Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Completion Date: January 3, 2012
Reason for Reading: Really enjoyed Hugo by the same author.

From Brian Selznick, the creator of the Caldecott Medal winner THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET, comes another breathtaking tour de force. 

Playing with the form he created in his trailblazing debut novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick once again sails into uncharted territory and takes readers on an awe-inspiring journey. 

Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing. 

Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories--Ben's told in words, Rose's in pictures--weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful--with over 460 pages of original artwork--Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.

A few years ago I was at the local Costco browsing the book selection like always. I have bought many books from them over the years that I probably never would have bought otherwise. On this particular day I found myself picking up The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I was blogging back then, but I didn't recall hearing anything about this book. At first I had another book entirely in mind to buy, but after flipping through the pages I found myself intrigued with the very idea of the book. I had been slowing discovering graphic novels and this seemed like something different. I went on to review the book and discovered there was lots of hype surrounding the book that I had entirely missed out on. I was very happy about that. (On another note, the book I put back was The Road which I eventually bought and really liked, too.)

Hugo was way back in 2007, though. It is not 2012 and last year a new book by Selznick was released. I decided to wait and buy a copy with my Christmas gift cards, though, so I had to wait. I have been seeing it make the blogging rounds, but I only paid the barest attention to what people were saying about it. I wanted to make my own impressions. I did see some people say it was not as good as his earliest book, but that is actually a good thing to see once in a while. If a book is seen as amazing by everyone you go into it with very high expectations and then you can easily be disappointed. So, I suppose you are wondering what I thought of the book? I loved it! I actually think I enjoyed it more than Hugo, but it has been a while since I first read that book. It was such a wonderful book with once again a combination of pictures and words to delight all that read it. I have to admit I was a bit worried it would dull in comparison to Selznick's previous work, but I need not have worried at all.

The books is actually two stories. There is written part which is about a young boy whose mother has just died and he has moved in with his aunt and her family. He is still coming to terms with everything when he starts to find clues to his past amongst his mother's things. He never knew his father, but now he is determined to learn the truth to who he is. Then, there is the story in pictures which takes place 50 years in the past. The entire time you will be working out in your head how the two stories connect. Eventually, though, they do come together and then the mediums converge. It was really a brilliant approach to the story.

I am so happy that once again I was able to love a book Selznick. I cannot recommend this book enough and I cannot wait until I get another chance to enjoy a wonderful book by a very talented author. If you haven't given him a try yet I strongly recommend that you do.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Books Completed: 53
Completion Date: April 3, 2007
Publication Year: 2007
Pages: 544
Purchased in 2007

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.

I am so relieved that I bought and read this book in one day without paying any attention to the hype surrounding it. I was in Costco, planning to buy the new Oprah selection because I had heard good things and they had it there for half price. I had it in my hands, and then I was browsing and found this. It was quite simply something different with the combination of writing and drawings, and I just felt the need for something different. So, back down when The Road, and home with me came this book. I had it finished by the time I went to bed that night.

I will not say that this is the best read of 2007. I will not say that it absolutely blew my mind. It is not for me to say those things. For starters, it is only the beginning months of 2007, not the end ones. It is too early to say what the best book of 2007 is. As to blowing my mind, it is a book about a little orphan boy who lives in a train station. His father died tragically, leaving him to an alcoholic uncle who has interest in the boy only to help him with his work. Then, his uncle dies and he is left alone in the world. You feel bad for the kid, and you understand why he has to steal once in a while to get what he needs. He has been taking care of the clocks so that his presence will not be noticed, but he is still just a boy and very alone in the world.

I just liked the different medium. People have said that the writing was not great compared to the breath-taking drawings. I think the writing is on par considering that the pictures are supposed to tell the story as well. I really enjoyed the pictures. I thought they were very well done, and very nice to look at. People have said that they should not count towards page numbers read, well, I disagree. They are as much a part of the story as the writing. I took a course in university on fairy tales and it included picture books and looking at pictures. They are just as important as writing, in my opinion.

I will not say that this is the best book ever, but I will say that it is a very interesting method to write a book and that it was an interesting experience. It is perfect for something different, and I think that it is enjoyable. Plus, the drawings are amazing.

4/5