Last night, as I was busy blogging about The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Rob came into the computer room and handed me another mammoth book. On the front cover of the book was a yellow sticky note. It read, "Read Me PLEASE." A note from my daughter, Emily, who was convinced that if I loved Hugo, I would truly adore Wonderstruck. I had previously explained to her (literally about 10 minutes before the note was written and attached) that I didn't like to read too many of the same sorts of books back to back. I get bored. So, I was not ready to read another children's book, nor another 600 page book, nor a book crafted from words and pictures. Hence, the note. So, I did what any other self-respecting mother would do. I gave in and read the book. All I can say is, Emily was right. I adored Wonderstruck. (btw...it only took me about 2 hours to read the entire book)
Selznick's genuis from Hugo has multiplied in Wonderstruck. It is told with words and pictures, like Hugo, but this time he tells two separate stories. One, the story of Ben, is told through words. The second, Rose's story, is told in pictures and the stories alternate. We get a little from Ben, then a little from Rose, and back and forth. I have my ideas about why this is, but if I told you, I'd ruin some of the plot so for now I will keep my ideas inside my head where they belong. Eventually, the two stories merge into one story told with both words and pictures. Truly genius, truly amazing, and truly captivating...even for this almost 40 year old adult. No wonder Emily loved it, too.
As Hugo centered around film, Wonderstruck is about museums and collectors and curators. The main idea, I think, behind this is to remind us that we are all curators and collectors (again, I can't say anymore than that or I am going to give away essential parts of the story). The most compelling passage for me from the book is this:
Ben remembered reading about curators in Wonderstruck, and thought about what it meant to curate your own life, as his dad had done here. What would it be like to pick and choose the objects and stories that would go into your own cabinet? How would Ben curate his own life? And then, thinking about his museum box, and his house, and his books, and the secret room, he realized he'd already been doing it. Maybe, thought Ben, we are all cabinets of wonders. (574)
We are all cabinets of wonders. I think so. How about you?
This passage made me start thinking about my own cabinet. If I could pick and choose the objects to put in my own cabinet, what would they be? Here's my list so far: an airplane pillow, a container full of gravel, Hello Kitty erasers, a pencil, a copy of Wuthering Heights, a Phil Collins CD, dried pink roses, an MWC t-shirt, Mickey ears, sand from Hilton Head, a Vera Bradley bag, an apple, my car keys and my house keys, my diamond tennis bracelet, and my Nook. There it is. My cabinet of wonders. I hope that I get the time to add more things to it, but for now, there I am. Some of those wonders people will recognize. Some will make you think and wonder about me. That's the beauty of a museum, don't you think? Isn't that what makes them fun? Trying to solve the mystery of why certain objects are included. Have fun trying to figure out mine. :)
Wonderstruck--another addition to the top ten list of 2012. Yes, it was that amazing. It makes me want to go to our school's library and put a yellow stciky note on it that says "Read Me PLEASE." Don't worry, Kathleen...I won't!
Happy reading everyone!
:) Dodie
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