Strip malls, track housing, and white picket fences jump into my mind when I think of suburbia. Everything's the same, people are happy and stability and routine are the norm.Shaun Tan has thrown this stereotypical image in the garbage. This quirky collection of 15 concise graphic stories has uprooted every notion I held about suburban life.
Magical surrealism surrounds the story Eric, when an unexpected exchange student gives his host family an unworldly symbol of gratitude for their hospitality.
Grandpa's Story describes how two young lovers were sent away before their wedding "past the factories and landfills" and "beyond all the signs and roads." Their epic journey forces them to leave the safety of the neighborho
od and they encounter disturbing creatures and imagined universes, embellished by Tan's glorious illustrations.Two siblings embark on a scavenger hunt to find where their map ends in Our Expedition, and each household is given its own inter-continental ballistic missile in alert but not alarmed.
These modern fairy tales blew me away with their stunning drawings, quirky characters and a mysticism that left my imagination wanting more. Tales from Outer Suburbia are ideal stories for anyone wanting to escape the normalcy of suburban life.
If you haven't heard of Shaun Tan before, he is a very talented illustrator from Western Australia. His book The Arrival was a New York Times bestseller and he has received high praise and numerous awards for his work. You can learn more about Shaun and view his art at http://www.shauntan.net/
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