daydreamangel18's review
4.0
Like other reviewers had pointed out, this book seem like two separate stories meshed together, related on the most superficial level - yet, I didn’t mind it too much. Overall, I enjoyed the writing style, and learned a lot about the world fair in Chicago. My interest in Holmes started with an episode of Timeless - so it was fascinating to read about the real person and the extent of his bloodthirsty ways.
mcoleman1250's review against another edition
5.0
"...this book is about the evanescence of life, and why some men choose to fill their brief allotment of time engaging the impossible, others in the manufacture of sorrow. In the end it is the story if the ineluctable conflict between good and evil, daylight and darkness, the White City and the Black."
Read while traveling! This book visited 5 different airports! In 1 of the 5, my bag was flagged because my book was "too big"
Speedy summary: Primarily discusses the construction of the World's fair in Chicago in 1893, with a sprinkling of a serial killer who operated there during that time
Thoughts: This book has been on my radar for so long and I was glad to finally read it! It almost reads like two books that have been mushed together. One: a long novel detailing all the crazy things that went into building the World's Fair and, maybe my favorite, all the things and people that became famous because it started there (Ferris Wheels! Shredded wheat!). I found it fascinating to read about this huge historical and culture defining event that I knew little about. Two: A true crime novelette about a super creepy serial killer.
Generally, I don't care for speculation in my non-fiction novels, there are citations for what led to those speculations. If you are interested in history, architecture, politics, engineering, or social history, this is for you. If you just want a true crime, I would look elsewhere.
Check out @realreaderreallife on instagram for more reviews :)
Read while traveling! This book visited 5 different airports! In 1 of the 5, my bag was flagged because my book was "too big"
Speedy summary: Primarily discusses the construction of the World's fair in Chicago in 1893, with a sprinkling of a serial killer who operated there during that time
Thoughts: This book has been on my radar for so long and I was glad to finally read it! It almost reads like two books that have been mushed together. One: a long novel detailing all the crazy things that went into building the World's Fair and, maybe my favorite, all the things and people that became famous because it started there (Ferris Wheels! Shredded wheat!). I found it fascinating to read about this huge historical and culture defining event that I knew little about. Two: A true crime novelette about a super creepy serial killer.
Generally, I don't care for speculation in my non-fiction novels, there are citations for what led to those speculations. If you are interested in history, architecture, politics, engineering, or social history, this is for you. If you just want a true crime, I would look elsewhere.
Check out @realreaderreallife on instagram for more reviews :)
haylztalez's review against another edition
4.0
This was like my perfect non fiction. Engineering and true crime. Nothing better! The writing in this book was super accessible and it felt like reading a novel.
This is definitely an interesting read and a good place to start if you don’t read a lot of non fiction
This is definitely an interesting read and a good place to start if you don’t read a lot of non fiction
librariann's review
5.0
Turns out if you haven't read a book in ten years, you can re-read it and it's like newwwww.
standardman's review
5.0
It would be impressive enough if this were just a well researched and engagingly written book on either the World's Fair or Holmes but to have it be both, to show how they fed each other and together marked the end of century is quite an achievement.
aeagle73's review
4.0
This book is more about the Chicago World's Fair than about the serial killer Holmes who operated in the vicinity. So if you are looking more for a true crime book, be warned. The majority of the book is about the planning, building and execution of the fair. At some points it was tedious, but still very interesting and informative. This was obviously well researched and was well written. Enjoyable.
amcloughlin's review
4.0
A captivating historical novel made all the better by my recent first-ever visit to Chicago. I look forward to seeing the grandeur of the White City translated to the Silver Screen!
misspentdays's review
4.0
Loved discovering the many ways the Chicago World's Fair continues to impact out culture (Disney World! Ferris Wheels! The Pledge!) I also enjoyed reading the comparison to the Black City of Chicago, which I previously knew from The Jungle, and it tickled the part of me that dreams of being an urban planner.
The mystery itself creeped me out a bit, as a singleton who travels alone. It is astonishing to think of what an organized and successful killer Holmes managed to be, and makes me wonder how long he would last in today's hyper-surveillance society. Would that deter him, or egg him on?
The mystery itself creeped me out a bit, as a singleton who travels alone. It is astonishing to think of what an organized and successful killer Holmes managed to be, and makes me wonder how long he would last in today's hyper-surveillance society. Would that deter him, or egg him on?
bluenicorn's review
2.0
It wasn't a bad book. That said, I didn't particularly care for it. My issues were that I didn't like the author's use of conjecture- "what probably happened was that he gave them a cold glinty stare" sort of stuff (not a direct quote)- it feels like historical stretching; I felt like his goal was to write about the world's fair, but the murder side was to spice it up- which was unnecessary- the story of the world's fair was really interesting after about 250 pages or so. I think it could be a good book club book (for discussion sake), and I think I'd feel completely different about it if I lived in Chicago- the places would have more meaning to me.
And I'll confess it- after awhile, I started skipping whole chapters at a time when they struck me as boring. I'm sure I missed some interesting details, but this just wasn't doing it for me. And I don't skim books, so I feel kind of bad.
And I'll confess it- after awhile, I started skipping whole chapters at a time when they struck me as boring. I'm sure I missed some interesting details, but this just wasn't doing it for me. And I don't skim books, so I feel kind of bad.