Now that the nonstop activity and accompanying stress of the holiday season have passed, it’s time to slow down and do something for yourself. If the weather outside is frightful (and it usually is this time of year), just light a candle, brew a cup of tea, and reach for a great book. The Book Stall, one of Winnetka’s most […]
To say 2017 was a strange and divisive year would be putting it mildly. The good news is that the past 12 months saw the publication of several phenomenal books that can appeal to a variety of readers, from your in-laws on the opposite end of the political spectrum to your best friend’s sulky teenager. Whether you’re […]
Road trips — like all travel with kids — can be both joyous and maddening. On one such trip, I’ll admit that I began answering the age-old “Are we there yet?” question with “Yes” no matter where we actually were. I told my kids “Yep, we’re smack-dab in the middle of bustling Nashville,” as we traveled down a […]
Kids may not come with handbooks, but this fall brings a new crop of wise and witty parenting books that can help parents with the daunting task of raising great kids while keeping both their perspective and sense of humor intact. 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do: Raising Self-Assured Children and Training Their Brains […]
What inspires children to be kind? Is kindness innate, something we are born with and need to nurture? Two local teachers, Rena Rosen and Jenny Levin, tackle these questions in their recently published book, “The Courage to Be Kind” (Archway Publishing, 2017). The two friends combined forces to fulfill a need, and in doing so are […]
Wilmette resident Patricia Stratton is nothing if not determined. Twenty-five years after she presented her master’s thesis at Northwestern University, Stratton has delivered on a promise to herself to share with the world a fascination and deep knowledge of what is fondly known as “Chicago’s Picasso.” In time for the 50th anniversary of the unveiling […]
Psychological thrillers are all the rage this summer, giving traveling, beach-going, and backyard readers a reason to settle in and get fixated on a good scare. Whether it’s hardcover, paperback, or e-book, you’ll want to add a gripping title or two from this list to your summer reading list. Following the 2012 release of my […]
As part of this spring’s Chicago Humanities Festival, writer and literary critic John Freeman and journalist Sarah Smarsh met to discuss their shared concerns about income inequality in the United States. Smarsh recently contributed to an anthology on the topic, “Tales of Two Americas: Stories of Inequality in a Divided State,” of which Freeman was editor. 1. Our […]
Whether you are going on vacation, hanging out at the local beaches or just spending more time lounging outside, summer is the perfect opportunity to relax with a book. But no one wants to be carrying a heavy hardcover in their carry-on bag, and some of us just don’t want to make that switch to e-books. […]
Marie Kondo opened her 2017 Chicago Humanities Festival program with a simple question: “Is your home tidy?” After the laughter died down, she calmly assured everyone, “Don’t worry, I can help you.” Kondo has been doing exactly that with her best-selling books, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” and “Spark Joy.” She says her love of order started when […]
