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Description
Never a City So Real: A Walk in Chicago"Chicago is a tale of two cities," headlines declare. This narrative has been gaining steam alongside reports of growing economic divisions and diverging outlooks on the future of the city. Yet to keen observers of the Second City, this is nothing new. Those who truly know Chicago know that for decades even centuries the city has been defined by duality, possibly since the Great Fire scorched a visible line between the rubble and the saved. For
"Chicago is a tale of two cities," headlines declare. This narrative has been gaining steam alongside reports of growing economic divisions and diverging outlooks on the future of the city. Yet to keen observers of the Second City, this is nothing new. Those who truly know Chicago know that for decades--even centuries--the city has been defined by duality, possibly since the Great Fire scorched a visible line between the rubble and the saved. For writers like Alex Kotlowitz, the contradictions are what make Chicago. And it is these contradictions that form the heart of Never a City So Real. The book is a tour of the people of Chicago, those who have been Kotlowitz's guide into this city's - and by inference, this country's - heart. Chicago, after all, is America's city. Kotlowitz introduces us to the owner of a West Side soul food restaurant who believes in second chances, a steelworker turned history teacher, the "Diego Rivera of the projects," and the lawyers and defendants who populate Chicago's Criminal Courts Building. These empathic, intimate stories chronicle the city's soul, its lifeblood. This new edition features a new afterword from the author, which examines the state of the city today as seen from the double-paned windows of a pawnshop. Ultimately, Never a City So Real is a love letter to Chicago, a place that Kotlowitz describes as "a place that can tie me up in knots but a place that has been my muse, my friend, my joy."Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Published: 05/16/2019
ISBN: 9780226619019
Pages: 168
Weight: 0.50lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.50w x 0.60d
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4.5 ★★★★★
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
Masterpiece
Format: Kindle
It has been said that any work of literature should be gauged upon how much the work makes the reader think. Ben Wickey has certainly achieved this - in spades - as one of the “civilised” world’s most frightening episodes is revisited with respect and thoughtfulness on the human condition.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Books
Format: Paperback
I bought this book for my husband as a Christmas present and he enjoyed the book!
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Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2026
★★★★★ 4
The Tale of Salem
Format: Paperback
If you’re not familiar with the history of Salem and its witch trials, this graphic novel is a solid entry point. The author, while not a historian, clearly put in the work—spending time in Salem, connecting with residents, and striving to honor both the historical record and the modern-day sentiments of those who live with that legacy. His goal was to get the facts right while also capturing how the people of Salem view their own history, and I think he succeeded in that respect.
The artwork fits the subject matter well. We often imagine people of that time as living hard, joyless lives, and the art conveys that sense of austerity. The mix of black-and-white and color panels is sometimes striking—there are moments where the color really enhances the impact of a scene—but other times I wasn’t sure what it added. Still, the black-and-white aesthetic ties neatly into the grim tone of the era.
That said, the book is quite long, and if you’re already well-versed in the Salem Witch Trials, you may not learn much new in terms of facts. But if you enjoy studying the trials or want to explore the story through a different medium, this graphic novel is definitely worth picking up.
For me, it landed at a 3.5 stars, which I’ll round up to 4 (since I usually do that when posting on review sites).
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Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Salem's a Lot
Format: Paperback
Great comic that deserves to be at the top end of best of 2025 lists. Intensively researched with multiple art approaches to the varied settings. It also made me want to take a trip to Salem in the off-season. A virtuosic undertaking!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Offers the bloody, beating heart of the Salem Witch Trials
Format: Paperback
Unlike so many books and movies that examine the Salem Witch Trials from an academic or outsider perspective, "More Weight" plunges you into the everyday life of 1692 Salem. Giles Corey's story is often boiled down to the story of his death but he and Martha are given a deeper look here, with the result of some truly disturbing pages. The addition of Hawthorne and Longfellow sharing their thoughts in 1860 and then a look at what Salem is today, further enriches an already multi-layered story. Incredible work.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2025