A relatively entertaining, undemanding work of fiction in which a young girl working as a mermaid at a Coney Island freak show falls for a "fallen" Jewish orthodox lad in the slums of Manhattan back in the bad ol' pre-Progressive Era days of tenements, abject poverty, and horrific labor exploitation.

Not sure I found either of the characters particularly empathetic or authentic. I have no problem with unsympathetic protagonists, but in this case both characters evince a frustrating level of gullibility and lack of introspection - dramatically necessary, perhaps, but irritating. There's not a lot of plot, and what plot there is comes off as contrived and far-fetched.

But there's also much to savor here, like Hoffman's lovely, evocative descriptions of the Manhattan wilderness in the days before human development entirely consumed the Hudson River and its environs. Also relished the historically accurate depictions of Coney Island, immigrant tenements, and the devastating Dreamland Fire of 1911. Her portrayal of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and its aftermath is gut-wrenching.

While Hoffman employs many of the elements of literary fiction - themes, symbols, extended metaphors - there's not necessarily a lot of sophistication to it. Water and fire symbolize transformation. Dreamland symbolizes human hubris. Starlings represent invading Europeans/civilization. A fish that may or may not have been reborn symbolizes the miracle and hope of love. There's a cactus that finally blooms at the moment that Coralie's free will finally blossoms, and an extended metaphor in which the novel Jane Eyre serves as a construct for exploring the definition and price of freedom, wrapping up in a rather unsubtle denouement in which the Coney Island fire parallels the famous conflagration at the end of Bronte's novel. In other words, nothing your average high school literature student wouldn't be able to access. (And just in case you do overlook something, the author includes an afterward, in the form of a letter, that clears up any possible ambiguities.) Indeed, it often feels like these literary elements are driving the story rather than visa versa. They add some richness, but detract from the authenticity of the story while adding little in the way of added insight or profundity.

This was my first Hoffman novel, so can't shed any light on how it might compare to her others. I enjoyed the tale for what it was, but am not sure - based on this outing - whether I'm in any hurry to explore Hoffman's wider oeuvre. ( )

This was my favorite book I read in 2016. Frankly I can't stop thinking about it. ( )

I didn't enjoy this one very much---mainly because it was just so extremely boring. The set up took about 300 pages, leaving me with about 50 pages of an actual story that I breezed through in about 20 minutes. The way it was written is distracting: lots of jumping back and forth between narrators, first and third person narratives, and bouncing around the timeline.

The ending is obvious and anticlimactic. The parts I didn't guess very early on were not super exciting either. I'm not usually one for magical realism but I think a little more focus on the fantastical in this story would have made it much more palatable.

The one thing I did really enjoy about the story were all of the historical bits and references to my favorite time in history. ( )

Nope, not for me. A setting I absolutely love, used to prop up an unengaging story that seems to constantly tell me how I should feel about it. ( )

For me, Hoffman's strength lies in her characters. She creates unique characters that, while different in substantial ways, also are reflective of the readers lives at some levels. Coralie and Eddie are no exception. Coralie is being raised by her widower father above the museum of the title. The museum is a Coney Island side show and her father is a hustler. Coralie's webbed fingers make her perfect for the show, and her father trains her as a runner and a swimmer, teaching her to hold her breath. When she is of age she becomes a mermaid in the show. But the crowd always wants more. So her father has her swim the Hudson river at night creating a legend of a river monster. When Coralie discovers a dead body on on of her swims, he sees it as the perfect opportunity. Eddie is a self-exiled Jewish boy who seeks to become a photographer. He also has a knack for finding people. When Hannah's father engages him to find Hannah, Coralie and Eddie cross paths. This is really a love story, but also a bit of mystery. It is a tale of redemption and sacrifice that is satisfying on many levels. Neither Coralie or Eddie is whole, but both are seeking: love, acceptance, hope for the future, and they are determined to find it, despite the odds. ( )