In "Chicago: City on the Make", Algren writes a prose poem (essay) about the a city he loved, yet also despised. As I read this essay about a city that I also love, I really connect with the beautiful language that reflects the good and the bad of the city; if you've spent any time here, you understand the love/hate relationship. Residents love the beauty, the culture, the food, and the neighborhoods at the same time they hate the politics, corruption, and pretensions.
My favorite quote: "Chicago divided your heart. Leaving you loving the joint for keeps. Yet knowing it can never love you."
So, why should writers (whether or not they are residents of Chicago) read this book?
My favorite quote: "Chicago divided your heart. Leaving you loving the joint for keeps. Yet knowing it can never love you."
So, why should writers (whether or not they are residents of Chicago) read this book?
- He writes beautifully. It really is poetry in prose form.
- The notes for each chapter help. He did not provide the notes, but later contributors did. If a writer is going to write something complex and not easy to understand on its own, give your readers the tools they need to understand. If you don't, readers get to interpret meaning in any way they wish!
- The author's feelings come through. Since this is an autobiography/historical chronically/ poem, readers really need to connect to the connect.
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