Monday, September 26, 2011

Minnesota Monday- Wonderstruck


I read the book Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick this week.
It is an amazing book and it starts in Minnesota. Gunflint Lake, Minnesota. Like Hugo Cabret this story is told in words and pictures. The words tell the story of Ben and the pictures share the story of Rose.
Ben's story starts in Gunflint Lake and Rose's begins in New Jersey but both stories lead to New York City and the American Museum of Natural History. Both characters are deaf.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves a beautiful story told in words and pictures, Minnesota, museums, dioramas, love, and New York City.


Even though I picked this book up because of the Minnesota connection I also love the AMNH connection. When my brother lived in NYC this was his favorite museum so he took us there on one of our visits. My brother seemed to know a lot about this museum. I loved this museum and was reminded of it when I visited The Field Museum in Chicago.

Being around taxidermy animals reminds me of the art classes I took in college. My college had a large room full of taxidermy birds that the art and ornithology classes used. I know it had a real name but we all called it The Dead Bird Museum because the birds were usually behind glass in little bird dioramas. Below is one of my drawings from the dead bird museum.
Selznick has several tour dates for this book in the Twin Cities in October. A list is here.

What great books have you read lately?




10 comments:

Meredith said...

Oooh, I'll have to pick this one up! It sounds like so much fun!

Karen Jones Gowen said...

This sounds really good! Will put it on my TBR list at Goodreads. And can I just say that Minnesota is one of the best states in its supporting local authors? Go, Gophers! Go, Land of 10000 Lakes!

Sarah said...

I've been wondering about this one. Glad to hear you enjoyed it!

Christina Lee said...

I never went to that museum...huh. Anyway, sounds like a good read!

Mary Aalgaard said...

I live in MN. That would be a great book to read. Also, love the Gunflint trail/lake. I was there only once, so far.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the recommend. I'll watch out for this book.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Our college had an upstairs room full of statues and animals called The Loft.

Alicia Gregoire said...

Thanks for the review. The day job was advertising this on our intranet this week.

Sarah Allen said...

That looks gorgeous! Thanks for sharing :)

Sarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)

Arlee Bird said...

I like reading books that take place in locales that are familiar to me. I like the "Body Farm" series of books by Jefferson Bass since they take place in the area of Tennessee that I think of as home. Not to mention that half of the writing team, William Bass, was my anthropology professor in college.


Lee
Tossing It Out