The Museum of Extraordinary Things

A Novel

By: Alice Hoffman

Narrated by: Judith Light, Grace Gummer, Zach Appelman

The “spellbinding” (People) New York Times bestseller from the author of The Dovekeepers, an extraordinary novel about an electric and impassioned love affair—“an enchanting love story rich with history and a sense of place” (USA TODAY).

Coralie Sardie is the daughter of the sinister impresario behind The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a Coney Island freak show that thrills the masses. An exceptional swimmer, Coralie appears as the Mermaid in her father’s “museum,” alongside performers like the Wolfman and the Butterfly Girl. 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 community and his job as a tailor’s apprentice. When Eddie photographs the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, he becomes embroiled in the mystery behind a young woman’s disappearance. And he ignites the heart of Coralie.

Alice Hoffman weaves her trademark magic, romance, and masterful storytelling to unite Coralie and Eddie in a tender and moving story of young love in tumultuous times. The Museum of Extraordinary Things is “a lavish tale about strange yet sympathetic people” (The New York Times Book Review).

I loved the three reader presentation!

They served the story - the pain, confusion, fear, hope - well. It's not my favorite Hoffman novel, but it is deeply felt and compelling.

Exquisite. I savored each chapter.

Loved it. Thank you to the author for creating this work of art.
Enjoy the journey.

OUTSTANDING IN EVERY WAY

Would you listen to The Museum of Extraordinary Things again? Why?

I have cried only one other time while listening to a book and this one made it the second time. It is one of the most beautifully written novels I have ever read and has become one of my top 5 all time favorites so far. I was fully invested in each and every character and felt each joy and heartache.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Judith Light's narration was one of the most mesmerizing I have ever heard, her passion for every single word she spoke drew me in and I felt as if I was standing in the shadows and could see/hear/smell every detail. This is truly one of the most enjoyable, albeit heartbreaking, books I've experienced on audible.com thus far.

Had to keep listening

I listened long after I should have gone to bed. It's one of those. :-)

More than just a novel

This work by Alice Hoffman does not disappoint. Bringing together several events of 1911 that take place in New York City, this novel delves deep into the motivations and truths of new immigrants, blue collar workers, and the underbelly of Coney Island. The book is narrated in 3 voices that bring the story to life.