posted on 28 Jul 2015

The Invention of Hugo Cabret  by Brian Selznick

I would imagine that there are more people familiar with Martin Scorsese's movie, Hugo, than they are with the original book. I think that's a shame because the book is a big slab of wonder. Unusually not produced in a large format but a standard book size brick, when I first came across this I was completely unsure what to think of it. Is it a graphic novel? Not really. Is it a lavishly illustrated novel for young adult readers? Not really. Is it a work of art? Certainly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The drawings are superb and fill the pages, mostly in double-spread. Much of the story is carried along by the drawings although there is narrative text as well. But the words certainly play second place to the drawings which provide a really interesting visual perspective. Many of them give you point-of-view positions or extreme close-up and these all serve to draw you into the action and make the reader part of the adventure.

 

I love the attention to detail in the production of the book. The page blocks are stained dark grey all round and black margins provide a frame for every page giving an almost proscenium arch effect. I also love the startling use of deep black on the pages which is somehow more arresting than the use of any colour. When white space is used the impact is even more remarkable.

This book is an absolute must to see in its hardback form - it's like holding a little treasre.

 

Terry Potter      July 2015