Local orphan squatter inside the train station walls obsesses over a creepy drawing machine (AKA: The Invention of Hugo Cabret, a book review by Willie Fowler)

 

Review does contain spoilers.

Enjoy

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a book written and illustrated by Henry Selznick, published January 30th, 2007 and adapted into a movie just 3 3/4 years later on November 23rd, 2011. 

Summary:

The story takes place in the 1930s in Paris, France, following our young protagonist, Hugo Cabret. Hugo is a young, and depressed orphan living within the walls of a Paris train station, stealing whatever he can in order to barely scrape by. Ever since his father died in a fire, and his Uncle Claude had died after getting too tipsy, he has been steadily looking after a broken "automaton." A mechanical device mimicking that of a human, where it could write, draw, perform, and do much more. He does this so he can find his father's final message.

 Hugo secretly steals parts from a toymaker to fix the automaton, but gets caught, loses his important notebook used to fix the automaton, and tries to earn it back from the old toymaker by helping out in his shop (while also stealing parts for the automaton in the mean time). The toymaker's granddaughter, Isabelle, secretly promises to give back Hugo's notebook, while also befriending Hugo in the process.

 Once she finally finds it, the toymaker accuses Hugo of theft, and Hugo runs off with a necklace belonging to Isabelle. When Hugo returns to his secret wall apartment, he and Isabelle unlock the secret of the automaton:

 

A drawing from the movie: Le Voyage Dans Le Lune (A trip to the moon), by Georges Melies AKA Isabelle's grandfather AAKA The toymaker (dun dun DUUUUN). It was also Hugo's father's favorite movie (more lore later explained)

With both children confused as to why Isabelle had the key to Hugo's automaton, Isabelle runs off thinking Hugo stole it, gets inside Isabelle's house and accidentally breaks open a box that reveals pictures and drawings that unveil more of Georges' past as a movie maker. Georges runs in and rips all the papers to shreds. Everyone leaves as Hugo returns Georges' key to his shop.

Visiting a film academy library, Hugo and Isabelle discover a book about Georges' creations and hold a screening of Le Voyage Dans Le Lune at Isabelle's house. Georges explains his past:

He was the filmmaker Georges Melies. Though he created many amazing works and became well known in the filmmaking industry, creating Hugo's automaton in the process. However, World War I, the death of Isabelle's parents, and losing most of his films in a fire, he became depressed. He burned the rest of his films and became a humble toymaker. Hugo went to show him that his automaton had survived and he was keeping it up to speed, but was pursued relentlessly by the Train Station's Inspector, where he would faint and succumb to imprisonment,

All was not lost, for Georges would adopt Hugo into the family, saving him from the Station Inspector, and repairing the automaton together.

6 months pass, and a grand concert including Georges' remaining films is held. The story reveals that this book was written and drawn by a new automaton that Hugo had made himself.

Review:

If I were to give one word to describe this story, it would be Extraordinary. The story itself centers itself around family and legacy, as well as how the loss or gaining of a family and continuing one's legacy is a major turning point in ones life.

 Hugo loses both of his surviving relatives due to tragic accidents, and he was forced to continue the legacy of his father and uncle: Repair the automaton, as well as continue his Uncle's job of repairing the clocks daily.

 Hugo sort of parallels to Georges. Both had lost major family members, and both had became depressed as a result.  Though, as soon as Hugo makes an influence on Georges' life, Georges' legacy continues regardless if most of his movies had been lost to time.

AND LET'S NOT FORGET THESE ILLUSTRATIONS! The illustrations are absolutely wonderful in this book! It uses the creative and captivating technique of cross-hatching, which already takes enough time and work, BUT THE LEVEL OF DETAIL IS PHENEMONAL. The first few drawings of the moon overlooking Paris not only foreshadows the drawing from Le Voyage Dans Le Lune, but it shows everything from each and every crevice and crater in the moon, to every shining light within Paris! The shading is also master level! While the illustrations are colorless, the shading is what truly shines ironically. Every shadow and silhouette is accurate down to the very fibers on character's clothing, I feel.

In short, I can very much understand just why this book is so critically acclaimed. Brian Selznick has crafted a wonderful story and drawn wonderful pictures within this book, and is nothing short of a good book.

If you have the time, look up "Maillardet Automaton" on YouTube, as it is incredibly fascinating

Signing off, Willie

--Willie Fowler