Review: The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

Title: The Museum of Extraordinary Things
Author: Alice Hoffman
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Scribner
Publish Date: February 18, 2014
Source: Netgalley

 Why You're Reading This Book:

• You're a historical fiction fan.
• You like magical realism.

 What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "Coralie Sardie is the daughter of the sinister impresario behind The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a Coney Island boardwalk freak show that thrills the masses. An exceptional swimmer, Coralie appears as the Mermaid in her father's museum alongside performers like the Wolfman, the Butterfly Girl, and a one-hundred-year-old turtle. 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 father's Lower East Side Orthodox community and his job as a tailor's apprentice. When Eddie photographs the devastation on the streets of New York following the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, he becomes embroiled in the suspicious mystery behind a young woman's disappearance and ignites the heart of Coralie."

My Two Cents:

"The Museum of Extraordinary Things" is the latest release from the magical realism loving Alice Hoffman. This book tells the story of Coralie, a young girl, who has grown up playing the part of the mermaid in her father's collection of oddities. Her life doesn't seem that odd to her. She finds a connection with Eddie, who comes from a completely different background. There is so much to this story besides just a really fascinating relationship. There's an exciting historical story in the background. This book is set in New York City and Coney Island. There is so much to love this book and I was not disappointed!

You all may realize that I really like magical realism so this book was really a treat for me. If you like magical realism or you enjoy Alice Hoffman's previous releases, you should really read this book. I loved the story telling in this book. Hoffman really pulls you into the story. You can feel what it must have felt like to be in New York City during the early 1900s.

I loved the characters. Yes, Coralie and Eddie are really great characters. I loved their stories so much! Hoffman really makes you care about some of the secondary characters too. All of the other people in Coralie's father's "museums" were really fantastic!

Overall, historical fiction fans will eat this one up!