Good Reads

I've been doing some serious reading lately.  In fact the last few nights have found me with my nose buried in this book:

Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen.  This is a novel about a man in his 90's looking back at his youth in the circus.  Sounds kind of bizzare, doesn't it?  I mean, a book about the circus?  Seriuosly.  But it's really excellent!  I could hardly put it down and was up past my bedtime reading it on more than one night this week.  This story is really fascinating and Gruen has a way of drawing you in and keeping the action moving right along.  Please give it a try -- I think you'll really like it.  (Oh yeah, and part of it takes place in Joliet!)

And right before that I read:

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.  This book which combines the story of the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 and the story of serial killer H.H. Holmes is fascinating.  Larson retells the events in an exciting way that feels more like a novel than non-fiction and the Chicago World's Fair was an amazing event -- full of plenty of drama.  I especially love the peek into the lives of the famous architects of the day.  And Larson covers the details of the murders without being too gruesome for the most part -- although the man was extremely creepy due mainly to his overwhelming charisma and the fact that he was able to get away with so many murders.  (I read mainly before going to sleep and this did lead to one night of some sleeplessness when I get to the end of the book -- fair warning!)

Up next --

Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay which I picked up not in a bookshop, but in a quilt store of all places!  Looks to be interesting. . .

Comments

[Shannon]

I loved reading Devil in the White City! And yesterday I was thinking of ordering Water for Elephants. You've talked me into it! Thanks for providing the review.

[Vicki]

LOVE LOVE LOVE your books reviews. A few more for my list :)

[Donna]

I often read what you recommend and have had no regrets. I had already read *Devil in the White City* and really "enjoyed" it. Of course, I read part of it while sporting a 102 degree fever, and Holmes was in my house. Not a good thing.

[--Deb]

I was disappointed in "Devil in the White City." Well-written, well-researched, yes, yes, but it felt to me like two entirely separate books that he tried to force together. The serial killer happened to be there at the World's Fair, but he was there long before and after it, too . . . he didn't really have anything to do WITH the fair, except taking advantage of the extra tourists . . . I loved
the parts about the World's Fair, but thought the whole other "half" was over-done. I didn't hate it, but . . . I liked his "Isaac's Storm" better.

[Jo]

I concur with your review of "Devil in the White City" - some of the facts about the fair are staggering for the time - how many people came, the countries present, the inventions unveiled. The murder part of the story sort of took a backseat to the World's fair part.

[Kat with a K]

Ooh, yeah, Water for Elephants looks good. I haven't read Devil in the White City yet, but I'm reading Larson's new one, Thunderstruck, right now. It's a bit slow, but interesting.

[Donna]

I sometimes think of the world as more innocent in that time. Devil in the White City certainly changed my mind. Thanks for the great references.

[Tracey]

I always have a book-in-hand, but lately have not had anything inspiring to read. Have to visit the library. Thanks for the recommendations. Have a blessed Thanksgiving.

[Mara]

I also loved "Water for Elephants" in fact, I read it in one sun soaked day this summer! We have similar taste in books I think.