The Book Stall at Chestnut Court

NEIL STEINBERG, veteran Chicago Sun-Times columnist, speaks about Drunkard: A Hard-Drinking Life, a memoir about his life as a functioning alcoholic and the realities of recovery.

GARY ANDREW POOLE speaks about Galloping Ghost: Red Grange, An American Football Legend, the first major biography of the gridiron great, revealing how a gifted athlete and a wily agent gave birth to professional football in America.

Friday, September 5, 7:00 p.m. Back to School Book Bash with author Tonya Hurley, whose new novel, Ghost Girl is getting great reviews. Girls ages 12-16 will love this off-beat, hip story and we’ll have lots of fun hanging out with the author!

DONOVAN TRACY signs The Glass Doctor, his novel about a pathologist in a crisis that provides readers with a view of life through the lens of hospital medicine.

Jenny Meyerhoff, author of Third Grade Baby, will be signing her book.

RUTH SPIRO, a Deerfield writer, signs her delightful children’s book, Lester Fizz: Bubble Gum Artist, the story of a boy who develops a special talent for blowing artful bubbles.

Join us for tea when MARGARET AHNERT speaks about The Knock at the Door: A Journey Through the Darkness of the Armenian Genocide, the story of her mother’s terrifying experiences as a young woman during the Armenian genocide in Turkey at the beginning of the 20th century—along with an intimate portrait ... (lisää)of her relationship with her now 98-year-old mother.

BRAD MELTZER, author of the #1 bestseller The Book of Fate, signs his latest thriller, The Book of Lies, a story linking the Biblical villain Cain and the creator of the ficitional hero Superman.

Well, ok. They're only two feet tall. But the cool thing is you made them! Enter our "Design a Dragon" contest to celebrate the release of "Brisingr" by Christopher Paolini on September 20th. Make a dragon in sculpture, drawing, or any visual art project with materials of your choosing. We ask that your ... (lisää)finished project be NO BIGGER than two feet in any direction, so they all fit in the store! Entries are due no later than 9pm September 8, 2008. Winners will be notified by Sept 18th. Runners up will receive $15 Toadstool gift certificates; the Grand Prize winner will receive a free copy of the new Brisingr book! Get busy and good luck!

JOSH BARKAN signs Blind Speed, his uniquely satirical novel with strains of global warming, 9/11, government and corporate deceit, and ecoterrorism.

Book signing and slide show. GIOIA DILIBERTO signs her novel The Collection, the story of a young seamstress from the French countryside who in 1919 takes a job in the Parisian atelier of Coco Chanel.

RICHARD ELLIS, author of The Book of Sharks and a celebrated marine artist, signs Tuna: A Love Story, about one of the biggest, fastest, and most highly evolved marine animals and the source of some of the world’s most popular delicacies — now hovering on the brink of extinction.

Join us for a luncheon with VIRGINIA WILLIS, a French-trained chef and former TV producer of Martha Stewart Living and Epicurious (on the Discovery Channel), speaks about her new cookbook, Bon Appetit Y’All, a family collection of 200 recipes for great Southern home cooking imbued with contemporary ... (lisää)sensibility and classical French technique.

ELLIS GOODMAN, England-born Glencoe resident and former chairman and CEO of a major U.S. beverage alcohol producer, importer and distributor, signs his debut novel, Bear Any Burden, a spy story and epic family saga spanning decades and continents, from 19th century Poland to the height of the Cold War.

TIM REID and TOM DREESEN, pioneering Chicago comedians, along with author RON RAPPOPORT, Chicago Sun-Times columnist and NPR commentator, speak about their new book, Tim & Tom: An American-Comedy in Black and White, the story of the first interracial comedy team in the history of show business—who ... (lisää)polished their act in Chicago nightclubs before going on the road.

LEWIS SCHIFF, a private wealth expert, speaks about The Middle Class Millionaire: The Rise of the New Rich and How They Are Changing America, examining the far-reaching impact of people who enjoy a net worth ranging from one million to ten million dollars and have earned rather than inherited their ... (lisää)wealth.

PHILIP ROTH, through a virtual broadcast live from New York, will participate in a rare interview and discuss his new novel, Indignation, featuring a young college student in the early 1950s. The first 48 Book Stall customers to make a reservation will be able to purchase a signed First Edition of Indignation. ... (lisää) Call us at 847 446-8880.

FRANCES DePONTES PEEBLES, born in Brazil and educated in the U.S., signs her debut novel, The Seamstress, a sweeping saga of love, courage, loyalty and adventure featuring two seamstress sisters in 1930s Brazil.

DAPHNE BEAL signs her debut novel, In the Land of No Right Angles. An American student in Nepal agrees to the request of a friend back home to help a young Nepali woman desperate to flee her traditional family.

Release of Brisingr, the third in the Inheritance Cycle. Be among the first to read this long-awaited book by Christopher Paolini.

PATRICIA POLACCO, beloved author known for her body of children’s literature including The Keeping Quilt, Welcome Comfort, and Mrs. Katz and Tush, will be in the store to sign her newest, For the Love of Autumn. Check back with us for the time of her appearance.

LAURENCE GONZALEZ, Evanston writer and author of Deep Survival, signs Everyday Survival, showing how modern society has made us susceptible to previously unknown threats. Curiosity, awareness and attention are the tools of “everyday survival.”

JILL BLOOMFIELD, children’s cooking expert, speaks about her new book, Jewish Holidays Cookbook, a beautiful modern cookbook geared toward kids and their families.

JENNET CONANT, journalist and author, speaks about The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington. Dahl took up a post at the British Embassy in 1942 with the assignment to use his good looks, wit, and considerable charm to gain access to the most powerful figures in American ... (lisää)political life.

From 5:30 until 7 p.m., join LUCIEN LAGRANGE, one of Chicago’s most prominent architects, and the author ROBERT SHAROFF who will speak about Sharoff’s new book, Lucien Lagrange: The Search for Elegance, a monograph on the work of Lagrange. Sharoff is a frequent writer on architecture for The New ... (lisää)York Times and Chicago magazine. Also speaking will be photographer WILLIAM ZBAREN, whose camera stunningly captured Lagrange’s projects. Call The Book Stall at 847 446-8880 for reservations.

PEG TYRE, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, speaks about her book, The Trouble with Boys: A Surprising Report Card on Our Sons, Their Problems at School, and What Parents and Educators Must Do.

PEGGY MACNAMARA, Chicago artist and adjunct associate professor at the School of the Art Institute, signs Architecture by Birds and Insects, her beautifully illustrated celebration of the natural feats of engineering and ingenuity demonstrated in nature.

TOM MOON, award-winning music journalist and regular contributor to NPR’s “All Things Considered,” speaks about his fabulous new book, 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (by the publisher of the bestseller 1,000 Places to See Before You Die), drawing from the diverse worlds of classical, jazz, ... (lisää)rock, pop, blues, country, folk, musicals, hip-hop, world, opera, soundtracks, and more. Don’t miss this!

BOB SCHIEFFER, chief Washington correspondent for CBS since 1982 and anchor of “Face the Nation” since 1991, speaks about his new book, Bob Schieffer’s America, with wise, rueful, and graceful commentaries filled with anecdotes, reflections, updates, and insights.

DAVID LEAVITT, author of several novels including While England Sleeps, signs The Indian Clerk, his new novel about a strange and ultimately tragic relationship between an esteemed British mathematician and an unknown and unschooled mathematical genius.

Join us for luncheon at Mirani’s when GAIL TSUKIYAMA, bestselling author of The Samurai’s Garden and Dreaming Water, speaks about her novel, A Street of a Thousand Dreams, following two brothers in Japan through the devastation of World War II and the hardships of reconstruction. For reservations ... (lisää)($45 includes a signed book), call us at 847 446-8880.

Join us for a book launch party with wine and cheese. BETH BOOSALIS DAVIS, an attorney and former Evanston alderman, launches her new book, Mayor Helen Boosalis: My Mother’s Life in Politics, the story of her mother’s life and career as the mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska—and candidate for the state’s ... (lisää)top office in 1986, the first gubernatorial contest between two women in U.S. history.

SUSAN ORLEAN, author of the Orchid Thief with her adorable new children’s picture book, Lazy Little Loafers.

LUCIAN LAGRANGE, prominent Chicago architect, author ROBERT SHAROFF and photographer WILLIAM ZBAREN will speak about the book, Lucien Lagrange: The Search for Elegance. Wine, cheese, and other refreshments. (See event of September 24.)

Join us for luncheon at Mirani’s in Winnetka when KELLY CORRIGAN, a weekly newspaper columnist, speaks about her memoir The Middle Place, about the family one creates and the family one comes from — and locating, navigating, and celebrating the place where the two meet. For reservations ($50 includes ... (lisää)a signed book), call us at 847 446-8880.

ROBIN PREISS GLASSER, illustrator of the Fancy Nancy books, with her new book, Tea For Ruby, written by Sarah Ferguson. Join us for an afternoon tea!

This is a luncheon and discussion.

"HEATHER SUMMERHAYES CARIOU, a native Canadian and former actress, signs Sixtyfive Roses: A Sister’s Memoir, the story of her relationship with her sister, who died of cystic fibrosis at the age of 26." ---from bookstall.booksense.com

"SCOTT SIMON, Chicago native and host of NPR’s “Weekend Edition,” signs his second novel, Windy City, a detailed and fascinating portrait of Chicago politics that begins with the sudden death of the mayor and quickly shifts focus to the Indian vice-mayor." ---from bookstall.booksense.com

Luncheon at Prairie Grass with BILL KURTIS, media personality and owner of the Tall Grass Beef Company in Kansas, where he grew up. Kurtis presents his new book, The Prairie Table Cookbook, telling the story of today’s beef revolution in historical and modern recipes. Lunch buffet features Tall Grass ... (lisää)beef dishes created by Chefs Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris. For reservations ($35), call 847 205-4433.

BRUCE BOUCHER, curator of European decorative arts and sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago, speaks about his book, Andrea Palladio: The Architect in His Time, his comprehensive handbook exploring the career of the architect who transformed the building design and construction of the Western world.

GARY MOORE, Bourbonnais executive, motivational speaker, and musician, talks about Playing with the Enemy, the fascinating story of his father, whose early promise as a great baseball catcher was derailed by World War II and—not least—an assignment guarding German POWs, whom he taught to play baseball.

JULIE KLAM talks about Please Excuse My Daughter, her memoir describing her indulged youth (her mother wrote excuse notes for her school absences by explaining the two had gone shopping at Bloomingdale’s) and her late arrival into responsible adulthood

LIBBY FISCHER HELLMAN, Chicago writer, and CARA BLACK, San Francisco-based mystery author, present their newest books. Hellman’s is Easy Innocence, a dark, disturbing tale of high school girls and what they do when they are not adequately supervised. Black’s latest, Murder in the Rue de Paradis, ... (lisää)is her eighth Aimée Leduc mystery set in Paris.

JOHN FLANAGAN, author of the fantastic Ranger’s Apprentice series, will be here to talk and sign books, including his new release, Ranger’s Apprentice: Battle for Skandia.

BARBARA GOLDBERG, award-winning poet and poetry and speechwriting teacher at Georgetown University, reads from her new collection, The Royal Baker’s Daughter, in which cooking stands as a metaphor for devotion to the fruits of the earth and to the creation of human hopes.

Women Writers Series - MARY DORIA RUSSELL, author of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated A Thread of Grace, speaks about Dreamers of the Day, her historical novel featuring a heroine who illuminates the long, rich history of the Middle East.

Beer and Wine Pairing SAM CALAGIONE, a “rock star of the craft beer world,” and MARNIE OLD, a master sommelier, talk about He Said Beer, She Said Wine, their illustrated book giving in-depth instruction on how to successfully pair both beer and wine with a wide variety of foods.

NANCY RIPS, an Omaha bookseller and radio book review host, signs her new book, Seder Stories: Passover Thoughts on Food, Family, and Freedom, with memories of childhood Seders from 101 Jewish people.

DEBORAH FINLEY speaks about What Your Future Holds and What You Can Do to Change It, combining her tragic real life experiences with biblical guidance that can give life new meaning.

Come meet New York literary agent MICHELE RUBIN, Senior Agent at Writers House, one of the largest literary agencies in the world. Hear Ms. Rubin describe her work and the agency’s history and clients, including National Book Award and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winners. If you have a book in your head ... (lisää)or a manuscript in your hand, come to talk to Michele Rubin.

JAMIE GILSON, one of our favorite children’s authors, reads from and signs her latest chapter book, Chess! I Love It I Love It I Love It!.

BOB VORWALD, executive producer of WGN Sports, signs Cubs Forever: Memories from the Men Who Lived Them, celebrating 60 years of broadcasting triumphs—and including a special DVD with interviews with key Cubs players and broadcasters.

SUSAN BENJAMIN and STUART COHEN speak about their new book, Great Houses of Chicago, the first authoritative study of Chicago’s grand city houses, with 350 duotone photographs, drawings, and floor plans. No reservations needed.

ALEXANDER LOBRANO, Gourmet magazine’s European correspondent, speaks about Hungry for Paris: The Ultimate Guide to the City’s 101 Best Restaurants.

POETRY READING featuring local members of the Illinois State Poetry Society.

SHAKUNTALA RAJAGOPAL, an Algonquin resident and native of Kerala, South India, signs her novel, Radha, the story of two medical students—Radha, a young girl raised in strict Hindu traditions, and a young Christian boy, Danny, who meet and fall in love.

SIDNEY BLUMENTHAL, senior adviser to President Bill Clinton (and currently to Sen. Clinton), speaks about his two new books, The Strange Death of Republican America, an exploration of what he believes is the ongoing collapse of Republicanism, and The Rise of the Counter-Establishment: From Conservative ... (lisää)Ideology to Political Power, new in paperback.

DOROTHEA BENTON FRANK, bestselling author and South Carolina native, signs her newest book, Bulls Island, described by the author as a story with “a cast of power-crazed liars who all get nailed.”

ROBERT ALEXANDER, author of the bestseller The Kitchen Boy, speaks about his latest work of historical fiction, The Romanov Bride, the story of the beautiful and ill-fated grand duchess, who give up everything, and the peasant who determines her fate.

ROBERT ALEXANDER, author of the bestseller The Kitchen Boy, speaks about his latest work of historical fiction, The Romanov Bride, the story of the beautiful and ill-fated grand duchess, who give up everything, and the peasant who determines her fate.

Join us for Tea at the Women’s Exchange when SUSAN McCARTHY speaks about her book, The Value of Money.

JOHN McEVOY, Evanston resident and author, signs Close Call, his third horse-racing mystery featuring a cast of offbeat characters and a climax as exciting as a Derby photo finish.

JAMES Q. WILSON speaks about Understanding America: The Anatomy of an Exceptional Nation, in which the country's top scholars explore America's quintessential values, institutions, and challenges.

STEVE ALTEN signs The Shell Game, a thriller set in 2012 when the U.S. government plots to explode a nuclear bomb in a U.S. city and blame Iran.

Steve Goodman will be in the store to discuss his book COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TOGETHER: IT TAKES A FAMILY

DAN COUGHLIN, management consultant and author, speaks about his book, Accelerate: 20 Practical Lessons to Boost Business Momentum.

PATRICK CARMAN, author of the Atherton and Land of Elyon series, will give a presentation and sign his new book in the Atherton series, Rivers of Fire.

MINDY WEISS, the Los Angeles-based lifestyle expert and wedding planner to the stars, talks about The Wedding Book: The Big Book for Your Big Day. Call us for more information.

KEVIN PHILIPS, writer and commentator, speaks about his new book, Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics, and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism.

CAROL FELSENTHAL, Chicago-based biographer, speaks about Clinton in Exile, the story of Bill Clinton’s post-Presidency.

For ticket prices and more information about the “Honor Thy Mother Luncheon,” call, 847-869-7323. Bestselling author LISA SEE will be the guest speaker at a “Honor Thy Mother Luncheon” benefiting Literature for All of Us on Saturday, May 3, at 11:30 a.m. at the Doubletree Hotel at Old Orchard, ... (lisää)9599 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. The Book Stall will be on hand with Ms. See’s critically acclaimed novels Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Peony in Love, both of which explore the bonds of female friendship, the power of words, and the desire all women have to be heard. Literature for All of Us is a nationally recognized, award-winning organization based in Chicago that brings the rewards of reading and writing through book group discussions to teen mothers and other young people in underserved neighborhoods. The organization seeks to build communities of readers, poets, and critical thinkers.

CAROL FELSENTHAL, Chicago journalist and biographer, speaks about her highly anticipated new book, Clinton in Exile: A President Out of the White House, a fascinating and textured post-presidential biography of one of the most intriguing and controversial figures of our time.

CAROL FELSENTHAL, Chicago journalist and biographer, speaks about her highly anticipated new book, Clinton in Exile: A President Out of the White House, a fascinating and textured post-presidential biography of one of the most intriguing and controversial figures of our time.

HOWARD FINEMAN, Newsweek magazine’s senior Washington correspondent and columnist, speaks about The Thirteen American Arguments, his book that shows that every debate, from our nation’s founding to the present day, is rooted in one of thirteen arguments that—thankfully—defy resolution.

LEIF ENGER, author of the bestseller and Book Stall favorite Peace Like a River, signs his new novel, So Young, Brave, and Handsome about an aging train robber on a quest to seek forgiveness from the wife he abandoned, and the failed writer who goes with him.

ELIZABETH BERG, bestselling and popular Chicago author of the favorite Dream When You’re Feeling Blue, speaks about her new book, The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted—and Other Small Acts of Liberation, a collection of (mostly) uplifting stories exploring the everyday challenges that women face.

NANCY HORAN speaks about Loving Frank, her historical novel that tells the story of the love affair between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Cheney. For more information: http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/lovingfrank/

MARJORIE PRICE, who left Chicago for France in the 1960s to become an artist, tells the story of her memoir A Gift from Brittany, the story of her liberating sojourn in Breton and a friendship that transformed her life.

Benefit at Kendall College - PATRICIA WELLS, bestselling cookbook author, and her husband,WALTER WELLS, former executive editor of The International Herald Tribune, appear at a benefit to speak about We’ve Always Had Paris…and Provence: A Scrapbook of Our Life in France, their memoir of more than ... (lisää)25 years in the country. Tickets, which support three Kendall College scholarships, are $100 and include one book. Reservations to be made through Kendall College (more information to come).

JERRY JACOVER, local author, speaks about and signs Merkle's Curse, the story of the Cubs' pennant victory in 1908 -- 100 years ago!

MARY TILLMAN, mother of the Army Ranger and former NFL star Pat Tillman, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2004, speaks about her book, Boots on the Ground by Dusk, the story of her son’s remarkable life and her family’s quest to find out the truth about his untimely death.

PATRICIA WELLS and WALTER WELLS speak about their memoir We’ve Always Had Paris…and Provence (see also event of May 8)

GAIL CARSON LEVINE, author of the Newbery Honor Book Ella Enchanted, speaks about her new novel for young adults, Ever, the story of a girl confronted with a terrible destiny.

KENAN HEISE, Chicago Tribune journalist, speaks about his book Chicago Afternoons with Leon, his book chronicling the life and career of Leon Despres, the legendary Chicago Fifth Ward alderman.

TAMMY LECHNER, photojournalist and lifelong Cubs fan, signs Chicago Cubs: Our Team, Our Dream—a Cubs Fan’s Journey into Baseball’s Greatest Romance, her photo documentary highlighting 15 seasons with the Chicago Cubs.

From 2 'til 4 p.m. THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF CHICAGO presents its new cookbook, Peeling the Wild Onion: A Collection of Chicago Culinary Culture.

AMY KROUSE ROSENTHAL, children’s author, and TOM LICHTENHELD, author/illustrator will present and sign their new collaboration, It's Not Fair.

DAVID PLOWDEN, famous photographer and North Shore resident, speaks about Vanishing Point: Fifty Years of Photography, documenting a disappearing landscape of industry, small towns, wonderful devices, and noble structures.

MARCUS LUTTRELL, a Navy SEAL who served in Afghanistan, speaks about his book, Lone Survivor, the story of a Taliban attack on his four-man SEAL team that left his comrades dead and him in the hands of other Afghanis who saved his life.