Comics - The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a beautiful book by Brian Selznick. It's not a comic as such, though it does have a graphic narrative (without speech bubbles) and is interrupted by brief written passages. The pencil drawings that make up a large part of the book are lovely enough to make you catch your breath as you turn the pages. They remind me of animation flick books, but much more luxurious to be savoured at a leisurely pace. There is a real magic and emotion as you turn every page. The black bordered pages of the book, reminiscent of a trip to the cinema, heightens the visual experience and helps to make the book ooze with luxury.

The story is set in France in the early 1930's, and features a young boy, Hugo Cabret. Hugo has had a difficult and complicated life, and currently is living a strange secret existence. As the story starts his life is about to be interrupted by a serious of chance encounters that will lead to mysteries and magic. To tell you more about the story would be the act of a cad, as it really is a book to be savoured and explored on your own. It's a big book, but as it's largely pictures, it is a short but very satisfying read. You won't want to read it too quickly, yet you also won't want to dawdle too long as it has a fantastic pace to it.

Highly recommended to anyone as a present for an imaginative child or adult whether they read much or don't! Or why not treat yourself to a little bit of magic, available in all the places where good books are sold, or your local library is likely to be able to order you a copy.