Justice Sonia Sotomayor Coming to Chicago for Book Signing January 30, 2013

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic and the third woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court, will be in Chicago Wednesday, January 30 on the book tour for her new memoir, My Beloved World. In it, she recounts her life journey from a Bronx housing project to the federal bench, and how books mentored her along her way.  You can go see and hear her for free at the 6 pm at the 9^th floor Winter Garden in the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St.  Seating is first come, first served until the Winter Garden is full, so plan to arrive early.  In the meantime, you can sample Justice Sotomayor’s candor and deep love of books in the interviews she did with Nina Totenberg  on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Mary

Writers Reading: Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith’s latest acclaimed novel hit library shelves on September 4th and demand for a copy instantly hit fever pitch.  Titled NW, the British writer’s first novel since 2005’s On Beauty tells the captivating story of four North West Londoners struggling to make adult lives outside of Caldwell, the housing project of their youth.  Written in a daring stream-of-consciousness style, NW has been praised by Booklist as a “quintessential 21st-century urban novel depicting a vibrant, volatile multicultural world… with wit, empathy, and artistry.”  So add this emotional knockout to your must-read queue, and while you eagerly await your copy, don’t miss Smith reading an excerpt below.  Enjoy!

Writers Reading: Ken Follett

For Ken Follett fans, this September 18th is something of a holiday.  Yes, in only nine short days Winter of the World – the eagerly anticipated second book in his ambitious Century Trilogy – will hit library shelves to the delight of legions of readers.  Picking up right where the bestselling Fall of Giants left off, this epic installment traces the next generation of the five original Welsh, English, German, Russian, and American families as their lives are inextricably entangled by the rise of Hitler and the coming of war.  To help whet your appetite, don’t miss Follett reading a passage from the new book below, and don’t forget to clear your reading schedule.  September 18th is happily right around the corner.  Enjoy!

Writers Reading: Justin Cronin

Hey Justin Cronin fans have we got a treat for you.  As you’re surely well aware, the highly anticipated follow-up to his heart-stopping epic The Passage hits the streets in a few short weeks, and you’ll soon have all the apocalyptic mayhem you can handle.  Titled The Twelve, this second book in The Passage Trilogy is officially out on October 16th, and to help you down the home stretch, you won’t want to miss Mr. Cronin reading an excerpt below.  With this little appetizer, you’ll certainly be ready for the main course.  Enjoy!

Writers Reading: Paul Auster

Writers Reading is a brand spanking new Off the Shelf feature that lets you experience your favorite authors reading from their work.  We kick things off with the following clip of Paul Auster reading from his new novel Sunset Park.  Enjoy, and check back often for more Writers Reading.