Upcoming Author Events

Want to know who’s coming to town? Here are a few upcoming author visits worth checking out: Madeline Levine, March 10: If you’re looking for a little parenting advice, Levine is a renowned psychologist and author of one of my favorite “How do I do this?” books, “The Price of Privilege.” She’ll be in Winnetka... Read more »
By Kelly Konrad,
March 7, 2020 at 1:16 pm • 

Switching Things up a Bit

Hello, book lovers. I’ve been thinking about making this happen for a while now — with the kids grown and in 15 different directions, I wondered how much longer I wanted to post book reviews to a Chicago-centric site that I might someday have to leave behind. I’m a book hoarder, which makes me a... Read more »
By Kelly Konrad,
March 1, 2020 at 9:57 pm • 

Book Review: American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

Book Review: American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Jeanine Cummins’ novel, “American Dirt” hit the proverbial jackpot when it received the Oprah bump a few weeks back, selected as a 2020 Book Club read. It has also been at the center of a publishing firestorm, which is well summarized here. The story of a Mexican woman and her young son on the run... Read more »
By Kelly Konrad,
February 23, 2020 at 4:48 pm • 
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Rebecca Serle's "In Five Years" Forces The Question: Where Will You Be?

Rebecca Serle's "In Five Years" Forces The Question: Where Will You Be?
Well? Start thinking … The concept isn’t novel — we’ve been practicing future think since we were in kindergarten. Because school is designed to prepare us for our futures, the question, “Where will you be in five years?” is practically a key ingredient to the foundation of our collective childhoods. In fact, one of my... Read more »
By Kelly Konrad,
February 9, 2020 at 6:52 pm • 

Gen X Ladies! You're Not Imagining It: Why We Can't Sleep by Ada Calhoun

Gen X Ladies! You're Not Imagining It: Why We Can't Sleep by Ada Calhoun
Sometimes, you just need to hear “No, you’re not imagining it. Yes, this really is stressful.” Thank you, Ada Calhoun. I honestly don’t even know where to start when it comes to talking about “Why We Can’t Sleep: Women’s New Midlife Crisis,” which makes complete sense when you read the book and realize that being... Read more »
By Kelly Konrad,
February 6, 2020 at 4:26 pm • 

If a Walk Down Memory Lane Had a Baby with American Horror Story: A Very Stable Genius by Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig

If a Walk Down Memory Lane Had a Baby with American Horror Story: A Very Stable Genius by Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig
Interesting reading, in the midst of an impeachment trial. With House managers and the president’s attorneys delivering opening arguments, I’ve spent free time the last few days curled up on the couch, hygge-style, with Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig’s bestseller, “A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump’s Testing of America.” The book is everything you... Read more »
By Kelly Konrad,
January 25, 2020 at 4:45 pm • 
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Such a Fun Read: Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Such a Fun Read: Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Because Iowa Writers’ Workshop, of course. Really, if you ever want a clue as to whether or not a book is worth your time, if you see, “Iowa Writers’ Workshop” then just stop looking and buy it because everything I’ve ever read that’s come from that group has been just outstanding. And with “Such a... Read more »
By Kelly Konrad,
January 19, 2020 at 9:03 pm • 

All Fired Up and Nowhere to Go: Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

All Fired Up and Nowhere to Go: Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
Kevin Wilson really knows his way around some strange family dynamics. As evidenced in his previous work, like “The Family Fang” and “Perfect Little World,” there’s something about the connection between parent and child that motivates author Kevin Wilson to create some of the most compelling family dysfunctional drama in modern fiction. As with Annie and Buster in “Fang”... Read more »
By Kelly Konrad,
January 11, 2020 at 8:59 pm • 

Color Me a Little Slow on the Uptake: The Swallows by Lisa Lutz

Color Me a Little Slow on the Uptake: The Swallows by Lisa Lutz
Don’t get me wrong — Lisa Lutz’s “The Swallows” is an engrossing, entertaining read. Disturbing but thoroughly enjoyable. But that wasn’t my favorite part. My favorite part of the experience was sitting at lunch one afternoon talking about the book with friends and as I was midway through, explaining the plot, “…and blah blah blah... Read more »
By Kelly Konrad,
January 8, 2020 at 8:55 pm • 
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LitzyDitz's 2019 Book List

LitzyDitz's 2019 Book List
Ah, my favorite post of the year. If only I could go back to the beginning and save my “What I read this year” lists from back when I started doing this more than 20 years ago. It was a simple New Year’s email I’d send friends to share what I read and ask for their... Read more »
By Kelly Konrad,
December 31, 2019 at 3:39 pm •