The 25th book of the The Skyscraper Book Project is The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick.
Blurb: With 284 pictures between the book's 533 pages, the book depends equally on its pictures as it does on the actual words. Selznick himself has described the book as "not exactly a novel, not quite a picture book, not really a graphic novel, or a flip book or a movie, but a combination of all these things." The Caldecott Medal is for picture books, in 2008 this was first novel to receive.
The primary inspiration is the true story of turn-of-the-century French pioneer filmmaker Georges Méliès, his surviving films, and his collection of mechanical, wind-up figures called automata. Selznick decided to add automata to the storyline after reading Edison's Eve by Gaby Wood, which tells the story of Edison's attempt to create a talking wind-up doll.
Méliès actually had a set of automata, which were either sold or lost. At the end of his life Méliès was broke, even as his films were screening widely in the United States. He did work in a toy booth in a Paris railway station, hence the setting. Selznick drew Méliès's real door in the book.
Date started: 2nd May '13
Date finished: 3rd May '13
Rating out of five?: One of the easiest five out of fives I have ever given!
Why five?: Aswell as having moving and inspiring text, the book capturesones imagination with detailed drawings. As said in the blurb, the book isequally dependant on each of the two features. Both, I think, live up to the expected standards. I went into the book not knowing much about it, and was really quite surprised at how well written it was, a fictional story interwoven with true fact.
Despite some of the things I didn't really like about this book, like how the plot was a bit dragged out, or how the characters seemed sort of pretentious and unrealistic, their development as people was interesting to watch, especially in Georges himself-I still had to give it five stars.
Who would enjoy this book?: the book was written for children but it was just such a good book that a much wider audience than is targeted would appreciate it.
Was it up to the author's general standards?: I haven't read any of this author's other books-I don't even know if there are any. Although, I don't think that if there are I would read them.
Was it a quick read?: yes, probably would have been more enjoyable in one sitting though, as with most books. Still, very quick and easy to read.
Another book finished! And one more to review! At the monent I'm reading 'Life of Pi' and it's taking forever!!!!!! There's just these really long periods of nothing in the book, filled with coma-indusing boring detail. Hope to finish it soon so I can move ob to something a little more upbeat.
