Wilmette resident Lila DiCanio has lived in the village about 43 years, she says. She took time May 24 from her volunteer work at Books Down Under, the used book store operated at the Wilmette Public Library by Friends of the Wilmette Public Library, to talk to Pioneer Press about a favorite book, a favorite pet, and what she did for her university graduation.
Q: What should people know about Books Down Under?
A: That this is the only bookstore in Wilmette. It’s run by Friends of the Wilmette Library and it benefits the group so that it can put on all kinds of events that usually don’t cost people. There are speakers, pizza nights for teens, story times for little kids. We have CDs, we have DVDs, we have books, we really have something for everyone of every age.
Q: What book have you recently read that you’d recommend to others?
A: “Round Up the Usual Suspects: The Making of ‘Casablanca’ – Bogart, Bergman and World War II,” by Aljean Harmetz. It’s all about the making of the movie, and how most of the people who played Europeans were actually refugees in World War II. That’s one of my favorite books; I couldn’t put it down.
Q: Do you have a cause or charity that you’d like people to be aware of?
A: Alzheimer’s Disease. My husband died of it, and it’s a terrible disease.
Q: Do you prefer hot weather or cold weather?
A: I like cold weather because you can always put a sweater on if you need to. There’s only so much clothing you can take off if you get too hot!
Q: Have you ever had a favorite pet?
A: Yes, a Newfoundland dog. His name was Sinbad – that name wasn’t from me, he was named by a little kid. I bought him as a puppy. My youngest child used to take naps on his back and he’d never move. He was really a sweetheart.
Q: Do you recall any advice from your graduation day?
A: My husband and I didn’t go to my graduation; we decided we’d rather go fishing down at Navy Pier. So I never got any graduation day advice!
– Kathy Routliffe, Pioneer Press
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Twitter: @pioneer_kathy
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