Author Archives: dsamarov

A few months ago I discovered that there was a way up to the roof of my building just outside my front door. I invested in a ladder, went up there once, then didn’t think of it again till a couple weeks ago. This time I dragged my French easel and paints up there andContinue reading “Up on the Roof”

I’ll assume that most of you aren’t Chicago Tribune subscribers, much less the select few who receive its Printers Row book supplement, so here is my review of Luc Sante’s great new book about Paris which comes out tomorrow. You should each buy a dozen copies. A city has many faces but the one itContinue reading “The Other Paris”

A couple weekends ago Open Books asked me to come sketch Aleksandar Hemon, Luis Urrea, Rebecca Makkai, and Irvine Welsh read excerpts from their books with actors from Steppenwolf Theater. In most cases the writers would take the narration or inner monologue while the actors handled dialogue. One of the problems with book readings isContinue reading “Doorman”