childdeirdre's review against another edition
5.0
Espectacular cuánto puede contar este hombre sin escribir ni una sola palabra.
sarahannkateri's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
A man leaves his wife and daughter behind to start a life for them in a new land. Told entirely through sepia drawings, this depiction of the immigrant experience is moving and the art is great. Tan's imaginary creatures allow the reader share in how alien things can feel. Good for adults and older children.
A man leaves his wife and daughter behind to start a life for them in a new land. Told entirely through sepia drawings, this depiction of the immigrant experience is moving and the art is great. Tan's imaginary creatures allow the reader share in how alien things can feel. Good for adults and older children.
walden's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully illustrated book, that captivates the mood of the subject. It has been a while since I 'read' this book, I remember being fascinated and moved by the illustrations.
storymi's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic Novel zonder woorden. Daardoor is het voor iedereen te begrijpen, welke taal je ook spreekt. Toepasselijk, want het thema is migratie.
De schrijver schreef (of eigenlijk de kunstenaar creëerde) het als eerbetoon voor zijn vader, die ook migrant was en van Maleisië naar Australië migreerde. Het bijzondere van het concept is dat het land waar de migrant aan komt, niet bestaat en daardoor voor iedereen vreemd is. Doordat het boek geen woorden heeft, ben je zelf op zoek naar wat alles betekent en ervaar je een klein beetje hoe het is als
migrant om in een compleet andere cultuur terecht te komen.
Dit boek gaat over hoe moeilijk het is om te aarden in een totaal ander land, maar ook over veerkracht en helpende handen/verhalen die de hoofdpersoon tegen komt onderweg. En dat allemaal verteld in tekeningen. Echt een heel mooi boek, dat me raakte. Ik heb hem twee keer gelezen, de tweede keer snapte ik hem nog beter en zag ik meer.
De schrijver schreef (of eigenlijk de kunstenaar creëerde) het als eerbetoon voor zijn vader, die ook migrant was en van Maleisië naar Australië migreerde. Het bijzondere van het concept is dat het land waar de migrant aan komt, niet bestaat en daardoor voor iedereen vreemd is. Doordat het boek geen woorden heeft, ben je zelf op zoek naar wat alles betekent en ervaar je een klein beetje hoe het is als
migrant om in een compleet andere cultuur terecht te komen.
Dit boek gaat over hoe moeilijk het is om te aarden in een totaal ander land, maar ook over veerkracht en helpende handen/verhalen die de hoofdpersoon tegen komt onderweg. En dat allemaal verteld in tekeningen. Echt een heel mooi boek, dat me raakte. Ik heb hem twee keer gelezen, de tweede keer snapte ik hem nog beter en zag ik meer.
leavesofmaple's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully captivating.
The Arrival wordlessly captivates the frightening and wonderous journey that is the immigrant experience.
This book was an absolute delight to experience!
The Arrival wordlessly captivates the frightening and wonderous journey that is the immigrant experience.
This book was an absolute delight to experience!
shonaningyo's review against another edition
4.0
This was such an enjoyable "read". I put the word read in quotes because there are no words to be had in this story, only illustrations.
Beautiful, detailed pencil illustrations.
I interpreted it as a sort of fantastical/steampunkish translation to the horde of immigrants that traveled to Ellis Island to enter the United States. About 90% came from piss-poor or war-ravaged countries, and many had to leave their loved ones behind and travel alone so that they could eke out a living in America first before having their family sail over to join them.
The language and script all over the buildings and documents was alien and looked like a cross between Cyrillic, upside down Latin, and a few hieroglyphics and Arabic script thrown in for good measure. It also reminded me of the language they use in Futurama (whatever it's called).
It goes to show that someone coming to America took one look at all of the banners, signs, and papers written in English and thought, "What is this, I don't even..."
And the foods and the culture and the completely foreign customs and inner workings of society...
Anyway, the unnamed main character, a man who has left his wife and child in "Old Country" has traveled to a fantastical, bright, well-oiled machine of a utopia to try to make his way in order to send them along to live with him there.
It is a bit of a culture shock, what with the language, the creatures, and the foods, but he is very fortunate to have helpful locals point him in the right direction. I was always predicting that someone would screw him over, but that never happened. Sure, he got fired from his job once because of putting the signs upside-down, but that's neither here nor there.
The passage of time is also beautifully illustrated in the way the light reflects off objects in two, three, four separate panels fixated on a ball or a bowl or a cup. The methodical process of something such as checking out prospective immigrants into the Imagination-Land of a city or sorting little trinkets (well, they looked like Chess pawns) on a conveyer belt was smooth and evenly spaced in time, as if they were snapshots taken at 3 or 5-second intervals.
I would like to think that the black thorny tendrils coiled around the Man's home land represented war/poverty, but maybe I'm just reading too much into it and it's something like an infestation problem of epic proportions.
Bottom line is, this is a very enjoyable read. It reminds me of Treasure Planet and that one story where a boy and his father are -- I think -- lost at sea and somehow end up in a Dinosaur World. My aunt had a pretty hefty tome with illustrations of dinosaurs being ridden by people and this Protoceratops being a kind of mascot/guide for the two newcomers..I think the place was called Dinosauria or something. A wonderful adventure story that is perfect for children who love to suck up extreme detail in stories and skip the words or for those who want to sit quietly and contemplate what the picture is trying to "say".
And of course, perfect for adults who can sit back and enjoy the pencil strokes and shadings that were used to make such a fine piece of work such as this.
Beautiful, detailed pencil illustrations.
I interpreted it as a sort of fantastical/steampunkish translation to the horde of immigrants that traveled to Ellis Island to enter the United States. About 90% came from piss-poor or war-ravaged countries, and many had to leave their loved ones behind and travel alone so that they could eke out a living in America first before having their family sail over to join them.
The language and script all over the buildings and documents was alien and looked like a cross between Cyrillic, upside down Latin, and a few hieroglyphics and Arabic script thrown in for good measure. It also reminded me of the language they use in Futurama (whatever it's called).
It goes to show that someone coming to America took one look at all of the banners, signs, and papers written in English and thought, "What is this, I don't even..."
And the foods and the culture and the completely foreign customs and inner workings of society...
Anyway, the unnamed main character, a man who has left his wife and child in "Old Country" has traveled to a fantastical, bright, well-oiled machine of a utopia to try to make his way in order to send them along to live with him there.
It is a bit of a culture shock, what with the language, the creatures, and the foods, but he is very fortunate to have helpful locals point him in the right direction. I was always predicting that someone would screw him over, but that never happened. Sure, he got fired from his job once because of putting the signs upside-down, but that's neither here nor there.
The passage of time is also beautifully illustrated in the way the light reflects off objects in two, three, four separate panels fixated on a ball or a bowl or a cup. The methodical process of something such as checking out prospective immigrants into the Imagination-Land of a city or sorting little trinkets (well, they looked like Chess pawns) on a conveyer belt was smooth and evenly spaced in time, as if they were snapshots taken at 3 or 5-second intervals.
I would like to think that the black thorny tendrils coiled around the Man's home land represented war/poverty, but maybe I'm just reading too much into it and it's something like an infestation problem of epic proportions.
Bottom line is, this is a very enjoyable read. It reminds me of Treasure Planet and that one story where a boy and his father are -- I think -- lost at sea and somehow end up in a Dinosaur World. My aunt had a pretty hefty tome with illustrations of dinosaurs being ridden by people and this Protoceratops being a kind of mascot/guide for the two newcomers..I think the place was called Dinosauria or something.
Spoiler
If anyone understands what I'm talking about, please comment so I can change this rambling explanation, LOLAnd of course, perfect for adults who can sit back and enjoy the pencil strokes and shadings that were used to make such a fine piece of work such as this.
monikaben's review against another edition
5.0
A beautifully told visual story about having to immigrate to a foreign country and finding human connection despite feeling completely out of place.
ella_hynds12's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
annika2304's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0