"The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson is a two-for-one read. The story is that of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, a colossal undertaking with equally colossal results. This is also the story of H.H. Holmes, a serial murder of the most wretched variety, who used the World's Fair to attract those he would murder and cause to disappear.
The egos, manipulations, fraud and amazing results of the fair are the stuff of human history. This fair introduced electric lights, Cracker Jack, the Ferris wheel and Buffalo Bill's largest show ever.
Larson takes us on a head-spinning tour from the first desires to outdo the Paris World's Fair to the presidential grand opening in Chicago to the crumbling of those magnificent structures when the crowds had left.
For Holmes, the deep sickness of his life takes the lives of so many innocent women and children. This part of the book is tough. Cruelty at this level does more than shock.
The end of this work is mind numbing. Was Holmes the devil? The strange passing of those associated with Holmes' life ring of a Stephen King novel, but Larson's story is real. (Are King's writings of the real, but in fiction? He'll never tell.)
The ability to take history and weave those times into a novel of life is a wonderful talent. Larson has that ability.
"History, Stephen said, is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake." ― James Joyce, Ulysses
On to the video portion of our show:
From librarian Kwabena Sarfo of the Enoch Pratt Free Public Library comes a recommendation that takes us to the football side of sports, but a lot deeper than the gridiron: "The Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life" by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker.
"'Quiet Strength,' written by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker, is a reflective memoir of Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy. He writes about life lessons he learned from his parents, his struggles as a football player, an NFL coach, and as a family man," Sarfo says. "He shares with his readers that his strong belief in God and family gave him the foundation to withstand the rigors of playing and coaching in the National Football League. As the first African American head coach to win the Super Bowl, he credits his rise from humble beginnings to coaching pinnacle in football on his love for life and respect for others without compromising his faith in God. "
Thanks, Kwabena. This book will get plenty of looks from more than sports fans.
Gary Thorne is the play-by-play voice of the Orioles on MASN, and the 2015 season is his ninth with the club and 30th covering Major League Baseball. His blog will appear regularly throughout the season. The Orioles and Sarasota County have partnered on the Big League Reader Program, which rewarded kids who read three books in February with tickets to a Grapefruit League game at Ed Smith Stadium in March.
* Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne. © Copyright 2015 Gary F. Thorne. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Gary F. Thorne and MASNsports.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.