The Arrival

By Christine Pointeau
November 9, 2007 - 08:21

Amazing. Mesmerizing. A tour-de-force.

The Arrival is the kind of book that calls for reverence from the very moment one picks it up. Fully take in the visual texture of worn edges, fraying spine, and fading photograph from the cover. Appreciate the evidence of passage of time. Only then should one consider opening the pages with all the anticipation due a valued family heirloom and what treasures might be contained therein.

One is immediately greeted by a portrait gallery from the reaches of the world, the very people whose story is recounted in The Arrival, looking right back at the reader. Kudos to Tan’s skills for conveying the depth of those eyes (go to Tan’s personal website and return to the portrait gallery for a wink from the artist).

This is the story of a man leaving behind loved ones and homeland in search of a better future for his family, told entirely through wordless images. The narrative flow is emotional and precise, weaving one image to the next effortlessly. The Arrival is a human story told from the heart. In fact, one feels privy to a family’s personal history.

Tan’s choice of making this new world a fantastic, magical one is very effective. Without the advantage of prior knowledge, we, in essence, become immigrants along side the main character.

The art is simply beautiful, Tan’s skills with graphite being beyond mastery. Accounts are told through variations of tones, according to whose story is being presented, from sepia to lead based in appearance, giving each its own mood. The drawings themselves are mesmerizing, with extraordinary details and life like believability. The unfamiliar landscape, buildings, and clothing all make for a fascinating experience.

Being unaware of Shaun Tan and his work up to now, I was completely taken in by the world he created in The Arrival. His imagination is as deserving of praise as his art. Furthermore, as an immigrant myself, I was humbled by the depth with which he explores that particular journey, with all the empathy and understanding he skillfully displays throughout each page.

www.shauntan.net

Highest of Recommendations.

See you at the bookstore,

Christine

Last Updated: November 29, 2025 - 16:51

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