Tales from Outer Suburbia

Here it is! My two cents worth on Shaun Tan’s Tales from Outer Suburbia. There is really no short summary for this book but if you’ve ever had an out-of-the-box imagination, this is for you. I’ve decided not to reveal too much of the stories so that readers could experience the quirkiness of the book for themselves. Certain stories may resonate with some of us while others just seem like someone else’s strange dream.

I am enthralled by Tan’s story-telling skills and his amazing illustrations. Each of the 15 short stories brings the reader to a different environment, usually somewhere in suburbia. Although this is classified as a children’s book, the writing is rather profound, surreal, cryptic and even thought provoking which I find more suited for adults, not to mention some of the topics are of the rather sophisticated and sensitive kind and might be a little perplexing for kids.

Tan uses a different media (although undeniably and consistently his style) to suit the mood and theme of each story. For example, in Distant Rain, the story is told using a collage of torn paper containing discarded words of poetry. It remains one of my favourites alongside Grandpa’s Story (about love and commitment) and Wake (about revenge).

Each of the stories have a different feel to them; some are charming, poignant and funny while others are simply baffling, so much so that I’ve to read the book a few times over. I also found myself tracing my fingers over the sketchbook-like illustrations on the endpapers, as if they seem to contribute to the stories as well. Look carefully and you might spot a figure from his other book, The Lost Thing.

The key to reading this book is not to rush. Slowly take in each story and ponder about the moral behind. I hope anyone who has read this enjoyed it as much as I have. If you would like to share your views, drop me a comment.

Contents Page from Tales from Outer Suburbia