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We hope you will find at least a book or two to read from these selections. |
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America. Erik Larson. Vintage. 2004. Book Review by Joel I found out that Jane, my dental hygienist, is a member of a book club that reads at least one book a month. She said that of all the books she read this year, this was by far the best. She likes historical books, fiction or non-fiction. This book is non-fiction, but reads like a crime novel ala Patricia Cornwell. At the same time, it tells the fascinating story of how the Chicago World's Fair came to be. What I liked about this book was the portrayal of the atmosphere of the city of Chicago in 1893. It shouldn't seem like it was that long ago, only a little over 100 years. But the things we take for granted, and some things we complain about, came about through the engineering marvels of that fair. It almost didn't happen. Buildings and grounds were not quite done the night before opening day. Huge buildings and one square mile of parkland had to be built and ready in just two years. While that story was happening, a parallel tale was going on just around the corner. H.H. Holmes, a handsome, well-to-do young man was going about building a hotel for the upcoming fair. He was a serial killer who would kill an unknown number of people and dispose of the evidence in his kiln installed in the basement. These two stories were interlaced throughout the book, usually every other chapter. The author brought to life a turn of the century Chicago, with its smelly stockyards, dirt roads, horses and garbage. But also brought to life are the rural parks on Lake Michigan and the golden sunshine at evening time. I found it interesting to note that human nature hasn't changed. That there really isn't much defense from serial killers. They blend into society so well. I really liked this book. I would recommend it. I like history as well, and especially this period--already four to five generations back. It could have been yesterday. Joel. Search our site:
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©2004-2010 by Book Reader's Traverse. All rights reserved . |
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| Do you like this book review? Joel has written for Book Reader's Traverse since its conception in 2004. He often finds his books in unusual places, including hometown shops where he visits, and even dumpsters at times. See his comical bio and picks--Joel's Picks. |
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