Books to read: The Arrival

The Arrival by Shaun Tan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an amazingly powerful book! As I was reading it, I had this strange feeling of familiarity, but I didn’t know why and I was too immersed in the story to analyse it! and then it suddenly clicked! as I was nearing the end. I too had felt lost, I too made friends and discoveries, I too longed for signs of home, or a place to call one. I felt all those when I moved to a new country! I suppose you can read other things from the story but for me it is a story of a forced change, hopes and fulfilment. It is beautifully illustrated and thinking back on it now I remember it as if I watched a movie, perhaps due to the nature of very detailed drawings and the framing of some of them drawing your attention to specific things. This is quite easily one of the best books I’ve ever read and I’m thankful to a friend who gave it to me.