Meaghan

I was interested in this book because of an interview with the author on the Scientific American podcast. I really enjoyed the way she spun history and chemistry into a very interesting narrative. The way things were in the big cities of America during that time are often a dark history that we don't learn about in high school history class. It is shocking but terribly interesting.

The book itself was great, but I was a little distracted by the woman reading it. I wish it had been the author, since I know from her interview she has a decent speaking voice and is knowledgeable on the content. The woman who read the book on the other hand would pronounce the more scientific words awkwardly at times. She also did these really silly character voices. The main character was supposed to be this really educated guy, and she made him sound like a Brooklyn dockhand. Maybe I missed the part where he had a more modest upbringing, but it was comical, and I found it very distracting.

Other than that EXCELLENT book.