Readings Round Up
By Marcus Gilmer in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 8, 2008 8:15PM
It's fall and that means a new wave of book releases. It also means a long list of readings happening in the Chicago area over the next couple of weeks. Here are four readings for this week that caught our eye.
Aaron Schatz
Footballoutsiders.com writer and Bill Simmons buddy Schatz comes to town to discuss the new NFL season and the 2008 edition of the outstanding annual guide he contributes to, Pro Football Prospectus. We dare you to ask him about Kyle Orton's neckbeard.
Wednesday September 10, 5:30 p.m., Barnes & Noble - Loop, 1 E. Jackson
Amanda Boyden
We spoke to Amanda a few weeks ago on the eve of Gustav; now, as she tours in support of her new novel, Babylon Rolling, the New Orleans writer is monitoring Hurricane Ike. Come hear Amanda read from her excellent sophomore novel and talk about New Orleans.
Wednesday September 10, 6 p.m., 57th Street Books, 1301 E. 57th Street
Amy Goodman
O.K., it's a lecture and not a reading, but it looks interesting to us anyway. Goodman, host of Democracy Now!, visits to give a talk titled, "The Politics of Race, Gender, and Economics in the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election." Since it's happening on 9/11, we wouldn't be surprised if terrorism came up as well.
Thursday September 11, 5 p.m., UIC Student Center West, 828 S. Wolcott St.
Junot Diaz
Diaz comes to town for an appearance with Writers on the Record With Victoria Lautman to discuss his novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. The novel has won a bevy of other awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award for Best Novel of 2007 and was named the Best Novel of 2007 by Time and New York Magazine.
Friday September 12, 6 p.m., Washington Harold Library, 400 S. State St.
Photo is of Aaron Schatz