Rating: 
Summary: Quirky but Very Good
Review: This is probably the oddest book I've read in a while. It delivers what it promises in the title-it is a story about E.J. Kaufmann, Frank Lloyd Wright and the house they built together. What makes it odd is the amount of time (and print) given to the social/psychological background surrounding the lives of the players, particularly E.J. Kaufmann. The author believes that anti-semitism played an important role in Kaufmann's building Fallingwater and possibly in his son's later attachment to the house. There is also a section (once again, somewhat lengthy) where the author talks about the continental divide and the almost "mystical" fact that Fallingwater is located long this divide.I'm not sure either of these story-lines are essential to the book, but they demonstrate the total absorption that Franklin Toker has with the subject and as a result, I found them endearing. The parts of the book that I do think are essential-i.e., the actual building of the house and what makes it so special-Toker deals with masterfully. His enthusiasm and love for not only Fallingwater, but the people involved in its building is infectious. I can't wait to make a pilgrimage to southwestern Pennsylvania to see Bear Run and Fallingwater for myself. And I even want to visit Pittsburgh and Kaufmann's department store!
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