Her name is Rachel Shtier and she has fully shared her unhappiness with the readers of Sunday's Times Book Review. On the front page no less. Three books were under review, but never mind them. Contempt for her adopted city was what she wanted to share with readers.I waved the review at my fellow Chicagoan across the breakfast table and we both snorted. "What does she know?" And "she'll be sorry."But first a taste: "...Chicago never ceases to boast about itself. The Magnificent Mile! Fabulous architecture! The MacArthur Foundation! According to The Tribune, Chicago is Americas hottest theater city; the mayors office touts new taxi ordinances as huge improvements. The mayor likes brags that could be read as indictments too, announcing the success of sting operations busting a variety of thugs and grifters. The swagger has bugged me since I moved here from New York 13 years ago."Michael Miner of the Chicago Reader responds and so do many Chicagoans. I am assuming she'll be moving back to New York soon--or maybe Peoria.

Margaret O’Brien Steinfels is a former editor of Commonweal. 

Also by this author
© 2024 Commonweal Magazine. All rights reserved. Design by Point Five. Site by Deck Fifty.