I don’t think I was smart enough to be bequeathed with the role of reading and reviewing The Universe in Miniature in Miniature, Patrick Somerville’s new book of 30 short stories. But, Tom, a character in the book who is a deadbeat alcoholic and is bequeathed with a magical helmet that allows him to see inside the psyches of those around him, wasn’t really the right man for that either. And he did fine in the closing chapter. more ›

Patrick Somerville’s momentum has been gaining momentum. His first book of stories, Trouble, was published in 2006 and Time Out Chicago named it the year’s Best Book by a Chicago Author. He then published The Cradle, his first novel, in 2009 and was also awarded the 2009 21st Century Award, given annually by the Chicago Public Library. And now, he’s back again with another collection of stories. The Universe in Miniature in Miniature is about a guy who is given a supernatural helmet that allows him to see inside the minds and souls of people around him. The short stories in the book are their stories. The book release for The Universe in Miniature in Miniature is Thursday night at The Hideout, so we chatted with Somerville about the book and his writing. Stay tuned for more on the book tomorrow. And if you’d like to learn more about the author, check out this interview with Bookslut. more ›

If we know Chicago as well as we think we do, chilly weather will sweep the city shortly. For a lot of us, that means more time spend indoors. And for some of us, that means books + blankets + glasses of Bordeaux. Here’s a list of what’s on our list to read this fall. more ›

We've already covered quite a bit going on this weekend in Chicago, but if you're looking for something a little more literary-minded, we highly recommend the release party for Susannah Felt's new bookThis Will Go Down On Your Permanent Record, happening this Sunday at The Hideout. If Felt's name sounds familiar, that's because she spent several years writing for such publications as the Chicago Reader (pre-takeover) and Time Out Chicago. She now resides in sunny Birmingham, Alabama, but is back in town to promote the release of the book. We haven't gotten a chance to check the book out yet, but judging from the excerpt, it's one we'll definitely be picking up soon. more ›