Tom Lynch

Massachusetts—by way of Australia—author Geraldine Brooks won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2006 for "March," an intelligent and moving epic about the March girls’ father (yes, from Alcott’s "Little Women") and his experience during the Civil War. Brooks got her start working as a foreign correspondent for The Wall Street Journal—the story for her newest novel, "People of the Book," came when she was covering the Bosnian war and learned of the Sarajevo Haggadah, a book that features the traditional text of the Passover Haggadah and has survived, incredibly, since the fifteenth century. Through the eyes of a rare book expert (must be a fun job) who’s hired to analyze a precious text that’s recently survived a bombing in Sarajevo, Brooks documents, with enviable passion, the piece’s travels and the hands that over time protected it, cherished it and kept it from harm. Mysterious and ambitious, "People of the Book" is a winner.

Geraldine Brooks discusses "People of the Book" January 23 at Newberry Library, 60 West Walton, (312)943-9090, at 6pm. Free.

(2008-01-15)

Also by Tom Lynch

Care-Bare
January in Chicago has the kind of near-biblical power to wreak Armageddon on your body and heart. For me, it’s always been more of an idea than a tangible, bone-freezing collection of days—a ruthless, stagnant period of time that permeates for eternity, seamless and wild. Don’t let last weekend fool you. January’s torturously cold and it’s out to get us. Minimalist pop duo Christy & Emily sound like that pain, the vulnerable, desperate and helpless feeling that stretches endlessly until the skies turn from gray to blue
(2008-01-08)

The Year in Rock
While critics from all over the globe feel obliged to supply their year-end top-five lists, top-ten lists and ramblings of honorable mentions (see, ahem, our cover feature), let’s look at the best releases of the year from Chicago artists, as it has been—as it always seems to be—quite a year
(2007-12-31)

Tip of the Week
Local three-piece STAR released the genuine, throwback shoegazer powerhouse "Devastator" early in 2007, a treat for those of us whose best holiday gift this year was the news that My Bloody Valentine has reunited
(2007-12-31)

Tip of the Week
An event coinciding with the 2007 Modern Language Association Convention, this mammoth reading—sponsored by the Poetry Foundation and the School of the Art Institute’s writing program—features more than fifty poets in all
(2007-12-26)

Tip of the Week
(2007-12-18)

Tip of the Week
(2007-12-11)

Anatomy of Pop
(2007-12-04)

Tip of the Week
(2007-12-04)

Tip of the Week
(2007-11-27)

For the Records
(2007-11-27)

For the Thrill of It
(2007-11-27)

Tip of the Week
(2007-11-19)

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