite novels by just their covers? Test your knowledge here, and get reading!
Beyond 'Little Women': Louisa May Alcott's Other Writings
Daniel HautzingerMay 11, 2018
Louisa May Alcott may be best-known for her classic Little Women, but she also wrote racy potboilers in which women transgress societal norms under a pseudonym that wasn't traced to her until decades after death, as well as children's fables and moralisti young adult books.
America's Favorite Novels, in TV Form
Daniel HautzingerMay 8, 2018
PBS loves books. From Masterpiece adaptations of classic novels to documentaries about authors, literature plays a big role in our programming. As we celebrate reading with The Great American Read, discover which of America's favorite novels, plus some other worthy books, can be seen on TV.
How Many of America's 100 Favorite Books Have You Read?
Daniel HautzingerMay 2, 2018
PBS's The Great American Read has created a list of America's 100 most-loved novels, ranging from classics to sci-fi to romance to humor. See how many you've read, before the series premieres and voting on America's favorite book opens on May 22.
12 Iconic Works of Chicago Literature
Daniel HautzingerApril 24, 2018
When the rest of the world thinks of Chicago, it's often in terms borrowed from literature: "Hog Butcher for the World," a city of slaughterhouses, a gritty, working-class town. What are some of the most iconic literary depictions of the city?
From the Archive: Alice Walker
Daniel HautzingerApril 20, 2018
The Great American Read's list of America's 100 most-loved books has been revealed, and it includes Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 The Color Purple. Revisit a 2013 interview with Walker on Chicago Tonight. "I go where my heart says I need to be," she says.
From the Archive: Toni Morrison
Daniel HautzingerMarch 13, 2018
In 1977, Toni Morrison spoke to WTTW's John Callaway about empathy, the importance of storytelling, and her deep love of writing in an extraordinary interview. Watch the Nobel Prize-winning novelist speak honestly early in her career.
From the Archives: Nora Ephron
Daniel HautzingerMarch 22, 2017
Before she wrote and directed such iconic films as When Harry Met Sally... and Sleepless in Seattle, Nora Ephron was a journalist. She appeared on WTTW in 1975 to discuss her book of published essays and share a hilarious story about reporting from the front lines.
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