Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

This book was peculiar. (I have found myself obsessed with using the title to describe the book. It is just so fun!) A good summer read, but a better fall read. Particularly a fall day in which it is raining and gloomy. Perfect. Not the best book for a hot sunny summer day - like the day I read it. Imperfect. Surprisingly though, much of the book takes place in a hot sunny late summer day. September 3, 1940. Imperfect. It should have been at the very least a breezy, cool autumn day. At least normal time was stormy/rainy/gloomy weather. Perfect.

I'll stop obsessing over weather. I do love weather though, it can make or break some books for me. I think more authors should describe the weather in more detail. Sometimes weather isn't even considered in books and we go through the book left to our own imaginative devices at how the weather is. A humid summer day, with storm clouds rolling in the kind of day that makes a person want to simultaneously stay outside and watch the clouds change and stay inside in the blessed air conditioning, that day slowly changes into a full out thunderstorm with thunder and lightning and high winds dark clouds making it seem much later than it actually is, that would be a perfect weather for a day in Beautiful Creatures. Or a fall day, bright and clear blue skies, crisply cold and startlingly alive with possibility, daring a person to explore the woods with trees changing leaves and as the darkness quickly comes build a bonfire and spend the evening outside staring at the stars, perfect weather for a day in The Thief. Like I said, weather can really change how I -at least- interact with a book. Not that books necessarily are any less good because they lack the weather description, but I believe more books need to include details about how the weather changes. It affects how a person may respond or react to a situation.

Anyway, now I will officially stop obsessing over weather.

I liked Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Everything was not as I expected but I still enjoyed it. It was creepy enough, though it never went all the way (for mE at least) and the plot was surprisingly faster than I thought it would be. I expected a plot similar to The Night Circus, but was actually given a plot more like Fablehaven. I also expected a focus on atmosphere - and the feel of the world - like the Night Circus, but was actually given an atmosphere more like The Replacement. I was expecting characters similar to The Night Circus, but got characters more like Leviathan crossed with Anna Dressed in Blood. Yet, while Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (here on out known as MPHfPC) felt similar to many different books it was also very much unlike any of the books I just listed.

So what was MPHfPC? For me it was essentially an adventure story, with some strange pictures thrown in to make things interesting and rather lovely descriptions. More than "rather lovely descriptions" actually. Through much of the book I was gushing over the detailed descriptions of places and spaces and people and objects. I loved that aspect of it. And for the most part the characters were fun, if some were underdeveloped it did not detract from the book as a whole for me at least. Jacob was a good - if slightly idiotic and slow - narrator to follow. Hopelessly naive and bumbling and at times cute. The plot kept me intrigued and moved along quickly and concisely, the description didn't overtake the plot and the book was kept a reasonable length because of it. For what the story was I believe the author balanced description and plot quite well. And left me interested in reading the sequel, without dying because of a cliffhanger.

So what didn't I like? The romance for one. It was just too weird that Emma loved Jacob's grandfather...and they fell in love so quickly, despite Jacob's initial repulsion and thinking that loving her was practically 'incest'. It just felt wrong and weird, and I didn't like it.

The paradoxes that could be created were never addressed. Not even by Miss Peregrine. Maybe it will happen in the second book? I hope so, because if not this will annoy me a lot. In 1940 Jacob is not yet born, but what will happen when he is born and grows up listening to his grandfather's stories...and then when his grandfather dies he goes to Cairnholm...yeah. Or what if he runs into himself. Or what if his grandfather runs into Jacob...etc. etc. etc. This could be a major problem.

At times I don't think the references to the photographs are done very well. He remembers in detail photograph's he glanced over once, recognized blurry faces, and referenced them out of the blue. It just felt like the author was trying too hard to connect the photos, when it might have been better to leave descriptions of some of them out of the plot line all together and just let the reader draw conclusions that "this" photograph describes "this" event. It would make some of the writing feel smoother.

I also wish that there had been more peculiar children, or that the ones were at Miss Peregrine's home had been more peculiar. Some of them were just strange, there peculiar traits perfectly useless and disgusting. Though perhaps that makes sense, not every peculiar trait could be useful or - I believe - the peculiar people would be living much different lives in many ways. However, I wish that the uselessness of some of the traits and the affect it had on those who held the trait had been covered more. The one time that stood out was Claire's during Jacob's first dinner at Miss Peregrine's Home. Or that the characters who had somewhat useless traits had been developed into the plot more instead of left hanging and useless.

All in all I enjoyed the book, it was a nice, quick read to get through and I am eager to read the sequel.

Soundtrack: Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0niLOyhCd5g

Premise - 4/5
Characters - 3/5
Writing Style - 4/5
Story – 4/5
Realistic(the plot made sense) - 2/5
Enjoyment – 4/5

Average Rating - 3.5
My Rating - 4
Cover – The cover is a picture taken from the book, and I think fits the desired feel of the book, but not necessarily the actual feel. I still think it fits the book well enough and don't think something else would have worked.

I thought the cover looked creepy(I know, I know, never judge a book by its cover)and decided that I should try to read it. After the first chapter, I was hooked. It seemed so real. The pictures were amazing! I told all my friends to read it. While some were too freaked out about the pictures, at least one of them did. She loved it, even though it wasn't really her style. This book is perfect for anyone who likes things a little out of the ordinary.

For me, what really made the book were the totally creepy photos that were placed throughout the book. It added a visual image and made it extra "peculiar". Things like a floating girl, an invisible boy, a boy with a face on the back of his head... do I need to go on to explain how this was a creepy book?

I was actually reading this late at night, in bed (it was close to midnight because I had started it that evening and could not put it down). Yeah, you might say that wasn't the best idea. Those wrights certainly were scary, with their white eyes *shudder*.

I was totally on the edge of my seat (well actually I was in bed but you know what I mean) for the whole book and actually jumped whenever a scary thing happened. This is a completely amazing, original horror story.

I loved how the pictures worked perfectly with the story and added just another mysterious, creepy factor to this book.

Everyone must read this book. It is creepy and mysterious. AMAZING! I cannot wait for the second book, because, I mean at the end they were (*SPOILER*) being chased by evil people, their home was blown up, they might dissolve into dust at some point, and their guardian was currently a falcon. (*END OF SPOILER*)

Talk about making you want to find out what happened! EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!!

I just finished it. And, this may be my shortest review ever, but this is officially my favorite book of all time. Made me laugh. Made me cry. Made me cringe, because it all seemed so real. My heart is racing, and I'm still shaken by the whole last chapter. Definitely earned 10 stars, but can only get 5. I truly think that I'll never enjoy a book the same way I enjoyed this one.

This book does live up with its name, it is peculiar. Not only told with words, but this book contains creepy photos, a girl floating, a boy lifting a boulder and an invisible boy. These photos truly bought the story alive, and it shaped what is an amazing story.

This book reflects its cover, a creepy sort of style that follows the storyline the whole way through. I must say I was a bit frightened when Jacob was exploring the wreck of the house, I thought something deadly would jump out and bite him. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story, and this book is truly unlike any horror books that I have read. It is a true original.

I don't think that the story should of been written in past tense, because it automatically gave you the idea that Jacob survives. It would of been more tensional if it was in present tense. The author must of taken ages to locate all these amazing photos, and even longer to incorporate it in the story. This book took effort, and it truly paid off.

I reckon that everyone must read this book. It has that creep factor, mysteries, the creatures out of nightmares and some seriously awesome powers. This book is way up there on the 'best-books-ever' list, and it surely will be on yours if you give this book a chance. It will blow your mind.

I really loved this book! The pictures and imagery create such an amazing world that is captivating and beautiful. I did a review on my main blog, so click for super happy fun times!

Overall; 4 of 5 Stars

http://adventuresinyafiction.blogspot.ca/2012/06/book-review-miss-peregrines-home-for.html

I was never going to read this book.

I'd originally bought it as a birthday gift - only my friend had bought it four days before in a Border's closing sale.

Here I was, stuck with a creepy book with no easy return.

So I starting reading.

After 30 pages flew by I considered keeping it.

200 pages later I was hooked. I'd stayed up until 6 a.m. reading books before, but never until 9 a.m. (Yes, I said a.m. Granted I didn't start until 5 a.m.)

Aptly published by Quirk, this debut novel at turns charmed, terrified, moved, and nauseated me. (I don't recommend eating while reading...)

One of the most interesting things is seeing how Riggs wove the photos - all found and unaltered - into a narrative that was not only entertaining, but tightly woven with a terrific twist. It's like reading an extremely well-written creative writing class prompt that continued until it became an emotionally true story. The last two photos are just breathtaking; they stun the heart.

Jacob, the protag, has a wonderful voice, and each character is well-enunciated. This is a rare book that stands out for its originality. Don't you dare buy this in anything other than its hardcover - there's a cute little surprise on the cover underneath the jacket.

I'm so glad a mix-up forced me to read what turned out to be my favorite book of 2011.

Is it in bad taste to say that I found Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children peculiar? I suppose it is, but it had to be done :P

I rather enjoyed the idea of a story that was assisted by the use of pictures. In reality, though, it ended up being a hit and miss for me. All the pictures themselves were great, but sometimes they didn’t quite work with the story. Sometimes the pictures were a nice addition to the story and sometimes it felt like the story was working just a little too hard to incorporate them.

The story itself, on the other hand, was fantastic. I loved the originality of the storyline. Riggs has some serious craziness up his sleeve. Going in I was just thinking there might just be some peculiar and creepy ghosts of children, but boy was I wrong. This story has some serious depth.

The Nutshell: Looking at the cover and reading the description you can imagine that Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children has the creep factor going for it, but there’s a lot more between the covers as well. There’s a crazy fantastical story, a little mystery, a smidge of romance, and lurking-in-the-shadows nightmares. If you’re looking for a strange, slightly spooky original story then Miss Peregrine’s is worth looking into.

Hit

Miss Peregrine's Home for peculiar children is amazing with a lot of surprises and great and believable characters. The fact the in contains creepy and weird vintage photographs makes the story way better and makes you want to read it all as quickly as possible( which I Did). Warning Don't Judge the book by it cover. It looked creepy and scary but it turned out to be a great surprise. I really enjoy this odd but cool story.

This books was full of so many twists and turns I thought I was going to get motion sickness--but in a super good way. In fact, I loved it so much that I lent my borrowed copy to my mom, who promptly dropped it in the bathtub so I had to pay the library for the cost and I DIDN'T EVEN CARE because now I get it to keep it (swollen pages and all).