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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this book. I’m glad that Coralie and Eddie ended up together. I feel that the professors Fate was harsh. Also, I’m sad that North died. I loved the animal aspect of the story.
A light, easy read that was very entertaining, particularly for me as I love a good carnie book, as well as historical fiction set in NYC. Hoffman started in the classic narrative chapter 1 - this character, chapter 2 - that character, chapter 3 - back to the first character, etc., lives are apart but you know that eventually the two characters would come together. No spoiler there. Nothing was mind blowing about the story or particularly important. I'd say more 3.5 than 4 stars, but I'm feeling generous so 4 it is.
A lot of what I enjoy about Hoffman's work was present here and the last hundred pages was wonderful. But it was an odd book structurally and it took an exceptionally long time to get going. Well over 200 pages. I gave it more time than I usually would because it was Alice Hoffman and her work always delivers, as this book did ultimately. I would have given it 5 stars but for the structural oddity. An uncommonly rich description of New York City at the turn of the century, though, which I appreciated in spite of a few historical hiccups (one example: I don't believe a photographer would have a camera held together with tape, as tape would not be commonly used for another 30 years).
A thoroughly enjoyable trip to New York in the early twentieth century, this book is full of fascinating characters, including the city. Coralie lives with her father in a museum that is really a freak show, peopled with living wonders. The journey she goes on teaches her the nature of love and what truly makes a monster. Jane Eyre features regularly, as does a wolf man, so I'll give it four and a half stars.
I read this book after my mother recommended it to me, and the premise itself was incredibly intriguing. There's something about the history of Coney Island and old-timey "freak shows" that really appeal to readers' curiosity and imagination. Overall, this novel did satisfy that curiosity without marginalizing its characters or labeling them as subhuman, but it also struggled with its narrative in a way that didn't bring the story together for me.
Things I Liked
1. Prose: Hoffman’s strength in this novel really lies in the enchanting way she crafts her prose. Her novel is rich with vivid descriptions and striking imagery, all of which create a beautiful and dazzling world that the reader can be excited to explore.
2. Tone: Museum doesn’t shy away from the ups and downs of society in the early 20th century, and I appreciated the fact that she didn’t create an idealized, mystical world without its hardships. There are constant references to labor struggles and the exploitative nature of the “freak show,” which lent an air of realism to the novel.
3. Mr. Morris and Maureen: For me, these were the most interesting people in the novel because they had the most driving motivations and unique perspectives on life based on the hardships they endured. They are wonderfully developed, though I wish we had gotten to see move of them in the story.
Things I Didn't Like
1. Flat Characterization: The two main characters, Coralie and Eddie, were not as interesting as I first thought they would be. Coralie seemed to have no flaws at all, thus filling the role of idealized love interest. Eddie, on the other hand, felt like a stereotype - the poor immigrant who was forced to live on the streets and gain his smarts through shady activity. Both of these are good models to start with, but ideally, as a writer goes, more flaws would appear to make them more like people (if that makes sense).
2. Too Many POV: This novel shifts around a lot between first person Coralie, first person Eddie, third person Coralie, and third person Eddie. I think two at maximum would have allowed for a smoother narrative.
3. Lack of a Driving Plot: While an action-packed plot is by no means required to make a novel “good,” the plot of Museum felt lacking. Despite the presence of a murder-mystery, the history of Coney Island, the historic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, and many other things, I was wholly underwhelmed with its sequence of events. It seemed like all of these elements were present, but not explored effectively. The love story between Coralie and Eddie, additionally, felt cliche and contrived, since they only see each other once and then are suddenly in love. Multiple fires also made the plot feel repetitive.
Recommendations: You might enjoy this book if you're interested in the history of Coney Island and "freak shows," or if you enjoy novels about immigration, worker's rights, industrialization, etc. You might also like this novel if you liked Erin Moregenstern's The Night Circus or Sarah Gruen's Water For Elephants
Things I Liked
1. Prose: Hoffman’s strength in this novel really lies in the enchanting way she crafts her prose. Her novel is rich with vivid descriptions and striking imagery, all of which create a beautiful and dazzling world that the reader can be excited to explore.
2. Tone: Museum doesn’t shy away from the ups and downs of society in the early 20th century, and I appreciated the fact that she didn’t create an idealized, mystical world without its hardships. There are constant references to labor struggles and the exploitative nature of the “freak show,” which lent an air of realism to the novel.
3. Mr. Morris and Maureen: For me, these were the most interesting people in the novel because they had the most driving motivations and unique perspectives on life based on the hardships they endured. They are wonderfully developed, though I wish we had gotten to see move of them in the story.
Things I Didn't Like
1. Flat Characterization: The two main characters, Coralie and Eddie, were not as interesting as I first thought they would be. Coralie seemed to have no flaws at all, thus filling the role of idealized love interest. Eddie, on the other hand, felt like a stereotype - the poor immigrant who was forced to live on the streets and gain his smarts through shady activity. Both of these are good models to start with, but ideally, as a writer goes, more flaws would appear to make them more like people (if that makes sense).
2. Too Many POV: This novel shifts around a lot between first person Coralie, first person Eddie, third person Coralie, and third person Eddie. I think two at maximum would have allowed for a smoother narrative.
3. Lack of a Driving Plot: While an action-packed plot is by no means required to make a novel “good,” the plot of Museum felt lacking. Despite the presence of a murder-mystery, the history of Coney Island, the historic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, and many other things, I was wholly underwhelmed with its sequence of events. It seemed like all of these elements were present, but not explored effectively. The love story between Coralie and Eddie, additionally, felt cliche and contrived, since they only see each other once and then are suddenly in love. Multiple fires also made the plot feel repetitive.
Recommendations: You might enjoy this book if you're interested in the history of Coney Island and "freak shows," or if you enjoy novels about immigration, worker's rights, industrialization, etc. You might also like this novel if you liked Erin Moregenstern's The Night Circus or Sarah Gruen's Water For Elephants
Another wonderfully written, completely engrossing novel by Alice Hoffman. Museum of Extraordinary Things presses together many parts of New York City, 1911--Triangle Shirtwaist fire, early photography, Jewish migration from the Ukraine, the rise of Coney Island and the 1911 Dreamland fire, the wilds of upper Manhattan back then. Reading afterwards that the author's grandfather was an ILGWU man active in the NYC Workmen's Circle in those years reinforced my sense of the passion Hoffman brings to her writing about immigrant garment workers, their back stories, the horrors of the fire itself, the "them and us" relationship with the owner class.
The novel also is very much a romance, a murder mystery, an exploration of the power of dreams, ties between fathers and sons and daughters, relations between people and animals in the city. With no disrespect to the book or Hoffman, it reminds me a bit of the space that Erik Larson occupies. Yet Hoffman does it with her characteristic lavish love for her characters, especially the women, finding their way to self-expression against conservative social forces.
True rating is 4.5. Hope you give it a try.
The novel also is very much a romance, a murder mystery, an exploration of the power of dreams, ties between fathers and sons and daughters, relations between people and animals in the city. With no disrespect to the book or Hoffman, it reminds me a bit of the space that Erik Larson occupies. Yet Hoffman does it with her characteristic lavish love for her characters, especially the women, finding their way to self-expression against conservative social forces.
True rating is 4.5. Hope you give it a try.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
After some thinking, I'm going to settle for 2/5 stars.
I thought this was going to be a light, romantic story but it took a way darker path than I expected. I struggled a lot reading this, mostly because it was hard to connect with this book on an emotional level and I think that would have been very important. Coralie and Eddie, the main characters telling their stories, remained distant for me. Instead we get a lot of descriptions of New York back in 1911 - maybe what happened to the city was meant to reflect on the main characters but I don't know. This book just wasn't for me at all.
In a way, it was easy to know what was going to happen and there is something you wish wouldn't happen but it happens anyway. I wasn't too thrilled about that. I didn't hate this book but I didn't love it either, very neutral.
I thought this was going to be a light, romantic story but it took a way darker path than I expected. I struggled a lot reading this, mostly because it was hard to connect with this book on an emotional level and I think that would have been very important. Coralie and Eddie, the main characters telling their stories, remained distant for me. Instead we get a lot of descriptions of New York back in 1911 - maybe what happened to the city was meant to reflect on the main characters but I don't know. This book just wasn't for me at all.
In a way, it was easy to know what was going to happen and there is something you wish wouldn't happen but it happens anyway. I wasn't too thrilled about that. I didn't hate this book but I didn't love it either, very neutral.