The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

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jenlb7806
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The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

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Coralie, the daughter of the curator for The Museum of Extraordinary Things, was raised hidden from the city she lived in. Eddie, who left his Jewish faith behind as a child, is a photographer who hides himself from the city he was brought to after his mother passed away. Taking place in the early decades of the 20th century in the burroughs of New York City, Alice Hoffman's coming-of-age tale brings the various regions of the City, including Coney Island and the factories where thousands of immigrants worked, to life.

Many of the events that take place in the book have a background in the true history of New York. From the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire to the blaze that destroyed Dreamland, Hoffman's tale weaves in and out of reality, blending fact with fiction seamlessly. Coralie's tale involves those of the era whose uniqueness were often put on display by the likes of her father and those like him, i.e., PT Barnum. Eddie's story revolves around his attempts to separate himself from his Jewish past and find some joy and meaning to life through his photographs.

Hoffman's characters are well fleshed out and you will truly root for Coralie and Eddie to find their true purposes, and each other. The story will draw you in and not let you go until you reach the very last page - and leave you wanting more. In fact, Hoffman ends with resources and further reading materials if you wish to learn more about the subjects found in the book. An excellent book that I would highly recommend to anyone.
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