I happily re-read this book in hopes that it might pull me out of a reading slump! (And it did, so thank you!) It's a wonderful story that truly captures the quintessence of childhood magic and imagination. I loved that it takes place in Paris and even loosely weaves in a bit of the city's history along with it. The various facets of the story, like films and books, all connect back to the overarching theme of creation and that was the most striking aspect in this book, for me. The fantastic drawings, made to be almost like watching a film, also add so much character to the overall feeling of the book itself. I'm glad that I came back to this book since I'd forgotten how much I enjoy reading it! Whimsical. engaging. nostalgic.Upon realising that this Bible-thick tome* was interspersed with pictures, I was slightly disheartened. Naïvely, I assumed that picture books were for children. Truthfully, I needn't have been so cynical. This super book/ graphic novel/ historical fiction mélange defies all expectations and preconceptions regarding traditional books. Incredibly it rekindled my love of picture books and allowed me to see that they can transcend their younger target audience and similarly appeal to more mature audiences. Set in Paris, the characters are well-developed and the plot strong; it is evident that this is a professional work. Selznick's story seamlessly intertwines intricately produced black and white illustrations with its imaginative narrative. Alternating word and image in equal parts successfully recreates the sensation of watching a film, which is apt considering that the wonder of filmography is key to the book's magic. Brian Selznick weaves hi magic effortlessly and proves that he truly is a magician. Would definitely recommend. *Don't let the size intimidate you - it's easily digestible within a couple of hours depending upon how long you spend poring over the artwork.
I think this book was amazing! I have wanted to read this book since I was in 7th grade, I'm now a sophomore in college and I sheepishly picked it up from the children's shelf. The spine of this book has always drawn me to it. I took it to work and the pictures in it genuinely suprised me as well as the amount of drawings there was. I loved the story- it reminds you a little of what it's like to be human and what it takes to follow your dreams. I liked the way Brian Selznick wrote and I really believe this book should be more well known to people of all ages. Having studied film history in my humanities class, I really was fascinated by this unique story and this book isn't really just a book- it's a work of art.
—Injey
I happily re-read this book in hopes that it might pull me out of a reading slump! (And it did, so thank you!) It's a wonderful story that truly captures the quintessence of childhood magic and imagination. I loved that it takes place in Paris and even loosely weaves in a bit of the city's history along with it. The various facets of the story, like films and books, all connect back to the overarching theme of creation and that was the most striking aspect in this book, for me. The fantastic drawings, made to be almost like watching a film, also add so much character to the overall feeling of the book itself. I'm glad that I came back to this book since I'd forgotten how much I enjoy reading it!
—nikki
Such a lovely story! Something I will read to my children, hopefully.
—Fia
This book blew my mind wow it was just inncredible
—chanjay1
Absolutely beautiful and full of wonder.
—kitkatster
