readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book about the invention of wireless telegraphy. As if he knew this wasn’t the sexiest of topics, author Erik Larson includes a murder mystery alongside it, creating a fun little two-for-the-price-of-one non-fiction treat. He lures you in with relationship drama and then works in the science. So sneaky! And once the two distinct stories come together, so delicious.
I can see how some readers would be less than enthused about the more technical details of Marconi’s science experiments, but I live with an engineer, so I have developed a pretty high tolerance for tech speak. I actually find it relaxing to let unfamiliar phrases and concepts drift past--it’s not like I’m expected to chime in with meaningful feedback or opinions. I just nod encouragingly from time to time and let it all wash over me. So yeah, the experience of listening to this audio book was, for me, both familiar and comfortable.
And the story of the demure, unassuming patent medicine salesman Crippen and his voluptuous, volatile wife is a fascinating one, more than enough to keep the engine humming. I didn’t entirely buy into Larson’s incredulity that a man perceived as so gentle could be capable of murder. I must be a cynic--of course the quiet, retiring guy was eventually going to snap! Still, the chase towards the end of the book is surprisingly suspenseful, considering by today’s standards it unfolded at a snail’s pace.
Larson is a great storyteller and is particularly good at sniffing out historical events that would make for accessible, addictive reading. This is the third book of his I’ve read, and I’ve enjoyed them all. I especially recommend [b:The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America|21996|The Devil in the White City Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America|Erik Larson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1312066724s/21996.jpg|3486041]--so good!
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
I can see how some readers would be less than enthused about the more technical details of Marconi’s science experiments, but I live with an engineer, so I have developed a pretty high tolerance for tech speak. I actually find it relaxing to let unfamiliar phrases and concepts drift past--it’s not like I’m expected to chime in with meaningful feedback or opinions. I just nod encouragingly from time to time and let it all wash over me. So yeah, the experience of listening to this audio book was, for me, both familiar and comfortable.
And the story of the demure, unassuming patent medicine salesman Crippen and his voluptuous, volatile wife is a fascinating one, more than enough to keep the engine humming. I didn’t entirely buy into Larson’s incredulity that a man perceived as so gentle could be capable of murder. I must be a cynic--of course the quiet, retiring guy was eventually going to snap! Still, the chase towards the end of the book is surprisingly suspenseful, considering by today’s standards it unfolded at a snail’s pace.
Larson is a great storyteller and is particularly good at sniffing out historical events that would make for accessible, addictive reading. This is the third book of his I’ve read, and I’ve enjoyed them all. I especially recommend [b:The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America|21996|The Devil in the White City Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America|Erik Larson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1312066724s/21996.jpg|3486041]--so good!
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
leasummer's review against another edition
2.0
April 2016: Couldn't get in to it. Too much information that didn't really flow together to make a story.
Update April 2018: I finished this for a Read Harder challenge of a book you hated it. No change here. It’s 400 pages of a story that could easily have been told in half the time. The two stories barely connect and while each is interesting there is so much extra information - and promise of how such and such will be important later - that it’s not an enjoyable read.
Update April 2018: I finished this for a Read Harder challenge of a book you hated it. No change here. It’s 400 pages of a story that could easily have been told in half the time. The two stories barely connect and while each is interesting there is so much extra information - and promise of how such and such will be important later - that it’s not an enjoyable read.
alldaffer's review against another edition
Just kept reading and reading and reading, and never understood where it was going or what it was about. Eventually had to stop because I didn't know why I was reading this book. I did like Erik Larson's first book, but this one seemed to go nowhere. Stopped at about page 200.
jonwesleyhuff's review against another edition
4.0
Larson is so adept at bringing the past to life. Although the combination of elements isn’t quite as electrifying as in Devil in the White City, it’s still fascinating reading.
dsheffield206's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
chrstn's review against another edition
The story doesn’t support the amount of writing/research/words. Many, many digressions.
lakecake's review against another edition
3.0
This was not quite as good as The Devil in the White City. The advent of wireless telegraphy just isn't as compelling a companion story for the murder mystery within. Larson still does a great job of weaving the two stories together, and making them both relatively interesting to the end, but in all the wireless part is just not that great.