Alex Kotlowitz on An American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago

Alex Kotlowitz is back with his fourth book, newly released An American Summer, Love and Death in Chicago. The engrossing book focuses on one summer in…

Rus Bradburd on his book ‘All the Dreams We’ve Dreamed’ and the gun violence nightmare that continues in Chicago

Shawn Harrington, a former stand-out player at Marshall High School on Chicago’s West Side, did everything right and still ended up a victim of Chicago’s gun…

With ‘Hot Mess,’ Emily Belden may be Chicago’s next literary star

Chicagoan Emily Belden is getting a lot of well-deserved attention for her first novel, Hot Mess. Set in Chicago’s posh Randolph Street restaurant scene, Hot Mess…

Redlined – A fascinating first-person memoir of how a racist government policy affected West Garfield Park

A review by Bob Chiarito. Fifty years after the West Side riots that started after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., much of West Garfield…

Martin Atkins: Pioneering punk rocker, educator, reaping the benefits of not giving a f#&!k

Martin Atkins may be best known for his band Pigface and playing in Public Image Ltd. (PiL), the post-punk band fronted by Sex Pistols legend Johnny…

Local author takes kids to Chicago neighborhoods via new children’s book

Kathleen Dragan first came to Chicago nine years ago and instantly fell in love with it. A year later, she moved to the South Loop with…

Local writer, musicians bringing alt-rock musical ‘Unplugged’ to City Winery

Musician and writer Paul McComas has been in many bands and written many books over the years, but one character —Dayna Clay — has continued to…

United Flight 232 to run again — A conversation with its director, Vanessa Stalling

Chicagoans who missed it the first time around are in for a treat. The House Theatre of Chicago is opening its 2017-18 season with a remounting…

Stuart Dybek, America’s best short-story writer and regular Chicago guy

Stuart Dybek is not only a Chicago treasure, he’s perhaps the best short-story writer in America. A youthful 75, Dybeck is a second-generation Polish American who…

The Bard Prison Initiative to be featured at Printers Row Lit Fest

Talent, brains and the willingness to work hard can sometimes be found in the most unlikeliest of places, even the prison system. The difference between success…