Good Cheer and Thanks!

 Wraparound jacket

The Invention of Hugo Carbret

by Brian Selznick

Santa brought my kids a few books, and one was The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick which, as  you may know, was adapted into a movie, Hugo, by Martin Scorsese. The book is the perfect blend of image and words... it's a lovely story, beautifully illustrated with dark and atmospheric black and white drawings, which marry so perfectly with the mood and feel of the words and story. I couldn't put it down today, Christmas Day, and hope to get to the movie tomorrow. So, a bear hug and thanks to Santa for leaving it under the tree!! Also, a big thanks to my mom for the Amazon gift card that I received last week, which I promptly used to buy Ken Schles' new book, Oculus, which is another example of the perfect blend of images and words, far more subtle than Hugo, but just as riveting. There's a rhythm to the pictures and to the writing that I found mesmerizing... could hear the ocean depicted in the beginning,  and felt the deep sleep of children. Gorgeous book...

Also, a thanks to my sister for sending me Naomi Rosenblum's reference work, A World History of Photography, which I've long wanted for my library. There are some gems in there that were previously unknown to me; it's a book I'm looking forward to reading in greater depth than I had time for today, and one I expect to refer to often.

Lastly, I'd like add a thank you to the three guys in my life who offered a generous gift card to Nordstroms with which I've made a nice purchase of a handbag that has nothing whatever to do with photography, and nor will it send me into the nether regions of my mind as the books have done, but hey... I like to accessorize on occasion! Thanks, my loves!

Wishing you and  yours a festive and warm holiday season, and hope it was fun ripping open all the presents!!