Friday, July 20, 2012

Peculiar Children

Believe in love. Believe in magic. Believe in others. Believe in yourself. Believe in your dreams. If you don't, who will? Jon Bon Jovi


I was so inspired by the book "Miss Peregrin's Home for Peculiar Children", that I went searching for my own peculiar photos and created unique, magical pieces of jewelry. The novel is centered around vintage black and white photographs that Ransom Riggs actually found in private collections. These early photographs used tricks in order to create optical illusions - levitating girls, a double reflection in a lake, anthropomorphic...  In the book Riggs asks the question, “What if these weren’t optical illusions at all?  What would the stories behind them be?” I found that to be so interesting and magical, what if the Snake Charmer actually could hypnotize snakes by whispering sweet songs to them. What if Chicken Boy was a chain smoker and his pet chicken could talk... And what if Twins cat girls were really half cat - half human... The imagination is a wonderful thing and I choose to believe.

Peculiar Children Necklaces/Brooches
























This book is just that, peculiar. It's also one of the best stories I've read all year. Combining a fantastical, creepy plot with actual vintage photographs that he's integrated into the text, Riggs' dark tale should appeal to a wide range of readers. Teen Jacob Portman thinks his grandfather's implausible stories about his stay at a children's home on a remote Welsh island were just stories, but when he travels to the island with his father, he finds that there was much more to his grandfather's life story than he could have ever guessed. This was a very suspenseful, intriguing tale of unusual friendship and I loved it! Pick it up this summer and enjoy the magic. And rumor has it that Tim Burton has signed on to direct the movie adaptation! I think it would be a perfect fit for him, and I can easily picture Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Peregrine. Hmmm, but who would Johnny Depp be? Jacob’s dad?

Twins

Chicken Boy

Snake Charmer
                                   

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