Gallery: Roger Ebert Takes 'Life Itself' on the Road

A long line of fans gathered at the  bookstore in Old Orchard Mall last Thursday night to meet their favorite hometown film critic and author, Roger Ebert. The book signing was held to promote his new autobiography, Life Itself, which hit shelves earlier this month.

"Life Itself" tells the story of the 69-year-old's life from his time as a child in Urbana, IL, to the start of his career at the Chicago Sun-Times to his current battle with thyroid cancer, which has required surgery to move his jaw bone. Many fans who greeted the writer thanked him for the enjoyment he has given them and for the effect his writing had on their lives.

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"It's wonderful," said Chaz, Ebert's wife, in regards to how it was to see so many fans show up at the event. "The book just came out Tuesday of last week and we started our press tour in Toronto, so this is the first Chicago-area signing."