The City of Black and White, Story of Murder, Magic and Mystery of the 1893 Chicago’s World Fair by Eric Larsen

Erik Larsen, author of the bestselling book “In the Garden of Beasts” provides another fascinating non-fiction work in The City of Black and White, Story of Murder, Magic and Mystery of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.  Larsen presents this meticulously researched account that brings the era to life.

The story begins with Daniel Burnham, one of the most famous architects of his era whose dream is to secure Chicago as the site of a major world’s fair.  Burnham works hard to secure the support of other famous East Coast architects to create a new city within Chicago.  Burnham along with Fredrick Law Olmstead design a city which they hoped would be a prototype of the ideal American City utilizing the best design and technology.

The story also weaves in the most infamous criminals of the era and perhaps the first serial killer in America, Dr. H.H. Holmes.  He was chameleon and con artist  drawn to the Chicago World Exposition to prey on single women who came to assist with the production of the fair.  He created a hotel rigged for death and concealment of his dastardly deeds.

The account is both spellbinding and heartbreaking.  The fair is an epic triumph that almost didn’t happen. Major features of modern fairs began at the Exposition including the Ferris Wheel and Mid Way carnival entertainment.  The mayor of Chicago plays a role in planning and execution of the dream city.  He too is stalked by a mad man with tragic results.

The work is a fascinating study in of human aspiration and depravity coexisting in the same city.  A must read for anyone in the fields of architecture or urban planning as the work done for the fair shaped the next hundred years in these respective fields.  The book is a study in the macabre and beauty which inhabited the “Gilded Age” in equal measure.  I strongly recommend this spellbinding work of non-fiction and look forward to reading Larsen’s latest effort Dead Wake about the Lusitania about the sinking of the fabled passenger ship.

Hollow City By Ransom Riggs

This unique novel is the follow up of the fascinating Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children.  As with the original novel, Riggs uses interesting vintage photographs to his punctuate his adventuresome tale. The inclusion of the strange photographs really are worth “a thousand words.” Most adults don’t want to admit to liking illustrations, but why should children have all the fun?

Reading the first novel is a must, as the tale picks up after the “cliffhanger” ending.  Jacob and his motley group of peculiar children navigate space and time trying to save their guardian Mrs. Peregrine. The story is both macabre and optimistic, blending teenage optimism with despair. The children's magical does in no way make them perfect children. One can identify with each of the children and in their talents as well as their flaws.

A third and final novel is due later this year. (A preview was provided at the end of the ebook, but I recommend reading a physical copy as to better enjoy the photographs.)  I can't wait to see the resolution of this mind-bending journey in the next book. I recommend this series for anyone who adventure ands a little strangeness.

Game of Thrones, Season 5, Episode 7 The Gift

Okay, I  admit, I’m one of those annoying book people.  I started taking notes the moment I saw tonight’s title, thinking I knew exactly what the episode would be about.  I was completely wrong and know no more about what’s going to happen then those who didn’t slog through ten thousand meandering pages! Yeah!

The episode opens at Castle Black as Tormund Giants Bane is officially released to go with Jon Snow to Hard Stone.  Grumpy Ser Alliser will become the acting Lord Commander in Jon’s absence.  He has to disrespect Jon as he’s leaving, saying how this mission is an insult to all the Night’s Watch who’ve been killed at the hand of Wildings. (Yada, yada, yada…) Despite the criticism, Jon presses on with his difficult decisions that put his own life at risk first.  Jon and Sam hug goodbye and Sam slips him a choice piece of dragon glass (obsidian) should he need to slay any White Walkers.

Maester Aemon is dying.  Gilly shows him her baby, now known as “Young Sam.” Aemon recalls his baby brother Aegon, who went on to become the “Mad King.”  He tells her,  “Get the him South.”

Theon attends to a bruised and brutalized Sansa.  However, in her misery she seems to have found her resolve.   She implores him to “Help me, Theon!”  She instructs him to signal Stark loyalists by placing  a candle in the broken tower.  Theon denies his true name and says he can’t help her.  Sansa is flustered,  but Reek is simply scared to lose more body parts. (I still doubt he would have survived his penile amputation!) Reluctantly, he sets out with candle in his hand.  At the top of the broken tower, Ramsay is waiting.

Maester Aemon calls out for his long dead baby brother “Egg.”  He mutters, “Egg, I had a dream I was old!”  Sam and Gilly attend to him, but it’s a sad vigil.  In the morning, the oldest member of the Night’s Watch is dead. (And their sole Maester.)

Maester Aemon’s body is laid out for burning in front of an audience of Crows.  Sam says the solemn words, “And now his Watch is ended.”   Ser Alliser mutters unkindly, “You’re losing all your friends, Tarley.”

Sansa meets Ramsay outside in a blinding blizzard. He kisses her and says how beautiful she is, much better then he envisioned. He tells her Stannis is marching to Winterfell but the great storm will be to the Northerners advantage. Sansa questions their position at Winterfell given the pregnancy of Walda Frey.  Ramsay states he’s been made a legitimate heir, by King Tommen’s royal decree.  Sansa notes Tommen is a bastard too. (Is this widely known in the North?)  Ramsay states that bastard’s sometimes do very well, like her stepbrother Jon, now Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch.  Sansa probably didn’t know that yet.  Ramsay shows her the flayed and now frozen body of the servant who suggested the “candle in the window” signal.  He clearly enjoys killing her hope.  The scene is reminiscent of Joffery forcing Sansa to look upon the decaying head of her father.  (She is one unlucky girl!)

Ser Davos rides in the blinding blizzard to speak to Stannis.  He tells his King, forty horses have died overnight and there are sell-swords who are deserting.  As usual, Stannis is unmoved. “Winter is coming, it may last years.  We march to victory or defeat, but FORWARD.”  Davos departs as Melisandre enters Stannis’s tent.  Stannis raises his concerns over the foreseen prophesies.  Melisandre assures him she has seen Stannis as the only one who can defeat the Darkness but more sacrifices are needed in the form of royal blood.  She wants him to sacrifice his only daughter. Stannis is a hard ass but that’s where he draws the line.  He yells for her to get out!

At Castle Black, two men of the Night’s Watch harass Gilly.  They corner her and try to force themselves upon her.  Just as things are about to become violent, Sam appears and draws his sword.  The soldiers easily overtake him and he’s soon on the ground getting the snot kicked out of him.  The men resume to assault Gilly as Sam tries to stand up.  Suddenly, Ghost appears and the men flee the massive dire wolf.  Later, Gilly chastises Sam for trying to save her, “Don’t be stupid, you’re not a fighter.”  She attends to his wounds as Sam tries to convince her he “almost had them.” She turns to leave and Sam asks her to stay. Gilly kisses him then straddles our concussed hero. Sam lets out an “Oh my!” as she helps him break his celibacy vow!

Ser Mormont is on the auction block. (Ironically, as he was banished from Westeros for trading slaves.)  The auctioneer touts Jorah’s merits as a pit fighter until he is sold. Tyrion, panicked at the thought of being separated from the last man he knows speaks up as Jorah is bought. “We’re a team!”  Tyrion shouts to the slaver’s laughter. Tyrion quickly demonstrates his fighting moves on the slaves around him and he goes off with the man who bought Jorah.  He implores his owner, “Can we go to Myreen, please!”

In Myreen, Dario and Danny are making the beast with two backs and having some political pillow talk.  She hopes her upcoming nuptials with Hizdar will eliminate the Sons of the Harpy uprising.  Dario asks her to marry him instead but Khalesi says she can’t.  “Then you are the only one in Myreen who isn’t free.” Dario observes. (Ouch!)  He proposes when the fighting pits are reopened to take the opportunity to slaughter all the aristocrats.  Danny balks at this, “I’m a Queen, not a butcher.”  Dario says, “All rulers are either butchers or meat!” (Good luck trying to stay vegan Khalesi!)

Lady Olenna comes to speak to the High Sparrow.  She challenges him as a fraud and puppet for Cersei.  The High Sparrow holds his position that her grandchildren require punishment for their respective crimes against the faith. (Buggary and treachery no less.)  Lady Olenna tries to use her financial powers to bribe him. The High Sparrow retorts, “The Gods demand justice for breaking sacred laws.”  Lady Olenna threatens to deprive King’s Landing of food.  The High Sparrow observes her life of power and privilege has made her blind.  He observes, “We are the many, you are the few!” (Tyrell’s definitely are the 1 percent.)

Cersei meets with her distraught son. Tommen is furious he can’t free Margery. Cersei continues with her “wasn’t me” defense. Tommen’s blood is lite by pubescent lust as he vows to “Kill them all and start a war!” to free her.  Cersei reasons that will just put Margery’s life in more danger.  Cersei assures Tommen she’ll talk to the High Sparrow.  She proceeds to give a sickly sweet speech about how much she loves him stating, “You’re all I care about.”  Maybe the only true thing she said in this conversation.

Prince Doran lets Jaime see his “niece” Myrcella.  She is upset with him for trying to take her back to King’s Landing. Myrcella sees Dorne as her home now and she’s in love with Prince Tyrstane Martell.  She has a full blow teenage hissy fit, crying, “You don’t know me!” Jaime is speechless.

Bronn continues to sing his bawdy songs even in captivity.  The Sand Snakes are in an adjoining cell.  Tyene taunts him, undressing before him and having him swear she’s the most beautiful woman in the world.  As she does this, she asks about the wound to his arm she inflicted with her dagger.  Bronn is dizzy.  She confesses the dagger was poisoned and he will die a slow death.  After he declares she is the most beautiful woman in the world, she tosses him the antidote.

Littlefinger has summoned Lady Olenna for a private conversation.  She scoffs at the meeting space, which is his ruined brothel. Lady Olenna observes how impressed Littlefinger is with himself. (No doubt.) She reminds him of their collaboration to murder Joffery and how she could use this information against him.  Littlefinger explains he had to return to Cersei in order to not arouse more suspicion. Littlefinger promises her he has a “gift” in the form of a handsome young man with information. (Lancel?!)

Jorah readies himself for the fighting pits affixing a metal contraption on his right hand.  The slave broker reports the winner of the fight will get to meet the Queen. The battle begins and Khalesi and Hizdar are there to honor the ritual of visiting the smaller arenas.  The fighters begin to shout up to the Queen and Jorah hears them and rushes out into the melee.  Khalesi is bored and disgusted with the fights until a masked Jorah rushes out to fight.  Jorah kills several men as Tryion attempts to free himself from his chains.  At the end of the fight, Jorah removes his masks and begs Khalesi to listen. “I have a gift!” Tryion shows himself and states, “I am the gift! My name is Tyrion Lannister!” Khalesi looks intrigued, I don’t believe she’s ever met a Lannister before.

Cersei visits Margery in her dingy cell. She offers her some of her leftover venison stew.  Cersei coos that she’s done everything in her power to release her. Margery is in no mood for stew or bullshit. “Lies! Leave bitch!” She yells, throwing the stew at the door. Cersei leaves this exchange with a reptilian smile on her face.

On her way out, she meets the High Sparrow. Cersei asks for details about the next phase of punishment for Margery and Loras. He tells her they will have a trial for the violations of faith presided over by seven judges, including himself. Cersei asks what would happen if they confess prior to the trial. “Then they are subject to mercy,” reports the High Sparrow mysteriously. He proceeds to lecture Cersei about the altar room they are in and they history of the faith. He then speaks of a man who has unburdened himself by making a series of confessions to him. Lancel enters. Cersei begins to exit but is seized by several nuns. She commands them to unhand her but they take her away and throw her in a cell! Cersei is locked up and it’s unclear how much the faith knows about her treachery.

The “gifts” in the episode are Lancel’s information on Cersei, and Tryion Lannister’s possible loyalty to the Targaryeon Queen.  Littlefinger has certainly stirred the pot in King’s Landing.  Does he really want power or does he simply enjoy burning those in power?  If they know Tommen is a bastard, everything is likely lost for the Lannisters and perhaps Jamie should consider a permanent vacation in Dorne! Will Bronn live or has he just been bamboozled by the Snakes as he’s dying? The season is already more than half over and we have yet to see a White Walker. I’m looking forward to episode eight.

Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 6 Unbowed, Unbent and Unbroken

The episode begins with Arya washing bodies with Nan.  She is now wearing the uniform of the House of Black and White.  Arya asks Nan where the bodies go once they are prepared.  Nan chastises her and then begins to tell her own story, which mirrors Arya’s.  However, when she’s finished she asks if the story was true or a lie. Arya is frustrated.   Jaqen asks “Who are you?” Arya replies “I’m Arya Stark of Winterfell.”  Each answer earns a whipping from Jaqen.  Angry and confused, Arya asks him to stop.

Jorah has been staring at his greyscale wound all week!  Tyrion complains Jorah is “The least charming traveling companion ever!”  Jorah didn’t know why Tryion was in the brothel in Volantis.  Tryion reveals he committed patricide.  Tyrion says he met Jorah’s father at the Wall and “They will never see the like of him again.”  Jorah is stunned, he didn’t know his father was dead.  Tryion explains his own men committed mutiny and killed Lord Mormont.  Jorah is silent.

Arya is scrubbing the floor when a man enters the House with his dying daughter in his arms.  The father leaves his daughter by the pool and explains to Arya he has sought treatment for her ailment all over Braavos.  He realizes no one can help her and she’s dying.  Arya goes to the girl and tells her she was sick when she came to the House of Black and White and she was healed.  Arya offers the girl a drink from the waters, which will assure her death.

Afterwards, Arya washes the girl’s body and Jaqen motions for her to follow him.

They come to a room with huge columns containing thousands of faces.  Each death has been a sacrifice to the Faceless God and can be used by the Faceless men.  Jaqen asks if she is ready to be no one.  Arya hesitates and Jaqen says she is ready to be someone else.

After their lively discussion about their respective fathers, Tryion and Jorah continue to get to know each other.  Tryion asks why he chose to follow Danaerys. Jorah relates he was a cynic until he saw her emerge from the fire with her baby dragons.  Tryion muses the Targaryens are famously insane and how can Khalesi rule Westeros when she has never even been there.  The conversation is cut short by the arrival of a slaver’s ship.

Tense moments follow as the men consider if they should kill them or sell off parts of Tryion!  Tryion does his best to talk himself out of the situation.  Tyrion says Jorah is a great fighter and would do well in the newly reopened fighting pits.  The captors agree to take the men with them and delay severing Tyrion’s naughty bits for now.

Littlefinger arrives in King’s Landing where he meets Lancel who warns him the new faith army doesn’t take kindly to “flesh peddlers” like himself.  Littlefinger is unimpressed with Lancel and the monk’s army.  Cersei receives Littlefinger for a quiet chat. Cersei insists she had nothing to do with Ser Loras’s incarceration. Cersei offers her condolences for Lysa. (Right!)  What she really wants to know is if the Vale will fight for the Lannisters.  Littlefinger gives a vague answer stating the Vale has been loyal to the Iron Throne.  He reveals he has found Sansa Stark and she is betrothed to Ramsay Bolton. Sansa’s legitimacy is a real threat and Cersei is livid at the Boltons. “I should have never trusted that turn cloak!” (Yes, the North will remember the Red Wedding, duh.) Littlefinger stresses patience, Stannis is coming to Winterfell and they should wait to see who the victor would be in that battle and then strike at the North.  He offers the Vale knights to assist them but wants to be named “Warden of the North” in return. Cersei looks forward to seeing Sansa’s head on a spike and the Lannister banner flying over Winterfell.

Mrycella is adjusting well in the Water Gardens and has the attentions of a handsome Dornish royal named Tyrstane.  Prince Doran observes the couple from his perch worrying about the young lovers.

Bronn is singing a bawdy song that will blow their cover in Dorne.  Bronn wonders what the plan is to rescue Princess Mrycella.  Ellaria and the “Sand Snakes” are preparing for their revenge.  Their motto is “Unbowed, Unbent and Unbroken.”  (Title of this episode.) The young women leave for the Water Garden. Jaime and Bronn happen on the young lovers as the Sand Snakes emerge, then all hell breaks loose.  The Prince’s guard thwarts the kidnapping attempt by either party.  Jaime and Bronn are seized along with Ellaria and her daughters.

Margaery’s grandmother Lady Olenna has arrived from High Garden to help with the Loras situation.  She says, “If every pillow bitter in King’s Landing were arrested the dungeons would be filled.” Lady Olenna confronts Cersei who still insists she had nothing to do with Ser Loras’ arrest. Lady Olenna reminds Cersei she needs the money and soldiers of her house to keep the Lannister in power.  Cersei says he’ll be released as soon as there is a deposition given to the High Sparrow.

The court proceeding is underway and Loras denies engaging in “buggary” and other crimes.  Loras’ history with Renly is questioned and his allegiance to the Baratheons before he shifted loyalty to the Lannisters.  Margaery is called to testify and she too denies Loras’ “buggary.”  Olyvar, the Littlefinger’s brothel manager testifies against Loras and Margaery! (Ruh-Row!) Olyvar describes Loras’ birthmark and Margery and her brother are arrested.

Back to this week’s installment of pouting with Sansa! Myranda, the dog kennel tart, offers to bathe Sansa for her wedding night.  Myranda changes Sansa’s hair back to its natural color and proceeds to inform Sansa about Ramsay’s “tastes.”  Sansa may have found some courage in the bathwater as she asks Myranda how long she has loved Ramsay. “You can’t frighten me!” Sansa says as she orders the dog tart out.

Sansa paces in her wedding dress of cream and fur.  Theon comes to escort Sansa to the sacred Weir wood.  She refuses to take his arm, even if it means Theon will be punished.

Sansa walks slowly in the snow. (Is winter finally here?) Roose officiates the ceremony. Theon is introduced as the ward of the Stark’s.  Sansa voices her consent to marry Ramsay.  Reek escorts Sansa to her parents’ old bedroom. Ramsey asks if she is still a virgin.  Sansa says Tryion was kind and never forced himself upon her. Ramsay wants Reek to watch Sansa “become a woman.”  Reek cries in shame as Ramsey rapes Sansa.  Poor Sansa’s luck has finally run out; she indeed now knows the suffering of a woman.

Montage of Heck an HBO documentary of Kurt Cobain

Full disclosure, Nirvana’s “Smells like Teen Spirit” blew up when I was seventeen and a freshman in college.  I remember hearing the record (Google it kids!) in my friend’s dorm and thinking, “Whoa, this is different.” The band’s anger tapped into the vein of dissatisfaction of my generation.  Kurt Cobain was anointed the spokesman for all of us and I resented that perhaps as much as he did.  Not one band or message can neatly sum up the unique hopes and challenges of an entire group of people.  In retrospect, I appreciate the band and how it enabled punk to resurface after the heady, hairy, eighties.

This is the first documentary about Cobain I’ve seen and I had high expectations, hoping his true personality would be revealed in his own words.  (Like Imagine, John Lennon 1988.) The first fifteen minutes were incredible and included Kurt’s journals brought to life in a graphic way, including his own art.  But unfortunately, this epic beginning broke down into scripted interviews with people close to Kurt in his formative years.  

We learn nothing new in this “Behind the Music” type slog, which chronicles the bright young kid: his problems fitting in, fame, drugs and downfall.  Kurt’s mother Wendy makes some unbelievable claims regarding her son’s newfound fame.  After hearing “Smells Like Teen Spirit” on the radio, she claims to have told her son he wasn’t equipped to handle this level of fame.  It seems a very prophetic statement if it were true.  The only unique thing is the family movies of Kurt and later of Kurt and his daughter. (All of which were licensed for this HBO production, and I believe carefully edited to show Kurt in the narrative of their choosing. )

The soundtrack to the film was woefully lacking. There were special “bootleg” or B-sides used outside of the what’s available on Itunes.  The band’s biggest hits were woven in almost as an afterthought. My favorite Nirvana song “Heart Shaped Box” was absent altogether. (Which leads credence to the theory nothing anti-Courtney made it into this film.)

The issues of possible mental instability and subsequent “self-medicating” with heroin are glossed over.  We learn his mother took him to the doctor once at age nine and obtained a diagnosis of ADHD. But Kurt did poorly after one dose of Ritalin, so his mom decided not to medicate him and never took him to the doctor again. Instead, the family bounced him around to various relatives because they couldn’t handle him.  It’s an incredibly sad story that his mom is careful not to take any blame for.

Courtney’s interviews come across as superficial, and it’s obvious she’s embellishing the truth to make herself look better.  She makes two suspect claims: she never cheated on Kurt and during her pregnancy was as “healthy as a horse” only having used heroin once.  Its rather undisputed Francis was born addicted to heroin, and Courtney had an affair with Smashing Pumpkin’s front man Billy Cogan.  The film spends a lot of time on how fans hated Courtney, but there seems to be good reasons for their ire.  She was likely instrumental in Kurt’s heroin addiction and, that as much as the gun, is what killed him.  Say what you will about Yoko Ono, but she loved John enough to get him clean.  It’s heartbreaking to watch Kurt and Courtney as high as kites attempting to care for their young daughter.  If they were not rich and famous, no way would they have maintained custody of Francis.

The film really pushes the “Kurt was always going to kill himself” narrative.  Artists create, and sometimes that’s a way to purge the darkness.  I don’t believe just because you write “I hate myself and want to die” means you will kill yourself. Anyone who has lost someone to suicide knows there are many complicated factors which trigger an attempt.  It’s clear to anyone watching these videos that Kurt was very sick and needed help. The people closest to him failed him, maybe because they were high or maybe they just weren’t capable of seeing it. We’ll never know. But I don’t think suicide is ever inevitable.

The movie ends abruptly after showing the home videos of Kurt’s last days. It shows a painful slow motion film of a three-year-old Kurt waving goodbye, that seems to go for cheap sobs.  The film is long and the narrative somewhat lacking. Dave Grohl doesn’t appear in it at all. (Supposedly he was too busy recording “Sonic Highways” but come on!)  Ye, on the other hand, I have been thinking about the movie all week. So, there is something undeniably fascinating about Nirvana and their front man, now that all us generation X’ers have grown up and pine for the angry pulse of our youth.