Windy City: A Novel of Politics [Hardcover]

Scott Simon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 11, 2008

The acclaimed author of the intensely powerful novel Pretty Birds, Scott Simon now gives us a story that is both laugh-out-loud funny and heart-piercing–as sprawling and brawling as Chicago, where politics is a contact sport.

The mayor of Chicago is found in his office late at night, sitting in his boxer shorts, facedown dead in a pizza. The mayor was a hero and a rascal: dynamic, charming, ingenious, corruptible, and a masterly manipulator. The city mourns. But it’s discovered that the mayor was murdered–shortly after he may have begun to squeal on some of his colleagues at City Hall. Over the next four days, police race to find the mayor’s killer, while the politicians who bemoan his passing scramble for his throne.

At the center is Sundaran “Sunny” Roopini, forty-eight, alderman of the Forty-eighth Ward, and vice-mayor. Sunny is an Indian immigrant, a restaurant owner, and a recent widower. He is getting tired of politics and wants to hold on just long enough to do the best for his two restive teenage daughters. But as acting interim mayor for a few days, Sunny must deal with forty-nine other aldermen who have their own clashing ambitions.
How will Sunny do what’s best for both his family and city in a time of crisis?

As The Last Hurrah embodied urban politics for a previous generation, Windy City captures politics in the multiethnic tumult of today’s big city, where a stalled subway raises fears of a terrorist attack and smoke-filled rooms are abolished by no-smoking statutes. The story takes a raft of colorful characters–pinky-ringed pols, pious reformers, money-grubbers, and wheeler-dealers of every creed, color, and proclivity–through City Hall corridors, neighborhood restaurants and clubs, weddings, sex scandals, gospel churches, police stations, and sting operations to deliver an ending that is unexpectedly noble.

Windy City is a roller coaster of a novel that dips and soars through the amusement park of politics. With echoes of Primary Colors and Thank You for Smoking, Windy City will win votes as the best political novel in many years. Its personal story–about a flawed, decent man thrust suddenly under hot lights–will also win hearts.

Praise for Windy City:
“Delectable… Offers an insider’s view of the kind of urban political fray–albeit fictional–that Barack Obama emerged from as an Illinois state legislator representing Chicago’s South Side…. Windy City’s articulate and witty protagonist … must juggle dirty secrets and deal making…”–USA Today

“Comic but sneakily affecting… The rich multiculturalism of the American city is not a new phenomenon… rarely, however, has it been depicted with such unabashed affection... The zeal with which he celebrates the city, warts and all, is hard to resist.. Simon’s choice of hero…is an immensely appealing figure.”–Washington Post Book World

“Pitch-perfect… Scott Simon, NPR host, knows his way around politics… His dialogue throws off sparks and shrieks like a Chicago El-car…Recommended to all political junkies.”–The Roanoke Times (Virginia)

“A hilarious satirical novel about politics.”–Clarence Page, The Chicago Tribune

“Entertaining and well-observed… renders the inner workings of City Hall with wit and aplomb….Some of Simon’s Chicagoans may be con artists, crooks, amoral opportunists or blowhards, sometimes all of the above, but the author still treats them with great affection and respect, creating an impressively large and diverse cast of characters”–Adam Langer, The Chicago Tribune

“[A] great novel… filled with emotional turmoil, gritty political decisions, murders, homicide attempts, a suicide and even a touch of romance…[a] human and fully realized portrait of the people caught up in contemporary public life.”–Time Out Chicago

“[A] big-hearted bear-hug of a novel… embracing roots and family, eccentricities and failings, and dappled with the sights, sounds and grit of the Windy City–makes this an energizing and loving contemporary urban fable.”–GO Magazine, AirTran Airways

“A rather sentimental, positive picture of the democratic process.” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“Windy City is funny and tender… full of boisterous love for the sport of politics and Chicago.  The best political novel in years.”–Christopher Buckley, author of Boomsday and Thank You for Smoking  

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his second novel, the host of National Public Radio's Weekend Edition paints a detailed portrait of Chicago politics, beginning with the sudden death of the mayor. The focus quickly shifts to Indian vice-mayor Sunny Roopini, who must assuage a traumatized electorate while laying down a few paving stones for the mayor's successor. Matters are further complicated when the police discover deadly amounts of liquid nicotine on the late mayor's pizza, a revelation that inspires a mayoral staffer to leap from his apartment window. Roopini's brief interim mayorship proves to be a minefield of favors, accommodations and downright extortion—the latter by a U.S. Attorney determined to dig up any ethical hiccup he can. The suffocating political life is enough to beckon Roopini toward retirement (particularly with his two daughters on the cusp of adulthood), but the city doesn't seem willing to let him go. The proceedings can be fascinating, but Simon is too attached to his (admittedly impressive) descriptive powers, dragging the narrative through a swamp of mannerisms, fashion sketches, culinary processes and (especially) political maneuvering. Politics junkies will get off on the detail, but readers with less than a passing interest in the sausage-making that goes on at City Hall may be frustrated. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

When the mayor of Chicago is mysteriously murdered while eating pizza, 48th Ward alderman Sunny Roopini becomes acting mayor. A recent widower, Sonny struggles to keep his teenage daughters and restaurant under control. The revelations that come in the wake of the mayor’s death are perhaps more than he can handle. To add to the chaos are a collection of subplots, each worthy of its own novel: an alderman revealed to be gay, another revealed to be on the take, and a third in love with a drug dealer. Fans of NPR’s “Weekend Edition” will recognize Simon’s charm and love of all things Chicago. His characters are all fascinating and complex. However, there are a few too many to keep track of, and the political details and intrigues occasionally threaten to overshadow the sweet and affecting story of Roopini’s grief and growth. --Marta Segal Block

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Random House; 1 edition (March 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400065577
• ISBN-13: 978-1400065578
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 1.3 x 6.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #960,782 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Chicago Politics Light, April 1, 2008

By 

Paul Igasaki (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Windy City: A Novel of Politics (Hardcover)

Windy City: A Novel of Politics
Windy City is a fun book that parodies Chicago politics and urban ethnic culture in the course of a murder. Scott Simon is the ideal author for such a book. Like me, he is a "Chicagoan Away" as described in his memoir Home and Away. And, like that book, it treats one familiar with Chicago geography, politics and ethnicity with waves of nostalgia and authenticity.

The story revolves around the Alderman of Chicago's 48th Ward, an Indian American restaurant owner serving as Vice Mayor when the African American Mayor, his ally, dies - from a poisoned pizza. He assumes the role of Acting Mayor as described in the Chicago charter and as happened after the deaths of Richard J. Daley and Harold Washington, especially Harold Washington.

Like any book of this kind, it pledges that the characters are fictional. But the similarities of some with real life characters are inescapable. The murdered Mayor has some remarkable similarities to the city's only African American Mayor Harold Washington. I worked for Harold as counsel to city's civil rights agency and as his liaison to the city's Asian Americans. Much of my job came close to the world of this book. Like the murdered Mayor, Harold used long words, ate as with the same gusto that he practiced politics ( I remember taking him to Korean, Indian, Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants - he returned to some after closing for extra helpings). And he died at his desk also, though from a heart attack not from a poisoned pizza. Like this Mayor, his sexuality took second place to his politics. But unlike this Mayor, who was gay, Harold's orientation was more ambiguous, though like this Mayor, it wasn't a significant part of his life. Also, Harold, while a practical politician, was less accepted by the shockingly racist party power structure and was also much more committed to both reform and civil rights for groups beyond his own. Perhaps if he had lived and white Chicago got over some of its deep prejudice, this world would be a result.

It is, as I have heard from some of my friends even on the other side of Chicago's famous "Council Wars," it is hard to be so light-hearted about such a momentous and intense time. It wasn't funny that white liberals refused to accept a Black man pushing the issues that they cared about for decades. It wasn't funny that many in a one party town switched parties supporting even a - gasp- Republican when they happily supported white Democrats under indictment. Chicagoans usually treat politics like sports, but the mid-1980's were a political race war that enabled a less racist city thereafter.

Nevertheless, consoling myself in the fictional references, I loved the description of Chicago late winter weather and of the various ethnic settings. I worked Alderman Roopini's ward, the 48th, for Mayor Washington and I lived in the Wrigleyville ward. The Windy City Council was far more diversified and far more representative than the 2007 Council let alone the 1985 Council. There have never been any Asian American Aldermen of any ethnicity then or now, though Harold encouraged us and others have tried. Scott Simon's hopeful world includes a Chinese American man, a Japanese and African American woman, a Korean American woman and Alderman Roopini, an Indian American.

His descriptions of a Korean restaurant, an Indian restaurant, an Italian restaurant (love that chicken vesuvio), a Chinese wedding, a Greek restaurant and a Polish banquet hall made me hungry as well as nostalgic. His depressing description of late winter Chicago was also quite accurate.

It is hard for a white ethnic Chicagoan to really see the world as an Asian, African or Latino Chicagoan and Simon doesn't really succeed in the complexities of the feelings or the experience, but in a book like this, too much authenticity would push away some readers. The minority Chicago experience is very similar to white ethnic realities in some respects, but sharply different in others and Simon doesn't quite nail these differences. But his portrayals aren't too stereotyped - or at least they are equally so - that's part of the humor here. And the portrayals are warm as opposed to the racist ones of the 1980's. Also, the matter of fact integration of gay Chicago into the power structure may be beginning now, but it is far from as advanced as the novel suggests (a sex scandal involved two gay Chicago cops and an alderman for example and matter of fact portrayals of other gay cops).

But such observations do not detract from the fun of this novel. I felt transported back to Lakeview, City Hall, an Edgewater bar, an African American church and other parts of my home town. For Chicagoans at home or away, this can be a real joy. Thank you, Scott Simon, for the ride on the L through the Windy City.

2011 Addendum: A step forward. Chicago's first Asian American alderman, and Indian American, was elected in a largely white ethnic ward without machine support. Also, with the election of Rahm Emanuel, who did have significant Democratic organization support, the city saw it's first Jewish Mayor, who grew up in the ritzy largely non-Jewish New Trier township. Another breaking of the old molds, though support from President Obama, who has strong citywide support, didn't hurt. Chicago is a little less, though only a little, tied to ethnicity. Windy City is still a fun read.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Windy City, April 20, 2008

By 

Warren Kozak (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Windy City: A Novel of Politics (Hardcover)

I have always thought that Scott Simon was one of the best writers in broadcasting. More often then not, I have found myself sitting back in my kitchen on a Saturday morning and taking in his words as they flow almost effortlessly from my radio. I also know that writing like this is never effortless. The man has great talent.

Now it appears this talent has translated to fiction as well. And that's not as easy as people might think. Consider asking a pediatrician to perform brain surgery tomorrow. Writing for radio and fiction are really very different forms.

Simon has captured a marvelous look at our country in the beginning of the 21st century by focusing on, of all things, the colorful politics of Cook County. When you really think about it, what could possibly be more American? And he has accomplished this with his great humor and vivid knack for description.

I don't often laugh out loud when I am reading books. I did here. I also found the opening description of a politician's view of what it takes to get votes and what it means to enter the arena as one of the single best descriptions of our flawed and fabulous democratic system. I have read it over several times, as I did other passages in this really great book.

Finally, a personal story: a few years ago, I was visiting a friend who lives on the north side of Chicago. She and her husband live with their one daughter in a three bedroom home that was once owned by a Catholic family with ten children. It was summer and we were sitting on the front porch. She described her neighborhood by the people who passed by. There was a gay couple pushing a baby carriage. There was "Big Ed", the retired Chicago Cop who chatted with the couple. There were at least three different nationalities. It was a very different world than the one we all grew up in. But there was one thing in common with the past -- everyone waved to us on the porch.

That's the world that Scott Simon has brilliantly captured. A crazy world of constant change but still holding on to the main institution that binds us all together. Great job!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good story mired in details, December 12, 2008

By 

L. Blumenthal "lynn" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Windy City: A Novel of Politics (Hardcover)

Scott Simon's "Windy City" has all the elements for an entertaining political mystery/adventure novel. The characters are good, the settings are superbly described, the heart is there, the mystery of a murdered mayor is deftly handled, and the ending warms the heart. So why is the book so tedious to read? The problem is that Simon over-researched this book. While he might find it fascinating to describe the ethnic make up of all 50 wards that comprise the city, most readers do not. So much of the book is delegated to long passages describing alderman and their relationship with their ethnic constituents, to the point that the mystery of the murder is almost forgotten. Oddly, this mayor seems to be a Harold Washington type, although the actual Washington is mentioned as a past mayor. The Daleys (Richard J. and Richard M.) are also long gone. For some reason, Simon seems to feel that the era of the white male mayor are long gone, but gives no logical reason for stating this.
Acting mayor Sunny Roopini, of Indian extraction,is an engaging character and the book brightens when he's front and center. It's a pity that he doesn't do more to get to the bottom of the mystery. Instead, the book flits around strange, unresolved events such as a suicide of a mayoral top aide and an alderwoman's weepy confession of an impolitic love affair in the past. These and many other plot points make the novel wobble perilously off course before coming to its logical and long-in-coming conclusion.
A judicious editor could have done quite a bit in trimming the unneeded miscellaneous information and tightened the plot. A four-star book is lurking here, too bad it's hiding under a pile of random facts.