It's the 1950s all over again. Ever since the bright blue morning of September 11 that was so suddenly, so irrevocably shattered, we've gone back in time. The underpinnings of nuclear anxiety prevail, even as we are told to go about our daily lives, smiling, pretending it's a June Cleaver world and everything will be A-OK. Our leaders pin American flags on their lapels and extol the virtues of freedom even as dissent is scorned and protesters are herded into "free speech zones." And that's why now, more than ever, books matter. Books are about diversity in voice and opinion. And they help us escape from the big bad world we now face. It's been a busy year on the Chicago literary landscape. The Mighty O scrapped her book club, sending publishers and authors scrambling for Prozac. The city stole an idea from Seattle and ran with it, creating the super successful, "One Book, One City" program. Roger Ebert reminded us, again, why the movies matter, too. And of course, there is our one great icon. Even as 9-11 changed the world we live in, some things are reliably faithful and true. Studs Terkel turned 90 and in doing so, aptly wrote about death and grief and did it without fear. And in a gentle way, Studs made us all feel a little bit better about our times.

about Newcitychicago | about Newcity magazine | advertising | privacy policy | FAQ | employment