Illinois Books

When I read John Schultz's "The Tongues of Men" nearly forty years ago I was deeply moved and impressed by the power,humor and originality of his writing. I can't think of a single collection of stories I've read that covers a more diverse range of characters and styles than I encountered in this unique book. This week I reread "The Tongues of Men" and today John's stories seem even more inventive, funny and disturbing than they did when I first read them. "Morgan" and "Daley Goes Home" are powerful, raw and brutally honest accounts of what it was like to be a soldier stationed in Korea in the 50's. Both are masterpieces. If Kafka had possessed John's sense of humor he might have written fiction as entertainng as "Custom", one of the funniest and wildest novellas in American literature. "The Offending Party" is as threatening and scary as anything Paul Bowles ever wrote. Once you read this book you will never forget it.

This is a great book, and it belongs on the bookshelves of every serious home library. The author was my Fiction Writing advisor at Columbia College Chicago, and guided me through the writing of my first novel, American Skin. After reading this collection, I was eager to work with John, hoping that his absolute mastery of language and story might rub off on me. To me, John's book represents all the best qualities of the best fiction. The stories within are at once subtle and wild, fun and profound, highly accessible yet infinitely complex. In short, it's a book to read, re-read and treasure.

John Shultz is one of the heavyweights of American letters. Though he has achieved acclaim in the fields of pedagogy, creative non-fiction, literary editing and critical theory he is first of all an important writer of serious fiction. "Morgan" should be included on all lists naming the greatest American short stories of the last century. And that's just one of the gems in this collection, which features a startling range of approaches--from wildly surreal to starkly realistic. John Shultz is a living Master of prose. Simply put, this book is a must read.

Kirle's assessment maps the theatre's change as America changed. The reader gains more insight into what they have seen and the way others have viewed the same play during different time periods. It is pretty well put together. Each chapter has something for a student of theatre and those that catch a show once a year. It will keep you thinking about the new shows you see. Don't be turned off that it is a text book used in universities. It was an entertaining read.

This is one of those rare books on musical theatre that really understands and appreciates the art form and that has new, fresh, interesting ideas to put forward. Anyone who loves musical theatre should check this one out. It's a smart, insightful book that is a real joy to read.

"Unfinished Show Business: Broadway Musicals as Works-in-Process" is a rare treat of a read for enthusiasts and students of the theater. It's a fun step ahead. Bruce Kirle travels beyond the familiar chronological litany of titles and gossip to investigate what makes musical theater trends live and die.

He argues that the style of musicals is ever changing because musicals are based on the foundation of the ever changing American mind. Public scuffles and feelings about race, gender, homosexuality, war, politics, economy and the struggle for human rights are shown as the intimate energy that not only fueled changes in the meanings within the plays but the physical and musical methods as well.

As a big fan of musicals who reads these things all the time, I jumped off my couch in delight as I shared Kirle's adult consideration of history and drama as it effected what took place on the musical stage. It is exciting to depart from the hero worship of the great masters for a moment in order to get a new grip on what led audiences to crown a hit a hit and a star a star in the past century and how the most clever individuals molded their great acts and scores within a fluctuating civil atmosphere.

And there are plenty of lovely facts and amusing anecdotes to be had as well, and so much of it is new to me. Kirle brings his own experience as a composer, director and conductor into play giving a fresh appreciation to the great Broadway artists and their work.

Just when I mourned there was nothing new to think about musical theater, I got a hold of this book and I am grateful. I LOVE this book.

"Urban Art Chicago: A Guide to Community Murals, Mosaics, and Sculptures," is both an excellent reference work and a beautiful art book. This volume, by Olivia Gude and Jeff Huebner, is a tribute to the neighborhood public art of the city of Chicago.

The book contains a short, but fascinating, history of the mural movement in Chicago. According to the authors, this artistic outpouring began in 1967, when 20 artists began work on the "Wall of Respect," a pictorial tribute to African-American culture.

The book is divided up by neighborhoods. Each section contains a street map, so you can actually use the book to find the murals that have been photographed. 125 murals are pictured in the book. These works of art span many themes and styles. Each photograph is accompanied by essential information about the mural. Also adding to the book's usefulness is a bibliography and a collection of capsule biographies of major artists in the mural movement.

It's hard to pick out just a few representative works from this magnificent collection. But my favorites include the following: William Walker's "Childhood Is Without Prejudice," with its interlocking faces of many races; Christopher Tavares Silva's "Soaring Toward Excellence," a symbolic, energetic celebration of books and education; Aurelio Diaz' "Latino Youth, Inc." mural, with its stunning pre-Columbian imagery; and Jeff Zimmerman's "Paid Programming," a visual satire in which the United States flag is morphed into a bar-code. But these are just a few of the eye-catching works in this book. Explore "Urban Art Chicago," and feel the rhythms of the people of a great city.

Urban Art Chicago covers community murals, mosaics and sculptures in Chicago and is a recommended pick for any collection which would include urban or regional American public pieces. Maps and background information accompanies color photos of the works and insights on their producers. An outstanding presentation.

Urban Art Chicago is a beautifully produced guide to many of Chicago's murals and would be an excellent gift for any school teacher. It begins with a history of the mural movement in Chicago and includes well detailed maps, guides to the artists and communities who have created murals in Chicago, and excellently reproduced photographs of the murals themselves. It also provides a great way to introduce Chicago cultural studies, geography, history, language, folk culture, multi-cultural studies, and art to students.

Vincent van Gogh is one of the truly influential painters of his day and painted art revealing complex spirituality and intense emotion that continue to impress art students, connoisseurs, and artists today. He was able to imbue his work with his own psychological presence as is especially evidenced in his many self-portraits. In Van Gogh, art historian and Post-Impressionist expert Belinda Thompson has assembled his paintings and works drawn from the archives and collections of the Art Institute Of Chicago including such famous works as an 1887 Self-Portrait, The Bedroom, and Madame Roulin Rocking the Cradle. Thirty of the images are reproduced in full color, together with another twenty-two duotone comparative illustrations. Van Gogh is further enhanced for the reader with an informative account tracing the great artist's development as a painter in Holland, England, and France in a career that was to last less than a decade. Van Gogh is a very highly recommended addition to any personal, academic, or community library Post-Impressionist art history reference collection in general, and to Vincent van Gogh enthusiasts in particular.

Beautiful and affordable. They make wonderful additions to letters for friends, and my young son likes to make his own stationery with them. We also contributed some art stickers by Matisse and Degas to his classroom for a celebration of spring.

These stickers are approx. 1 3/4" x 2 3/4" and include the title of the painting and artist name.They are clear, good quality despite being sticker size. There are many applications for these including stationary, envelopes, etc. or make great stocking stuffers.

Tracing the progression of images of women's bodies through nearly two centuries of literature, Fasick analyzes selected novels from Samuel Richardson to D. H. Lawrence to construct a historical overview of class and gender relations as reflected and refracted in the pages of the English novel. Though recent discussion and women's roles in literature and culture has centered on women's sexuality as the defining factor in the female character, Fasick focuses instead on ways that writers have depicted women as possessing nurturing qualities that distinguish them from men. Rigid adherence to this idealization of femininity constructs a standard difficult for women to achieve. Held to the ideal, Fasick asserts, women appear grossly culpable rather than simply human. Fasick begins with an analysis of Samuel Richardson's novels that examines three linked themes: sensibility, maternity, and anorexia. She continues with a discussion of Frances Burney's treatment of the expressive female body. She then analyzes novels by Charles Dickens, William Makepeace Thackeray, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Charlotte Bronte in light of Victorian attitudes toward women and food and toward female invalidism. In conclusion, she returns to Richardson, pairing his novel Pamela with Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover for an examination of cross-class romance and the resulting implications for class and gender. Throughout, references to conduct books and periodical literature of the time provide contexts that illuminate the primary texts. Fasick's insights will interest students of the novel, eighteenth- and nineteenth-century fiction, women's studies and gender studies, and class relations in literature.

The author traces the progression of images of women's bodies through two centuries of English literature to construct a historical overview of class and gender relations as reflected in the English novel. She focuses on ways women have been depicted as possessing nurturing qualities that distinguish them from men in work by authors including Samuel Richardson, Frances Burney, Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bront and others. For students of the novel, 18th-19th century fiction, and women's studies.

Tracing images of women's bodies through nearly two centuries of literature, Fasick analyzes selected novels from Samuel Richardson to D. H. Lawrence to construct a historical overview of class and gender relations as reflected and refracted in the pages of the English novel.

Dr. Athen's work on the creation of violent criminals is groundbreaking in its scope and reach. I have read all of his books and the framework he proposes is one that offers many intersections for intervention before a violent person is created.
This is an intellectually challenging and exciting book. It should be read by anyone interested in creating a peaceful society and preventing inter-personal violence.

that criminals and fools are allowed to post reviews here. Joyce Carol Oates is not a good source for information about criminals. I work as a prison psychologist in one of the most progressive systems in the United States. Lonnie Athens has done groundbreaking work which I have confirmed and extended in my own clinical work. I reject more than 90% of what the professional research literature tells me because the research methods are inadequate, the statistical methods are incorrect, or the conclusions go beyond the data. Athens is one of the few academics whom I follow carefully (others are the late Neil Jacobson and John Gottman). I would recommend that you ignore the review that gave this book 0 stars and investigate for yourself. Anything in which Lonnie Athens is involved is automatically worthy of careful reading.

If you have any interest in violent criminal acts, criminal justice, chronic/acute criminal behavior from a treatment, control or academic perspective, this is a must read. I have spent 25 years researching, planning, and programming in this field and Dr. Athen's work has major implications across many domains. Whether or not you agree, after reading this book you will be left motivated and enlightened. I also recommend reading "Why They Kill" by Richard Rhodes either before or after reading this book.

This book is amazing. It's the best non-fiction that I've read in years; it's as chilling as an action packed fiction book. The footnotes and sources take up about a 1/3 of the book; read all of the archived documents!

I discovered this book two years ago at our local library after I saw the documentary on public TV. I've read it twice.

It's helped inspire me to remember that 1 person really can make a difference, even if our contributions are a lot less! We can't take our freedoms for granted!

"When Truth Was Treason" gives an important look into the experience of some of the German people under the control of the Nazi State during the atrocities taking place in Germany during World War II. I especially enjoyed the added information included in the extensive footnote section at the end of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to know of the heroism of some of those who resisted the evil of Hitler. This is a moving account of a side of the history of World War II we are often completely unaware of.

You will find out about Nazism, but the book is about courage. FULL of documents...chilling.

Glaser's latest book is full of wit and wisdom. He's a king of craft, and his subtle language play is sure to please poets (who can learn from him) and non-poets alike.

Glaser's latest book is full of wit and wisdom. He's a king of craft, and his subtle language play is sure to please poets (who can learn from him) and non-poets alike.

Glaser's new book is full of excellent work that shows his mature skills as a poet and observer. Whether read for his mastery over technical prosody or for penetrating insights into his own life and life in general, the poet's "Winter Amnesties" will appeal to every reader who appreciates expert craftsmanship and intelligent views of the human condition.

As an editor who has been assocaited with newspapers and magazines for a number of years, I am interested in all aspects of writing, but Ms. Schultz's book, The Young Composers, is the first time I've had a clear picture of how writing instruction evolved along with our educational system in the last century. Although I am sure Ms. Schultz's primary audience are her colleagues who teach English throughout the country, The Young Composers presents a fascinating story in an engaging way that will interest anyone who loves putting words together. It is, in short, a fine piece of writing itself and well worth a read.

Although meticulously researched, this book is delightful to read, accessible, clear, and often amusing. It provides a new view of the development of contemporary ideas in the teaching of writing, helping us to understand the background of many debates still raging, for example, the role of personal experience in the development of student writers. Most interesting for the contemporary elementary or high school teacher is the revelation that so much that we consider innovative in writing instruction began in the schools not in the colleges. The book serves, then, as a useful corrective to the often elitist view of knowledge always being constructed in the university and sifting down to the lower division schools. The examples of 19th century writings and texts are fun to read, and the effect of the whole work is to help us understand what was originally at stake in the move to situate authority and meaning in the lives and experiences of student writers.

The author serves us well by clarifying the idea of democratization of writing instruction, which began in the nineteenth century schools. It is the method of asking students to write about their own experiences, rather than following the works of great writers. As a result of her work the question can now be raised about which method makes for a better education. The author includes some interesting student essays, for example one from 1846 about the moral dangers of reading novels.

this is the most factual book of chicago i have ever read. it has all you need about chicago from year 1900 to 2000. Adrienne drell did a fabulous job with the book and i think everyone should own a copy.

Compiled from the archives of the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper and edited by Adrienne Drell, 20th Century Chicago: 100 Years, 100 Voices is a year-by-year chronological history of Chicago which offers information and insights through the means of different "historical voice" for each year of the last century. Black-and-white photographs enhance this engaging 216 page summary of the march of time and progress in a truly grand Midwest American city. Showcasing events and personalities, 20th Century Chicago is a unique and welcome contribution to American History collections and reading lists.