The Devil In the White City

[Cool-Beans]

Anyone read it? Best book I read in a looooong time.

 

[Evil Genius]

I read it about a month ago. it is a great book. I learned alot about Chicago.

 

[LukenDC]

That is an excellent book. I like how it told two parallel stories, each gripping in their own way.

 

[Kama89]

Yes I have. It's an excellent read. I later rented from Netflix a documentary about the Chicago World's Fair. I believe it was narrated by Gene Wilder.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Yes I have. It's an excellent read. I later rented from Netflix a documentary about the Chicago World's Fair. I believe it was narrated by Gene Wilder.

What was it called? I can't get enough of this stuff. Been looking things up on the internet and want to go to Chicago now.

 

[Daxx]

We read this in our book club and I totally loved it!!!! Great parallel story and v. interesting. I have recommended it to several others who loved it as well!

 

[freckles and boo]

I read it, loved it, let someone borrow it (my sister, maybe?), and never saw it again. Bummer.

 

[Kama89]

Here's a link Coolbeans.

http://www.inecom.com/products/consumer/columbianexpo/

I think I might buy this one. I keep thinking about re renting, but guess it'd be smarter to just buy it at this point.

It doesn't cover... er uh... the parallel story from the book, just the World's Fair.

 

[Pig Pen]

I just started reading this again. I tried to start it a few months ago, but I was very distracted and couldn't get into it. Now I find that I cannot put it down!

 

[Briarmom]

Sounds like I need to make a trip to the bookstore.

 

[profdsny]

It's an incredible book. I worked in most of the places where the events take place. Even the area where Holme's house of horrors was located. It'a a post office now, on the spot. Not the same building. However, supposedly they get a huge amount of dead letters there. (joke) For those of you who may have been to Chicago, or come to the city, the Museum of Science and Industry building is the only one left standing from the fair.
The movie should be real interesting.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Here's a link Coolbeans.

http://www.inecom.com/products/consumer/columbianexpo/

I think I might buy this one. I keep thinking about re renting, but guess it'd be smarter to just buy it at this point.

It doesn't cover... er uh... the parallel story from the book, just the World's Fair.

Thank you so much!!! I'm just fascinated with all of this now.

 

[DVCLiz]

This sounds interesting. Could someone give a little plot summary to help me decide??

 

[STOPxmickeytime]

i read about half of it, my brother left it laying around and i was stuck at home.
i never got around to reading the end, but however much i read was good.

 

[Soubrette]

Great book. A little creepy, but I loved the stuff about planning the fair.

 

[freckles and boo]

The book is a well-researched telling of the development of the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 and a parallel story of a serial killer who preyed on people who came to Chicago for the Fair. It sounds dry but it is fascinating and well-written.

ETA Today's Chicago Tribune Magazine features an author, Karen Abbott, who wrote a book called "Sin in the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for America's Soul" which they are touting as the next Devil in the White City. It is apparently about Chicago around 1910 and is supposedly equally as well researched and written.

 

[ZWoman]

Funny someone should mention this book. I was loaned the book and started it two days before the end of the 6/16-27 Magic Mediterranean cruise; the person who loaned it to me read it in HER book club, and I will second others' opinions: well written, fascinating, easy to read (although I had my doubts before starting it).

Another one I was loaned, which I also took on the cruise, was 1000 Days in Tuscany by Marlena Du Blasi. currently reading it now. I love it!

 

[pittypat]

Erik Larson's newest, "Thunderstruck" is also a great read. It, too, is two entirely defferent stories (one a murder, of course) woven together. I'm amazed when I read his books that he manages to take a topic that I probably would not find interesting and turn it into something that I cannot put down. Also, if you've never read "Isaac's Storm" (by Larson, too-about the 1900 Galveston hurricane) it is maybe his best.

 

[Cool-Beans]

This sounds interesting. Could someone give a little plot summary to help me decide??

Just read it! If you lived here, I'd go to the bookstore and get a copy, drive it over to your house, ring the bell and slap it in your hands and say, "Read it." It is that good. ...and bonus points for Walt Disney references, lol.

Someone posted a short summary. To go any further into it would be to ruin the book. If you must, you can check out its website, but I'd really recommend just reading it!!! http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/devilinthewhitecity/home.html If you go to "Excerpts" and read the first one, that gives you the gist of part of it. It's from either the introduction or the very beginning of the book. I'd look up which, but I've already loaned it out, lol. I'm pretty sure it was the intro.

It was amazingly well researched, especially when you consider that the author did it all himself, without using the internet and with no team to help. Pages of footnotes. And a fabulous index!!!

It is basically a documentary written as a novel. It's all true and all fascinating.

Even better than a shredder that cuts up credit cards. I swear. Honest to Oranges.

I had to crack up at the beginning. April 15, 1912...Mr. Burnham (near the end of his life), aboard the Olympic, is trying to figure out why he cannot contact his friend who is crossing the ocean in the other direction on its sister ship.

 

[Kama89]

Also, if you've never read "Isaac's Storm" (by Larson, too-about the 1900 Galveston hurricane) it is maybe his best.

I almost mentioned Issac's Storm earlier in the thread! Also a great read! Haven't read Thunderstruck yet, but definitely will!

Thank you so much!!! I'm just fascinated with all of this now

You're welcome! Enjoy!

I had to crack up at the beginning. April 15, 1912...Mr. Burnham (near the end of his life), aboard the Olympic, is trying to figure out why he cannot contact his friend who is crossing the ocean in the other direction on its sister ship.

Ah yes. Another fascinating (and tragic) tale. I don't remember... does it name the friend? It's been a year or so since reading Devil/White City.