So I'm on my way to Dresden, Germany, hanging out with my friend Alice before departure, realizing as I ponder her book collection that I did not bring anything to read that I knew would captivate me for the trip. I had Kafka's Das Schloss, the good ol' original German version of The Castle, which I read in English once. I can always rely on Alice for good book suggestions, as past reviews can show you. So I grabbed a few, asked her which I should read, and she pointed to this one and said, "You'll definitely like that." And boy, did I ever. By the time we were landing in Dresden, my book was finished and I discovered all about the World's Fair.

I had already been aware of Dr. H.H. Holmes via crimelibrary.com, my bored-at-work-reading of choice. But I was clueless about the World's Fair. Erik Larson gives great behind-the-scenes details and stories about the inspiration, planning, building and living-out of the humongous 1893 affair. He did it so well, I wanted badly to be the first on the very first Ferris Wheel; I wanted to walk in the buildings, smell the air, look at the dirt, compare the before and after pictures. Put on my wire undergarments, hold my parasol and go watch the Wild Wild West show after a luxurious train ride! It was awesome. The people that crossed paths with the World's Fair, the inventions that walked out, the legacy it left for Chicago--so important--YET I HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT.

I do recommend you pick this one up. It was amazing. Though the Holmes part is what intrigued me most about the book when I picked it up, the new info about the World's Fair is what I ended up enjoying the most. For more info about the World's Fair, and the architecture, click here.