David Merveille

A wordless story about a French dude getting into slapstick misadventures at the beach doesn't do anything for me. It's based on a movie character portrayed by an actor named Jacques Tati (1907-1982) in the 1950s and '60s, fitting into a cinema continuum that connects Charlie Chaplin's Little Tramp to Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean. I hadn't heard of him before today, but a quick scan of YouTube clips convinces me that I'd find the films as boring as this book.

This is the second in a series of books, but I shall not be seeking out the first.… (mais)

This book is about Mr. Hulot, a character created by the French comic actor and filmmaker---Jacques Tati. There are twenty two plots in this book with each page turning offering an unexpected ending. This book is an "almost wordless picture book." Except the peritext features, there are only titles with texts for each page. The illustrations have no isolated texts, leaving readers plenty space to imagine. The humor embedded in each plot reminds me of the New Yorker cartoons. Though the plots may be understood by children, but it could also be a way for adults to slow down and enjoy a peaceful moment.… (mais)