Chicago Stories, 40 dramatic fictions by Michael Czyzniejewski, acclaimed author and Wrigley Field beer vendor, each told in the persona of a famous Chicagoan, from Mrs. O'Leary to Barack Obama. Illustrated by Chicago artist Rob Funderburk. For everyone who's always wondered what would happen if Roger Ebert had taken Oprah Winfrey to a critics' screening of REVENGE OF THE NERDS for their second date... "An absurdist Chi-town Spoon River Anthology on crack, Mike Czyzniejewski's Chicago Stories is an explosion of imagination, a relentless churn of intellect and wit. In true Chicago style, this book tells it straight to your face and pulls no punches. Chicago Stories is easily the most fun I've had reading in quite some time." - Alan Heathcock, author of VOLT "Mike Czyzniejewski's Chicago Stories reads at once as scatting celebration of the moral landscape that stretches across the country's midsection, and as a travelogue. Czyzniejewski's sharp wit and peering eye trek along that crooked road between the dead president & crony highways and the murky river, crossing tracks where trains haven't run in two score - before boring down past the jukejoints sidled against public houses, and corner hustlers hawking whores to blue pickpockets and last migrants on the run, down where they all keep score in shadow votes. The author brings it home early and often here as, along with so much more, he is a sojourner." - Bayo Ojikutu, author of Free Burning "In Chicago Stories, Michael Czyzniejewski channels Studs Terkel's Division Street, the voices so singular and complete that in the end you feel as though you've listened to each story rather than read them. Rob Funderburk's illustrations are a snapshot of movement; in their messy, deliberate lines each voice comes alive. Chicago buffs: if you like architecture, that is, if you like outsides, the riverboat tour will do. But if you're looking to go inside for a deeper look, Czyzniejewski's book will take you there." -Lindsay Hunter, author of Daddy's
Chicago Stories: 40 Dramatic Fictions
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Chicago Stories is a wonderful look at one of the most fascinating cities in the United States. The author chose to look at the city through the eyes of forty of the most intriguing figures in the city's history. Through a series of forty persona flash fiction stories, the author gives incredible voice to each of the personas that they portray in ways that may surprise you.
As with any flash fiction, the strength of the stories in this book is the ability to entertain and make you think in a very short amount of words. Most of the stories will take no more than five minutes to read if you're reading slowly, but many will stick with you for days after due to the power of the statements that they make. At the same time, there are several stories (including one about Mr. T hosting an infomercial for male enhancement products) that made me laugh so hard that it hurt.
Famous voices that are represented in the book include Barack Obama, Roger Ebert, Rosetta Jackson, Dennis Rodman, Rod Blagojevich, David Hasselhoff, John Hughes, Pat Sajak, Hugh Hefner, and many more. Even Soldier Field and the water tower get represented by the author.
This book may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy literary fiction (or even just fiction in general), you should do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book. Just give it a try. I've had it since its release and have already found myself re-reading several of my favorite stories, including sharing them with friends. It's one of the best purchases that I've made recently and I anticipate it will remain in a prominent place on my bookshelf for years to come.
As with any flash fiction, the strength of the stories in this book is the ability to entertain and make you think in a very short amount of words. Most of the stories will take no more than five minutes to read if you're reading slowly, but many will stick with you for days after due to the power of the statements that they make. At the same time, there are several stories (including one about Mr. T hosting an infomercial for male enhancement products) that made me laugh so hard that it hurt.
Famous voices that are represented in the book include Barack Obama, Roger Ebert, Rosetta Jackson, Dennis Rodman, Rod Blagojevich, David Hasselhoff, John Hughes, Pat Sajak, Hugh Hefner, and many more. Even Soldier Field and the water tower get represented by the author.
This book may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy literary fiction (or even just fiction in general), you should do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book. Just give it a try. I've had it since its release and have already found myself re-reading several of my favorite stories, including sharing them with friends. It's one of the best purchases that I've made recently and I anticipate it will remain in a prominent place on my bookshelf for years to come.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I finally got my hands on Michael Czyzniejewski's new book and I am blown away. The structure is so fresh and novel that it would have made Vonnegut stand up and take notice. You can tell that when Mike writes, he is setting large challenges for himself and overcoming them clause by subordinate clause.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm not from Chicago, but I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. The stories are all potent little one or two pagers, and the book itself fits neatly in your purse or pocket, so it's ideal for the mass transit commuter and/or bathtub reader with discerning tastes. I picked it up at AWP after hearing the author read a longer work in the Midwestern Gothic genre.
