"Eiffel's Tower"

Photo I took in June 2007

I don't like leaving books unfinished. It bothers me. So when I discovered the book Eiffel's Tower, by Jill Jonnes, lying around recently, I knew I had to read it all. I was given the book for Christmas (not the most recent Christmas, either) and I started it soon after. I found it interesting. But for me, interesting nonfiction often gets trumped by more interesting fiction. So it sat around for eighteen months.

My second attempt went much better. The book is all about the construction and beginning months of the Eiffel Tower. I was intrigued to learn that most Parisians were opposed to the idea of the Tower. They thought it would be an ugly mark upon their city. Ironic, of course, because today the Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognized and beloved landmarks in the world.

The book also talks at length about the Paris World's Fair - the reason the Tower was constructed. I was surprised to find a substantial part of the book talked about Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill (not what I think of when I think of Paris). But their Wild West show was a prime attraction at the World's Fair, as were Thomas Edison's displays of his inventions. Artists and journalists of the time were also frequently featured in the book's chapters. All this non-Eiffel Tower related content was helpful in seeing a snapshot of Paris in 1889. But I felt like there was a bit too much of it. I was more interested in learning about the construction, details, and impact of the Eiffel Tower.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read. It was a mental mini-vacation to Paris. If I ever re-read it, though, there are some parts I will skim. If my compulsive must-finish-the-whole-book nature will let me.