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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
3.5
I don't think Alice Hoffman can write a bad book, but I don't think this is one of her best. Too many stories going on so I didn't feel emotionally invested in any of them. Nothing pulled at me like - except maybe Mitts. She must have a pit bull in her life :)
I don't think Alice Hoffman can write a bad book, but I don't think this is one of her best. Too many stories going on so I didn't feel emotionally invested in any of them. Nothing pulled at me like - except maybe Mitts. She must have a pit bull in her life :)
The writing was excellent but the story fell flat for me and just never really got off the ground. It had great potential but it was, honestly, a little boring.
I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down! The story provides complex characters, making them more relatable to the reader. I connected with the main characters in a way I often don't.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I've had this book on my TBR for at least 6 years. I'm not sure why it took me so long to get to it.
The Museum of Extraordinary Things is a dark story that tells the tale of Coralie Sardie. Her magician/professor/impresario father is the mastermind behind the Museum of Extraordinary Things, a freakshow/exhibit in Coney Island typical of the early 1900s. Coralie was born with a physical abnormality that makes her one of the star attractions at the museum. But every year they have to do more, shock more, titillate more.
Coralie stumbles upon Russian Immigrant Eddie Cohen, a young photographer who was present capturing workers' rights protests as well as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. Once their paths cross, neither can forget the other and their lives become entwined in ways they do not understand.
Part mystery, part exposé, and a healthy dose of New York history.
I've had this book on my TBR for at least 6 years. I'm not sure why it took me so long to get to it.
The Museum of Extraordinary Things is a dark story that tells the tale of Coralie Sardie. Her magician/professor/impresario father is the mastermind behind the Museum of Extraordinary Things, a freakshow/exhibit in Coney Island typical of the early 1900s. Coralie was born with a physical abnormality that makes her one of the star attractions at the museum. But every year they have to do more, shock more, titillate more.
Coralie stumbles upon Russian Immigrant Eddie Cohen, a young photographer who was present capturing workers' rights protests as well as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. Once their paths cross, neither can forget the other and their lives become entwined in ways they do not understand.
Part mystery, part exposé, and a healthy dose of New York history.
I love Alice Hoffman's writing. It's very intricate and full of detail. Books written this way take me a bit longer to finish, but it's always worth it. A lovely story framed by historically accurate events in New York at the beginning of the 20th century.
I preferred the story of the "mermaid" over the photographer. Interesting to see how these two stories collide, interesting time period, interesting but ultimately flat characters, and a bit of a weak plot. It wasn't my favorite, but it wasn't a bad read (the beginning is the best bit though). I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone though unless you are a fan of Hoffman.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I refuse to attempt to read a book in which almost half the pages are set in italics. After reading 50 or so pages of this book, I have no idea why so many pages are all italic, but it makes it way too hard for my old eyes. Obviously, what I read did not make it seem worth the effort. DNF.
I'm torn between three and four stars on this one. The story was mostly interesting, the characters had depth and the time period and setting were fascinating, Coney Island New York pre-WWI. However, there were several times when I felt like Hoffman had some great tidbit of info she wanted to share about the time/place (and it was interesting, so I get why she wanted to share it!), so she'd just stuff it in in a way that disrupted the flow of the story. Plus it was distracting from the characters. There were also a few of the huge plot lines in the story that felt like they were wrapped up in just a few sentences. Overall, it was the kind of book that I was willing to pay the 20 cent overdue fine to the library because I hadn't finished it and wanted to, BUT it was the kind of book that I didn't finish in the 3 week library limit so that says something too...you know what I mean?