|
|
Post by ♪Carly♪ on Jul 29, 2006 15:16:21 GMT -5
I just want to make a recommendation for anyone who is searching for something to read. It's The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson. My roommate's whole family fell in love with it so she gave it to me to read and I binge-read it like nobody's business. It's a true account of the 1893 World's Fair that was held in Chicago. It is a very in-depth look at how much work went in to the fair, which was WAY beyond extravagant. It's really interesting because there was endless chaos surrounding the fair because there was so much to do in so little time. The book also describes how H. H. Holmes, a serial killer, took advantage of the rising popularity of Chicago and preyed upon women who were newly gaining independence. If you're a history buff, I'd highly recommend checking this book out. Erik Larson does a wonderful job intertwining and balancing out the historical details of the fair's creation and the suspenseful details of H. H. Holmes' horrific acts.
|
|
|
|
Post by Koalapupu on Jul 30, 2006 22:50:11 GMT -5
That does indeed sound interesting! I've recently gotten into non-fiction in general and have bumped into the most amazing, fun books. Life is stranger than fiction, after all...
So this looks like something I want to read as well! *goes to check whether libraries or bookstores in Finland would have it*
|
|
|
|
Post by Koalapupu on Aug 12, 2006 4:14:09 GMT -5
Holy shizzelees!
It's not in our libraries, but I found it in our bookstores for appr. 15 euros!! (erm, about $17?)
To celebrate my new job, I think I'll just order this along with one David Sedaris!
(Anyone here in Germany interested in the book--Amazon.de offers it for 7euros! Argh! Damn you Finland for not having Amazon!)
Ordered! Along with Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver. WHEEEEEE BOOKS! Ahem.
|
|
|
|
Post by Koalapupu on Sept 5, 2006 10:08:23 GMT -5
Holy Serial Killer, Carly!
There was not one word of hyperbole in your review! I absolutely gorged this book--it was so well written, I felt like I was reading a suspense novel! Sometimes of course I wondered whether some facts were made up to fill some blanks and for a more poetic a way to go, but... who cares!
I think even if you're not a history buff, this book goes down yer literary throat like honey. Amazing, exciting book. I especially liked the way all the small details about the fair unfolded: all the innovations that came about due to the fair which I never would've imagined had their inspiration in the fair or in its creators!
Also, H.H.Holmes. Those parts of the books were incredibly creepy. I thought that towards the end I would get some nightmares. It was just so vivid, and it was really easy to empathize with the victims; thinking how they must've felt. So scary. The world's first psycopath! I think if I have to compare, I preferred the Holmes-parts of the book just for the sheer creepy value! ;D But everything was so great. Ack. I'm running out of positive adjectives.
Read it everybody! Listen to Carly when it comes to books. I'm going to lend my copy of this book to all my friends (I already got one of my colleagues interested in it).
|
|
|
|
Post by ♪Carly♪ on Sept 5, 2006 15:46:38 GMT -5
Woo! Jenni, I'm so glad you read it and enjoyed it so much. I was going to feel really bad if you didn't like it because it's kind of long. lol... I should really re-read it sometime soon. I probably missed some stuff. But I agree--it's SO well written. And I also loved learning about all the innovations that made their first appearance at the fair.
|
|
