Adult Non-Fiction Book Review ~ The Devil in the White City

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As a teacher I was constantly guiding kids to make connections while they were reading. You can connect the text to yourself, other books, or the world around you. Does the book remind you of something you’ve seen or somewhere you’ve been? Something you’ve experienced? Another book you’ve read or movie you’ve watched? A good connection can make any book stay with you for a lifetime and can be key to making a child into a life-long reader. This is the glory of bookclubs and discussions, fandoms, alternate adaptations and more. Your connections being shared with others strengthens the initial connection and helps you to internalize the story, themes, sympathize with the characters and more.
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As an adult with an absolutely horrid memory when I can make connections with a book it helps it stick in my brain a bit longer which is always a plus. One of my favorite ways to make connections is to see the location or subject in person if possible. (An excuse to travel…never a bad thing, right?)
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Several years ago I read The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson with a bookclub and was enthralled by the way he told the parallel stories of the architecture, organization, and creation of the vast modern fairgrounds for the 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition and the tale of H.H. Holmes, a young doctor, psychopath and serial killer. The advancements and transformation of a swamp to the brilliant White City juxtaposed with the dark, seedy underbelly of those same advancements is masterfully handled and kept me riveted from first page to last. It was one of the books I convinced my husband to read with me after we got married and he was just as enthralled. So much so that when we had some frequent flier miles to use up we planned a trip to Chicago to see the buildings, grounds, and history first hand.
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We spent several days wandering the city, eating amazing food and catching a performance of Hamilton (which was also absolutely amazing, and lead to an interest in the founding fathers and other book readings…the best connections tend to lead to more connections!) But we made a point to visit the fairgrounds (the only original building left has become The Museum of Science and Industry) and study the work of the architects who were so influential to the area.
Museum of Science and Industry
Frank Lloyd Wright spent the first part of his career in the Chicago area and worked with Daniel Burnham (the architect of the Flatiron Building in New York and architect of many of the exposition buildings) who worked with Frederick Law Olmstead (designer of Central Park and planner of the exposition) to bring the fair to life.
Frank Lloyd Wright Robie House
These amazing stairs are located in The Rookery, a building designed by Burnham where Wright worked for years.
Stairway in Rookery
We also sampled the brownies at the Palmer House hotel. They were created there under the direction of Bertha Palmer to be served at the exposition. She wanted a portable snack that women could eat with their gloves on. Deliciously chewy topped with cherry ice cream! (Other foods that were introduced at or evolved from the fair include Cracker Jacks, Shredded Wheat, pancake mix, chewing gum, Cream of Wheat, and Vienna Beef hot dogs.)
Palmer House brownie
It was a fascinating time and an even more fascinating book. I highly recommend both the book and the city! And I’d love to hear about your own book connections and field trips!
Devil in the White City book review

The Devil in the White City

Written by: Erik Larson

Number of Pages: 447

Publisher: Crown, 2003

Age Range: Adult

Rating: 5/5

Picture Book Review ~ Women Architects

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

up my brothers and sister and I would spend hours playing architect. We designed floor plans for our dream homes (including pools in our basement, giant walk-in closets, and lofts in our bedrooms (mine was a reading nook/library, my brothers both had dreams of gaming and displaying their various collections and my sister always kept hers a secret—probably her plans to take over the world.)

I never followed that dream to fruition but I have a fascination with design and architecture to this day. I love to walk through model homes and critique the layouts and use of space. I’ve taken architecture tours in various cities around the world marveling at the things humans can imagine and create. I’m featuring two of those remarkable creators today.

Maya Lin Architect Book Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines

Written by: Jeanne Walker Harvey

Illustrated by: Dow Phumiruk

Number of Pages: 32

Age Range: 4-9

Rating: 4/5

Maya had always been fascinated and surrounded by art. As an architectural student she entered a contest to design a new memorial honoring the soldiers killed during the Vietnam War. Her idea was chosen but she received much ridicule for being so young, being a girl, being an amateur. But she refused to back down and was rewarded with seeing her work come to life (and be greatly honored and respected by all who see it.) She continued to design works of art and architecture, combining the two with an element of interaction inviting people to not only look but touch, walk around, sit by and be a part of it.

I lived just outside of Washington, D.C. for many years and visited the “Wall” often. It’s an incredible experience to see and trace the names etched in the stone and see it stretching out almost eternally in both directions. It’s an amazing piece and I was inspired to learn it was created by a young girl with a dream! For a little more information there’s also an author’s note that gives a bit more background on the monument and what it represents.

The World is Not a Rectangle Book Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The World is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid

Written and Illustrated by: Jeanette Winter

Number of Pages: 56

Age Range: 4-9

Rating: 4/5

Zaha Hadid was born in Baghdad. She was able to study architecture in London but as a Muslim woman she faced more obstacles than most. Her designs were revolutionary, based on patterns, colors, textures she observed in nature and the world around her from waving grasses, windswept dunes, wandering rivers, shells and cocoons. Her non-linear designs (and thinking) won her awards and respect in a male-dominated field.

I’d never heard Hadid’s name before but looking at the final spread of the book showing many of her designs I recognized her work. She has a fantastical touch, many of her buildings looking like they shouldn’t be able to stand or should be gracing the pages of a Dr. Seuss book. Because of her background as both a woman and a Muslim I’m dying to know more about how she made it. The book gives an overview appropriate for young readers and they’ll be fascinated by the illustrations of her buildings and older readers will appreciate the direct quotes from Hadid, and additional information in the back matter.

I’ve mentioned a million times how much I appreciate a great biography about a little known person and both of these books are fantastic examples; fascinating women, well-presented, and oh, how I love in-depth, useful back matter! Give these to the Lego/drawing/art obsessed girls in your life and watch their imaginations take flight!