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What Members Thought
History (non fiction, too!) is so not my cup of tea, so I was a bit nervous when picking up this book. But it turned out to be one of the best books I've read this year! The narrative is mesmerizing, it captured my attention since page one. The way Erik Larson told the story as if it's a novel making this book so much easier to digest. I also love the bits and facts of the Chicago World Fair - very very interesting, and so contrast with the dark atmosphere in Chicago city- including the serial m
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Book club book! I don't gravitate to nonfiction, but this one was really good. I was more fascinated by the World's Fair than by the serial killer, but all in all, a satisfying read filled with, "Huh! I didn't know that" and "Hey. Listen to this." For example, the Pledge of Allegiance was created for school children to recite on Dedication Day of the World's Fair.
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So, I read this tonight. I confess to skimming through some of the early descriptions of choosing the location, assembling the architectural team and getting the buildings started. By mid-way through, I was glued to every word. The contrast of the White City with the horrors of Holmes and the filth, blood and poverty of Chicago is undeniably powerful. Highly recommend!
Great book. Incidentally, a lovely gentleman I used to date is the great-great-nephew of Daniel Burnham, one of the key designers/architects of the Chicago World's Fair. Yes, I know...I'm so cool. Also, the crazy killer at the end rolls through Irvington, a nice neighborhood on the east side of my hometown, Indianapolis, to do some gruesome things to a few children that he kidnapped. That was creepy. The story is an interesting blend of the entwined stories of the designing and realization of th
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Jul 17, 2011
Megan
rated it
really liked it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
history,
true-crime
I wasn't really looking forward to this book, but I actually liked it. It has two stories happening at once...one was about the architect who designed the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, and the other was about a serial killer who lived nearby. It was packed with history, but written almost like a novel.
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May 13, 2008
Kate
marked it as to-read
Aug 11, 2008
Sabrina Smallwood
marked it as to-read
Nov 01, 2010
Alissa
marked it as to-read
Feb 22, 2013
Leslie
added it
