Ever read the New York Times Book Review and wondered 1). Why does this critique read so personally? 2). Did they get a woman to write that scather just so I won’t think it’s misogyny? 3). Where are the raves? or 4). Are they actually afraid of women’s writing?…then check out this essay over at Bitch magazine, in which Sarah Seltzer examines the phenomenon of women writer’s ludicrously low coverage in NYTBR, and the sexist skewering that happens once they do make it in, often at the hand of their own gender. Here’s my fav quote: “If the Times wants to remain the paper of record, it should stop seeking out hostile reviewers whose main critical thrust is one of self-aggrandizement (“Don’t worry, boys—I’m not strident like her!”) and intergenerational antagonism.
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Check it out at areachicago.org.

Date: Saturday, June 21st

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Decima Musa, 1901 W. Loomis (Pilsen)

The Guild Complex is inviting writers to a restaurant in order to find others with whom to form workshops:

All you have to do is prepare a two-minute sound bite ready to blurt out about your writing, plus samples to hand to others with your contact info. We’ll keep you moving around to meet other writers. What happens from there is up to you.

Props to them for providing such a nice service.

We received the following press release. I’m passing it along as is because that’s how much I heart this bookstore:

There’s a discussion going on Gawker right now about the recent right wing attack on the fact that Obama is from Hyde Park. The post mentions the thoughtful, accurate rebuttal my hero (and fellow U of C alum) Thomas Frank wrote for the WSJ.  Behold the hilarious inaccuracy of the Gawker post!

Bill Ayers wanders past the Milton Friedman Institute on his way to teach kids about the coming end of the bourgeoisie…(ed. Ayers teaches at UIC, you lazy New Yorkers)

But wait! It gets worse! Check out what the commenters were saying a mere five minutes after the item was posted:

“Hyde Park is an enclave within a largely depressed neighborhood. It’s always been protean, eccentric, and I’d call its bent ‘bent’ rather than place it on a political continuum. I.E.: it’s fecund territory for insular nutcases, among the bright lights such as Obama or Ali who’ve rested there.”

Insular nutcases!?!?!?! Did I just hear someone on a New York-based blog call Chicago insular?  And really, why did this person feel the need to call the neighborhood “protean?” I feel a protean desire to kick his or her ass.

In the meantime, I think this is a good opportunity to remind everyone that Thomas Frank’s new book, The Wrecking Crew, comes out August 5. The thought of reading it makes my heart sing as I drool onto my laptop.

Ellen Wadey, ED at the Guild Complex, just published a brilliant blog-in-progress on lit culture in Chicago. Full disclosure: Literago’s mentioned, but we’d post this even if we weren’t. O, that all our bonneted bees were this eloquent.

Date: June 7, 2008

Time: 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Location: Paseo Prairie Garden (Kedzie and Milwaukee, right by the south exit of the Logan Square Blue Line stop)

This issue of AREA Chicago, edited by Aaron Sarver, Daniel Tucker, and Micah Maidenberg, imagines our city’s a lab, and looks at the experimental housing, labor, and education policies tested in it. Good people, good work. Plus a garden, a sweet rat, and a theme that allows you to make all the bad zombie jokes you want, in theory. What could be better?

Classy photo courtesy of Jacquee-t.com

Don’t forget that Printer’s Row is this weekend! You can find a complete schedule of events and locations here.  Here’s a very brief list of events I found interesting (if anyone cares):

Saturday: Secrets of Food Styling with Carol Smoller (11am); Chicago Tribune Young Adult Book Prize honoring S.E. Hinton (12pm); Chris Ware, Ivan Brunetti, and Chris Olivaros (1pm); Guild Complex Poetry Reading (3pm); Studs Terkel (3pm); Andre Dubus III (3:30pm)

Sunday: The Art of Book Reviewing with Donna Seaman and David Ulin (10:30am); Augusten Burroughs (1:30pm); Li Young Li (3pm); Aleksander Hemon (3:30pm); Other Voices finale with Elizabeth Crane, Billy Lombardo, and Audrey Niffenegger (4pm); Chicago Poetry Showcase hosted by C.J. Laity (4pm) 

Last Sunday at Steppenwolf, several Chicago teachers (including Toni Asante Lightfoot, Bill Ayers, Amanda Klonsky, Avery R. Young … and a cheesecake brownie) told stories — to kick off Bob Boone’s Teacher Tales project, and also to raise money for Young Chicago Authors.

Young Chicago Authors provides free student-centered, artist-led workshops to youth in schools and communities throughout Chicago. At the fundraiser, they also provided macaroni and cupcakes, which makes them even awesomer in my book. Cheese and frosting > crackers and broccoli.

The best came last, when youth performance artists did a small set (to an unfortunately smaller crowd). Melanie “George” Decelles’ performance was particularly bright, thanks in part to her electrically purple hair. She read about Israel: personally, politically, and eloquently, too. That’s a hard mix. Adam Gottleib called, hilariously and cheekily, for more PDA at Northside. And I was struck by Esther Ikoro, who dedicated her piece to “all the teachers who say I have selective hearing,” then slammed into a smart, smart piece about blood diamonds.

All the youth will be performing at Brave New Voices, the national youth poetry slam, in DC this July. Break six legs!

As someone who read an Icelandic novel just because Stephen Malkmus mentioned it in an interview, I was thrilled when we were alerted to the excellent new website Found in the Margins. Its mission is to find out what musicians, writers, and activists are reading.  Along with a neat little interview with Will Oldham (”Only books and writing give God validity”), there are book endorsements from Jennifer Baumgardner and Liars.  Combining books and fandom is such a great idea! I only wish I’d thought of it myself.