Questions About The Museum of Extraordinary Things

by Alice Hoffman (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (9)

I am astounded by all the folks who loved this book and had no problem with all the horrific subject matter. How could they "like" reading the description of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire, with all the girls jumping to their deaths? How could they enjoy reading how the Professor tormented our heroines, among others, and went unpunished?

Juliet Sigh. Yet another question about the very purpose and nature of fiction. LIFE isn't fair, nice, pretty, just, or happy lovely la la all the time. Do y…moreSigh. Yet another question about the very purpose and nature of fiction. LIFE isn't fair, nice, pretty, just, or happy lovely la la all the time. Do you want fiction to lie to you and tell you that life is wonderful and all happy endings and all people are good and nobody dies or is unhappy or unkind? Or do you want fiction to give you a window into people you wouldn't normally be able to connect with, to see inside them and learn why they think the way they do? Do you want fiction to portray the difficult and challenging parts of life so you can see how other people deal with them, so you can see from the inside that other people feel similarly dismayed, upset, and challenged as you do? Do you want to take some comfort from the fact that true fiction shows us that we are all human beings who face difficult, sometimes tragic situations and that we have to find some way to live through them or in spite of them?

Fiction that does any or especially all of these things well is the kind of fiction I like. Fiction that does a good job of revealing what it means to be human, in all its struggle, in spite of all the unpleasantness that surrounds us is the kind of fiction I like.

Fiction that is filled with only "likeable" characters who face situations that are just a wee bit challenging and never at all disturbing and who all find happy la la endings is not the kind of fiction I like. That kind of fiction is, in fact, a big fat lie of the worst kind.(less)

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Skimming through the reviews, I'm struck by a pattern- people who liked the Night Circus didn't like this book, and vice versa. Anyone who's read both books who can shed some light on why there might be a divide like that? I'm so curious!

Karen "Museum" immediately reminded me of "Night Circus" both because the writing style was beautiful, and because of the elements of fantasy. I loved Night…more"Museum" immediately reminded me of "Night Circus" both because the writing style was beautiful, and because of the elements of fantasy. I loved Night Circus, although I admit not much really "happened." Yet the descriptive writing was so beautiful, I could hardly put the book down. "Museum" moved at a more rapid pace, with more "real world" events. The writing was perhaps not quite as extraordinary, but still beautifully done. I liked them both a great deal.(less)

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Was anyone else bothered and slowed down by all the italics? I don't have the best eyesight in my 60s, but italics have always slowed me down.

Holly Yes! I am mid-forties and was wishing I was reading a large-print version.

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Why do they publish books with pages and pages of writing in italics. I am finding this book frustrating to read as so many pages are typed that way. Am I the only one that was bothered by this? It seems like it could have been just denoted at the chapters that it was a past event/thought. Not making my eyes ache!

Patricia Daniels I think they did it that way to differentiate between the first person voice of 2 main characters (italics), and the third-person narration. I agree i…moreI think they did it that way to differentiate between the first person voice of 2 main characters (italics), and the third-person narration. I agree it was hard for these old eyes, too!(less)

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Is there significance to the use of “blue” in the novel?

Jane

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

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Unanswered Questions (1)

I enjoyed this book. I really like this author. I love historical fiction. She is incredible with details and historical facts. I really don't have a question other than a response to some of the other questions. Yes the factory fire was horrific many things in history were horrific especially for the Jewish communities?.

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