Chicago is a really interesting city. It's huge, ridiculously so to this small town girl, and beautiful, but with that special something found only in the midwest. Anthony Bourdain has called Chicago the only other true city in America outside of New York. Having recently visited Chicago, I can't say if that's true or not. I did fall in love with the city; it's food (oh Three Little Pigs sandwich, I adore you), the architecture, and the lakeshore.
The Chicago of today is a far cry from the Chicago of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Then, Chicago was a dirty, dingy place, full of undesirable industry like the meat packing businesses of Armour and Swift and Pullman's train car company. Devil in the White City starts with the bidding for the location of upcoming 1893 World's Fair Exposition. America dearly wants to prove to the world that they are just as capable of throwing a glamorous event just like the French did with the 1889 World's Exposition. In a contest decided by the Senate, Chicago bested New York City and Washington, D.C. for the honor of hosting the 1893 Columbian Exposition. The 1893 Columbian Exposition was to mark the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus 400 years earlier. Two young architects were put in charge of transforming a marshy, swampy area on the lakeshore into the most glorious fairgrounds ever seen. These men were Daniel Burnham and John Root. They enlisted other architects from Chicago and around America to help make the World's Fair a success, most prominently Fredrick Law Olmsted. Daniel Burnham, as head of the construction team and fair overseer, is the main character of this portion of the book.
Devil in the White City follows the designing, building, and transformation of a formly undesirable park known as Jackson Park into a beautiful new city known as the "White City". Many things that we take for granted were first created and sold at the 1893 World's Fair, including Cracker Jacks, and Juicy Fruit gum. The World's Fair wasn't all bright and shiny though. There was a darker, more seedy side. The other half of the title, the Devil, refers to one of the most prolific and the first American serial killer, Dr. H.H. Holmes, aka Herman Mudgett. Holmes used the beauty and spectacle of the fair to lure his victims, typically young, lonely, beautiful women; to his hotel for the duration of their stays at the Fair. The story of Holmes is disturbing, creepy, and cannot possibly be real.
Devil in the White City is very interesting book. The back and forth between the stories of Daniel Burnham, a honest, hardworking man, and Dr. Holmes, very likely a sociopath, makes for engrossing reading. This was an intelligent, well-written account of one of the most interesting periods in American history and two very interesting men.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Cannonball 2.0 - Book 1 - The Pluto Files By: Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Pluto was always the weird kid on the edge of the solar system. Small, cold, barren, with a truly odd orbit that matched no other planet in the solar system. It's position as a planet has been debated since it's discovery by an American named Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. After the discovery, Pluto became America's favorite planet. A popular Disney character even had the same name. For every schoolkid prior to 2006, Pluto was the ninth and final planet in our solar system. It did not matter how odd or how ill-fitting the title planet was. Pluto was the final one and that was that.
Within the hardcore astronomy community, the sentiment towards Pluto's status was far different. Some believed that it was a planet and that was that. Others felt it's lack of commonality with other known planets, both the terrestrial and gas giants, made it's status as a planet questionable. Pluto had moons, a definitive characteristic of a planet, but they were not that different in size. It was near an asteroid belt, now known as the Kuiper Belt. The debate over Pluto was contained in the scientific community until 2000.
In 2000, Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York opened a fully renovated planetarium. There was something odd about about the new Rose Center. Pluto was reclassified with icy comets. Dr. Tyson quickly found himself at the center of a controversy few outside the astronomy community knew existed. He began to receive hate mail from people as old as 90 and as young as 7. Grade school children wrote him impassioned letters in defense of Pluto. Dr. Tyson stood his ground and argued that Pluto could not be a planet.
In 2005, new exploration tools discovered a Kuiper Belt object that was larger than Pluto, Eris. Should Eris be a planet? What happens to Pluto? In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union meet to clarify the definition of a planet. As a result of this meeting, poor Pluto was demoted. The Pluto Files is the story of Pluto's rise and fall as a planet, told by Dr. Tyson from his viewpoint at the center of the controversy. Included in the book are letters that he received during the controversy, most written by young schoolchildren. The Pluto Files was an interesting, well-written and often hilarious read. The book does not read like a scientific text, but more like a fictional story with the occasional geek speak. It was a quick read, clocking in at only 182 pages, including appendices of the various legislative actions taken in Pluto's favor.
Within the hardcore astronomy community, the sentiment towards Pluto's status was far different. Some believed that it was a planet and that was that. Others felt it's lack of commonality with other known planets, both the terrestrial and gas giants, made it's status as a planet questionable. Pluto had moons, a definitive characteristic of a planet, but they were not that different in size. It was near an asteroid belt, now known as the Kuiper Belt. The debate over Pluto was contained in the scientific community until 2000.
In 2000, Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York opened a fully renovated planetarium. There was something odd about about the new Rose Center. Pluto was reclassified with icy comets. Dr. Tyson quickly found himself at the center of a controversy few outside the astronomy community knew existed. He began to receive hate mail from people as old as 90 and as young as 7. Grade school children wrote him impassioned letters in defense of Pluto. Dr. Tyson stood his ground and argued that Pluto could not be a planet.
In 2005, new exploration tools discovered a Kuiper Belt object that was larger than Pluto, Eris. Should Eris be a planet? What happens to Pluto? In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union meet to clarify the definition of a planet. As a result of this meeting, poor Pluto was demoted. The Pluto Files is the story of Pluto's rise and fall as a planet, told by Dr. Tyson from his viewpoint at the center of the controversy. Included in the book are letters that he received during the controversy, most written by young schoolchildren. The Pluto Files was an interesting, well-written and often hilarious read. The book does not read like a scientific text, but more like a fictional story with the occasional geek speak. It was a quick read, clocking in at only 182 pages, including appendices of the various legislative actions taken in Pluto's favor.
Cannonball Read 2.0 - The Procrastinator's Second Shot
So, last year, two people from the lovely website Pajiba started a challenge: 100 books in 365 days. I started it late and did not make it through 20 books. I blame stupid school. Prisco, one of the founders finished the challenge. The other, Alabama Pink, lost her fight with leukemia and did not finish. We still miss her terribly. She was a kick ass lady. Several other challengers finished the challenge.
This year's incarnation is a little different. The lovely Nicole in in charge along with her assistant Rusty. This year, the challenge is 52 books between November 1st, 2009 and November 1st, 2010. Reviews are required for every book and some of them may be published on Pajiba. I am starting a smidgen late, but the semester is over and I have no real tests to study for now. Bring on the reading!
This year's incarnation is a little different. The lovely Nicole in in charge along with her assistant Rusty. This year, the challenge is 52 books between November 1st, 2009 and November 1st, 2010. Reviews are required for every book and some of them may be published on Pajiba. I am starting a smidgen late, but the semester is over and I have no real tests to study for now. Bring on the reading!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
6. Little Children - Tom Perrotta
Let me just start by saying that I truly enjoyed Little Children. I have not seen the movie and cannot make any comparisons with the movie. This review is simply about the book. What Mr. Perrotta has created is a sharp, well-crafted, intelligent, and through look at suburbia and the lives of a group of bored parents that could be found anywhere.
First, we meet Sarah, a college feminist who looks back wistfully at that time when she uninhibited and involved in a bisexual relationship. She's in a bored and loveless marriage with man who'd rather look at internet porn than his own wife. Her life as a stay at home mother who's adult contact is limited to the other mothers at the playground is unsatisfying. She feels that her daughter, Lucy, is something of an annoyance and that she's out of place in her life. The other mothers at the playground include Mary Ann, a shrew of a woman who has her four year old prepping for Harvard and weekly sex scheduled with her husband on Thursdays at 9pm.
One day at the playground, Sarah sees the "Prom King". The Prom King is actually Todd, an attractive, muscular father of a precocious three year old son, Aaron. Todd is a stay at home father while his wife, Kathy, works on a documentary film about WWII. Todd is studying to pass the bar exam after having failed it two times prior. One of the other mothers bet Sarah $5 to get the "Prom King's" phone number. Sarah and Todd instead exchange a kiss that turns into far more than what it was intended, charging headlong into an affair.
After the arrival of convicted pedophile, Ronald, into the idyllic town to return to the home of his mother, the novel takes on a decidedly darker view. Ronald was suspected in the disappearance of another young girl, along with the conviction for exposing himself to a young girl. Ronald's arrival sends shock waves through the concerned parents and results in a community effort to remove Ronald from the town. This effort is spearheaded by Larry, a retired police office who left the force after a tragic work incident. Larry has his own marriage troubles and is unable to hold a job. Larry decides to make Ronald's past and subsequent removal from town his new job. Todd becomes an unwitting accomplice in Larry's efforts after joining a midnight, no rules, football league.
From here, the book chronicles Sarah and Todd's affair, along with each's own rocky marriages. We also follow Larry's efforts to remove Ronald from the town in an attempt to protect the children. The characters are incredibly well-written to the point that many may be able to pick out their own neighbors or friends. This book is deserving of the mountains of praise it has received. It is a hard book to review as a result. In short, read it now if you haven't.
First, we meet Sarah, a college feminist who looks back wistfully at that time when she uninhibited and involved in a bisexual relationship. She's in a bored and loveless marriage with man who'd rather look at internet porn than his own wife. Her life as a stay at home mother who's adult contact is limited to the other mothers at the playground is unsatisfying. She feels that her daughter, Lucy, is something of an annoyance and that she's out of place in her life. The other mothers at the playground include Mary Ann, a shrew of a woman who has her four year old prepping for Harvard and weekly sex scheduled with her husband on Thursdays at 9pm.
One day at the playground, Sarah sees the "Prom King". The Prom King is actually Todd, an attractive, muscular father of a precocious three year old son, Aaron. Todd is a stay at home father while his wife, Kathy, works on a documentary film about WWII. Todd is studying to pass the bar exam after having failed it two times prior. One of the other mothers bet Sarah $5 to get the "Prom King's" phone number. Sarah and Todd instead exchange a kiss that turns into far more than what it was intended, charging headlong into an affair.
After the arrival of convicted pedophile, Ronald, into the idyllic town to return to the home of his mother, the novel takes on a decidedly darker view. Ronald was suspected in the disappearance of another young girl, along with the conviction for exposing himself to a young girl. Ronald's arrival sends shock waves through the concerned parents and results in a community effort to remove Ronald from the town. This effort is spearheaded by Larry, a retired police office who left the force after a tragic work incident. Larry has his own marriage troubles and is unable to hold a job. Larry decides to make Ronald's past and subsequent removal from town his new job. Todd becomes an unwitting accomplice in Larry's efforts after joining a midnight, no rules, football league.
From here, the book chronicles Sarah and Todd's affair, along with each's own rocky marriages. We also follow Larry's efforts to remove Ronald from the town in an attempt to protect the children. The characters are incredibly well-written to the point that many may be able to pick out their own neighbors or friends. This book is deserving of the mountains of praise it has received. It is a hard book to review as a result. In short, read it now if you haven't.
5. I Heard That Song Before - Mary Higgins Clark
I have reviewed Mary Higgins Clark before, so I will leave out some basics about her work. It's consistently well-paced and plotted. The book reviewed here, I Heard That Song Before, wasn't as enjoyable as the book I reviewed previously. It was still a good, fast read, but there were some elements of the plot that I did not enjoy.
Kay Lansing, at the age of 6, overheard a heated conversation between two people when she snuck into the chapel of her father's employer, the Carrington's. Her father was the groundskeeper who was helping to prepare for a party that evening at the Carrington family estate. Kay overheard a woman angrily state "I heard that song before". That evening at the dinner party, the Carrington heir, Peter, gave a young woman, Susan Althorp, a ride home. Susan was not seen again.
Flash forward 22 years, Kay is a librarian who is working on charity event and asks to use the Carrington home to host. This business meeting leads to expedient courtship and marriage between Peter and Kay. Shortly after this, Peter is arrested for disappearance of Susan. Peter has long been a suspect in the disappearance of Susan, along with the mysterious death of his first wife, Grace. Kay remains convinced that her new spouse is innocent. That is, until she discovers his odd habit of sleepwalking near the site of Grace's death. Could it be that Peter was quilty and killed while sleepwalking? Is Peter the unwitting victim of an elaborate setup? Kay sets out to discover the truth and proclaim her husband's innocence at the cost of her own safety.
This was not a personal favorite of Ms. Clark's books. The other I reviewed was far better. I did not like the usage of sleepwalking as plot device. I also found Kay to be slightly annoying. It was still a decent book and a fast, efficient read.
Kay Lansing, at the age of 6, overheard a heated conversation between two people when she snuck into the chapel of her father's employer, the Carrington's. Her father was the groundskeeper who was helping to prepare for a party that evening at the Carrington family estate. Kay overheard a woman angrily state "I heard that song before". That evening at the dinner party, the Carrington heir, Peter, gave a young woman, Susan Althorp, a ride home. Susan was not seen again.
Flash forward 22 years, Kay is a librarian who is working on charity event and asks to use the Carrington home to host. This business meeting leads to expedient courtship and marriage between Peter and Kay. Shortly after this, Peter is arrested for disappearance of Susan. Peter has long been a suspect in the disappearance of Susan, along with the mysterious death of his first wife, Grace. Kay remains convinced that her new spouse is innocent. That is, until she discovers his odd habit of sleepwalking near the site of Grace's death. Could it be that Peter was quilty and killed while sleepwalking? Is Peter the unwitting victim of an elaborate setup? Kay sets out to discover the truth and proclaim her husband's innocence at the cost of her own safety.
This was not a personal favorite of Ms. Clark's books. The other I reviewed was far better. I did not like the usage of sleepwalking as plot device. I also found Kay to be slightly annoying. It was still a decent book and a fast, efficient read.
4. Stiff - Mary Roach
Stiff is arguably one of the weirdest books I've ever read. Ms. Roach makes it funny and interesting, by the subject matter still isn't one of light and sunshine. Stiff's subtitle is "The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers". Like I said, not exactly a book that you read for the uplifting qualities.
If you've ever considered donating your body to science, this is the book for you. Unlike my own preconceived notion that donating one's body to science simply meant you were destined for a gross anatomy lab at a medical school, there are tons of things that you can be used for. Ever wondered how auto makers determine the amount of damage to the human flesh after an auto accident? Cadavers! What about crime scene investigation? That's chapter 3. (As a side note about that chapter, it's easily the grossest chapter in the book.) There is the requisite chapter about gross anatomy labs, but that's only the starting point. Cadavers have also had staring roles in some of the weirdest experiments not to come straight out of a science fiction movie.
But the book doesn't just cover the dead donated to science. What about organ donation? That's covered. What about the ways to dispose of the dead? There is a particularly interesting chapter near the end about some truly odd ways to discard the flesh after a person has died. Instead of cremation, what about dissolving your body in acid? You can go down the drain! There is also a chapter involving a truly bizarre story from China.
The final chapter is the authors' own comments on her views towards her own death and subsequent usage of her body. Needless to say, the material that she researched and saw during the work on this book has appeared to influence her decisions.
I found this book, while interesting, somewhat dry and not an easy read. Some of the chapters were far more difficult to read than others. I read several other books while reading this one, simply because I could not sit and read it for extended periods of time in certain chapters. It is well written and interesting, but I think I would have enjoyed it a little more had some of the topics been covered in less detail than others. I did enjoy the historical anecdotes sprinkled throughout the text. Overall, not a favorite, but not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination.
If you've ever considered donating your body to science, this is the book for you. Unlike my own preconceived notion that donating one's body to science simply meant you were destined for a gross anatomy lab at a medical school, there are tons of things that you can be used for. Ever wondered how auto makers determine the amount of damage to the human flesh after an auto accident? Cadavers! What about crime scene investigation? That's chapter 3. (As a side note about that chapter, it's easily the grossest chapter in the book.) There is the requisite chapter about gross anatomy labs, but that's only the starting point. Cadavers have also had staring roles in some of the weirdest experiments not to come straight out of a science fiction movie.
But the book doesn't just cover the dead donated to science. What about organ donation? That's covered. What about the ways to dispose of the dead? There is a particularly interesting chapter near the end about some truly odd ways to discard the flesh after a person has died. Instead of cremation, what about dissolving your body in acid? You can go down the drain! There is also a chapter involving a truly bizarre story from China.
The final chapter is the authors' own comments on her views towards her own death and subsequent usage of her body. Needless to say, the material that she researched and saw during the work on this book has appeared to influence her decisions.
I found this book, while interesting, somewhat dry and not an easy read. Some of the chapters were far more difficult to read than others. I read several other books while reading this one, simply because I could not sit and read it for extended periods of time in certain chapters. It is well written and interesting, but I think I would have enjoyed it a little more had some of the topics been covered in less detail than others. I did enjoy the historical anecdotes sprinkled throughout the text. Overall, not a favorite, but not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination.
3: Where Are You Now? - Mary Higgins Clark
Mary Higgins Clark is one of the most popular writers in America. She writes about one new book a year, which always makes the bestseller list the moment it comes out. Out of most overly popular writers today, she's been a favorite of mine since I read Where Are The Children? over 15 years ago. Her books are very quick reads for me. They are well written, researched and always entertaining, even if they are slightly formulaic.
The formula is usually something like this:
There are many people with something to hide. Mac's college roomates; one a charming, sucessful club owner and the other a distant, yet wealthy real estate tycoon; both have plenty of secrets that they will protect. Neither of them are exactly helpful in the search for Mac. Could her brother be some sort of serial killer, as the police suspect when a young girl goes missing from a nightclub? The search for Mac leads Carloyn head long into a series of dangerous meeting and jeopardizes her own safety.
Like almost all of Ms. Clark's books, I enjoyed this one and found it to be a quick read. Her thillers are page-turning reads and probably some of the best popular fiction books to make the best seller list. The quality of her books has not faded over time and this one is just as enjoyable as some of her earlier works.
The formula is usually something like this:
- Woman with mystery or serious event involving death of someone that they loved that may or may not make them a suspect.
- Guy that usually has romantic interest in said woman tries to help.
- Auxiliary characters with something to hide, which usually leads to them being suspect to the reader.
- A series of twists near the end.
There are many people with something to hide. Mac's college roomates; one a charming, sucessful club owner and the other a distant, yet wealthy real estate tycoon; both have plenty of secrets that they will protect. Neither of them are exactly helpful in the search for Mac. Could her brother be some sort of serial killer, as the police suspect when a young girl goes missing from a nightclub? The search for Mac leads Carloyn head long into a series of dangerous meeting and jeopardizes her own safety.
Like almost all of Ms. Clark's books, I enjoyed this one and found it to be a quick read. Her thillers are page-turning reads and probably some of the best popular fiction books to make the best seller list. The quality of her books has not faded over time and this one is just as enjoyable as some of her earlier works.
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