Sunday, February 2, 2020

Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan


Goodreads synopsis: Breathtakingly illustrated and hauntingly written, Tales from Outer Suburbia is by turns hilarious and poignant, perceptive and goofy. Through a series of captivating and sophisticated illustrated stories, Tan explores the precious strangeness of our existence. He gives us a portrait of modern suburban existence filtered through a wickedly Monty Pythonesque lens. Whether it’s discovering that the world really does stop at the end of the city’s map book, or a family’s lesson in tolerance through an alien cultural exchange student, Tan’s deft, sweet social satire brings us face-to-face with the humor and absurdity of modern life.

My rating: 4 stars.

Content warnings: G. None.

Thoughts: I don't really know what to say about this. The person who suggested it said "attempting to explain it beforehand would harm the experience." And I think he's right. It's an odd combination of soft but unflinching, and sort of childish, but mature in all the best ways. Basically, it's a softly written book that gets you to think deeply about modern life and how strange and wonderful it all is.

It's a short, quick read, but definitely one worth checking out.

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