I can sum this book up in one word: wonder.
When this book rolled in, I couldn’t believe my luck. The cover itself was extremely striking; a vintage girl with a crown levitating above the ground. They say that you can’t judge a book by its cover, but that’s exactly what happened with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs. “Hmm,” says I. “This cover is attractive. Interesting. Ghostly and slightly disturbing. I wonder if the contents are the same.”
They are. And they are delicious.
When Jacob’s grandfather dies a grisly and mysterious death, Jacob is left to wonder about the tales that his grandfather told about his childhood. They are tales of an old house, peculiar children, and monsters. The language in this story is beautiful. The old pictures, actual found photographs, are charming and gave me the impression that I was reading a picture book for adults. The entire presentation of the book was quite stunning, actually.
After the mystery of his grandfather’s death was solved, the narrative slowed dramatically. I read on for the sweet burgeoning love story and the charming descriptions of the children, but not necessarily for the plot. Still, this is an enjoyable read.
This isn’t a book for a waiting room or while you have a few brief minutes to spare. It’s meant to be read when the house is silent and you can savor it one chapter at a time.
I’ve looked at this a few times…Neat!
This book has been on my wishlist for a while but I’ve been waiting for the trade paperback version. Now that I have a part time job at a book store and a sweet discount, I’m gonna pick this one up right away.