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The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America | Erik Larson
The story of two men's obsessions with the Chicago World's Fair, one its architect, the other a murderer. The Devil in the White City draws the reader into a time of magic and majesty, made all the more appealing by a supporting cast of real-life characters, including Buffalo Bill, Theodore Dreiser, Susan B. Anthony, Thomas Edison, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, and others.
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Eggs
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“I was born with the devil in me. I could not help the fact that I was a murderer, no more than the poet can help the inspiration to sing.”

#Evil #WickedWhispers

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfect 🖤📚 1w
SilversReviews A good one!! 1w
Ephemera This book is great! Now read Thunderstruck by the same author. 10h
56 likes1 stack add5 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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I'm posting the #BookScavengerHunt prompts in order & today is 'Monochrome'.

Another one on the list but not yet read.

#Flerken #HauntedShelf @puddlejumper #Monochrome

PuddleJumper 🖤🧡🖤 1w
28 likes1 comment
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Teresereading
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#wickedwhispers
#devil - I read this for a book a month challenge
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Eggs Oh this was so good/so creepy 🫣 2w
Teresereading Yes a ghastly story 2w
19 likes2 comments
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DieAReader
Pickpick

#Wardens2024 #ReadAway2024 #ReadMyRoom

I found this easier to follow on 🎧audio than physical. Information dense but very interesting. Pictures would have made a wonderful edition📸

I look forward to following this up with a few others from this time period🤓📚

CoverToCoverGirl I have that one on one of my shelves somewhere. I really like his writing. He is an amazing non-fiction writer IMO. I really loved 1mo
DieAReader @CoverToCoverGirl I‘ll have to look into more of his books🤓 Thanks! 1mo
41 likes2 comments
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SanjanaGhosh
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Mehso-so

Interesting contrast between the story of a successful world fair and the life of the first serial killer of America.

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mariaku21
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Mehso-so

I am so happy to say I finally finished this one! It's been on my TBR since who knows when 🤣

Larson wrote a very detailed, and I do mean very, account of the Chicago's World Fair, the atmosphere and history of the time, as well as the serial killer hiding within.
Larson is a great researcher, this I'm sure of, and gave me so much new information specific to the fair but all in all, while I had a few disconnects.
#24in2024

ladym30 One of my favorites!❤️ 4mo
16 likes1 comment
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TheSpineView
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Eggs Absolutely 💯 8mo
lil1inblue This is a good one. What a fascinating read. 8mo
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Chelsea.Poole
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Pickpick

Larson‘s deep dive into Chicago‘s World Fair may not appeal to all readers. This bit of American history is made more appealing (for some) by adding the story of a serial killer operating in and around the city during this time. Though little of Holmes‘s crimes is actually known, his victims are, and they come to life on the page. He was a white man pretending to be a dr. so nobody questioned the many suspicious disappearances in his life.⬇️

Chelsea.Poole All this to say, I enjoyed the sections on the World Fair, “The White City” just as much as the true crime chapters. I do, however, think it was a good strategy to include both to be able to sell more books. Read for book club discussion on Monday at work. 10mo
RamsFan1963 I was also drawn more to the parts about the building of the World's Faire than I was about the serial killer. Probably, because I'm not much of a True Crime buff. 10mo
Ephemera This is an excellent book on both the fair and Holmes. 9mo
See All 6 Comments
vivastory I remember enjoying the passages about the world fair more than Holmes actual crimes when I read this. Great review! 9mo
TheKidUpstairs I loved this one. Definitely found the World's Fair the more fascinating part, but Holmes provided such interesting contrast. 9mo
Ephemera Larson is an excellent writer. You should read Isaac‘s Storm, about the Galveston hurricane 9mo
107 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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Sinnett_Blue
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My book selection - The Devil in the White City 🌬️

Unabridged Bookstore 📚
Chicago, Illinois

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xicanti
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This year‘s pumpkin is weirdly fibrous inside, so I can‘t safely use my usual candle with it. The battery-powered light I grabbed instead shows off the back wall‘s stringy texture, but I‘ve decided I don‘t hate the effect. It‘s kinda creepy.

As is this book, which I‘m revisiting (and very much enjoying) on audio. It‘s a fascinating story and it‘s got me remembering how many good conversations it sparked the first time, when I read it in public.

Lindy 😍well-done! 12mo
xicanti @Lindy thank you! 12mo
BookNAround That is a remarkable pumpkin! 12mo
xicanti @BookNAround thank you! It‘s my go-to pattern. 12mo
32 likes5 comments
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rachelsbrittain
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Pickpick

I'm behind on reviews so let's play catchup!

This historical nonfiction follows the creation of The World‘s Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago in conjuction with the notorious serial killer Dr. H. H. Holmes, who lured young women into his hotel and murdered then in a specially built gas chamber / crematorium. A darkly fascinating read. If you like historical true crime, this one is for you.

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Leftcoastzen
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#BookBinge #TrueCrime a highly praised & popular title still on my #TBRMountain

Suet624 still on my TBR as well. :(
1y
Eggs So good and creepy!! 1y
Cheshirecat913 Such a good book. But yeah, super creepy. 1y
DivineDiana Joining with you and @Suet624 #stillonmyTBR 1y
52 likes4 comments
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MonicaLoves2Read
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Pickpick

Finished this last night. 4/4 for #JoysofJune Readathon @Andrew65 .

Seemed more like a history of architecture on building the World Fair in Chicago between 1891-1893 than a True Crime Book. In fact, I actually enjoyed the parts about building the structures for the World Fair more than I did the True Crime story. Which is strange because I love the True Crime Genre.

'In Chicago at the end of the nineteenth century amid the smoke of industry⬇️

MonicaLoves2Read and the clatter of trains the lived two men, both handsome, both blue-eyed, and both unusually adept at their chosen skills.' So begins this book that will transport you back to the 1890's in Chicago. It's a very interesting story, but as I said I found the architecture history parts more interesting. It's where the Ferris Wheel was first revealed. Shredded Wheat and Cracker Jacks first tasted.⬇️
1y
MonicaLoves2Read
The only thing I had a problem with was the print in the copy I have. It was small and so my eyes got tired quicker than normal.🤓 I think if you are interested in Architecture, you should read it. As well as, True Crime, you may find that more interesting than I did.

😊 Happy Reading 🙃
#offtheshelf2023
1y
Andrew65 I tried to get hold of this last month, then ran out of time to read it, it‘s staring at me, goading me to read it. Well done 👏👏👏 1y
25 likes3 comments
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MonicaLoves2Read
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Max doesn't feel good today. So, he is sitting with me while, I read. Hope to finish this today.

dabbe Feel better, Marvelous Max! 🖤🐾🖤 LOVED this book, too! 1y
Slajaunie Poor Max!🐾 1y
28 likes2 comments
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mom2bugnbee
Bailedbailed

I tried. Twice. 😔 Just couldn't get into it. I typically enjoy narrative non-fiction, but this just wasn't an interesting subject for me. I do think Larson is a lovely writer! #Authoramonth @Soubhiville

Soubhiville (I bailed this one too) 1y
mom2bugnbee @Soubhiville As I say every month when I bail, I'm just glad that you've encouraged me to try a new-to-me author! 1y
JackOBotts I loved this, but my friend did not enjoy this as a whole…she just skipped to the HH Holmes chapters…💜 1y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I listened to this on audiobook and enjoyed it well enough, but I don't think I could've finished it visually. 1y
Sarahreadstoomuch This was an audio for me. I also think I‘d have bailed if read in print. I just don‘t have the attention span anymore 1y
28 likes5 comments
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IndoorDame
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Pickpick

Skating in just under the wire with my #AAM selection. What a fabulous read! Thank you so much to all the Littens who recommended it! I bought a physical copy of it around the time it was first published, but had no patience for nonfiction back then & didn‘t make it very far into the story. I‘ve always meant to go back to it, & I‘m so glad I finally did! This was informative & exciting, it won‘t be my last Eric Larson. #Booked2023 #AboutAMonster

Cinfhen Excellent choice - loved this Larson ❣️ 1y
Suet624 Larson‘s books are all 🔥🔥 1y
lynneamch Of the many Larson's I've read, this one is the best, by far. 1y
61 likes3 comments
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BarkingMadRead
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I finished this today for #authoramonth @Soubhiville

Soubhiville Great! 1y
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BarkingMadRead
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Got some reading for #authoramonth on the plane, this book has me gasping every other page, so many connections! I‘m loving it!

CSeydel I loved this one too! 1y
KathyWheeler This is one of my favorite books. 1y
TiredLibrarian Great book - enjoy! 1y
See All 6 Comments
bio_chem06 If you ever make it to Chicago, they have a tour specifically tied to the book. It‘s great 1y
BarkingMadRead @bio_chem06 a friend of mine told me about this, so very cool! I definitely want to do it now! 1y
paper.reveries Really enjoyed the Holmes excerpts but found the historical chapters longwinded. Glad you're liking it!!! 1y
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Texreader
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Pickpick

The 1893 World Fair in Chicago sounds amazing and I would have loved to have visited the White City! The devil, on the other hand, was an atrocious mass serial killer who fooled just about everyone. How could I have not known about either? What an incredible book to fill a huge gap in knowledge of American history and to make it infinitely interesting. I‘m so glad I finally had a reason to finally read Erik Larson! #authoramonth

dabbe I LOVED this book, too! I spent at least a month after still looking up photos of the exhibition online (there's quite a few out there). So much I didn't know--even about the Ferris Wheel! 😃 2y
Texreader @dabbe Same! The Ferris wheel! Who knew? I‘ll have to look up photos. Wouldn‘t it have been marvelous to have gone and experienced it? With my luck I would‘ve ended up in Holmes‘ hotel. 😉 1y
Cheshirecat913 Really enjoyed this book too! And was totally creeped out. I looked up pictures of the world fair right afterwards as well. It sounded so amazing, I would have loved to see it. 1y
KathyWheeler I recommend this book all the time. I loved it. I expected the serial killer part to be interesting, but I was truly surprised about how interesting the White City part was. I expected to bored by it, but I was anything but bored. 1y
Larkken The descriptions of the white city had me totally entranced when I read this too. Would love to do some touristing to see what is left of it sometime! 1y
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IndoorDame
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IN CHICAGO AT THE END of the nineteenth century amid the smoke of industry and the clatter of trains there lived two men, both handsome, both blue-eyed, and both unusually adept at their chosen skills. #FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

dabbe Oh, how I loved this book! 💙💚💙 2y
IndoorDame @dabbe it‘s awesome so far!!! 2y
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Caroline2
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For anyone doing #authoramonth #99pkindledeal

Soubhiville Great! I‘ll try to remember to tag everyone this afternoon. 2y
61 likes1 comment
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LitsyEvents
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repost for @Soubhiville:

Happy May! Time to pull out our Erik Larson books for #AuthorAMonth. What are you planning to read?

#AuthorAMonth is a no-pressure, no-commitment Litsy challenge. The goal is to celebrate the works of a particular author each month. Authors were chosen through polls by Litsy participants. Read as many as you like, skip months when needed, it's entirely up to you!

LitsyEvents more details on the original post: https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2582418 2y
Teresereading Hi when I went to complete April, form was blank? Do I need to refill previous months? 2y
LitsyEvents @Soubhiville, please see comment above. 2y
Soubhiville Hi @Teresereading you‘ll need to go through your Google documents to your previous form to keep editing it, or keep your latest response in your email to edit as needed. If you open a new form it won‘t know you have previously started one. 2y
29 likes4 comments
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BarkingMadRead
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Starting my #authoramonth selection for May! @Soubhiville

Soubhiville Enjoy! 2y
dabbe Oh, how I loved this one! Can't wait to read what you think of it! 😊 2y
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Texreader
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Who can imagine working in a place with these amenities…in the 1880s (not a typo)!?!

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Texreader
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On my shelf forever now, I‘m so glad Erik Larson is our #authoramonth for May. It‘s pretty long so I‘m getting a head start on it now. If I‘m lucky I‘ll be able to fit in the second book by him I own.

TheBookHippie I love this book! Enjoy! 2y
dabbe Great book! Can‘t wait to read what you think of him! 2y
staci.reads I loved this one! It was my first Eric Larson and none of his others have quite lived up. 2y
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Trace
Mehso-so

Felt like reading two different books at once.

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dabbe
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🖤🤍🖤 2y
Eggs Great book!🤗👏🏻🤩 2y
57 likes2 comments
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JuliaTheBookNerd
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The only #TrueCrime book I own 😬

#MarchMagic 💚💰🌈🍀

#BookNerd 🤓📚💙

ShelleyBooksie Beautiful shelves 2y
Amiable That‘s a great book! 2y
Eggs This is such a great book 🥶😳 2y
hefau If you like Bioshock, you may be surprised to know that the makers took some inspiration from this book. 2y
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IndoorDame
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I‘m not really a #TrueCrime fan, but this is on that‘s been on my TBR for ages. #MarchMagic @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Leftcoastzen Mine too! 2y
Lcsmcat My irl book club read this, and everyone liked it. What was interesting to me was we were split on _why_ we liked it. Some were all about the crime part and found the history part boring, and some found the history fascinating and were less interested in the crime. It made for very interesting discussion. 2y
Eggs It‘s a great book 🙌🏻🙌🏻 (edited) 2y
See All 7 Comments
dabbe I devoured the whole thing and thoroughly enjoyed both parts, then spent at least one whole week looking up everything I could find on the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. In fact, they still have a website with a TON of pictures! https://chicagology.com/columbiaexpo/ 2y
IndoorDame @dabbe awesome! 2y
Chrissyreadit I did enjoy this book. 2y
IndoorDame @Chrissyreadit @Lcsmcat @Eggs @dabbe Wow! So many rave Litten reviews! I‘m moving this up my TBR. Thank you 🖤 2y
71 likes7 comments
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DcSunshine
Pickpick

I came for the murder mystery/ true crime element but I found myself far more interested in the history and story of the architecture. I don‘t know why I waited so long to read this.

RamsFan1963 I'm with you. I found the construction of the World's Faire much more interesting than the serial killer parts. 2y
7 likes1 comment
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Frasdawg
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Mehso-so

I was looking forward to this book but was a little disappointed. I felt the book was more about the development of the World‘sFair and not as much about H. H. Holmes(which is why I bought it). I found his chapters interesting and wanting more, but VERY short. Learned some neat historical facts, so was not a complete loss.

RamsFan1963 @Frasdawg Funny, I was the exact opposite. I found the creation of the World's Faire endlessly fascinating and felt dragged down by the chapters dealing with H.H. Holmes and his house of horrors. Serial killers don't interest me I guess. 2y
Frasdawg I found the Fair more interesting while it was operating. The first part kinda dragged on for me, but the second half was much better! 2y
16 likes2 comments
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dabbe
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Pickpick

I can see myself on the top of Ferris's wheel right now! I found this book to be fascinating; I never knew so much went into a world's fair, and what they had to do in the 1800s and what they had to endure is beyond staggering. Larson is a masterful storyteller with intense research to support his story. Larson does take some liberties with Holmes's story, but his theories make sense with all of the research he gathered.

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Cosmos_Moon_River
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Pickpick

My most recent audio… this was so good, and when I googled to look up some pictures, it looks like Scorsese making a movie with Keanu Reeves and Leonardo DiCaprio. I can‘t wait… I bet it will be so good! Psychotic murderer loose along with history of the construction of the Chicago World‘s Fair.

RamsFan1963 Who's playing the serial killer, Reeves or DeCaprio? 2y
Cosmos_Moon_River @RamsFan1963 I think DiCaprio, and Reeves is playing the architect. 2y
Cosmos_Moon_River @RamsFan1963 ooh, according to this GQ article Keanu is out. https://www.gq.com/story/devil-in-the-white-city-development-hell-todd-field-kea... They say the production is cursed, sort of like 2y
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Livyer
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Pickpick

(April review)⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is not an easy read if you go in blind. The first few chapters were unbearable. I was not gonna give up so decided to do some research on the side to have a better understanding of what I was reading about. Well I went down the rabbit hole of "unrelated" topics..Tartarians, Rewriting of History, conspiracy theories... And more by the end I was in love, is not for everyone but i would recommend it.

RedCurly I have this for a few months now but I still haven't start to read. It seems heavy 2y
Livyer @RkaVlgyi It is, I like finishing my books in 1to 4 days, this one took me almost two weeks. I had to take a break from reading afterwards too but i still think it was worth it. 2y
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Eggs
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This NF account proves that the most insidious evil is perpetrated by real people…

#Evil #OminousOctober @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 😱🖤☠️ 2y
LKK526 @eggs. I read this book when it first came out and was absolutely riveted by the story. He is one of my favorite authors and have read everything he has written. 😀👍 2y
Eggs @LKK526 Me too! He‘s amazing 2y
LKK526 @eggs. I nagged my husband into reading it and he loved it too 2y
58 likes4 comments
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JoeMo
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This is my favorite work by Larson to this point. You have the wonder of the World‘s Fair and everything that went into planning for the event contrasted by the evil deeds of H.H. Holmes who left so many unfortunate victims in his wake.

#scarathlondailyprompt #victim #scarathlon #teammonstermash @StayCurious

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booklover3258
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Bailedbailed

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/BObPm0FZDKA

Enjoy!

45 likes1 stack add
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Eggs
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfect 🙌🏻📚 2y
56 likes2 comments
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JuliaTheBookNerd
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I love watching true crime shows but I‘m not a big true crime reader 😬 This was the only true crime book I found in my library.

#TrueCrime 🩸#ArtfulAugust 🖌🖼🎨

#BookNerd 💙📚🤓

Eggs Great pick! 2y
61 likes1 comment
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Eggs
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Two of my favorite #truecrime stories - the devil one is chilling 🥶🫣😱

#artfulaugust @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

peaKnit @JenReadsAlot and I did a Devil in the White City tour in Chicago, crazy to think this is based on a true story! I‘m looking forward to this movie or series, it should be creepy. 2y
JenReadsAlot @peaknit That was so fun! I didn't know this was going to be a show. 2y
Eggs @Tonton thanks for link-❤️Keanu❤️ 2y
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Bklover
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From Book Riot

Well, this ought to be interesting! Wonder who will play Holmes? I may have to pull this out for a reread. It was sooo good!!

Cinfhen Ohhhhh!! I loved this book!!! You sent me a copy many moons ago!!!!! Im excited for this adaptation 🥰 2y
vivastory I sort of wish Reeves was playing Holmes. I can't recall him ever playing a villain before. 2y
AmyG Oh wow. I am excited for this, too. 2y
See All 6 Comments
Bklover @Cinfhen Me too Cindy! 😘 2y
suvata @Bklover me three 2y
LauraJ Fingers crossed that they do the book justice 🤞🏼 2y
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Jedi_Bruno
Pickpick

Loved it! The main story is the building of the Chicago World‘s Fair along with the story of the serial killer H H Homes in the backdrop. Both stories fascinating. Very fun and approachable read.

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LoverOfLearning
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Loved the dualing timelines of this story and the realism and the chillingness of the writing.

An excellent historical fiction novel that is now being made into a TV show..... maybe with Keanu Reeves. Uhm yes please. 😏

#letterD #alphebetgame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

KathyWheeler I love this book — I came for the serial killer aspect but stayed for the architecture story. I didn‘t expect that at all. 2y
LoverOfLearning @KathyWheeler perfect way to describe this book! 2y
60 likes2 comments
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Bklover
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#alphabetgame #letterD

Still in the number one spot- five ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What‘s your D @DarkMina @robinb @CrowCAH @CoffeeNBooks 😉

Cinfhen Great choice!!! 2y
JenReadsAlot This would have been my 2nd pick! 2y
robinb Thanks for the tag @Bklover ! 🤗 2y
See All 9 Comments
CrowCAH Thanks for the tag; I‘ll make a post! 2y
Bklover @Cinfhen ❤️❤️. 2y
Bklover @JenReadsAlot it‘s a good one!😊 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing! 🖤📚 2y
CoffeeNBooks Thanks for the tag! 2y
DarkMina Great choice! 2y
69 likes2 stack adds9 comments
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yoavshai
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#BookCoverChallenge
Day 263.
Here I will note 365 books (or as many as I will have before I get tired) that have shaped my taste in literature. No explanations, no reviews. Just the cover of the book.
I do not challenge anyone. You are all welcome to take part.

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behudd
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Incredible having a book club discussion with author Erik Larson (writer of Devil in the White City & many more) hosted by Sharon McMahon (@sharonsaysso). Amazing!

marleed I saw him live on the Tuesday prior to the Covid shutdown (he flew from NYC to Chicago to Kansas City). On the way there my friend and wondered if the other heard of a possible pandemic. In the crowded, sold out room, Erik sat on stage and was incredibly aware of what his audience was not. No hand shaking or book signing. I think I should annotate in my book that it would have been signed if not for a raging pandemic! 3y
behudd @marleed he talked about that book tour stop last night! Cool you got to see him in person! 3y
marleed @behudd Haha. It had to be memorable for him. It was very apparent that he was freaked out a bit in the Chicago airport and worried about his wife (who could have imagined how incredibly true this concern was!) about his wife working in the NYC hospitals. 3y
29 likes3 comments
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wanderinglynn
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Pickpick

Clearly, Larson throughly researched this book. He provides a clear contrast between the last years of the 19th century, the world‘s fair, and this serial killer.

Overall, not my cup of tea as I did think it got bogged down with details at times. But worth reading.

#bookspin

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I started this one physically but it was very detail heavy. I shifted to this on audio and it felt less clunky. 3y
MicrobeMom @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I agree 100%. I think this his best book. 3y
wanderinglynn @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick it is very detail heavy. I ended up skimming those sections. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
88 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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JuliaTheBookNerd
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#Fair 🍿🥜 #SavvySettings 💚🍀

#BookNerd 🤓💙📚

Eggs Great book! 3y
46 likes1 stack add1 comment
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lynneamch
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The White City is the Columbian Exposition designed by leading Gilded Age architects for the 1893 World''s #Fair in Chicago. The Devil is Dr. Henry H. Holmes, who designs a nearby hotel with a dissection table, a gas chamber, and a crematorium. Yikes! These true stories are woven into Larson's best. Pic of Holmes Medical Museum above The Book Exchange in Foley, AL is NOT about the same man. #SavvySettings @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

jlhammar Love Erik Larson! Fantastic book. 3y
Eggs Love Erik Larson books 📚 🥰 3y
39 likes1 stack add2 comments