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By Geoff Przekop
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"Winesburg, Ohio" by Sherwood Anderson
(Modern Library, 2002)
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You know about the classics. You know about the New York Times best-sellers. But
other great works of literature can easily escape your notice. We asked two members
of Columbia College’s Fiction Writing department to suggest some books that
often are overlooked and deserve to be rediscovered.
De Grazia calls this work by Sherwood Anderson, “one of the best works of
American Fiction, if not the best.” Anderson, a master of the short story,
was a mentor to literary giants Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner.
“Winesburg, Ohio” is a collection of interconnected short stories
about people who live in the same time but see reality and live their lives very
differently. At the center of the book is Winesburg resident George Willard, whose
life changes after he is exposed to the town’s lonely souls.
Anderson uses simple, direct language that will sound familiar to readers of Hemingway
and Faulkner. The depth of the characters and subtle nuances of the stories make
“Winesburg, Ohio” an engaging read.
De Grazia also recommends “Martin Eden” by Jack London, “Ask
the Dust” by John Fante and “The Redneck Manifesto” by Jim Goad.
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"The Narrows" by Ann Petry
(Houghton Mifflin Co., 1953)
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When it was first published, “The Narrows” got a lukewarm reception
from critics. “They weren’t ready for it,” May says. “It
was ahead of its time, really.”
Originally published in 1953, it has the same sensibility as “The Street,”
Ann Petry’s earlier, critically acclaimed work. “The Narrows”
is about a love affair between a white woman and a black man in a small Connecticut
town. The story is told through a number of different characters with multiple
points of view.
Petry’s style and cadence are similar to those of Toni Morrison. Petry excels
at switching points of view and draws the reader in with her beautiful yet gritty
narrative.
“The Narrows,” which was out of print until about four years ago,
is a powerful, soulful work that reads like an unadulterated confession.
May also recommends “Sister Carrie” by Theodore Dreiser and “The
Thin Red Line” by James Jones. 
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Photo by Stacie Freudenberg
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The Best Bookstores in Town
Wondering where to find that book that keeps eluding you? These Chicago literary
treasure houses are likely to carry the obscure titles you’ve been looking
for, and to surprise you with gems that will delight you.
Myopic Books
1468 N. Milwaukee Ave.
(773) 862-4882
This is one of the best used-book shops in Chicago. Its selection includes literature,
biography, history, mystery, science fiction, physics, math, art, philosophy
and the occult, as well as audio books. Inventory is constantly updated, the
staff is knowledgeable, and smoking is permitted in the sitting areas on the
first floor and in the basement.
After-words Books
23 E. Illinois St.
(312) 464-1110
After-words focuses on modern literature. New books are on the ground floor;
the far more extensive selection of used books is in the basement, which also
contains a comfortable reading area with a few couches and tables, the perfect
place to escape to during those cold, windy days in the Loop.
Powell’s Books
2850 N. Lincoln Ave.
(773) 248-1444
Powell’s is one of the largest dealers of scholastic and academic books
in the country. It’s highly regarded for its selection of hard-to-find
books on artists.The rare-book room is an excellent place to find first edition
and out-of-print books.The coffee nook serves Equal Exchange/Fair Trade coffee,
which offers above-market-rate compensation to coffee growers.
N. Fagin Books
459 N. Milwaukee Ave.
(312) 829-5252
This unique Chicago bookstore, focuses on anthropology and the natural sciences.
More than 30,000 titles are spread out between two floors of an old house next
to the Grand Avenue stop of the Blue Line.
N. Fagin carries a good selection of books on some intriguing subjects, such
as African art, physical anthropology, linguistics, primate studies and art
history. It includes technical texts, museum catalogs and some tribal African
artifacts.This is a great bookstore for anyone who has an interest in the natural
sciences.
—Geoff Przekop
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