Comments on: NaNo Research

By: Alexander Burns

Alexander Burns — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:42:42 +0000

Yeah, I’m definitely starting to realize the importance of the neighborhoods, now that I’m digging into these books. The “border wars” of the ’50s and ’60s are pretty shocking. I’m also recognizing some of the names (Hyde Park, Canaryville, Back of the Yards) that I must have heard in movies and just never realized what the significance was. I’ll keep you in mind Cortney!

By: Cortney

Cortney — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:40:56 +0000

Um, hey cuz…you do realize I just spent the last two years of my life in the Second City, correct? Chicago is as much about the neighborhoods as New York. Maybe even moreso, because the neighborhoods are so varied (within a couple of blocks you can go from perfectly safe hipster crowd to Little Mexico gangland to Way-Overpriced Yuppie Old Town to drunken frat boy baseball bars) and because the neighborhood you live in pretty much defines your lifestyle. Being on the northside as a young 20-something couple? I must have a dog, plan on having kids in the next two years, listen (but NEVER read) at open mic nights at my locally owned and operated, anti-starbucks coffee shop, and walk my adorably impractical dog/baby/cat (yes, I did see people walking cats on leashes) at least 18 times a day.

If you want some info on neighborhoods, I’m sure I could help you out.

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:10:25 +0000

Wow… that is some serious research! Good luck with it all.

By: Alexander Burns

Alexander Burns — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:23:05 +0000

Yeah, I looked at all the Weather Underground stuff, but a lot of those, ahem, protestors, had gone into hiding by the early ’70s.

It looks like the ’70s were largely the city recovering from all the really interesting stuff that happened in the first half of the century. There’s some racial tension and a little police corruption, but that’s about it as far as I can tell so far. The ’70s in general are pretty interesting as far as women’s rights go, which fits nicely with my female hero, so that’s good.

I think there was a big surge in African American operated organized crime, but I haven’t found the book about it yet.

By: stephaniescarborough

stephaniescarborough — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:45:26 +0000

’70s superhero fiction? Awesome!

By: Jens

Jens — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:43:04 +0000

I love that stage of the novel, when ideas are plentiful and possibilities are infinite. It’s exhilarating; your novel can be anything right now. I also love being able to buy as many books as you want, and if someone, say, one’s wife, says “Do you really need ALLLLL these books?” one just thumps the massive stack of books and says, “They’re for my writing.” And no one can argue with that.
I think I bought fifteen books for “Papillon” and read maybe half of them.

By: Jens

Jens — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:33:36 +0000

Well, the 60s had Mayor Daley and the Weather Underground and the Students for a Democratic Society… very exciting stuff. The “Illuminatus!” trilogy actually captures the zeitgeist of 60s Chicago pretty well (and they’re a recommended read anyway!). But, 70s, yeah, I don’t know a thing…