Scan barcode
lingualibri's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Wow wow wow. I can't imagine how much time and research it must have required to pull together all the moving pieces of this multi-faceted historical account. Part true crime novel, part chronology of the Fair, Larson not only weaves together a story of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, he sends the reader back in time by recreating the era entirely; then he pulls on the threads like a drawstring, exposing the past to its effect on modern times.
Being from the Midwest, I especially loved the historical anecdotes, which were not limited to just Chicago, but expanded to much of the region. No story (no matter how small) was left without a resolution or epilogue. Additionally, it was nice to see dollar amounts converted into their current-day equivalents.
Larson takes some liberties while reconstructing some of Holmes's murders. At first, I was a bit put off by this; but toward the end of the book I was entirely wrapped up in the investigation. In his Notes and Sources, Larson writes, "Clearly no one other than Holmes was present during his murders - no one, that is, who survived." The familiarity of his style clicks in the next sentence. "I...spent a good deal of time rereading Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood' for insights into how Capote achieved his dark and still deeply troubling account."
While I imagine many (if not most) true crime writers draw inspiration from 'In Cold Blood', Capote's influence on Larson's recreations is evident. The Holmes murders are nearly as chilling to the modern reader as they must have been in 1895.
As I stated in my review of 'In Cold Blood' earlier this year, I am not normally a true crime reader. I feel strangely about murder as a means of entertainment. However, this book is ultimately about ambition (both good and evil) and I commend the author's ambition for taking on - and succeeding at - the elaborate retracing of events that occurred over a century ago.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history, architecture, anthropology, event planning, and (of course) detailed accounts of gruesome murders.
Being from the Midwest, I especially loved the historical anecdotes, which were not limited to just Chicago, but expanded to much of the region. No story (no matter how small) was left without a resolution or epilogue. Additionally, it was nice to see dollar amounts converted into their current-day equivalents.
Larson takes some liberties while reconstructing some of Holmes's murders. At first, I was a bit put off by this; but toward the end of the book I was entirely wrapped up in the investigation. In his Notes and Sources, Larson writes, "Clearly no one other than Holmes was present during his murders - no one, that is, who survived." The familiarity of his style clicks in the next sentence. "I...spent a good deal of time rereading Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood' for insights into how Capote achieved his dark and still deeply troubling account."
While I imagine many (if not most) true crime writers draw inspiration from 'In Cold Blood', Capote's influence on Larson's recreations is evident. The Holmes murders are nearly as chilling to the modern reader as they must have been in 1895.
As I stated in my review of 'In Cold Blood' earlier this year, I am not normally a true crime reader. I feel strangely about murder as a means of entertainment. However, this book is ultimately about ambition (both good and evil) and I commend the author's ambition for taking on - and succeeding at - the elaborate retracing of events that occurred over a century ago.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history, architecture, anthropology, event planning, and (of course) detailed accounts of gruesome murders.
jillie's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
3.5
Larson did a great job setting up the atmosphere and what was going on at the time. His descriptions were vivid and I could picture being there. I really enjoyed how he captured that bit of life in detail.
I was bummed at how small a portion of the book is dedicated to HH Holmes. I was assuming it would be at least a 50/50 split, and it definitely was not. I learned a lot more about architecture and any dozens of people who worked on the fair than I was expecting.
September 2024
I was bummed at how small a portion of the book is dedicated to HH Holmes. I was assuming it would be at least a 50/50 split, and it definitely was not. I learned a lot more about architecture and any dozens of people who worked on the fair than I was expecting.
September 2024
davechua's review against another edition
3.0
The portion of the book discussing the building of the World's Fair is nowhere as compelling as the parts that talk about the serial killer HH Holmes, who went on a killing spree during the fair.
inknosedowl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
3.75
This novel was intense to say the least. There is so much information and detail about both the Worlds Fair of 1893 and H.H Holmes it can be a little overwhelming. The draw of it though, is that it reads like you’re reading a fictional novel for enjoyment and not just for the historical information. It took me a while to finish due to the paramount of information and also due to my lack of non fiction reading, but I think it was absolutely worth it. By the second half of the book I just as invested as I would’ve been if it was fiction. Erik Larson is an amazing writer and put some humor into what could be a macabre and tragic story with the issues that occurred at the fair and the atrocities that Holmes inflected.
If you’re looking for some historical non fiction of America or of a serial killer look no further!
If you’re looking for some historical non fiction of America or of a serial killer look no further!
clamduncan's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, and Murder
sarahyfairy's review against another edition
4.0
Three stories for the price of one: the making & magic of Chicago’s first world fair, the serial killer who used the fair to lure in victims & the classic American story of a mentally unstable man easily buying a gun to shoot up someone who “offended” him.