From the Bookshelf of Read Between the Wines

The Devil in the White City
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Start date
September 1, 2012
Finish date
September 30, 2012
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Why we're reading this
This book was nominated by Allisen.

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What Members Thought

Jason
This book is two, two, two books in one!

Sorry, that was annoying. But it’s almost as if Erik Larson wrote two really short books—one about the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and another about the murder spree of Dr. H. H. Holmes—and then shoved them together to create a single story. The result isn’t bad, and I think Larson is successful at maintaining clean seams between the two narratives, but it’s hard to argue these two occurrences are anything but abstractedly related. Yes, Holmes lived
...more
Keryn
Aug 16, 2012 rated it liked it
This is probably a Project Manager's worst nightmare read. Though repeated in various guises, the same golden thread flowed through this book: "Everything seemed to take longer than it should, and nothing went smoothly." Adding the horror of having a murderous Dr Holmes in situ, and a global economic meltdown, it's a recipe for project disaster.

But the book does impress. It is a work of thorough research and staggering statistics, probably only matched by today's Disney creations. Budgets that
...more
Sue
Nov 13, 2011 rated it liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: mykindlebks
I was torn on the rating between 3 and 4. I thought this was a very good book for non-fiction given I usually only enjoy fiction. I learned alot about a specific time in history and enjoyed the intermingling stories. But I just like fiction so much better as I like to read a book to escape from reality and want to read about unbelievable/unreal things. Would have liked reading more detail and going into H.H. Holmes's head but obviously the writer can't do that and keep it non-fiction. So I gave ...more
mussolet
"The Devil in the White City" tells the story of Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. It contrasts the lives of architect Daniel H. Burnham, who designed the Fair, and serial killer H.H. Holmes, who used it as an excuse to lure his victims to his lair.

This is one of the most well-written works of nonfiction I have ever read. It reads like a well-planned story, with great character building (although I would argue, sometimes a few characters too many) and an interesting setting. Which mea
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Kate LaClair
Sep 02, 2012 rated it liked it


If I could, I would give this three and a half stars. I was fascinated by the Holmes story, and fascinated by the story of the World's Fair (why didn't we learn about this in history class?). I thought the author did a great job establishing the time period and its many influences on the fair. So for interesting and educational, I would give it a four, but I would dock it a point for just trying to cover way too much. There needed to be a bit more of a filter, to separate the essential from th
...more
Christine Galvin-Combet
Jun 25, 2010 rated it it was amazing
Incredible piece of history and writing; I can't imagine the research that went into this book. The author assembles an extraordinarily detailed and intimate account of the World's Fair, and reveals a much darker and tragic side of it that one would ever imagine. Phenomenal. ...more
Louise
May 26, 2012 added it
Although I dont care much for murder/mystery books, I did enjoy reading about the 1893 World's Fair. amazimg story,.esp. how it finally came to fruition. Good book ...more
Kathleen
Jul 15, 2009 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Cheryl
Jun 01, 2010 rated it it was amazing
Sheri Costa
May 11, 2011 marked it as to-read
Brigid
Jul 11, 2011 rated it liked it
Erin Sullivan
Jul 29, 2011 marked it as to-read
Allisen Lemay
Jul 29, 2011 rated it liked it
Sara
Jan 03, 2012 rated it really liked it
David Constance
Jan 22, 2012 rated it it was amazing
Mross22
Feb 16, 2012 marked it as to-read
Michelle Silvestri-Oetinger
Mar 20, 2012 rated it really liked it
Shelves: true-crime
Ashu mishra
May 04, 2012 marked it as to-read
Derek Moreton
May 19, 2012 marked it as to-read
Crystal
May 20, 2012 rated it really liked it
Heidi
May 25, 2012 rated it really liked it
Eric Clapp
Jun 01, 2012 rated it liked it
Kristen
Aug 16, 2012 marked it as to-read
Cathy
Aug 25, 2012 marked it as to-read
Jennifer
Aug 28, 2012 marked it as to-read
Daniel
Sep 20, 2012 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Karen
Sep 24, 2012 rated it it was amazing
Kelly
Oct 20, 2012 marked it as to-read
Alex
May 02, 2013 rated it liked it  ·  review of another edition
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