Convergences

By Margaret Hicks in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 12, 2007 3:31PM

This past weekend reinforced why we live in Chicago. Everything may still be brown and muddy, but the fact remains that the blue skies and warm sun reminded us why this city rules. Here are two more reasons why Chicago is awesome, just in case this weekend wasn’t enough for you.

Lawrence Weschler, Artistic Director of the Chicago Humanities Festival, won the National Book Critics Criticism award for his book Everything That Rises: A Book of Convergences. We checked out the book last year, and it’s really fascinating. It highlights similarities between real life and art and how the two very often resemble each other. Check out the National Book Critics Circle’s blog. It’s a fun read, and they have a great post about Weschler’s book.

Columbia College is presenting Story Week this week. Story Week always has great panels, and this year is no exception. The highlight for us is the odd but compelling pairing of Jonathan Lethem and Salman Rushdie discussing the state of writing. We recently finished Motherless Brooklyn and were completely blown away by Lethem’s writing. We’re excited to read his new book You Don’t Love Me Yet. And of course, Rushdie is Rushdie — can’t miss Rushdie.

Make sure to check out the website for Story Week; there are all kinds of interesting panels and discussions happening.

You can see Jonathan Lethem and Salman Rushdie on Wednesday, March 14, at 3:00 p.m. at The Harold Washington Library in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. Seating is limited and is on a first come, first served basis.

You can also see Salman Rushdie on Wednesday, March 14, at 6:00 p.m. at The Harold Washington Library in the Winter Garden. Seating is limited and is on a first come, first served basis.