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mimimilaa's review against another edition
2.0
If it weren't for the very end of this book, I would've given this one star. For the majority of the book, I just didn't particularly care about anything going on. There were so many different people that I couldn't keep up with them all, and I wasn't interested enough to put forth the effort to make sure that I could differentiate everyone.
I think this could be a great book, but it was definitely not the book for me.
I think this could be a great book, but it was definitely not the book for me.
starrywonder's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted this to be more than what it was. And for what it was, it was too long. so much detail that led nowhere. There are some fascinating little tidbits about the world's fair in Chicago and this book tried to connect every name possible to the event. If the book had been more succinct it would have been a better read. I would have preferred the narrations separate. Holmes story seems inferior to the main narrative and is dwarfed in size comparatively. I would have preferred a separate book just on him.
drusmilford's review against another edition
4.0
Bit slow in very beginning. Fascinating read. Never knew so much about the Chicago's World Fair. Together with the history was another story of murder running through. Great combination! Recommend. Could not put it down.
kodi_rae's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I often find nonfiction books harder to read. Even with ones with topics that really interest me, I find my mind wandering. So I was pleasantly surprised at how much this book sucked me in, however I would have personally liked more pictures interspersed as well to get a better sense of people and place. It does seem like the author might have taken some liberties with pieces of the story, so keep that in mind when reading. And the lack of any sort of modern-day critique of Christopher Columbus, Wild Bill Cody’s show, and the myriad use of Native Americans and other people of color left much to be desired. Despite these grievances, I still found it to be interesting and wanting to learn more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, Animal death, Child death, Medical content, and Violence
Minor: Abortion, Blood, Cultural appropriation, Dementia, Classism, Colonisation, Excrement, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Racism
erikinthedistrict's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
2.0
Not sure if this was supposed to be about the Fair or the serial killer, ended up never really making a connection between them. Overhyped
mullinscl9657's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
This book takes an interesting historical event and makes it entertaining. I enjoyed how the book switched prospectives often to give different dynamics on the same event. I also learned a lot about the World Fair in Chicago.
catbrigand's review against another edition
2.0
Let me preface by saying this is not a book about HH Holmes, the titular Devil. This is a book about the design of the World's Fair and its history, in which Holmes is so secondary a character as to seem irrelevant to the book Larson is trying to write. Holmes is well established, and yet his purported murders are not. He captivated no fewer than 6 women--and disposed of most of them. He soothed creditors and entranced customers. And so is the bulk of his role in Larson's story. The last fourth of the book recounts his insurance scheme to kill his long term partner and escape with the partner's children (whom he later killed, a fact that Larson does not attempt to explain). Almost as an aside, figures and estimates as to how many Holmes killed during the fair are thrown in near the end. If you're looking for a well written and occasionally humorous tale of the making of the World's Fair, this book is for you. If you're looking for a scintillating nail-biter about a prolific psychopath, look elsewhere.