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The Devil in the White City

Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
Dec 02, 2016InsJavert rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I have mixed feelings about this book. From the synopsis of this book, I thought I was going to read about America's first confirmed serial killer against the backdrop of the Chicago World's Fair in 1900; not the order of the serial killer first, the world's fair second. Now this may not seem important, but expectation isn't a trifling matter. The book was the exact opposite, with the emphasis on the fair and the serial killer, not in the background, but a secondary story (not even parallel). I was interested in the serial killer investigation. What I got was the challenges and undertakings of the worlds fair and all the people involved in it instead. Now don't misunderstand me. This does not ruin the book, the research, and all the events Mr. Larson presents in his book. In fact, there were so many interesting things that occurred and the results of the world's fair we have today as a result of it, made the book quite interesting. As much as I would like to identify and comment on these things, I will not spoil it for those who intend to read this book. Needless to say, I was quite impressed and edified from what I learned in the planning, building, and opening of the 1900 World's Fair. I want to rate this book with 3.5 stars. Three stars do not give it the attention it deserves, but don't quite make it to my 4 star requirement. To met that requirement, I must totally drawn into the story as well as take away from the book, a lingering question, something to contemplate and further reflect on, or be so moved by an act or event. Again, interesting material, but did not take away any of my requirements. This book is not for everyone. For example, romance readers will definitely find this a boring and laborious read. But if you are interested in history and good factual research, presented in a form and fashion that as you are reading the book, it is equivalent to being in that day and period and reading the local newspaper accounts of the time and being fully engulfed by it. On this account, Mr. Larson did quite a good job bringing the accounts of both the fair and serial killer to the reader. The example is how I read the book. All in all, a well written account in American history, very well and deeply researched, but presented in a way that the reader, learns from the research in a way that is comprehensible and understandable to them.