The Devil in the White City by Erik Larsen

In the late 1800's, Chicago was one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Known primarily for its meat processing, its location at the confluence of several railroads and Lake Michigan made it a true crossroads for a burgeoning U.S. economy.

Still, when civic leaders aggressively sought to host a World's Fair to equal the momentous fair held in Paris, few believed it could be done.

This book tells the astounding true story of how Chicago managed to not only land, but host one of the most successful World's Fairs in history. At the same time, it tells a parallel story of a "devil," one of the most notorious serial killers in U.S. history, who probably killed between 100 and 250 people in Chicago before and during the 1893 World's Fair.

Overall, I felt the story of the Fair itself the most compelling feature of this book, although both stories were well told. This book especially made me want to learn more about the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

John Howard

HOW STARBUCKS SAVED MY LIFE; A SON OF PRIVILEGE LEARNS TO LIVE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE by Michael Gill

A high-ranking executive in New York loses his job due to down-sizing and doesn't know what to do next. He sees an ad for part-time help at Starbucks and applies, not thinking he'd get hired. The black manager of a mixed neighborhood coffee shop takes a chance on him and his life education begins. Michael Gill tells his story of learning humility with humor and sadness. He came to admire the black staff, who conducted themselves in a conscientious and professional manner, while dealing with a bizarre and strange mix of clients with totally different values than his own. This is a wonderful book about one man's transformation into a better, kinder, humbler individual. PW

BURN by Linda Howard

Linda Howard, one of my all-time favorite authors, has written another exciting and unusual romantic suspense. A hard-working young woman, Jenner Redwine, wins the lottery and her life changes forever. The people closest to her betray her by grabbing and stealing some of her winnings, leaving her feeling "burned" and unwilling to trust again. The story resumes ten years later when she's on a luxurious cruise, bored and not fitting in with the wealthy crowd. Her only friend, a shy and quiet heiress, is kidnapped and Renner is threatened with her friend's death if she doesn't comply with the kidnapping team's demands, which don't involve money but rather surveillance of a slimy entrepeneur in the cabin next to her. Suspense increases as the ship glides toward the destination and the twisted ending! GG

O Pioneers!

by Willa Cather

It’s the beginning of the twentieth century. Alexandra Bergson is a steadfast Swedish woman who has grown up in the prairie of Nebraska. Through various hardships and opposition from her brothers, she draws comfort and joy from the land that she loves.

Willa Cather uses beautiful descriptions and soothing language to portray life on the prairie in the early 1900s.


Hilary