Title: The Sixty-Eight Rooms
Author: Marianne Malone
Published: 2010
My edition: Random House Hardcover 2010
Purchased From: Barnes and Noble Greenwich Village
Pages: 269
Synopsis (from Strand): Every Chicagoan knows about the Thorne Rooms in the Art Institute of Chicago. Sixty-eight miniature rooms, depicting rooms from European homes throughout the centuries, in immaculate detail, precise right down to the tiny rugs and doorknobs. Sixty-eight rooms so marvelously real that they seem magic. And for Ruthie, they are. Because she has found a key that allows her to shrink down to a size where she can explore the rooms, and discover their secrets. Small enough to find that someone has been in the rooms before her, and left important clues behind.
I read this because: I love the Thorne Rooms, they are my favorite part of the Art Institute of Chicago. Combining these lovely rooms with children’s literature is a perfect fit. Also – if ever one was to judge a book by its cover, this one pretty much takes the cake. I have Kelly to thank for giving me a heads up that this book was about to be released, and you can read her review here. Thanks Kelly!
My thoughts: What a magical book. There’s a lot to love about it: likable characters, unique setting, good writing, magic, adventure, mystery, and tiny things. A great read and a wonderful escape into a magical world.
If you don’t enjoy reading children’s books yourself, first of all take a moment and think about when exactly it was that you lost your soul. :) Seriously though, if you’re not interested in this for yourself, it would make a great gift for any child in your life.
Book club worthy? For book clubs interested in children’s literature, definitely yes.
Follow up required: Reading this really makes me want to go back and visit the Thorne Rooms again soon. I also really hope there will be a sequel.
You might like this book if you like: From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg, The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Links to purchase: IndieBound, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository, Strand
My favorite passage:
It was the feeling you sometimes get when leaving the darkness of a theatre after a really exciting movie – you notice how the world around you is exactly the same as when you went in, only you feel different. (page 45)
Yay, I’m so glad you liked it too! It’s just magical, right? I loved it. :)
I want to find that key and go exploring too.
Interesting review! The book looks really nice! I loved reading your favourite quote too!
This looks totally charming. I will definitely be searching it out and reading it myself as well as trying to convince my crew to read it.
You are my favorite person to get kids lit recommendations from. Will have to add this to the list. And I still need to read The Penderwicks.
My friend took me to see the miniature rooms when I was in Chicago last year. They were so fun and whimsical! And it looks like this book is too. :)