Ishmael Reed—Righteous Indignation

I've been writing and thinking about Chicago politics for so long that just about everything I see in politics reminds me of something I've already seen in Chicago.But sometimes Chicago fools me. Sometimes I'll see something in Chicago and think--…

As the self-appointed bridge between those who are addicted to sports and those who know nothing about it, I feel compelled to update the know-nothings about the latest brouhaha gripping Chicago's baseball world.So here goes...First, the name.…

Sad to say, I missed out on the children's poetry by Shel Silverstein--I was born too early.By the time Where the Sidewalk Ends, his first poetry collection, was published, I was almost out of my teens.Too old for such things.That was in 1974.…

The time has come for me to pay homage to the man who knows everything--Dwight Garner, book reviewer extraordinaire for the New York Times.One of my favorite Sunday morning moments occurs when, book review section in hand, I flop on the couch…

Kin is one of those novels whose characters are more interesting than its plot. And that's not a backhanded compliment. At least, coming from me.Plots are overrated. They come and go--easily forgotten. But great characters live forever. And…

Went to the White Sox game the other day.Took the train. On the way, I broke out a paperback--Demon Copperfield by Barbara Kingsolver. Great read.Love reading on the subway. Makes the trip fly. Before you know it, the voice on the speaker’…