--- product_id: 7044579 title: "The Museum of Extraordinary Things: A Novel" brand: "alice hoffman" price: "€ 25.46" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.gr/products/7044579-the-museum-of-extraordinary-things-a-novel store_origin: GR region: Greece --- # The Museum of Extraordinary Things: A Novel **Brand:** alice hoffman **Price:** € 25.46 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Museum of Extraordinary Things: A Novel by alice hoffman - **How much does it cost?** € 25.46 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.gr](https://www.desertcart.gr/products/7044579-the-museum-of-extraordinary-things-a-novel) ## Best For - alice hoffman enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted alice hoffman brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The Museum of Extraordinary Things: A Novel ## Images ![The Museum of Extraordinary Things: A Novel - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/718I-ZmX49L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars Another Beautiful and Masterful Tale by Alice Hoffman *by A***6 on Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2024* I have looked forward to reading this each night after teaching a long day, and I am saddened to have reached the end of this incredible story. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars Unique story, unusual characters, fascinating history *by T***N on Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2015* What is the difference between a freak and a monster? The difference is what lies beneath the surface of the skin. Coralie Sardie often refers to herself as a monster due to a birth defect that produced webbing between her fingers. In the year of 1911, her webbed fingers are a curiosity that lead to a childhood of exploitation. Forced to spend 8-hours each day as a “mermaid” performing in a tank in her father’s museum, she ends up with a naive and distorted worldview. Eddie Cohen, a Russian Immigrant, Orthodox Jew, and photographer, also has a distorted view of the world. His stems from tragedy and his experiences as an mistreated laborer in the garment district. Neither Coralie nor Eddie see their fathers for who they really are, and these misconceptions shape them as they struggle to come of age. Drawn together by the river, shaped by water and fire, these two characters eventually save each other.The backdrop of their story is New York City in the year 1911. A year fraught with labor disputes and tragedy. An era where police were not public servants, but held in the employ of businessmen to do their bidding. Justice was hard to come by, if it existed at all. Women, children, and immigrants were commonly exploited. “Freaks” like Coralie were misunderstood, feared, and studied by the general public. They were commonly misused and abused in carnival side-shows. Despite these sad realities, it was a fascinating time.Hoffman deftly captures the history, the heartache, and the struggle of these citizens while enlightening the reader as to the political and social realities of the time. Coralie and Eddie have their faults but are drawn with depth and empathy. Hoffman’s tendency to repeat (sometimes verbatim) information previously given and to intersperse factual data whenever possible regardless of its relevance to the story sometimes makes for cumbersome reading. The narrative thread is occasionally lost amidst all the information (however interesting it may sometimes be).Most of the prose is fluid and, at times, nearly poetic in its imagery and word choice. The story even incorporates a bit of magical realism which is characteristic of Hoffman’s writing (along with her tendency to be didactic). Coralie and Eddie are unique characters who, while not always likeable, have points of view worth experiencing. The story was not only educational, it was immersive. Hoffman’s attention to detail rewards the reader with the sense of being in New York City in 1911 and experiencing a time and place both foreign and familiar. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Read *by M***A on Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2014* It’s been years since I’ve read an Alice Hoffman book, and I’m reminded that I let far too much time pass (I fell in love with Here on Earth back in the 90s). I thoroughly enjoyed this book – from the extraordinary people and animals in the museum to the quirky habits and shared sadness of the main characters Coralie and Eddie.This is the kind of book that can be read and enjoyed for its entertaining storyline alone – OR the kind of novel that, if you dig in a little and examine the words and content, you’ll discover incredible treasures: themes, symbolism, and ideas about humanity (and its failures) not necessarily apparent on the surface, yet simmering beneath the keystrokes of such a skilled author. Fish, wolves, water, night-blooming flowers and fire ... they all take on significance in this tale.While this is not an environmental story at its core, nature themes flowed through the narrative like a gentle current. Eddie was connected to the river; Coralie was attached to water and an imprisoned tortoise; and they both observed the quick disintegration of New York’s farm and river land as the population swelled. Hoffman’s sensitivity for this issue – occurring at en ever more staggering rate today worldwide – was felt throughout, which made me love the story even more. “Each tree was an individual, a soldier in the fight against pavement and bricks.” That, alone, to me was a story within a story.And because of my enthusiasm for photography, I was immersed in Eddie’s photographic view of the world he saw. I was greatly affected when Eddie was admonished by another character: “You took his photograph” (of a fish) “… now you’re responsible for his soul. You should give him back to the river.” It made me think of the soulful eyes of the deer I’ve been photographing for the past few months. Perhaps we do catch a soul in each photograph, if we’re lucky – or at least we are able to preserve it. And this: “A camera has its own eye, my mentor had told me. He insisted his could see the truth even when he’d begun to grow blind.”On the surface, this is a book about finding love and fitting in. It’s a story about what we see and don’t see: “…not only could a man’s eyes mislead him but his mind could deceive him as well.” It’s a story about evil, control, greed, exploitation, forgiveness and secrecy.Any book that provides historical context without preaching is one I’m sure to love. In that area, this book did not disappoint. Readers learn about the horrors of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, as well as the Coney Island fire that occurred only two months later. We learn of the stark realities for women during the late 1800s and early 1900s, painted with a skilled brushstroke. I so enjoyed glimpsing a New York that is now foreign to us all, imagining it as it was before ‘progress’ paved the way – literally – over natural habitat and simpler life.The imagery is lovely in this book filled with hints of myth and magic. “She would be nothing but glimmering bones scattered beneath the brambles, and the strands of her hair would be taken up by sparrows to use in their nests.”My only criticism was that I felt the ending was rushed. But perhaps that is much more an issue of my not wanting to let go of the well-drawn characters, wishing to keep them in MY world a little longer. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.gr/products/7044579-the-museum-of-extraordinary-things-a-novel](https://www.desertcart.gr/products/7044579-the-museum-of-extraordinary-things-a-novel) --- *Product available on Desertcart Greece* *Store origin: GR* *Last updated: 2026-06-23*