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What Members Thought

Ev
Apr 28, 2017 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Ever since high school AP English, when our teacher introduced us to a sample of a chapter in this book, I have been meaning to read it, and I should have read it sooner because this turned out to be one of the most definitive and talented pieces of non-fiction that I have ever read!

Erik Larson has a talent for storytelling that no one can rival. Read it for yourself. You'll thank me later.
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Michelle
3.5*

Ok so in fairness, I was a bit disappointed to find out what this book was REALLY about. I wanted to read it because I am a true crime junkie and was interested to read about Holmes. I had little to no desire to read about either A. the World's Fair or B. anything regarding the 1800's. However, I have to say Whoa!!! Despite those misgivings, I actually really enjoyed this book a lot. Had I known the book would really be about the Fair, I never would have read it and would have missed out on
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Labyrinth Rossiter
Parts of the book were more interesting than others. I was a bit impatient with the building of the fair. It reminded me of today's renovation style "reality" shows that focus on the pressure, "Will they build it in time?!" I suppose its NF label should have upped the interest, but bickering architects...meh.

Once the Ferris Wheel began to go up, I began to enjoy the fair itself and the cameos of its many Gilded Age visitors. I was as disappointed as the author that Twain never made it, but the
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Bobbi
Jan 10, 2016 rated it liked it
This rating is based on the audiobook. While Larson was able to keep a balance - most of the time - between the telling of the horrendous deeds of H.H. Holmes and the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, it was a bit shaky in some places with odd connections.

The narration did the book no favors. While I normally listen to books on normal speed, the narrator spoke so slow that I had to speed it up to make it sound normal. Even then, I wasn't a fan.
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Xiri
May 20, 2012 marked it as to-read
Marty
May 27, 2012 rated it it was amazing
Amy
May 29, 2012 marked it as to-read
Adele Symonds
Jun 14, 2012 marked it as to-read
Rebecca
Dec 02, 2016 rated it really liked it
★Meghan★
Aug 19, 2012 marked it as wishlist
Andrea
Aug 29, 2012 rated it really liked it
Emmanuel Chinyamakobvu
Sep 26, 2012 rated it it was amazing
Yvette
Oct 09, 2012 rated it it was amazing
Dalene
Mar 26, 2013 marked it as tbr-own  ·  review of another edition
Andrea
May 19, 2013 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Kme_17
Jul 12, 2013 rated it liked it
Sharon
Aug 28, 2013 rated it really liked it
jingles
Oct 16, 2013 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: illinois
☘ Erin K ☘
Dec 21, 2013 rated it liked it
Shelves: library-loan
Fairlee Corkran
Jun 20, 2014 marked it as to-read
Jessica
Nov 18, 2014 marked it as to-read
Shelves: gilmore-list
Stephany
Nov 26, 2014 marked it as to-read
Allison Ann
Dec 15, 2014 rated it it was ok
Shelves: library, wat-ii
Shilpa
Feb 23, 2015 marked it as to-read
Susanna Bohacsik
Aug 16, 2015 marked it as to-read
Denise S
Dec 09, 2015 rated it it was amazing
Jhmingos
Aug 27, 2016 rated it did not like it