Jill Larson Books

The Devil in the White City is one of the finest historical novels I have read. It is both lyrically written and packed with fact, a balance which is very difficult to achieve. The plotline essentially reduces to a struggle between good and evil, as the struggles and aspirations of the 1896 Columbian Exposition's leading architect are contrasted with the schemes of a serial killer who runs a "hotel" near the fair. Larson does an excellent job of weaving excerpts of letters, newspaper articles, and even dinner menus into the story of these two men. The book also presents a wonderful picture of Gilded Age America as a whole, and perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the story is the way that, even amid strikes, recession, technical difficulties, and deaths, the fair remained an island of beauty and progress. The 1896 World's Columbian Exposition may not be a well-known historical event like the roaring twenties, the world wars, the Great Depression, or the baby boom, but, as this book shows, it had a huge impact on and in many ways, saved, the American psyche.

The author narrates two parallel stories: the struggle to create the Columbian Exposition of 1892 and the progress of a serial killer who preyed on women who were drawn to Chicago by the fair. Larson shifts back and forth between these two threads, parceling out his information in such a way that every chapter ends with a cliff-hanger.

For history buffs and mystery afficienados this is a super book. It is a non fiction book about the Chicago World's fair and the serial killer who preyed on the citizens of Chicago. I found it extrememly interesting.

Go back to the 1893 World's Fair that changed America. The Devil and the White City, a novel by Erik Larson, takes the reader back to the time of the World's Fair through the eyes of two remarkable men - Daniel H. Burnham and H.H. Holmes. Daniel H. Burnham was a brilliant architect who was forced to overcome many obstacles to construct the 1983 World's Fair. H.H. Holmes on the other hand was a serial killer masquerading as a charming doctor while leading his victims to their death in his World's Fair Hotel, complete with a crematorium and a gas chamber. Erik Larson accomplishes what he set out to do, telling a tale with such drama and mystery that readers will find themselves double-checking to be sure they are not reading a highly imaginative novel. Although readers might find parts of Burnham's story slow at times or H.H. Holmes sinister activities grotesque, this can be easily overlooked by the vivid descriptions, great sentence flow, a nail-biting suspense story, and a terrific supporting cast that includes Thomas Edison, Buffalo Bill and Susan B. Anthony. It is no surprise that Erik Larson was nominated for a National Book Award for The Devil in the White City. He is also a former features writer for Wall Street Journal and Time Magazine, where he is still a contributing writer. Larson has also taught non-fiction writing at various colleges and seminars and has spoken to audiences from coast to coast. The magical appeal and disturbing dark side of 19th century Chicago are both revealed through Larson's masterpiece. The enjoyment of this story is only heightened by the fact that the story is true.

I found "The Devil in the White City" to be a truly amazing book to read. I expected that the portion of the book dealing with the serial killer, H. H. Holmes, would have been fascinating, and that ended up being true. Reading about the diabolical operation of this man, who had no moral problem murdering women who loved him and small children who had done nothing to harm him, was shocking and kept me turning pages.

I was surprised to find, though, that the descriptions of the construction of the World's Fair were just as compelling and suspenseful. I was astounded at the obstacles Burnham and the other architects were faced with, and the ways in which they consistently were able to make unthinkable things happen in a nearly impossible timefame.

The research of this story was impressive, and I liked the details making clear the issues that would have faced the building industry at the time, things such as difficult access to clean water, that wouldn't be a thought in the minds of workers today.

The events and especially the names dropped into this story, from Helen Keller to Walt Disney to Mark Twain to Susan B. Anthony, made me feel this fair took place in a truly magical time for the United States. It was hard for me to put this book down, and the contrast between Holmes' story and Burnham's story made this tale both horrifying and uplifting.

Shades of Grace it an interwoven tale of what has occurred in my life. She touches my soul.

Shades of Grace is a well written book about living with a parent with Alzheimer's. If you have someone close going through caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's this book would be one to share with that person. Gives a very real look at caring for your loved one. Well worth reading!

SHADES OF GRACE is the most powerful, engrossing, and cathartic of the 25 novels I've read in Delinsky's collection.

What a courageous way for an author to begin this story, from the viewpoint of a mind in early stages of Alzheimer's. With courage to carry a torch into the darkest corners of trauma, Delinsky treats soulful issues with such grace and compassion that the reader is entertained simultaneous to receiving a handbook for survival through catastrophe. Her logo should be a cornucopia spilling from a sunrise.

Holding wounding memories of loved ones who suffered from Alzheimer's, I was hesitant to pick up this book. But, knowing that this author treats gut wrenching issues with gentle grace, yet without the slightest denial of the rigors of reality, I decided to take a dive.

While I admired the technique of opening the story from the mental processes of Grace in her early struggles with Alzheimer's, as I began reading, I wondered if it might be ineffectively arrogant for an author to attempt to describe, from the deteriorating character's thoughts, a mental process of such complex nuance, which the author hadn't directly experienced herself. I was concerned that something so raw as a mind losing itself in a particular pattern would come across as a poor "best guess" riddled with wrong assumptions of cause and effect.

I was not disappointed in any way in this real and poignant, special work of fiction. It was an emotionally satisfying, enlightening journey. The irony of Grace being an "Ann Landers" type of syndicated columnist was dealt with flawlessly, exposing elegantly how knowledge and practice of a precisely prescribed book of "Manners" can become a wasteland of emptiness when one is forcibly exposed to a more raw and honest guide to genuine courtesy and compassion.

Who cares which fork is appropriate when the hand has forgotten where the mouth is. As SHADES OF GRACE evolves, a gentle blossoming occurs in a true family's caring about that vulnerable hand.

There are some detailed reviews of this book, so I will be brief. This is only the 2nd Delinsky book I have read and I have become a fan of her intelligent portrayals of some very controversial subjects. This book is written primarily from Francine's perspective and follows her journey from the meek assistant in the shadow of her famous mother to becoming the strength of the family. She struggles to accept her mother's deteriorating health and desperately wants to find out the secrets of Grace's early years.

I am not certain if the description and details of Alzheimer's disease are accurate, but they are emotionally touching and surely seemed realistic! This story is not totally about Grace's failing mind. The issues brought to light in this book establish a great sense of love and strong family unity. There is a wonderful and sizzling romantic interest for Francine. I would not hesitate to recommend this novel to others or to read it again.

Barbara Delinsky's "Shades of Grace" is much better than "A Woman's Place" ----the novel that came after "Shades" by the same author, Barbara Delinsky. But, it doesn't quite come close to the page-turning urgency of Delinsky's "Three Wishes" where you just had to read ahead in that novel (Three Wishes) to find out how things ended up.

And so, this is, pretty much, my only complaint with "Shades" ----as with all Barbara Delinsky novels----again with the exception of "Three Wishes" and perhaps "The Woman Next Door"----that there is no suspense, which then also means there will be no page-turning-edge-of-your-seat quality to her books. So, Delinsky novels aren't novels that you absolutely must finish in one sitting--which works perfectly for me. I like to hold on to a novel for a while and pace myself in my reading. I felt like I spent some major time checking in with good friends day by day.

This novel is about an older woman's descent into Alzheimers disease. And, how her daughter and grandaughter cope with having to be caretakers. The nice thing, is that author, Delinsky, doesn't get too technical with medical jargon. She gives you just enough so that you don't feel like you are reading a medical textbook----a frequent complaint I have with other authors who delve too deeply into advanced medical terminology, which is very strenuous on readers who are only looking for general, simple explanations in their fiction.

Although, "Shades of Grace" was writtin in 1995, this novel is very timely since the main character, Grace Dorian, is an advice columnist ala "Dear Abby" who, in real life, --(Dear Abby) did have Alzheimers. The daughter then has to take over the mother's advice column, just like in real life with "Dear Abby."

One thing I must point out is the very racy sex scenes, as the daughter who is overwhelmed with caring for her Alzheimers mother seeks refuge in steamy sex sessions with the mother's doctor!!! Yes, you heard correctly--- a doctor who sleeps with his patient's daughter. Delinsky was not exactly setting a very good example or even attempting to deal with the ethical issues regarding this in "Shades". Oh well, welcome to the world of fiction, and I suppose their are worse things---although there are a few brief sentences about how the physician has a few ethical concerns. Not enough to stop the daughter and physician's racy romp which gets very torrid and explicit all throughout this novel. I've given you fair warning.

In the end, I guess I can forgive Delinsky for these gratuitous sex scenes. After all she did start out as a Harlequin romance writer. And, her writing is far more intelligent than, say, Fern Michaels or Belva Plain.

I am simply hooked on Delinsky's intelligent and thought-provoking writing and characters that become your best friends over time, such that I can forgive any shortcomings.

THIS WAS DISGUSTING AND DISGRACEFUL AND I CANT BELIVE I PAID AN ENTIRE QUARTER FOR IT!!!!!

Can you imagine reading the actual private thoughts of Mrs. Katy Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler herself? What did she really think of "Meli", Ashley, Rhett, and the others? It's all here! And, you'll find yourself reading it from start to finish in one sitting! Best Moment: Scarlett's version of "Look Away Dixie Land". An must-have for any GWTW fan!

This is terrible that some modern-age author thought it funny to make fun of one of literatures greatest works. Its a disgrace to all new-day authors that one dosen't have enough imagination to come up with a story and plot of their own, but instead chooses to downgrade a beloved American classic.

What a Hoot! I loved it! Now we know what was really in that pretty little head. I am a long time fan of GWTW (some 30 years worth)and a passionate historian of the antebellum South, but this is too neat a satire to pass up. (Far better than that wretched sequel to GWTW palmed off on us a few years ago!) Scarlett would have been in stitches - heck, she'd have been publishing her memoirs a long time ago! That lady did love the limelight.

If you take GWTW as serious history and don't want your feathers ruffled, no, don't listen to this book. But if you enjoy GWTW as the rousing Southern mythology and legacy it is, I think you will safely get a kick out of this. My only complaint was that the reader speaks so quickly at times that she is difficult to follow and thus doesn't come across as authentically Southern.

Our kindergarten team has used this book for ideas for our computer lab for 2-3 years with kid pix and mac OS10. We copy the directions; model them for the class. It is easy for the children to plan on the back of the sheet before going to the lab. It is something they can do with minimal help.

The activities in this book were of very low interest even for kindergartners. They required more than beginning computer skills and the end results were not much. There was very little variety in the different activities. Basically, a huge waste of money.