Armchair BEA: More than Just Words

When I saw the topic for today what immediately came to mind is The Invention of Hugo Cabret.  I'm sure I won't be the only one to bring it up in this context but it is such an amazing piece I couldn't let the opportunity to share it pass.

If you've seen the movie Hugo, which is wonderful, it can't even begin to do justice to this magnificent work of art. This is a concept book, part picture book, part graphic novel, with almost 300 pages of original art work, photographs, and film stills. It's fantastical and enchanting, and you never know what turning the page may bring.  Parts of the story are told through pictures and some through prose; some pages are filled with drawings; some pages are almost blank save for a paragraph on them.  The pictures progress the story at times better than the words.  The plot is mysterious while not being overly complicated, and it is full of scope for the imagination with automata and gears and magic... Not only is the story amazing, and incredibly well researched, but Brian Selznick's artwork is fabulous. 

Wonderstruck, Brian Selznick's follow up piece, is sitting on my shelf begging to be read, but I've been saving it to read with my daughter so that we may discover its the magic together.  I highly recommend this to anyone, not just readers of YA or MG. It is truly an experience not to be missed. 


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The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Summary:  Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, twelve-year-old Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric girl and the owner of a small toy booth in the train station, Hugo’s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message all come together...in The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

Review:  I saw a preview for the film Hugo in the theaters and said, 'Wow!  I have to read that book!'  It's been sitting on the TBR pile ever since partly due to the fact that it's a large book (533 pages) and I didn't want to haul it around with me.  Had I taken a moment to look at it, I would have realized that it could be read in a sitting.  This is a concept book, part picture book, part graphic novel, with almost 300 pages of original art work, photographs, and film stills.  I understand now why it isn't available as an e-book, though I think it would make a fabulous interactive e-book, the expense to create it would make it cost prohibitive to the publisher as well as the consumer.

In many ways this book is like the Middle Grade equivalent to The Night Circus.  It's fantastical and magical, and you never know what turning the page may bring.  Parts of the story are told through pictures and some through prose; some pages are filled with drawings; some pages are almost blank save for a paragraph on them.  The plot is mysterious while not being overly complicated, and it is full of scope for the imagination with automata and gears and magic... Not only is the story amazing, and incredibly well researched, but Brian Selznick's artwork is marvelous. I keep picking it back up just to sift through the pages. 

It's marvelous -not to be missed.  I'm truly sorry it took me so long to get to this book.  I think there is much to be taken from it at any age (I want to know all about Georges Méliès now!). And I can't wait to see the movie.


Final Take:  5/5