In what way did Simon and Patricia's love of Chicago enhance the reading experience?

Chicago is a beautiful city and plays a large part in Simon and Patricia's memories. In what way did their love of the city enhance the reading experience?

Mother and son recalled a by-gone era of that great Midwestern city as they walked streets, went into restaurants, visited points of culture such as the Chicago Art Institute. The place as setting made their life together grounded and seemingly stable because they city was always a constant backdrop like immovable stage scenery. The stories of Chicago of that time provide an element of charm as well as a social-historical lesson, and it showed that they belonged somewhere. The solid civic character, the beauty of the skyline against Lake Michigan, the friends and acquaintances along the way who oftentimes became fixtures, even pillars in their lives, was an echo to this great city.

Chicago was not too far from where I grew up and I was able to visit it often and recognized many of the places they talked about. Reading about their mutual love affair for the city was rather nostalgic and has me thinking I might need to go back for a visit. Have some family there so really is kind of a good thought.

For me, it was fun and delightful. I was taught in school by a legion of Sisters who were mostly from Chicago and I often heard them discussing their hometown. It sounded wonderful and they were such interesting teachers, I figured Chicago was even more interesting than where I lived. As an adult, I actually took the train from New Orleans all the way up to Chicago for job training and it was a great chance to see the city at last--I was not disappointed. Reading Patricia's experiences added to my knowledge and appreciation of this delightful town.

I grew up in Chicago at just about the same time as Scott Simon and so I knew all of those great places. The restaurants, museums, venues, streets and neighborhoods form the fabric of my youth. Since I no longer live in Illinois -- too danged cold -- Simon speaking so fondly of the places I too loved as a kid made me very homesick. I could mentally "see" my hometown via his and Pat's reminiscences.

It could have been anywhere. However, I know Scott loves Chicago and his telling about the many special places made me think maybe it would be a city to visit for real some day. So I guess it did enhance the reading experience. Again, his telling of this moment could take place anywhere.