THE ARRIVAL by Shaun Tan

My pages of Shaun Tan’s remarkable wordless book THE ARRIVAL has been falling apart since its publication in 2006 due to re-reads and loans to friends who “had to read it”. I was delighted to see it has been reissued in paperback format and the timing is perfect for all that is occurring in our world. Monochromatic colors give us a sense of an historic and timeless story of a man who leaves his beloved family and a city besieged by threatening monsters. A series of small panels show us the passage of days, then a larger one the ship crowded with fellow travelers all of whom seem despondent. Soon small panels document the tortures of the ritual of entry examinations and slightly larger ones show the strangeness of the new world in which the immigrant has arrived. With impeccable timing and pacing we see the strangeness of his arrival to making his way in an emotional journey of understanding. You can find out more about this book at the purchase link below.