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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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Tells the story of the 1893 World Columbian Exposition that was held in Chicago, interwoven with an account of Dr. Henry Holmes, who has the dubious distinction of being the first American serial killer. Holmes was operating just a short street car ride away from the fair grounds, and preying on young women who went to Chicago to attend the Fair.
I went to the University of Chicago and am very familiar with many of the sites in the book, so the story of the Fair, the wheeling and dealing, the de ...more
I went to the University of Chicago and am very familiar with many of the sites in the book, so the story of the Fair, the wheeling and dealing, the de ...more
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, 2011
Amy
marked it as to-read
Dec 28, 2012
Jen Horan
marked it as to-read
Jan 31, 2013
Melissa
marked it as to-read
Feb 22, 2013
Leslie
added it
Apr 06, 2015
Shannon
marked it as to-read
Sep 08, 2015
Aubrey
marked it as to-read
May 23, 2016
Sarah
marked it as to-read
