From the Bookshelf of Bound Together

The Devil in the White City
by
Start date
June 1, 2011
Finish date
June 30, 2011

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What Members Thought

Chrissie
This book was terribly interesting. A story about the 1893 Chicago World Fair could have been dry, but it wasn't at all. Erik Larson is an amzing writer. Originally I had the feeling that the serialm killer element would be needed to boost interest on a dry subjucet, the fair. This was completely wrong. The author makes the fair come alive. You really feel the excitement of the fair. You wish with all your heart you could be there. You see the fair so clearly. You smell it. You hear it. You feel ...more
Wendy
Dec 16, 2011 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: 2016-reads
Yay! My first finished book of 2016! I'm giving the full 5 stars because this is exactly the type of book that gets me reading and looking up other information. It's packed full of famous names and inventions from history and the dual storyline of Dr Holmes and the Chicago Exposition kept the story moving along - making it pretty quick to finish. There were parts that made me question if the author took too much liberty in imagining what things were like in a certain scene, but I didn't care. Th ...more
☮Karen
Very fascinating historical account of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, and a very charming chap slowly, methodically murdering scores of young women nearby. Loved all the references to places in Chicago and all around No. Illinois (even Big Foot is mentioned!). I was amazed at many points. Also bored sometimes, but overall I highly recommend. ...more
Irene
Jul 19, 2013 rated it really liked it
At the same time that many of the most powerful and creative minds in the U.S. were joining forces to make the 1893 Chicago World Fair an international success, a psychopath was luring untold numbers of young girls to their death and swindling financial institutions out of countless sums of money in the same city. Larson manages to compile copious amounts of research into an interesting narrative. The history of the Herculean effort to build and manage the Worlds Fair is told in alternating chap ...more
Michelle Stie
Sep 27, 2008 rated it it was amazing
This was a compelling read. The title isn't audacious--this book lays out in engaging fashion how the United States was emerging as a cultural bohemith on the world stage. The juxtaposition of the serial killer's work with the Fair's construction is high irony. I wish my history books in high school were as griping to ready. Excellent book. ...more
Beth
Sep 12, 2007 rated it liked it
Deb
Nov 16, 2007 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Carolyn
Sep 03, 2008 marked it as browse-to-read-someday  ·  review of another edition
Suzanne
Oct 05, 2008 rated it did not like it  ·  review of another edition
Elena
Mar 30, 2009 rated it liked it
One Book At A Time
Jun 03, 2009 rated it really liked it
Shelves: read-in-2009
Gaijinmama
Nov 30, 2009 marked it as to-read
Kristin
Feb 25, 2010 marked it as to-read
Sarazen
Nov 28, 2010 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Meera
Dec 22, 2010 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Michelle
Jun 20, 2011 marked it as to-read
Linda
Aug 17, 2011 rated it really liked it
Pat
Sep 19, 2011 rated it it was amazing
Angie
Nov 22, 2011 marked it as to-read
Suzanne Decker
Mar 23, 2012 rated it liked it
Bridget
May 31, 2023 rated it really liked it
Stephanie
Aug 10, 2012 marked it as to-read-eventually
Carey
Aug 20, 2015 added it
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Lindsay
Sep 10, 2015 marked it as to-read
Shirley J
Oct 21, 2015 rated it really liked it
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Amy
Mar 02, 2017 marked it as to-read
Karen
Sep 10, 2017 marked it as to-read
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