Review
What does it all mean??? I don’t know and I don’t care, but I still love it! I love the way Shaun Tan’s work makes me feel – puzzled and a little unsettled, but also comforted and understood. I’ve been feeling annoyed by pretentious and purposely obscure literature lately, but this feels less like intentional obfuscation and like something much more honest. It’s strange that I was immediately reminded of Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg Ohio. Strange because, besides being short stories, the collections couldn’t be more different. Anderson’s stories convey the despair and loneliness of small town life, whereas Tan’s stories provide a little snapshot of an oft maligned suburbia that is full of wonder and magic. I suppose the comparison is that they both play with our expectations. Anderson turned the idea that small town life is quaint and inclusive on its head. And so nowadays yet another a collection of stories about soul crushing suburbia would be oh so predictable and not very satisfying. A special thanks to Tan for respecting his readers more than that.
The fifteen tales in this collection are absurd, touching, lyrical - introducing us to a bizarre cast of characters and situations. I have so many favorites that it’s almost painful to try and narrow it down, but I suppose the one that stood out most to me on a personal level was No Other Country in which a beleaguered family discovers a hidden paradisiacal courtyard in their hot suburban home. Surely everyone has dreams about discovering a hidden room in their own house? It’s one of my reoccurring dreams – mine is usually an attic that defies all laws of space and reason and spans what seems like acres. It’s never the same – sometimes it’s an expansive and exquisitely appointed loft, sometimes it’s a dusty old space filled to the brim with priceless treasures and other times it’s just a mirror image of my childhood home. I have no idea what dreams like this symbolize, but I know I wake up feeling a little wistful, but mostly exhilarated. Honorable mentions also go to the stories Eric, Distant Rain, Grandpa’s Story and Alert but not Alarmed. But truthfully there isn’t a story in the lot that I didn’t enjoy. And I haven’t even begun to discuss how breathtaking this book is visually! I just don’t have the time or mental capacity to do it all justice!
Anyone who has read Tan’s work knows that he’s next to impossible to categorize. So yes, this is technically a picture book – with innovative, jaw dropping, eye popping illustrations – but it’s really for anyone and everyone who is ready to experience it. The age recommendation is upper elementary and beyond, but I’d say just read through the collection on your own and decide when/if to share with a child. I read a few of the stories with my six year old – Eric and How to Make Your Own Pet were particular hits. The best comparison I can make is that this book is something akin to the handful of Twilight Zone episodes that weren’t completely nightmare inducing – The Bewitchin’ Pool comes immediately to mind. And so, I recommend it for children and adults who relish the prospect of exploring another dimension.
The fifteen tales in this collection are absurd, touching, lyrical - introducing us to a bizarre cast of characters and situations. I have so many favorites that it’s almost painful to try and narrow it down, but I suppose the one that stood out most to me on a personal level was No Other Country in which a beleaguered family discovers a hidden paradisiacal courtyard in their hot suburban home. Surely everyone has dreams about discovering a hidden room in their own house? It’s one of my reoccurring dreams – mine is usually an attic that defies all laws of space and reason and spans what seems like acres. It’s never the same – sometimes it’s an expansive and exquisitely appointed loft, sometimes it’s a dusty old space filled to the brim with priceless treasures and other times it’s just a mirror image of my childhood home. I have no idea what dreams like this symbolize, but I know I wake up feeling a little wistful, but mostly exhilarated. Honorable mentions also go to the stories Eric, Distant Rain, Grandpa’s Story and Alert but not Alarmed. But truthfully there isn’t a story in the lot that I didn’t enjoy. And I haven’t even begun to discuss how breathtaking this book is visually! I just don’t have the time or mental capacity to do it all justice!
Anyone who has read Tan’s work knows that he’s next to impossible to categorize. So yes, this is technically a picture book – with innovative, jaw dropping, eye popping illustrations – but it’s really for anyone and everyone who is ready to experience it. The age recommendation is upper elementary and beyond, but I’d say just read through the collection on your own and decide when/if to share with a child. I read a few of the stories with my six year old – Eric and How to Make Your Own Pet were particular hits. The best comparison I can make is that this book is something akin to the handful of Twilight Zone episodes that weren’t completely nightmare inducing – The Bewitchin’ Pool comes immediately to mind. And so, I recommend it for children and adults who relish the prospect of exploring another dimension.
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