Tom Lynch

Local treasure Aleksandar Hemon, already deemed a "genius" by the MacArthur Foundation, broke through eight years ago with his debut "The Question of Bruno," a staggering accomplishment from the Sarajevo-born writer for whom English was an acquired language. "Nowhere Man" followed, which proved Hemon was not a one-hit fluke. His newest novel, his best, is titled "The Lazarus Project," a jarring and provocative piece of work that links together a hundred years of Chicago history. The plot? In March 1908, an Eastern European immigrant named Lazarus Averbuch is unjustly shot to death by the city’s chief of police, leaving his sister alone in the unknown city. Flash forward a century, and a young writer, also Eastern European and living in Chicago, becomes obsessed with the boy’s story and sets out to learn as much as he can about his life. The characters’ stories link, as does the city’s streets, beaten and built again during these hundred years of life. The imaginative plot is only surface pleasure. Like with the best novelists, the rewards from Hemon’s prose come from a much deeper place.

Aleksandar Hemon reads from "The Lazarus Project" as part of the "Writers on the Record with Victoria Lautman" series May 18 at the Lookingglass Theater, 821 North Michigan, (312)337-0665, at 11:45am. Free.

(2008-05-13)

Also by Tom Lynch

Soundcheck
Local rock outfit Sybris’ self-titled Flameshovel debut, from 2005, raised many an eyebrow for both its musical complexity—heavily reverbed guitar and open-space arrangements hadn’t so sounded this good in a while—and singer Angela Mullenhour’s wicked, piercing vocals. ("The Best Day in History Ever," the song that got everyone’s attention, was one of the top local cuts of that year.) After a long break that involved some touring and a patient writing period, the band’s back with "Into the Trees"
(2008-05-06)

Ultramusic
Denver quartet DeVotchKa, which takes its name from Burgess’ Nasdat term, meaning "young girl," began its career as a backing band at burlesque shows (they even toured with Dita von Teese), and after a performance at the 2006 Bonnaroo festival were seemingly plucked from nowhere by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris to write the score for their hit yellow-van road flick, "Little Miss Sunshine"
(2008-05-06)

Tip of the Week
Sweden’s Sarah Assbring—alter ego, El Perro Del Mar—builds gentle, harmonious pop songs, sixties-sunshine-pop-inspired, straightforward and beautifully rendered
(2008-05-06)

Tip of the Week
The one-two punch of Hand and Sharpe reading from their respective works should make for a fine evening of literary muscle
(2008-05-06)

Don't Look Back in Anger
(2008-04-29)

Tip of the Week
(2008-04-29)

Rollin' Down to Cicero
(2008-04-22)

Tip of the Week
(2008-04-22)

A New Kind of Body Farm
(2008-04-22)

On Almost Any Wednesday Evening
(2008-04-15)

Scout's Honor
(2008-04-15)

Soundcheck
(2008-04-08)

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