"The story I am about to share with you takes
place in 1931, under the roofs of Paris. Here you will meet a boy named Hugo
Cabret, who once, long ago, discovered a mysterious drawing that changed his
life forever." So begins the introduction of The Invention of
Hugo Cabret.
Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, 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, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the 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 from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.
☆☆☆☆☆
Exactly what is The Invention of Hugo Cabret?
Author Brian Selznick has described his work perfectly "...
this is not exactly a novel, and it's not quite a picture book, and it's not
really a graphic novel, or a flip book, or a movie, but a combination of all
these things." This story is very special and it is a one of a kind.
Although the novel is well over 500 pages long, there is only 26, 000 words –
the rest of the book is filled with Selznick’s breathtaking artwork. The story
of Hugo Cabret is equally told through images as it is through text and I
believe that it is these images that really make the story so amazing. Reading
this novel was a totally unique experience – it was like nothing I had ever
seen before. Every single picture had a purpose, a role to play – they were
there for a reason, not just thrown in haphazardly. I found that the images really
brought the book to life and that they created a cinema like feeling to go
along with the story. At times it felt like I was watching an old black and
white film complete with the “camera” zooming in and out, bringing particular
images or parts of images into focus, making the reader see what was really
important.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a story for
those of all ages – it is a timeless piece of work with spectacular artwork and
an amazing story. Hugo’s story is an enchanting journey that is full of magic.
It will have readers of all ages falling in love with story, from the child to
the adult reader; the film and art fanatics – simply put, everyone will be left
wanting more from Selznick. It is another classic children’s book that will be
treasured for generations to come.
Thought that I would share some of the artwork that I absolutely fell in love with while reading this amazing story ")
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