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octoelle's review against another edition
4.0
I ended up enjoying The Museum of Extraordinary Things more than I thought I would. However, the use of italic text is unnecessary and distracting.
The story unfolds with the skill I have come to recognise in Alice Hoffman's writing. Nevertheless, I found myself skipping back and forth trying to avoid the italics where possible.
The story unfolds with the skill I have come to recognise in Alice Hoffman's writing. Nevertheless, I found myself skipping back and forth trying to avoid the italics where possible.
rebecca623's review against another edition
4.0
When you already have difficulty reading average sized print, having alternating chapters written in italics is not helpful.
buffalobeautyboy's review against another edition
4.0
The Museum of Extraordinary Things is an enchanting tale of many things but above all perseverance. It bounces between a couple different plots none necessarily more important than the other but they tie themselves together so magically. This book spoke to every corner of me and Iām gracious for the time I spent reading it. 1911, Coney Island, mystery, and old timey circus side show vibes. Sink your teeth into this novel if any of those things appeal to you.
robinshtulman's review against another edition
It is interesting to find that my favorite character in this book is New York itself. Imagine that the Chelsea neighborhood was once covered in fruit trees -- I have only known it as a forest of apartment buildings. It is impossible for me to envision any part of Manhattan or the Bronx as wooded as the place where Coralie first spies Eddie and Mitts.
I long for the photographs described in this book. I know that many of the photographers are fictional characters, but some are not, and the rallies and protests and tragedies Hoffman writes about are real pieces of NY history. She kindly includes some of her sources in the back. I will have to look at them.
Previous reading experiences are leading me to mix-up Coralie's father, Professor Sardie, with the parents from Geek Love, which I know is only superficially a good match.
I long for the photographs described in this book. I know that many of the photographers are fictional characters, but some are not, and the rallies and protests and tragedies Hoffman writes about are real pieces of NY history. She kindly includes some of her sources in the back. I will have to look at them.
Previous reading experiences are leading me to mix-up Coralie's father, Professor Sardie, with the parents from Geek Love, which I know is only superficially a good match.
walte's review against another edition
5.0
Really good book. I had a hard time relating to the book in the beginning, but by the end I was sorry to see it end.
mattb909's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. I like the almost lyrical or poetic phrasing, the descriptions, the characters, part fantastical but also very human and normal, with flaws and good traits.
I'm not familiar with NYC or its neighborhoods or geography, but I enjoyed the descriptions, although I don't know if they're accurate or not..
I'm not familiar with NYC or its neighborhoods or geography, but I enjoyed the descriptions, although I don't know if they're accurate or not..
mizannie4's review against another edition
4.0
If I could Iād give 4 and a half stars - I absolutely loved this book with the exception of what felt like a bit of a slow start. Hoffman uses flashbacks and flash-forwards as well as alternating narrative points of view to tell this story - under a less-skilled author that could be a hot mess but Hoffman pulls it off here with a slow build, lots of suspense and a finish that left me in tears. Magical. š§š¼āāļø
authorcagray's review against another edition
The prose is gorgeous and I was intrigued by the concept of a girl whose father, much like Barnum and Bailey, was a huckster and forced her to be the "mermaid" of the show. But there was too much gritty realism for me... I got to a scene (that was apparently true to life) of a factory on fire and all the girls who worked there burning or else jumping to their deaths. It was so very gratuitous and grim that I just couldn't continue.
hildiej's review against another edition
5.0
Alice Hoffman is very readable. This story was beautifully written and set in the early part of the 20th century in New York City, amidst the backdrop of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. It is about how we choose who we want to be in the world, despite our upbringing. A plus: it is also a love story. Highly recommended