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Brian Selznick

hugo_intro_cover2.jpg

I can’t wait to get my hands on this book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Judging by the author’s write-up on Amazon, it’s a pretty innovative work: “something that is not a 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”. Selznick says,

I began thinking about this book ten years ago after seeing some of the magical films of Georges Méliès, the father of science-fiction movies. … I discovered that Méliès had a collection of mechanical, wind-up figures (called automata) that were donated to a museum, but which were later destroyed and thrown away. Instantly, I imagined a boy discovering these broken, rusty machines in the garbage, stealing one and attempting to fix it….    

The website has a Flash show of the opening pages – and I spotted a cover of Monet’s Gare St. Lazare in there. I look forward to seeing what other nods to art history are hidden in the pages…

  • http://www.johnreddinger.com/ john.red

    I’ve got this book, Jaleen–it’s absolutely gorgeous. :)

  • http://www.johnreddinger.com john.red

    I’ve got this book, Jaleen–it’s absolutely gorgeous. :)

  • http://www.avikatz.net/ avikatz

    Gorgeous and as innovative as you suspect. I was lucky enough to hear Brian’s talk at the SCBWI conference in February and treasure my signed copy. By the way Scholastic gave Brian enough of an advance that he could take several research trips to Paris and you will find many scenes drawn from real places in the city. The Gare itself, not necessarily Monet’s painting, has a starring role in the story.

  • http://www.avikatz.net avikatz

    Gorgeous and as innovative as you suspect. I was lucky enough to hear Brian’s talk at the SCBWI conference in February and treasure my signed copy. By the way Scholastic gave Brian enough of an advance that he could take several research trips to Paris and you will find many scenes drawn from real places in the city. The Gare itself, not necessarily Monet’s painting, has a starring role in the story.

  • cavalaxis
  • cavalaxis
  • http://rohitiyer.blogspot.com/ rohitiyer

    I borrowed this book from a friend and have reviewed it on my blog – http://rohitiyer.blogspot.com/2007/08/just-like-clockwork.html

    It’s absolutely riveting and original. Don’t miss it!

  • http://rohitiyer.blogspot.com rohitiyer

    I borrowed this book from a friend and have reviewed it on my blog – http://rohitiyer.blogspot.com/2007/08/just-like-clockwork.html

    It’s absolutely riveting and original. Don’t miss it!