By Luke Pearson
2011
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I don't envy books which aim for the whole "childlike innocence and wonderment" thing. One false move and it's either much too smug and knowing for it's own good or it's something that would be better off being left just for the kids. And it's not that I have anything against stuff that goes for the "all ages" tag: there's stuff on this very blog (Mezolith, Goliath and The Arrival to name but three) that manages to straddle the divide with expert grace and skill and I'm pretty that I've already proudly proclaimed my love for all things Pixar (who know how to make children films that only adults can properly appreciate more than anyone else out there ever) and that's not to mention Studio Ghibli (who are like the Pixar of Japan - only (I don't know) more hallucinogenic?) and there's stuff that we have shelved in the children's library that nonetheless would punch a hole in your heart if you ever read it (thinking namely of a book called The Heart and The Bottle by Oliver Jeffers that is pretty much - more devasting than every other book I've ever read) ...
And yeah - the reason that all of the above is amazing and is worth spending your time over - is that altho they might appear uncomplicated and pure - underneath they're full of insights about - yeah I'm gonna say it - what it means to be human and the storytelling goes in strange off kilter directions that only make sense once you get to the end (to take an example off the top of my mind: most Studio Ghibli films like to keep you off balance about who the good guys and the bad guys are).
But - this - Hilda and the Midnight Giant - I don't know. It didn't really feel like something that was written for adults. I mean - at the start - it sort of seems like it's going to drop some really deep metaphor about - I dunno - something or the other but then turns out to have nothing to say about anything. Yes the pictures are nice - yeah the story ambles along in a pleasant happy sorta way - but when you come down to it - this is a children's book for children and there's not much to be found within it's pages for anyone over the age of 12. Yeah - that sounds harsh. But I defy anyone to try and prove things otherwises. I mean - yeah - it cops a few of moves from better sources (like Studio Ghibli it turns out that the bad guys aren't so bad after all; but the reasons given aren't exactly complex) - but doesn't really do another new with them. The Comics Journal (who seem to really love it - check the link below) talk about the themes of "bureaucracy and procedure run amok to the point of a total diffusion of responsibility" - but it's pretty weak sauce - and it's not exactly Kafka - hell: it's not even The Incredibles [1]
All in all then: a bit of a waste of time.
Altho - saying that - there is one page with the giant bending down that was pretty awesome in terms of the scale of thing so maybe you can just read it for that.
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[1] Ok - so - as an example of how to make something for kids that's also got loads for adults to get their teeth into - The Incredibles is pretty damn - well - incredible: there's that awesome line of "Everyone's special, Dash... " "Which is another way of saying no one is." which has been seized upon as some sort of Ayn Rand propaganda - but which hits me really hard just due to the fact that it's true. Then there's the fact that it's got some of the best family interactions I've ever seen (arguing at the dinner table, arguing and hoping the kids can't hear, arguing over what exit to take - yep family's = mostly arguing about stuff) and not forgetting the fact that it's also got some of the best f*@% yeah moments ever ever namely: Dash's laugh when he realises he can run on water - and (laughing is good what can I say?) - Mr Incredibles laugh when that robot accidently clicks his back into place (can honestly say that might be one of my favourite movie moments of all time). (Note: I could do this with any Pixar film (except a Bug's Life)).
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Links: Comics Journal Review, Forbidden Planet Blog Review, BoingBoing Review.
Further reading: Everything We Miss, Mezolith, Goliath, The Arrival, Make Me A Woman.
All comments welcome.
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