Recent Reads

Deepak Chopra – The Return of Merlin: Interesting take on the Arthurian ledgend, with a guide to meaning and symbolism provided by the author.  A first novel; well done. 

Triangle Fire:  David von Drehle, Triangle – The Fire that Changed America;  Margaret Peterson Haddix, Uprising; Mary Jane Auch, Ashes of Roses:  I don’t remember studying about the Triangle fire that took 146 lives at a shirtwaist factory in NYC, March 1911.  Both these books have been written since 9/11/2001, which may have recalled the earlier tragedy to mind.  von Drehle’s book is a historical account of the strike and later fire; Auch and Haddix take fictional approachs in their young adult novels.  I recommend all three for a glimpse of what life may have been like for early young immigrant women attempting to establish themselves in America.

Eric Larson, Devil in the White City: This historical view follows the story of the World’s Fair of 1893 in Chicago, and of a diabolically charming serial killer who was active in the city at the same time.  Gives a good feel for what life was like during that period, at all levels of society. Check it out, particularly if you’re live in or plan to visit Chicago.