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Then, just last week I fell in love with The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. There is one moment - one set of pictures in this book that made me choke up and tears filled my eyes. and then as I got into the book I realized that the story being told here is how our country must look to those arriving in it. If someone had told me a year ago that I'd be branching out into graphic novels this year I would have laughed. The sights, sounds, smells - everything assaulting our senses is different, new, amazing, thrilling and terrifying. It's a story of fear and hope, loss and gain, adventure and home. Shaun Tan captured that so well in this book and through a story of pictures managed to tell a more captivating immigration story then I've ever actually read through written word.
Unlike Goong and Hugo Cabret, this book does not have words. Alien looking creatures (as evidenced by the cover), strange methods of transportations. At first I thought this might be science-fiction because there were so many strange elements. Even the notes and signs are in a made-up language. That scent, the memories all seem to collide and you picture your family right there , for a moment it's captured and then it fades and just the items remain.
I was first surprised by them when I began to read a Korean Manhwa named Goong. When the man arrives in the strange country and opens his suitcase, an image appears that made me think of opening my suitcase for the first time after leaving home. This is the story of a man leaving his family and his country behind (a country besot with terrors of its own) and finding a new place for them to live. And then yesterday I picked up The Arrival by Shaun Tan and didn't put it down until I'd finished it. The entire story is told in pictures - beautiful, sepia colored pictures.
Which is exactly what I did.Not to be outdone, the story Tan wrote in accompaniment is wonderful as well. If this is the case than Tan has certainly done so with The Arrival.All in all, I'm excited to have been introduced to the world of graphic novels in such an exemplary way. Immediately taken by the beauty of the story he'd presented I'd say my favorite pieces were those that showed the other-worldy almost ethereal feel of the locale.
Traveling from the safety and security of his home and family into the unknown abyss of a new life the loneliness jumped off the page as the man searched for a job and made new acquaintances.Though I've not had much experience with this genre, I imagine that this is what any great graphic novel should do. I'm looking forward to not only reading more of Tan's work but also other authors as well. Move the reader to feel and experience.
Stunningly illustrated I was awestruck by Tan's artistic ability. From the trepidation of leaving his family behind to the jubilation of their arrival to meet with him in a new land I felt every beat he did. I would encourage all to pick up this wonderful book and place it out for everyone to see.
A land of sweeping loveliness the buildings and creatures that comprised it's inhabitants weren't to be feared but rather adored. I could feel the emotions so clearly displayed on the young father's face.
Our hero has to deal with a culture which is strange and different and we learn how he copes with dealing with people in a new land. Have you ever wakened from a dream so real that you were actually shocked when you woke up. Such aberrations as flying boats and buildings that seems to be in New York City but possess a strange combination of oriental and occidental architecture. 5 Stars.
In reality it is the art of mime in the world of graphic imagery which in and of itself creates its own unique genre. Fanastic. It uses advanced imagery and a high level nuanced story line using no prose. This novel should never be thought of as a child's picture book.
Welcome to Shaun Tans' epic dreamlike journey in "The Arrival" a story of a man leaving his home and family to migrate to a new world. Shaun Tan's art is not impressionistic, however the theme and structure of his story in the world of graphic literature is indeed impressionistic. Upon further thought as you think about your recent dream episode, things were not as they should be. His final hope is to finally reunite with his family in a land which he finds to be a refuge to many people from far and away.This graphic depiction shows how an artist can convey an idea using simple pencil drawings and not using one word.
One gets the sense that this planned migration has been instigated by a government of totalitarian ilk as evidenced by the Artist's drawing of a shadow of a "tale of a dragon" which gives evidence of sinister governance.The Author takes us into a world of epic art deco like scenery which is neither totally western nor eastern; in fact I see traces of Native American Indian influence. This appears to be familiar territory but in the same breath also very strange and different. The artist goes into an explicit graphic narrative to describe the strangeness of immigrating to a new land.
Some of the illustrations are so awesome I'd love to have a poster of them on my wall. The illustrations put you right into the story as the characters themselves. This is a heart-felt story about an immigrant family that I think anyone can relate to, we're all immigrants from somewhere, especially in the U.S.A.;This is a book that will get passed down generations in my family, the quality is outstanding. How do you write a book without words so beautiful and powerful. Shaun Tan knows how.
It was all pictures. After reading it one time through, I was still a bit confused about what the story was all about, but if you read it through once more, you will be able to understand it and comprehend the adventure that the main character has.
Recommended to all levels of readers. Great Book.
I was required to read this beautiful graphic novel for my Writing class as a freshman in college. It was also a very nice story.
Appropriate for all ages. It was very fun to read as it wasn't reading at all.
The pictures are very clear and easy to understand and the illustrations are very unique.
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