The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (2004)

The book is a popular history of the politics leading up to 1893 Chicago world fair and the opportunities it gave to a local serial murder( mostly woman – burnt or flesh bleached off for sale as medical skeletons). The context was the launch of the Eiffel Tower on to an astonished world and the growing myth of Jack the Ripper. The stories are interwoven, which works fine for about 2/3rds of the book when it begins to flag. These world fairs reflected the industrial and economic power of the host country but the wider political implications are not explored. Instead we have a hero Daniel Burnham whose drive and vision made the World Fair and a villain H.Holmes, the mass murder, who together reveal the daily life of late 19th century America. Burnham in common with the period provided exploitative pay and work but came to accept model contracts that shaped 20th century labour conditions. The Fair also gave AC electricity a boost over its DC rival and of course the Ferris Wheel. But however, nasty the villain, he seems unknown to a 21st century UK audience so this unbalances the story as does his final capture, which is outside of the main story arc. It does show how unsafe it was for women when it was the norm to lose contact with people even in the same town due to poor communications or the whims of husbands.

  : Decent - share with readerholics but don't promote, and sell or swap when shelves full.

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He was buried in a potter’s field

Random Word: potter’s field

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When you take a child to the wrong show

140 character story – drop by to Grandma's Goulash to leave your own

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Tara, tara boom de ay

Visit Mr.Knowitall to post your own Friday Flash Fifty-Five Fiction!

 

 

 

Tara was up-tight. But drunk, she turned pink and fluffy with panties to match. As a stay-at-home-drinker, who would know - or so you’d think. But thanks to her ex’s hidden cameras, she was the girly-girl you loved too…well get to know.

On discovery, Tara exploded but pocketed the money - to sue the son-of-a-bitch!

 

 

   

Random Word: Tara

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She left a job in finance

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One Day by David Nicholls (2009)

The title is the clue as to the novels theme and structure as it is a love story explored on one day - the anniversary of when Dex and Em first meet – over 20 years. You soon despair and root for them as they struggle in the cultural and economic changes of the period getting ever nearer that one day. Think of when Harry met Sally to grasp the novel’s approach but with different and unexpected twists. The characters allow for strong emotional engagement due to the trick of changing point-of-view between the main and some minor characters so along with the writer’s voice this makes for a rich weave of characterisation. David Nicholls background is in film and TV work so the film adaption is done and dusted. And yes, I laughed and cried throughout so turning the last page left me in mourning.

: Exemplar - Its a keeper for reading again. Rush out and buy copies for friends.

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Life develops before living

The windowpane shattered. As always the shards cut her as they reintegrated. Mals looked out but the street, with its abandoned shops and cars, was empty as usual.

Once she had fought back – all her kind had but who remembered that.

Outside the last immortal knew he wasn’t lonely yet.

 

Random Word: hope has many hues

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