Chicago’s Famous Fair Targets Serial Killer by Alexandra Serrato

Around the blooming years of 1893, when the Chicago World’s Fair also known as The World’s Columbian Exposition was under construction, serial killer H. H. Holmes acquired the fair as a target to find his victims. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, is a nonfiction novel focused on the construction of The World’s Columbian Exposition and crime being committed around the same time. Murderer H. H. Holmes and architect Daniel Burnham are the main characters of the novel, who counteract but have a connection between them. I would rank this book a three out of five stars, because the novel contains some very high points, with attention-grabbing and exciting sections, yet it also had some low historical sections, that weren’t all that fascinating. I recommend this book to adult who are interested in the evolution of the city of Chicago. The Devil in the White City, would not necessary be a book one would read for fun. However, I would not say this novel is not for teenagers, because it provides good historical information about the city of Chicago as well as an outstanding theme one can walk away with after reading the novel. 

Murders in Chicago by Jovanny Vargas

The year was 1893, murder and mystery had begun to rise in the most dangerous city in America: Chicago, Illinois. The Devil in the White City by Eric Larson talks about the good and evil of life, and the life of Daniel Burnham and his challenges to designing the Chicago World’s Fair and become a famous architect. As for H.H. Holmes, the other character in this thrilling book, is a serial killer that exploits the fair for a number of suspicious reasons. With a rating of 4/5 this book keeps the reader entertained and thinking as to why the characters do what they do. This book is for anyone who enjoys reading about mystery, crime and American history in a time where America was in the process of evolving.

The Devil in the Black City by Yvette Quiroz Garcia

         In 1893, in the state of Chicago, the most devastating murders were committed by the scams of a serial killer, all behind the legendary World Fair. The title of the book would be The Devil in the White city by Erik Larson. The theme would be that no matter how pleasant something, someone, or some places may seem, they can have the most evil in them.  As already explained, The Devil in the White city consisted of murder cases that took place at the World Fair, which was only to show to places such as New York and Paris that Chicago was just as good as them. Within Chicago, there was the good and also the evil, which you will be running into while getting more into the book and you will find yourself discovering the history behind the tragic walls of Chicago. Reading the book was a great thumbs up. Out of a rating of 5 stars, I automatically gave it 5 stars. The book always had my attention and only made me very interested each time as I read more into the book especially if you’re someone who enjoys murder stories. I recommend this book to teenagers, due to the reason for it being so historical and being so in depth with the telling of murders, which is a big attention grabber to many teens.

Murder, Mystery, Madness, Magic, Mayhem and Medicine in Just 400 Pages by Felipe Becerril Castillo

During the early 1890’s, there was an enormous desire to showcase the brilliance of the United States in any manner possible, so the U.S. decided to create a fair in Chicago that would attract millions of types of people from around the world. Unfortunately, the fair managed to attract one preposterous guest that would become infamous for his various homicides, which would leave a permanent mark in the history of the Chicago circa 1893. The Devil in the White City, by Eric Larson, is an informative and extremely descriptive novel about murder and mystery. The book focuses on the Chicago and how it enticed a serial killer named Dr. H. H. Holmes to extract his many victims from the visitors of the fair. The novel focuses on describing the atmosphere in which the central characters were, in order to give the reader a larger understanding of why and how the homicides happened in the fair. I enjoyed the novel immensely and I would give the author nine and a half stars out of ten. I would give Larson this rank because it was a very descriptive book that guaranteed to give us the best thorough interpretation of the events in the fair without neglecting any crucial points that would compromise the readers comprehension of the topic of the book. My only complaint is that the beginning of the novel was not incredibly interesting and there were some descriptions that were not necessary to the storyline. I would recommend this novel to murder and mystery fanatics, mainly because those are the principal elements of the book and the events that occur in the book are extremely surprising. I would also recommend this novel to people who are interested in psychology and have a particular interest in what occurs inside the mind of a narcissistic murderer.

 

A Murderer’s Interdependence with the Chicago Fair by Diana Alvarez Chavez

Around the 1800’s, industrialization played a major role on society’s actions, most of which had become conniving and devious. The Devil in the White City by Erik Lawson is a book about how one works to reach their goals and how they need to process the accomplishments. It tells the story and journey of two men’s accomplishments, H. H. Holmes and Daniel Burnham, and how one's pride was built of manipulative ways and the other by intellectual ways. I give this book a thumbs up because it kept me intrigued because of how descriptive and detailed both stories were, making it seem fiction like when in reality  it is a  non-fiction book because it is based on real life scenarios. Lastly, I would recommend this book to readers with a short attention span because this book always manages to catch and grasp the reader’s attention with how he mainly portrays the tragedy that H. H. Holmes and Daniel Burnham go through to reach their goals.

Humanity’s Sin from Sanity by Humberto Soto Jauregui

Humanity has seven deadly sins: Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Wrath, Greed, and Sloth. In the late nineteenth century, a man once conceived to be a charming doctor, tempted by the sins, became the living incarnation of the devil in the so called “White City” of Chicago and murdered countless innocent people using inhumane methods. Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America (2003), was written to inform the reader about Chicago's World's Fair that was held in 1893. More importantly, it addresses the story and juxtaposition of two men; Daniel H.  Burnham, the lead architect in charge of the World’s Fair project, and H. H. Holmes, America's first serial killer. Larson touches upon themes of good vs. evil and the “evanescence of life,” as he puts it in the prologue. He argues that pride leads people like Holmes to commit evil acts because it’s the nature of man filled with ambition. In the course of the book, Larson takes it upon himself to capture the soul of the city, Chicago, and create a narration of Burnham’s life and legacy alongside Holmes deceptive life and the monster that lived within him. Overall, The Devil in the White City deserves four stars out of five due to Larson’s skillful narration of his non-fiction book intensifying the reading. Young readers who are interested in American history and the insight of a serial killer, described in detail, with a particular love for narratives will truly value Larson’s work.  

A City Doomed by the Devil by Jesus Benitez

On May 1, 1983 the World’s Fair not only opened its door to the people, but also to a gruesome and vicious serial killer. In the non-fiction book, Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America (2003), by the author Erik Larson, it describes the horrendous acts of murder committed by H.H. Holmes as he tortured, mutilated, and killed dozens of people throughout Chicago’s World Fair. Though more importantly, Larson addresses the juxtaposition of two very distinct men, Daniel H. Burnham, the architect in charge of the World Fair project, and H.H. Holmes one of the first serial killers in America. Both men are very ambitious and are prideful of their works. Larson touches on the themes of good vs. evil, but more importantly that wherever there is good there is going to be evil present. Overall, The Devil in The White City deserves four out of five stars due to Larson’s astonishing use of description throughout the book, and the invigorating narration that intensifies the read. Ultimately young adults who are interested in a book with historic value and want to experience a series of murders from the eyes of a killer, will value Larson work.

Struggling Fair's Hidden Murderer by Brian Meza

In Chicago, everyone was fortunate to be able to take part in the World's Fair, however the fair was only being used to mask the murders taking place. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, And Madness at the Fair That Changed America is a non-fiction book by Eric Larson where he illustrates the distinction between good and evil, and when there are good things there are also bad things. In this book, the author Eric Larson depicts the story of two people: Daniel Burnham, and a description of his preparations and development of the World’s Fair in Chicago, also known as The World’s Columbian Exposition; the other, H.H Holmes, uses the World’s Fair to his advantage and murders multiple people.            

Daniel Burnham, an architect, struggles to construct the world fair, at the same time, H.H. Holmes moves to Chicago to fulfill his plans. When the fair is complete, Larson also illustrates the accomplishments it brought, for example the Ferris wheel. Holmes uses the fair to his advantage and designs a building to hide all his evildoings, and also making them easier for him by having a walk in vault, and a kiln the size of a person, supposedly to be used for glass. I would rate this book 8/10, the way the author describes everything makes all the events taking place seem like you are there, and his descriptions allow you to describe the story as if you were there. Additionally, knowing that this actually happened is surprising. Teenagers or adults would enjoy reading this book, if you enjoy reading mystery you would also enjoy this if you are willing to be patient since it isn't suspenseful. Finally, people who enjoy learning about history would like to learn about the building of the fair.

Two Men Who Created a Fair of Evil by Kevin Lopez

            Chicago, 1890. A city with danger lurking around every corner, waiting to strike. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, by Erik Larson, takes place in this time in history, which to us may seem unorthodox, but to the citizens of Chicago, death was not a great surprise. The Devil in the White City is a book about the struggles between good and evil and how they can unwillingly intertwine in the advantage of one or the other. In this case, the good would be Daniel Burnham, an architect credited with many contributions to the architectural field. The evil, would have to be Dr. H. H. Holmes, young, charming but most of all devious. Mr. Burnham was given the task to work with another group of architects to construct a world fair that would outdo the Paris Exposition, which thrived during the late 1800’s.  Holmes would take advantage of this event in order to execute his mischievous needs.

            This book is definitely a five out of five. The reason being is how Larson converts such an intricate topic of history, which in other ways would be vapid, into a story that transports you to Chicago and makes it seem as you were actually around to witness the events referred to in the book. I would recommend this book to any individual who has an eye for mystery and evil, but do not want anything too hardcore. I would also recommend this book to anybody who is interested in history.

A Murderer within the Fair by Brenda Bautista

The World Fair is said to be the best fair to be created in our homeland, even better that the Eiffel Tower itself. Throughout this grand time, one by one, people disappeared along the face of the earth never to be found or heard of again. The Devil in the White City, by Erick Larson is about the Fair’s development and the murders that were occurring during that time. The Fair was competed for and the winners brought it to Chicago while a man arrived in Chicago slowly rising to be the best doctor, even if it may cost him his life. Just as the fair rose and went through difficulties, so did the man with his accomplishments to meet his goals. From 3 out of 5 stars, the novel was suspenseful. To see how the Fair and the man grew in time was exciting, as was to finally know how he and the Fair both ended, though it was rather confusing as some parts of the novel.  It is best recommended for people around the ages 15 and up, with the interests in murder and historical time since this novel has two different things happening at the same time.