Review: In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
Posted: 14 Aug 2015, 21:56
Although it began as very exciting, it took me months to finish. Not nearly as riveting as Devil in the White City. I found that the last section of the book seemed rushed. The majority of the story takes place within a year, and then the last 5 (short) chapters briefly tell what happened up to 15 years after that. One whole section told us when, how, and at what age each character died (which I found depressing and deflated their roles in the events leading up to WW II).
The author's take on how Germans viewed Dodd after WW II doesn't seem to add up to the picture he painted of the (would-be) diplomat during the 1933-1934 storyline. Overall it was insightful to how Germans viewed things leading up to the rise of Hitler. Also, it was fascinating to finally see how Hitler "rose to power", and who was behind him all the way. It does leave some questions which would lead one reader to the Nazi Germany section of the library to fill in the gaps (not everything is taught in school).
I would say this was better written than Isaac's Storm, but was not as involved as Devil in the White City. In order of great reads, here is what I recommend:
Devil in the White City
Isaac's Storm
In the Garden of Beasts
Thunderstruck
The author's take on how Germans viewed Dodd after WW II doesn't seem to add up to the picture he painted of the (would-be) diplomat during the 1933-1934 storyline. Overall it was insightful to how Germans viewed things leading up to the rise of Hitler. Also, it was fascinating to finally see how Hitler "rose to power", and who was behind him all the way. It does leave some questions which would lead one reader to the Nazi Germany section of the library to fill in the gaps (not everything is taught in school).
I would say this was better written than Isaac's Storm, but was not as involved as Devil in the White City. In order of great reads, here is what I recommend:
Devil in the White City
Isaac's Storm
In the Garden of Beasts
Thunderstruck