Literago.org welcomes our newest contributor, the lovely and expert Alba Machado of Literary Chicago! Woo hoo! — Eds.

If there is one lesson to be learned from Victoria Lautman, it is to never look back. Thursday, June 10th, marks the end of Lautman’s six-year run as the host of Writers on the Record, a monthly interview series that has drawn such prestigious authors as Louise Erdrich, Frank McCourt, Junot Diaz, and Michael Cunningham. But instead of waxing nostalgic and sharing highlights of her interviews, Lautman discusses the future of reading, writing, and publishing with three of Chicago’s important literary trendsetters: Elizabeth Taylor, the Literary Editor of the Chicago Tribune; Jonathan Messinger, the Books and Poetry Editor of Time Out Chicago; and Thomas Flynn, the Events Coordinator and Advertising Manager of the Seminary Co-op Bookstores. WFMT is on hand for taping and the one-hour show will be available soon on Lautman’s website.

Before WFMT begins taping, Lautman is beset with bouquets of flowers and heartfelt words of gratitude. She appears elegant in a short, sleeveless black-and-gold dress and strappy pumps. Even so, it is clear that she is not interested in emphasizing the end of an era. She’s ready to move on. “When I launched this show,” she says, “it was because I was a reader . . . and one of the reasons I’m stopping this show is because it’s ruined my life as a reader in ways I never would have imagined.” It may be hard to imagine how talking to great authors about their books could have a catastrophic effect on one’s reading life—that is, until you realize the amount of research and preparation Lautman undergoes before each interview. “I read every single thing they’ve ever written, which is why Joyce Carol Oates has never been on this show.”

Each of tonight’s interviewees could sympathize with Lautman, being themselves well acquainted with the challenge of balancing reading-for-work with reading-for-fun. A fan of short stories, Messinger admits that his wife sometimes needs to intervene in order to prevent collections of short stories from dominating the book pages of Time Out Chicago. “I am constantly having to rein in my own idiosyncratic reading tastes.”

For Taylor, who receives as many as 200 books a day, the bigger challenge lies in neither over- nor under-representing local authors. “I’m so worried about Chicago being depicted as ‘fly-over country’ . . . at the same time, I don’t want to be parochial and lose my critical edge because I push all things Chicago.” However much she might temper her pride in the city’s literary accomplishments with professionalism, there is no denying that she has helped to cultivate its reading landscape. After all, in addition to her regular responsibilities at the Tribune, she plays a major role in planning and executing the annual Printers Row Lit Fest, which took place last Saturday and Sunday.

It is no surprise, then, that Taylor is enthusiastic about recommending books for the audience, as are Messinger and Flynn. As far as Lautman is concerned, a big part of looking toward the future of reading is putting together an awesome reading list. Here are some of their top picks, in no particular order:

• The Passage by Justin Cronin (a science fiction vampire saga).
• A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (a novel about a washed-up punk rocker and his klepto assistant).
• Kraken by China Mieville (a novel about a man who is attacked by cultists because they believe he’s a squid god).
• C by Tom McCarthy (an experimental novel dealing with technology and mourning).

Of course, in this day and age, no discussion about the future of reading would be complete without the obligatory mention of the e-book controversy. Messinger is quite optimistic about the new technology, comparing its effect on readership to the iPod’s effect on music consumption. The iPod has made it possible for him to hear a great many bands at a far cheaper cost, including those that do not make it onto large labels. He expects that the same will hold true for books. Lautman and Taylor are similarly receptive to the e-book, noting its convenience for travel.

But Flynn, the bookseller, as you might expect, is less open to the prospect of virtual libraries. In his opinion, “When something new and flashy and pretty comes along, we always think this is it and it will replace everything that has come before. That’s not true. That’s done more damage to bookstores than anything that’s been happening on the internet.” On top of e-books, independent bookstores like the Seminary Co-op must also contend with major online dealers that can offer greater discounts, like Amazon. Although Flynn does not believe new technology will eliminate books or bookstores, he speaks gravely about the online dealers, saying, “They can take a loss for quite a while. We can’t.”

In the end, it seems that Victoria Lautman is much the same person she was when she began the Writers on the Record series. She’s a reader. She understands that a good bookseller has as much to contribute to a discussion about the future of reading as do writers, editors, and publishers. And after the final interview is concluded, she transforms herself into a carnival barker for the Seminary Co-op, urging members of the audience to step up and purchase books Flynn brought with him. It is a good end to great series.

(img by Jane Mount)