Scooter Chronicles

This past Friday I read “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick.

I have had interest in this book now for a while, though I never had put it on my Amazon wish list. I remember reading a brief description that didn’t go deep into the story, or the nature of the book, but it interested me. But it was in a recent trip to David and Catherine’s that it caught my attention. I saw it sitting on their shelves. I was shocked at the size of the novel, knowing it was more geared to a young adult audience. I then said to David that I had my eye it for a while, but hadn’t gotten a copy yet. Then David told me that it was great, and more shockingly, he had read it in one sitting. Imagine my surprise when I saw the novel below:

David just smiled and let me thumb through it. And this is a peek at what I saw:

Though there is text, and a fair amount of it, it is basically a graphic novel. Here is a plot description found on Amazon that is also sort of a review:

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-like the gears of the clocks he keeps-with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a 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 from Hugo’s dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery. With more than three hundred pages of original drawings, and combining elements of picture book, graphic novel, and film, Brian Selznick breaks open the novel form to create an entirely new reading experience. Here is a stunning, cinematic tour de force from a boldly innovative storyteller, artist, and bookmaker.

New reading experience, stunning, and cinematic tour de force? Oh yes! It is a beautifully put together book. To have so much of the imagery because of the incredible art work (done like very intricate sketches) it was a delight to get a better view of what was happening. Given the excellent story and the wonderful drawings, it isn’t hard to imagine this as a movie.

Brian Selznick (author and artist)

Even though the book is a quick read (myself having polished it off in one day), the story is gripping. Maybe the drawings help draw the reader in. But even with more writing describing the scenes in more detail, instead of having pictures to propel the plot, the story is still the key. The presentation through drawings only adds to the experience. And what a wonderful experience it is. With a mixture of childhood fantasy, historical fiction, and just plain good old mystery, it’s a fantastic story for all ages.