The Museum of Extraordinary Things

368 pages

English language

Published April 8, 2015 by Simon & Schuster, Simon & Schuster Ltd.

ISBN:
978-1-4711-1215-7
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OCLC Number:
899704451

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4 stars (2 reviews)

Coney Island, 1911: Coralie Sardie is the daughter of a self-proclaimed scientist and professor who acts as the impresario of The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a boardwalk freak show offering amazement and entertainment to the masses. An extraordinary swimmer, Coralie appears as the Mermaid alongside performers like the Wolfman, the Butterfly Girl, and a 100 year old turtle, in her father's "museum". She swims regularly in New York's Hudson River, and one night stumbles upon a striking young man alone in the woods photographing moon-lit trees. From that moment, Coralie knows her life will never be the same. The dashing photographer Coralie spies is Eddie Cohen, a Russian immigrant who has run away from his father's Lower East Side Orthodox community. As Eddie photographs the devastation on the streets of New York following the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, he becomes embroiled in the mystery behind a young woman's disappearance …

2 editions

Review of 'The Museum of Extraordinary Things' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This is a nicely written historical novel that takes place mostly in New York during 1911, and centers around two young people from very different backgrounds. And yes, their stories do collide.

What I admired most about this story is the depiction of the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire, and the anger and unrest of that time period. Also, the fact that women had very few rights or control over their own lives was shown in all its cruelty.

There is a touch of magical realism in this novel, as well, so there is an interesting mesh between real events and those which demand the reader to suspend disbelief. I found this story to be more and more of a page turner, as I progressed. The main characters were both likable, the dialogue was realistic, and the plot was quite engaging.

I would recommend this to most people, especially those …

avatar for jnyrose

rated it

4 stars

Subjects

  • Fiction

Places

  • Coney Island (New York, N.Y.)
  • New York (State)
  • New York
  • Coney Island