Nerdy Apple Bottom

Amazon.com Review
Author Erik Larson imbues the incredible events surrounding the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair with such drama that readers may find themselves checking the book’s categorization to be sure that The Devil in the White City is not, in fact, a highly imaginative novel. Larson tells the stories of two men: Daniel H. Burnham, the architect responsible for the fair’s construction, and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer masquerading as a charming doctor. Burnham’s challenge was immense. In a short period of time, he was forced to overcome the death of his partner and numerous other obstacles to construct the famous “White City” around which the fair was built. His efforts to complete the project, and the fair’s incredible success, are skillfully related along with entertaining appearances by such notables as Buffalo Bill Cody, Susan B. Anthony, and Thomas Edison. The activities of the sinister Dr. Holmes, who is believed to be responsible for scores of murders around the time of the fair, are equally remarkable. He devised and erected the World’s Fair Hotel, complete with crematorium and gas chamber, near the fairgrounds and used the event as well as his own charismatic personality to lure victims. Combining the stories of an architect and a killer in one book, mostly in alternating chapters, seems like an odd choice but it works. The magical appeal and horrifying dark side of 19th-century Chicago are both revealed through Larson’s skillful writing. –John Moe –

As you may remember, this is the book the Detective bought me 5 years ago for Christmas. It keeping with my intention of reading books I already own, I chose it as my book club pick. For various reasons we were delayed a month or so. You’d think that would have given me plenty of time, but of course I waited to start the 400+ page book on Friday evening with book club the following Monday. Though I stayed up to 130am to do it, I finished in time.

Though it isn’t generally the type of book I read (lots of historical facts), I really enjoyed it. I had little knowledge about the Chicago World’s Fair and was quickly overwhelmed with all the information. There was so much that went into the planning and building; it was almost unbelievable. I was almost as intrigued by the part relating to Burnham and the architects as I was about H. H. Holmes, the serial killer.

I did think the author wanted to be sure to get in every little fact that he researched, so at times it was too much. But it was all interesting.

I give it 4 out of 5.

Library books:

Moonlight in Odessa : a novel Skeslien Charles, Janet
Karma Dunlap, Susan
Manhunt : the twelve-day chase for Lincoln’s killer Swanson, James L.
Shiver Stiefvater, Maggie
Hardball Paretsky, Sara
The last Dickens : a novel Pearl, Matthew
U is for undertow Grafton, Sue
Pride and prejudice and zombies [sound recording] : [the classic Regency romance--now with ultraviolent zombie mayhem!] Grahame-Smith, Seth.
Exploration Fawcett Fawcett, Percy Harrison
An autobiography Christie, Agatha
Pride and prejudice and zombies : the classic Regency romance–now with ultraviolent zombie mayhem Grahame-Smith, Seth
The lineup : the world’s greatest crime writers tell the inside story of their greatest detectives Penzler, Otto

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. In 1925, renowned British explorer Col. Percy Harrison Fawcett embarked on a much publicized search to find the city of Z, site of an ancient Amazonian civilization that may or may not have existed. Fawcett, along with his grown son Jack, never returned, but that didn’t stop countless others, including actors, college professors and well-funded explorers from venturing into the jungle to find Fawcett or the city. Among the wannabe explorers is Grann, a staff writer for the New Yorker, who has bad eyes and a worse sense of direction. He became interested in Fawcett while researching another story, eventually venturing into the Amazon to satisfy his all-consuming curiosity about the explorer and his fatal mission. Largely about Fawcett, the book examines the stranglehold of passion as Grann’s vigorous research mirrors Fawcett’s obsession with uncovering the mysteries of the jungle. By interweaving the great story of Fawcett with his own investigative escapades in South America and Britain, Grann provides an in-depth, captivating character study that has the relentless energy of a classic adventure tale. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. –This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

I really enjoyed this book. I read it based on Rainy Day Books recommendation. This is not my usual genre, and it did take me a little while to get into it, but then I was hooked. I was fascinated by Colonel Fawcett and what he would do next, how he would do it, and if this trip would be his last. I’d never in my life considered what it would have been like to hike the Amazon, much less in the early 1900’s with very little technology. I am astounded that anyone made it out alive. And if they did, that they would ever want to go back.

I was a little disappointed in the part of the book that happened in modern times. I don’t feel that there was much to that part of the story. It seemed very thin. But maybe the author was too busy trying to survive to have time to take good notes.

I do wonder what happened for sure. I mean, I know he died, but how? And was Z really there? Did it really just sink down? There are some amazing things that tribes did thousands of years ago. I guess we’ll never know, just like the Kennedy assassination and the Holy Grail.

I give it 4 out of 5.

Library books this week:
Dial H for Hitchcock Kandel, Susan
The love dare Kendrick, Stephen
Moonlight in Odessa : a novel Skeslien Charles, Janet
Karma Dunlap, Susan
Shiver Stiefvater, Maggie
Manhunt : the twelve-day chase for Lincoln’s killer Swanson, James L.
Book by book : the complete guide to creating mother-daughter book clubs Hudson, Cindy
Hardball Paretsky, Sara
I dreamed I married Perry Mason Kandel, Susan
The last Dickens : a novel Pearl, Matthew
The lineup : the world’s greatest crime writers tell the inside story of their greatest detectives Penzler, Otto.