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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Good storytelling but it felt really slow for the first 100+ pages. I feel like it could have switched narrating characters more frequently or cut the chapters into smaller vignettes.
I continue to be blown away by Alice Hoffman. She writes the most beautiful novels--each sentence is gorgeous.
This story is definitely unsettling, however. Set in 1910 in New York City, we are introduced to The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a theatrical carnival-like-business run by the "Professor". The professor's daughter, Coralee, is one of the star attractions, as a hand deformity has allowed the Professor to present her as a mermaid of sorts. Having grown up in isolation, only surrounded by other "freaks of nature" and a domestic servant named Maureen, Coralee has come to believe that she is not entirely human.
The other part of the story lies with Eddie Cohen, a young Jewish man who has broken with his faith and his father, and become a part of the seedy underbelly of the city.
However, both Coralee and Eddie are profoundly changed when they are exposed to the natural world. For Eddie, his connection with a nature photographer opens his eyes to the beauty of the trees and river. For Coralee, it is her exposure to the Hudson River that makes her feel beautiful and alive. When their paths cross, their intense attraction to each other propels them into a journey of violence, fear and finally, realization.
This story is definitely unsettling, however. Set in 1910 in New York City, we are introduced to The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a theatrical carnival-like-business run by the "Professor". The professor's daughter, Coralee, is one of the star attractions, as a hand deformity has allowed the Professor to present her as a mermaid of sorts. Having grown up in isolation, only surrounded by other "freaks of nature" and a domestic servant named Maureen, Coralee has come to believe that she is not entirely human.
The other part of the story lies with Eddie Cohen, a young Jewish man who has broken with his faith and his father, and become a part of the seedy underbelly of the city.
However, both Coralee and Eddie are profoundly changed when they are exposed to the natural world. For Eddie, his connection with a nature photographer opens his eyes to the beauty of the trees and river. For Coralee, it is her exposure to the Hudson River that makes her feel beautiful and alive. When their paths cross, their intense attraction to each other propels them into a journey of violence, fear and finally, realization.
I won this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway- thank you!!
The Museum of Extraordinary Things takes place in 1911 and follows the story of Coralie, a young girl who lives in the house attached to the museum. Her father runs the museum and runs Coralie's life with a strict and unkind hand, but Coralie has mainly been raised by the loving housekeeper Maureen. The museum is filled with both extraordinary creatures that are not alive and preserved in jars, but it also houses rare animals and provides a place for the human wonders to showcase their differences. There is the Wolfman, the Butterfly Girl, and a woman covered in bees, to name a few. Though people come to gawk at these wonders, Coralie sees them as the people that they are; from the start she has a sweet nature and a trusting heart. Her father is quite different; he is cruel and secretive, and he is not above creating wonders of his own in order to boost the popularity of the museum. Coralie eventually performs in the Museum as the Mermaid Girl, and she is always very conscious of what her father calls her "deformity."
At the same time, we're introduced to Eddie: a photographer who is dealing with his own family demons. Eddie and his father have escaped the pogroms against the Jews in the Ukraine, but Eddie's mother was lost. Eddie and his father have a difficult relationship that haunts Eddie for most of his life. He left his father to become a photographer, but family is always very much on Eddie's mind.
Coralie and Eddie sort-of meet along the banks of the Hudson, and she is immediately captivated by him. The book follows their separate journeys and until they are finally brought together in a more permanent and unexpected way.
The Museum of Extraordinary Things catches your imagination from the very beginning. The narrative flows easily between Coralie and Eddie, and New York in 1911 becomes quite real. The section about the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory was especially heartbreaking. Each character- especially the wonders- are written with such depth and kindness. Hoffman shows how each character-from the Butterfly Girl to Eddie's father- is more complex than most people realize. Even the dogs are given a depth and a personality that one doesn't often see. The intertwining of the characters before they even meet was brilliant and unpredictable. I felt as though Hoffman was showing the reader multiple reasons not to judge a book by its cover, but she was doing it in a heartfelt way.
The Museum of Extraordinary Things takes place in 1911 and follows the story of Coralie, a young girl who lives in the house attached to the museum. Her father runs the museum and runs Coralie's life with a strict and unkind hand, but Coralie has mainly been raised by the loving housekeeper Maureen. The museum is filled with both extraordinary creatures that are not alive and preserved in jars, but it also houses rare animals and provides a place for the human wonders to showcase their differences. There is the Wolfman, the Butterfly Girl, and a woman covered in bees, to name a few. Though people come to gawk at these wonders, Coralie sees them as the people that they are; from the start she has a sweet nature and a trusting heart. Her father is quite different; he is cruel and secretive, and he is not above creating wonders of his own in order to boost the popularity of the museum. Coralie eventually performs in the Museum as the Mermaid Girl, and she is always very conscious of what her father calls her "deformity."
At the same time, we're introduced to Eddie: a photographer who is dealing with his own family demons. Eddie and his father have escaped the pogroms against the Jews in the Ukraine, but Eddie's mother was lost. Eddie and his father have a difficult relationship that haunts Eddie for most of his life. He left his father to become a photographer, but family is always very much on Eddie's mind.
Coralie and Eddie sort-of meet along the banks of the Hudson, and she is immediately captivated by him. The book follows their separate journeys and until they are finally brought together in a more permanent and unexpected way.
The Museum of Extraordinary Things catches your imagination from the very beginning. The narrative flows easily between Coralie and Eddie, and New York in 1911 becomes quite real. The section about the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory was especially heartbreaking. Each character- especially the wonders- are written with such depth and kindness. Hoffman shows how each character-from the Butterfly Girl to Eddie's father- is more complex than most people realize. Even the dogs are given a depth and a personality that one doesn't often see. The intertwining of the characters before they even meet was brilliant and unpredictable. I felt as though Hoffman was showing the reader multiple reasons not to judge a book by its cover, but she was doing it in a heartfelt way.
The book conjures up life in New York City at the beginning of the 20th Century with a mixture of narrative and first person diary entries from the two main characters. The characters are children of imigrants, trying to form their own identities whilst coming to terms with the culture, constraints and 'failings' of the previous generation (which are also part of who they are). The main characters live on the edge of society; one is an orthodox Jew, the other the daughter of the 'Professor' who owns The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a sensationalist sideshow (and freakshow) on Coney Island. Both protagonists are motherless children with no immediate family apart from their fathers.
The story is set in the context of actual New York events with two major fires influencing the course of history and so the characters in the story. Society is in flux: imigrants are fighting for survival, factory workers are badly treated and organising themselves to demand better conditions and pay, the women's movement is beginning and gangs / a largely ineffective and corrupt police force patrol the streets. New York City is expanding, but the countryside with its wildlife, bogs, rivers and fishing is still not too far away.
Some of the negative Goodreads reviews complained there was nothing new in this novel. I beg to differ, for me it was all shiny new and exciting: it invoked the darkness and light of New York City at the turn of the Century without too much violence or morbidity.
For me, the book is an 'extraordinary thing' in itself - much more than just a well-researched emotive tale. I was immersed in a time and place I knew very little about, but which now feels so familiar! I already miss the green outskirts of the city, the rivers, the fishing, the old turtle and the characters of course (Wolfman, Maureen, Eddie and Coralie... NOT the Professor!
The story is set in the context of actual New York events with two major fires influencing the course of history and so the characters in the story. Society is in flux: imigrants are fighting for survival, factory workers are badly treated and organising themselves to demand better conditions and pay, the women's movement is beginning and gangs / a largely ineffective and corrupt police force patrol the streets. New York City is expanding, but the countryside with its wildlife, bogs, rivers and fishing is still not too far away.
Some of the negative Goodreads reviews complained there was nothing new in this novel. I beg to differ, for me it was all shiny new and exciting: it invoked the darkness and light of New York City at the turn of the Century without too much violence or morbidity.
For me, the book is an 'extraordinary thing' in itself - much more than just a well-researched emotive tale. I was immersed in a time and place I knew very little about, but which now feels so familiar! I already miss the green outskirts of the city, the rivers, the fishing, the old turtle and the characters of course (Wolfman, Maureen, Eddie and Coralie... NOT the Professor!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a fun read but I working day it’sa great book. Like other reviewers I found the switching POVs to be annoying. But the story itself is interesting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
The story isn't too bad, but the majority of the book is told from the POV of the two protagonists without them ever meeting until close to the end. Each chapter skipped between first person, which was their journal entries, and third person-which was the main story. It was a little frustrating to read between first and third person. The story itself was pretty interesting, but the whole "love at first sight" that happened between the male and female protagonists in this book was a little bit cheesier than necessary. She only saw him once, while he didn't see her at all, but they both were yearning for each other? A little much.
Not bad, could have been better. Historical detail fleshed out with a love story. A lot of, "What? Why would she/he do that?". But it was whimsical, fun, and equal parts disturbing. I enjoyed it.
I loved the last third of this book when all the stories began to mesh together and the suspense was building. The middle definitely dragged for me.
"Coralie Sardie is the daughter of the sinister impresario behind The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a Coney Island freak show that thrills the masses. An exceptional swimmer, Coralie appears as the Mermaid in her father's museum, alongside performers like the Wolfman and the Butterfly Girl. One night Coralie stumbles upon a striking young man taking pictures of moonlit trees in the woods off the Hudson River. The dashing photographer is Eddie Cohen, a Russian immigrant who has run away from his community and his job as a tailor's apprentice. When Eddie photographs the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, he becomes embroiled in the mystery behind a young woman's disappearance. And he ignites the heart of Coralie."
"Coralie Sardie is the daughter of the sinister impresario behind The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a Coney Island freak show that thrills the masses. An exceptional swimmer, Coralie appears as the Mermaid in her father's museum, alongside performers like the Wolfman and the Butterfly Girl. One night Coralie stumbles upon a striking young man taking pictures of moonlit trees in the woods off the Hudson River. The dashing photographer is Eddie Cohen, a Russian immigrant who has run away from his community and his job as a tailor's apprentice. When Eddie photographs the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, he becomes embroiled in the mystery behind a young woman's disappearance. And he ignites the heart of Coralie."
I was so very intrigued to check this book out. It's another read for one of my book clubs, and based on the title/synopsis I found, I thought I was in for a bizarre and enrapturing story.
Here's a brief synopsis:
It's the early 1900s. Coralie is the daughter of the man who runs the local freakshow (The Museum of Extraordinary Things) on Coney Island, and was born with a deformity herself-webbing between her fingers. She was ordered by her father to wear gloves to cover her deformity, but her father still believed her to be an anomaly/future asset to his business and therefore encouraged her love of water- pushing her to keep her breath held underwater for longer periods of time, swimming incredibly long distances in dangerous waters, etc. As she grows, she eventually becomes an exhibit in her father's museum--a mermaid. Coralie is raised by an Irish maid in the house, Maureen, who had been badly burned with acid by a former boyfriend. Maureen is the most loving, normal character in the entire book, but not well-developed.
Ezekiel Cohen (later changed to Ed) was a well-developed character, son of a devout Jewish man and hard-working for most of his youth. He was ashamed of his father, and decided to leave his faith and family behind and became somewhat deviant. He definitely had the most back story out of any character, but personality-wise he seemed too fictitious to grasp.
I wish I could tell you generally what the plot of the book is, but it seemed that Hoffman was writing in a lofty way for the first 75% of the book and then started a sprint to the finish in the last quarter of the book that included a love story, a main idea, and a conclusion by fire (ooooh, very cryptic) to wrap the book up. She took "sprint to the finish" to a whole new level.
The first few chapters were okay, the plot was difficult to pinpoint, and there was an exceptional lack of character development. There was a switch between third and first person POVs which was CRAZY ANNOYING. First person point of view chapters were written entirely in italics which was so blatantly vexatious; I had a difficult time reading the chapters because I was so distracted by the unnecessary italics. I was disappointed, to say the least, because Alice Hoffman is truly an incredible author but this novel was not a decent representation of her other work.
Here's a brief synopsis:
It's the early 1900s. Coralie is the daughter of the man who runs the local freakshow (The Museum of Extraordinary Things) on Coney Island, and was born with a deformity herself-webbing between her fingers. She was ordered by her father to wear gloves to cover her deformity, but her father still believed her to be an anomaly/future asset to his business and therefore encouraged her love of water- pushing her to keep her breath held underwater for longer periods of time, swimming incredibly long distances in dangerous waters, etc. As she grows, she eventually becomes an exhibit in her father's museum--a mermaid. Coralie is raised by an Irish maid in the house, Maureen, who had been badly burned with acid by a former boyfriend. Maureen is the most loving, normal character in the entire book, but not well-developed.
Ezekiel Cohen (later changed to Ed) was a well-developed character, son of a devout Jewish man and hard-working for most of his youth. He was ashamed of his father, and decided to leave his faith and family behind and became somewhat deviant. He definitely had the most back story out of any character, but personality-wise he seemed too fictitious to grasp.
I wish I could tell you generally what the plot of the book is, but it seemed that Hoffman was writing in a lofty way for the first 75% of the book and then started a sprint to the finish in the last quarter of the book that included a love story, a main idea, and a conclusion by fire (ooooh, very cryptic) to wrap the book up. She took "sprint to the finish" to a whole new level.
The first few chapters were okay, the plot was difficult to pinpoint, and there was an exceptional lack of character development. There was a switch between third and first person POVs which was CRAZY ANNOYING. First person point of view chapters were written entirely in italics which was so blatantly vexatious; I had a difficult time reading the chapters because I was so distracted by the unnecessary italics. I was disappointed, to say the least, because Alice Hoffman is truly an incredible author but this novel was not a decent representation of her other work.
An odd book, beautiful and strange, set in New York City, 1911, about a young woman with webbed fingers, her evil father who runs a freak show in Coney Island, a lonely young Jewish photographer, and a mystery involving a girl who went missing after the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.