Blogs

A million thanks to every one of you who has passed through our doors!  This week marks our third anniversary, and we couldn't be more thrilled.  We're so lucky to be in such a busy, supportive, exciting neighborhood with wonderful customers and lovely businesses. People like discussing how risky it is to be a bookstore in the digital age, but we've never felt anything except support.  Our customers have reaffirmed our belief that there's a need for bookstores and there's still a love for the physical book.  We're so privileged to wake up every day in order to recommend new titles and share our favorite books with amazing people.  

This is also a great opportunity to remind you of our Odyssey Program.  Basically, it's our way of thanking you for a being loyal customers.  When you spend money at our store, we reward you!  We wouldn't be here without you, and it's our pleasure to make you feel special.  Next time you're at City Lit, tell us your name at the counter and we'll make sure you're signed up.

The publication of Go Set a Watchman will officially remove Harper Lee's One Hit Wonder status.  Who else is a well-known one hit wonder?  A surprising number of authors, actually!  Here are some favorites from writers who only published one novel.

We are so full of love over here at City Lit Books! Check out these books from our Pride table to keep you in the pride spirit, today and all days.

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees,

just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was

beginning over again with the summer.” 

--F. Scott Fitzgerald, "The Great Gatsby"

Whether your summer goal is to build a treehouse, travel to Europe, or find "the next Gone Girl," City Lit has you covered.  We'll point you towards the cookbooks, where you'll find a great selection of recipes for grilling, mixing cocktails, and making ice cream.  We can help you find the perfect series for your kiddos to read while you drive to your lake house.  Our shelves boast titles like Where to Bike Chicago and Backyard Beekeeper.  Need a gift for a summer birthday party?  Check.  Need to spruce your garden?  Check.  Want to learn the constellations with your 7-year-old?  Check.  Don't forget: reading isn't just for the school year.  City Lit is here all summer long to help with all your book (and journal and greeting card and bookmark) needs! 

Who says you have to buy chocolate for your Valentine?  We think books are as romantic as diamonds!  Grab a copy of Pride & Prejudice for your crush and watch them swoon.  The Time Traveler's Wife says "I love you" better than champagne.  And we would certainly fall head over heels for the person who picked up Pablo Neruda's Love Poems.  If you're looking for a romantic read beyond Fifty Shades of Gray, stop by for some excellent suggestions.  We love classics, cookbooks, and contemporary love stories!

"New Year's Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions.  Next week

you can begin paving hell with them as usual."

--Mark Twain 

Do you make New Year's Resolutions?  We have one that we make every year: to read more books!  But collectively, we have several others.  Some of our staff wants to learn to like Sci-Fi.  Some of our staff wants to learn to read books that aren't Sci-Fi.  Some of us want to eat more vegetables, and some of us want to perfect our cookie baking.  If you want to start meditation, we have books for you.  If you want to learn British history, we have books for you.  If you want to sell your crafts on Etsy, we have books for you.  No matter what your goals are for 2015, we'd be happy to help you acheive them.  

City Lit is returning to our pre-holiday hours.  We will, however, be closing at 6pm on New Year's Eve, and will be closed on New Year's Day.  Happy 2015!

"One can never have enough socks," said Dumbledore.  "Another

Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair.  People

will insist on giving me books."

--Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 

We confess: we buy books for Dumbledore, too.  If you're like us and prefer giving books, why not stop by City Lit?  We have loads of titles in store; we can special order most books for you (and have them in 2 or 3 days!); and we can recommend great reads for the most stubborn people on your shopping list.  Every bookseller here has personal favorites, and we have a gift guide containing all our favorite 2014 releases.  We've also enjoyed browsing this year's New York Times' 100 Notable Books.  Most of their favorites are in stock at City Lit, and we can share our own opinions about them, too!  Check out some of their favorites below (then stop by to see them in person):