Saturday, September 8, 2007

The Arrival by Shaun Tan



This book has no words, yet with pictures only Tan made me feel like an immigrant to a strange and bewildering country, where I couldn't read the numbers or the writing or the maps, or understand the language. The buildings, the animals, the food and the way to buy a ticket were all strange.




Shaun Tan writes picture books for older readers, he says on his website. This book is dense and I couldn't read it all in one sitting. It shows the confusion of the immigrant, the longing for family left behind, and the kindness of strangers. I had read several reviews and descriptions of this book, yet still found it more powerful and moving than I expected.

"I became aware of the many common problems faced by all migrants, regardless of nationality and destination: grappling with language difficulties, home-sickness, poverty, a loss of social status and recognisable qualifications, not to mention the separation from family." Shaun Tan




And I loved the last four pages, but you'll have to find the book to read them.

The Arrival first published 2006

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