The Final Discussion
Oops! It's almost the end of the month, and I've been a very bad discussion leader. I totally never got around to posting the final questions for the group. I was going to do that today, but then a thought occured to me. "Wait a minute," I thought, "this book club is for all of us. So, instead of posting guiding questions, why not end our discussion of Devil in the White City with an open-ended question. This way, everyone can talk about whatever their hearts desire." So, here it is ... What were your opinions of the book?
posted by Twanna A. Hines | FUNKYBROWNCHICK.com at
4:47 AM
3 Comments:
Over all I liked the book. It was a bit "draggy" at times.
However I think that it gave an insight to the world at the turn of the century.
Like Jenni, I was more intrigued by the glimpses of the day to day life than some of the other parts.
I keep thinking that they had no technology in the 1890's but that is proven wrong.
I'll post a question - what was the most surprisiing techology referenced in the book?
I'll post more later - time to shop!
By
E, at 8:14 AM
Overall, hmmm?
Well.
First, I will say, I'm glad I read this. And I thank the RR for that. I probably would not have overcome my misanthropic-author-block coupled with the whole serial killer thing long enough to pick it up or stick with it if I did. I am truly glad I read it, though. I had no idea about any of this: the World's Fair, America's first serial killer, the Ferris Wheel (I know I keep mentioning that, but I find that fascinating! It never occurred to me to wonder where that came from! Love it.)
I just flipped through my copy, and found a page I had starred heavily. It's p. 247, the paragraph on things introduced at the fair. I'll papraphrase: " ... live music played in New York and transmitted by telephone ... moving pictures ... the first zipper ... an automatic dishwasher, and a box with everything to make pancakes, under the brand name Aunt Jemima's. ... A new oddly flavored gum called Juicy Fruit, and caramel-coated popcorn called Cracker Jack. Shredded Wheat. Pabst Blue Ribbon. The Dewey Decimal System."
It goes on, but you read it too, so I'll quit. I just remember reading that page over and over, awestruck. Can you imagine seeing all of that stuff for the first time, all in the same place? How revolutionary would a ZIPPER have been?
And, E, to answer *your* question about technology. I go with the dishwasher. Hands down. Can you imagine how wonderful that would have seemed? Heaven. Heaven!
By
JenniNapa, at 9:22 PM
I really liked this book. I kept calling it "that devil book I have to read" and I put it off till the last minute, and then I was surprised by how well it kept my attention.
I do agree that it dragged in parts.
I really loved the idea that so many cultures would come together and create something so huge for everyone to enjoy. And I was completely fascinated with the idea of the Ferris Wheel. During the scene where he first described it without saying what it was, I couldn't even imagine what it looked like. It sounded so dangerous and I agreed with them about not allowing it. Then when the guy's name was Ferris I was amazed. We take Ferris wheels for granted now and most two-bit carnivals have one, and I never thought about it being a marvel of engineering.
I was struck by the same passage that jenninapa was, about all the new things introduced at the same time.
Overall I think I was much more interested in the fair than the serial killer. I think maybe that's because I'm jaded and used to CSI and a whole lot of scientific explanation that just wouldn't have been available at that time. He did a good job of laying it all out though.
So what are we reading next?
By
mamashine, at 1:05 PM
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