By way of introducing our second book club pick, The Devil in the White City, I thought I’d begin with a quick lesson in Book Proposal Writing 101. Most good proposals contain a comparative title list in which you identify other (successful) books that are similar to yours in subject matter or tone. For the sake of credibility (and modesty!), be realistic in your comparisons by avoiding obvious genre standouts—if you’ve written a legal thriller, don’t compare yourself to John Grisham. Your poppy business book won’t necessarily be the next Freakonomics, and not every spiritual memoir is the next Eat, Pray, Love.

I mention these pratfalls because I can’t think of a popular history title that’s been overused as a comparison in book pitches more than The Devil in the White City. Erik Larson has devised a structure that just about every aspiring historian wants to emulate, one which the New York Times says, “relentlessly fuses history and entertainment to give this nonfiction book the dramatic effect of a novel.”

The winning formula? Take the story of the ambitious architect who oversaw the construction of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, an event that foretold the emergence of America as a cultural force and innovator in the coming century. Then spice up the plot by interweaving into the mix the sordid tale of the original real life American psycho—a serial killer named HH Holmes who devised extravagant methods in which to prey on World’s Fair visitors. The result? A history/true crime narrative with thrills, chills, and wide ranging appeal.

Given that Devil’s inventive structure has been crucial to its critical and commercial success, I’d like to start off our book club discussion by getting your take on how the structure affects your understanding of the book. Do you find that Devil is more readable/listenable than a typical history book? Or does the author’s use of novelistic plot devices in any way diminish his cred as a historian? Do the intertwining narratives totally draw you in, or do they ever feel unnaturally forced together?

I’m going to avoid going into further specifics until everyone has had a chance to get their listening underway (early next week?), but in the meantime here are a few more general questions to contemplate as you start in on the book.
1. The light vs. dark motif in Devil kinda hits you from all angles, starting with the book title and cover art and winding throughout the text. Even as we follow architect Daniel Burnham’s progress in creating the brilliant spectacle of the Fair’s dazzling White City, Larson also reminds us of the poverty and filth that permeated so much of Chicago at the time–personified in the darkly devious form of HH Holmes. What might this contrast signify about America’s technological advancement at the turn of the twentieth century? Does it foreshadow any evils to come?

2. Given that the chapters alternate between Daniel Burnham’s sections and HH Holmes’s, the juxtaposition of the two men pretty much begs us to compare them. It’s rather easy to list the ways in which they’re different. But how are the two men similar? It seems unlikely that the two ever met, but what would they have made of each other if they had?

And now for a couple of audiobook-related questions:
1. If you hadn’t noticed from the succinct 6 hour running time for this 400 page book, we’re listening to an abridged edition of The Devil in the White City. Can you tell? I’ve been paging through the paperback as I’ve been listening and as far as I can tell some fat has been trimmed, but I think the spirit of the book remains intact. Do you agree? Does the story feel at all choppy to you, like we’re missing any important plot segments?

2. What do you think about Tony Goldwyn’s narration? Compared to other audiobook narrators, Goldwyn tends to keep his performance on the low key side. If his presentation lacks a certain amount of theatricality, I found Goldwyn’s restraint to be a refreshing change of pace. Or do I have it all wrong? Does this story call for more dramatic flair?

The Devil in the White City.

Erik Larson’s 2003 bestseller is a potent combination of history and true crime that reads (and sounds!) like a novel. For plot details, here’s a blurb from the publisher: “Bringing Chicago circa 1893 to vivid life, Erik Larson’s spellbinding bestseller intertwines the true tale of two men–the brilliant architect behind the legendary 1893 World’s Fair, striving to secure America’s place in the world; and the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death.” Compelling narrative, lurid psycho killer shenanigans, and you just might learn a thing or two about American history. What more could you want?

Book club discussion will begin right here on 17dots on Tuesday, January 29th. While I strongly encourage all of you to download the audiobook edition of Devil from eMusic, I wouldn’t dream of turning away those of you who’ve already read the book and still want to contribute to the conversation. The more the merrier.

A note on the selection process: In Cold Blood was the book club frontrunner on the message boards—I certainly can’t fault your taste! If the pick was based solely on quality of writing Truman Capote’s masterpiece would be hard to surpass, but in all honesty the audiobook version dragged for me. If we take the entire listening experience into account, The Devil in the White City wins hands down. The narration is impeccable, the action is well-plotted, and in terms of pacing it’s, um, what’s the audiobook equivalent of a page-turner?

It’s only December 20th, but it’s not too early to jumpstart one of my New Year’s resolutions: It’s time to put the Scanner Darkly book club discussion to bed. Let it die with dignity, no teary farewells or long goodbyes.

Before we wrap things up, I have a final burning question for you: In thinking about A Scanner Darkly as a whole, the thing that most stood out for me—beyond the hit-you-over-the-head message that drugs are bad—is the larger question of identity that transcends the abuse of mind-altering substances. Even if Substance D wasn’t messing with their brains the characters of Scanner would seemingly still be of two minds, if not literally then certainly figuratively. As Philip K. Dick sums up in his author’s note, Bob and his friends made a conscious choice to consume the most highly addictive drug, like, ever. What sort of massive identity crisis preceded this decision? How did Bob/Fred wake up one morning and realize that he wasn’t cut out for “straight” suburban life; that living as a “doper” would somehow be truer to his real self?

That’s officially my last Scanner post. But please, if there’s anything I’ve missed, any topic that you think might require further examination, feel free to keep the convo going. Meanwhile I’m gonna start working on a new pick for the New Year which I’ll announce in January, and I’ll be sure to give you plenty of advance warning before starting up discussion. For next time we’ll be ditching the message boards and making 17dots the new and improved book club home. I’m thinking of going true crime on ya—either In Cold Blood or The Devil in the White City. Any further thoughts? Please let me know!

Shall we get this eMusic book club going?

In case you missed some initial thoughts on A Scanner Darkly, you can find them here. I hope my post has gotten some ideas percolating in your head and that you’re ready to dive in. How about we start discussion of chapters 1 and 2 on the message boards next Tuesday, November 13th? Soon we will all be Dick Heads (seriously, that’s what fans of Philip K. Dick call themselves)!

Drum roll please: The first selection for eMusic’s brand new, sure to be stimulating book club is…

A Scanner Darkly.

Philip K. Dick’s sci fi masterpiece evokes a dystopian version of Orange County (no Seth Cohen witticisms or indie pop to be found here!) in which drug addiction is rampant and the government will go to any lengths to stop its spread. A Scanner Darkly is set in the year 1994 (the book was originally published in 1977, so at the time 1994 was the near future), but I think you’ll find its themes to be just as resonant today. Off the top of my head I’d say we’ll be discussing topics such as identity, paranoia, psychosis, reality, surveillance, and addiction. Heavy, right? But I should also mention that Scanner is funny—disturbingly so—and that Paul Giamatti is a first rate narrator. Should make for a challenging but entirely enjoyable listen.

I’d like to start posting some initial thoughts about the book on the main eMusic audiobooks page this Monday, October 29th. Sound OK? From there, our discussion can move to the message boards, where I’m thinking of posting a new topic every three days or so. Does that give you all enough time to get some solid listening in? Lemme know if you feel strongly about timing, one way or another. And thanks to everyone who weighed in on book selection. Opinions were surprisingly diverse, so I’m gonna put In Cold Blood and The Devil in the White City on the back burner until it’s time for next month’s pick.

And, we’re off!