Rating: 
Summary: Couldn't put it down!!!
Review: Erik Larson's interweaving of the story of Daniel Burnham's architectural design work at the 1893 Columbian Exposition and the killing spree of Dr. H. H. Holmes is a great piece of literature. It is hard to believe that this is non-fiction. The well-documented history of the Columbian Exposition demonstrates Larson's skill as a historian. Working with limited sources, his reconstruction of the murders of H. H. Holmes demonstrates his story-telling ability.The movement between stories is well done, keeping the reader compelled by both. The story of the fair relates the coming together of the best of American architecture, politics, and society in a single event -- do such assemblies of personalities occur anymore? Humanity united for a great good. Holmes' story shows the working of the criminal mind--a human who can think the unthinkable and then perform it. Entertaining and educating at the same time. I'll read Larson again when I get the chance and I'll go see the movie on opening weekend!
Rating: 
Summary: Good book, but don't get fooled by the title!
Review: I've just finished reading the Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. It's about the chicago fair of 1893. Before I got the book I read summaries of the book and based on those and the book title I figured it was about Holmes, the serial killer who lived near the fair at the time and killed 9 people that we know of for sure, and maybe a couple hundred more (just rumours though, probably unlikely he actually killed that many, I think). However that's not what the book is about. Throughout the 390 pages, 60 of them or so are about the actual killer, the rest is all about getting ready for the fair on time, or trying to, and all the architectural details of the monuments of the fair. It seems like not that much information is available about the murderer, and that really a whole book could not be based on him. The author does mention some books have been written about him, and if he thought he was a new one to add to the list he was wrong. The book is not entitled the right way, it should just be called the Chicago fair of 1893, period. Throughout the book the author has a few chapters here and there about the murderer and that's it. It's not like he even links the chapters together so that there's a flow to the book. Holmes did live near the fair and had a hotel that "welcomed" fair goers but that's the only relation between him and the fair. There are a couple pages about how he went to the fair with a few of his victims but that's it really. I am more of a non-fiction book reader, I like Emile Zola and John Irving as fiction writers. I usually enjoy reading american history books, mostly ones relating to the civil war, the gilded age and prohibition. I am fascinated with the history of NYC and Chicago and for that reason I enjoyed this book. I think it gives a great history about the life of Chicagoans at the time, the fair, its creation, its creators, what happened at the fair, and its consequences. However this is not a book about the serial killer, his story is more like a chapter painfully spreadout throughout the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Decent, but problematic
Review: I just completed this book and was pretty disappointed. In all fairness, the book does paint a lovely picture of a time in American history where the work of an individual, be he an architect or assassin, could have great impact on the landscape of an emerging city like Chicago. On the other hand, I felt as though Larson skimmed the surface on issues I really cared about; the theory and philosophy of the architects, the details of the Holmes killings, etc. Instead of offering any dramatization or speculative detail to these scenes, we get a constant barrage of primary sources--letters and writings that illuminate very little. Larson, as a historian, has the opportunity to offer hindsight to the relationships and details, and instead of quoting graphophilic 19th century letter writers and trying to find the telling (if coy) detail that highlights the writer's idea, more perspective from the writer would really help. What is Larson's argument? What is the point of telling this story this way? What underlying idea guides the telling of this tale? It's unclear.
It is clear that Larson made a choice to offer speculative detail in some areas (descriptions of the Ferris Wheel's first riders are excellent drama)-- but in areas where Larson could demonstrate a deeper understanding and finer details, we get very little, a topography of the lives and situations that we want to be immersed in. This is highlighted by the writer's stylistic choice to leave a constant 'cliffhanger' at the end of the sections, many of which are not reloved until much later in the book. It disrupts the reader's ability to remain invested in the stories as small, choppy chapters and Larson's habit of zooming around 1890's Chicago from one story to the next undermine the attention of the reader, and thereby, the reader's interest.
A good comparison might be to Louis Menand's THE METAPHYSICAL CLUB which goes much further in demonstrating the ideas and illuminating the lives of his subjects and the age in which they lived. THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY is a good story, but problematicaly told.
Rating:
Summary: Worth the Read.
Review: While I appreciated the parallel stories of the Fair and the Killer, I waited for the two to truly intertwine. Never happened. Still, this is an interesting story and worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: Truth is stranger than fiction
Review: I loved this book! If you are a Chicago native, this book will give you a whole knew appreciation of "the South Side". If you're not from Chicago, you'll want to visit. What makes this book most fascinating is that its true. I thought it was well written, excellently researched and devilishly spooky. It's one of the few books that I would love to see made into a movie.
Rating:
Summary: Can't Put Down
Review: For history buffs who also like a taste of the macbre, this story will keep you turning the pages. A great story of human achievment for the benefit of many as well as what one person could achieve for incredible and evil gratification.
Rating:
Summary: World's Fair & Serial Killer...Oh, my!
Review: I wish I had loved history more as a young person. Now I can't get enough of it. This book is amazing. How Daniel Burnham and his cohorts designed the 1893 Chicago World's Fair in such a short time and it actually got built boggled my mind.
To top it off, there was a demented killer of women and children who built a hotel near the fair with the express purpose of attracting victims. Incredible! The fact that he is such a charmer, sweet talks parents of these victims, and gets away with it for so long, totally blew me away.
I loved the information about the "side show acts" that attracted visitors to the fair. Have researched info about Holmes and Chicago Fair since reading this book. Great read!!!
Rating:
Summary: More madness and mayhem, please!
Review: Larson's book kept my interest, and his attention to detail cannot be faulted, especially with regard to the fair's inception, construction and completion.
However, I did find myself constantly longing for more about the Holmes storyline, wanting the length of these chapters (sometimes only a few pages) to match the descriptive and far more lengthy passages about the fair. It was hard to get a sense for the the evil that supposedly permeated Chicago and the fair at that time, and the teasers at the end of each chapter were sometimes unnecessary, sometimes maddening. All in all, a good book, but just not one that lived up to the expectations promised in its title.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, but superficial...
Review: First let me start by saying the above rating should really be 3.5 stars, but Amazon doesn't allow fractions. "The Devil in the White City", while better than mediocre is certainly not superior. Anyone picking up this book looking for the sub-title "Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America" will be sadly disappointed. This book is an easy read. Erik Larson's writing is so engaging that it may not be immediately apparent to the reader that the book is actually quite poorly conceived. He strives mightily to intertwine the stories of HH Holmes & his Murder Mansion (one of the first serial killers to be covered by the contemporary media) & Daniel Burnham's efforts to oversee the building of the Chicago World's Fair of 1893. Unfortunately, the stories really have little connection other than Holmes enticed victims to his mansion by advertising it as "The World's Fair Hotel". If any murders took place on the site of the World's Fair, Larson never mentions it. The only magic is that of the illusion of beauty, created by the architects gathered under Burnham's direction. Madness? Larson briefly touches upon a minor madman named Pendergast who, 2 days before the conclusion of the Fair, murders the beloved Mayor of Chicago at the Mayor's residence. The achievements of the 1893 World's Fair were certainly noteworthy. Even here tho, Larson cheats the reader. He includes few pictures of even the most noteworthy buildings. The incredible Ferris Wheel described within rates no picture at all. He spends over 200 pages building suspense in the reader as to how Burnham can possibly have the Fair ready in the time alloted, then skims over the final days with almost no descriptive detail. There must have been many fascinating stories to tell involving the visiting exhibits of Dahomey cannibals, Japanese priests, Cairo Street, yet the reader never hears them. What the reader does get is often quite irrelevant or tangential to the story at hand. As for HH Holmes, a number of true-life crime writers have dealt with his criminal career in detail. Larson has no new research to add, no unique insights; as a matter of fact, he quotes the other writers extensively during the Holmes' segments. So, why even include him except as a footnote? The story of the Fair itself is certainly interesting and varied enough not to need the inclusion of an oft-discussed mad doctor. Finally, I must note that for some reason known only to himself, Larson ignores the major contributions made to the White City by the leading architect of Gilded Age America : Stanford White. Although White's partner, Charles McKim is who attended the meetings of the Fair architects, it was well known at the time that McKim's contributions were all collaborations with his business partner Stanford White. White's name is not mentioned once in "The Devil in the White City". This glaring omission is typical of the superficial level on which the book exists.
Rating:
Summary: A Brilliant Sample of Turn of the Century Chicago
Review: Erik Larson has truly written a brilliant book with Devil in the White City. Larson combines the story of the 1893 World's Fair with a background story of serial killer Herman Mudgett/H. H. Holmes. While the book starts a little slow, it ends up being a fast pace and informative read. Daniel Burnham is faced with a difficult task. He must put together the Chicago World's Fair together in a period of time that is too short for most reasonable men. However, we see Burnham not only opening the fair on time, but making a successful fair with the opening of the White City. The fair draws record crowds and produces many interesting stories. Many historical figures make an appearance at the fair including a young Frank Lloyd Wright, the father of Walt Disney, Susan B. Anthony, Wild Bill Cody, and Thomas Edison. Some of the fairs products are still used today including spreaded wheat, Craker Jack, and the Ferris Wheel. The book also discuss H. H. Holmes and his castle of horrors. Homles came to Chicago with nothing. He took over a pharmacy and ended up building his castle/motel which served as the place where he killed possibly as many as 200 women. The building was destroyed in a fire, but enough evidence remained to catch Holmes. Through a failed insurance scam. Holmes was brought to justice. As a Chicagoan, I enjoyed this book tremendously. As a fan of the true crime, I found the story to be even more compelling. I highly recommend this book. Quite possibly, this is the best book I have read in years.
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