Customer Reviews

Tales from Outer Suburbia

5 star:		(77)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this book myself and found it a bit puzzling and challenging. The book is a series of short stories, poetry and very elaborate sketches. The best way to read it is very slowly and one story at a time. Sort of like eating a very decadent dessert, one needs to pause between bites to savor the richness. It is quite different, a bit surreal, but ultimately enjoyable for those of us who appreciate a little strangeness in our day. It is a quick read overall but the extensive drawings invite longer contemplation.


I gave this book in turn to both of my children, ages 9 (girl) and 12 (boy). Both are "gifted" and excellent readers. The text itself was not a challenge for them. Their reactions were quite different however.

My 12 year old son enjoyed it. He drew parallels between many of the short stories and other books he has read. This is a kid who is himself a little different, interested in topics that are perhaps not typical for a preteen. He poured over the illustrations, pointing out bits and pieces that especially intrigued him. The book prompted discussions about the Holocaust, insanity, perception of reality and method of transport for marine animals. Quite the variety! He then went online to see if he could order any more books like it from the library.

He has to say:

"I thought this book was very interesting although it is short. This book is a book of short stories with very interesting topics. I personally liked this book.When I mean interesting I mean strange for example Water Buffalos pointing directions and very wierd foreign exchange students. So I hope you will enjoy the book Tales from Outer Suburbia . "


My daughter read about half the book and told me that it was "too weird" and that
"GPS buffalos" and exchange students who live in the closet do not belong in the same book. Perhaps it is a question of maturity, or maybe even gender, but she wanted nothing more to do with it.

I think this book will appeal to those with a quirky outlook on life, those who are willing to dig a little deeper into literature and those who are very visual. From my experience, the book requires a certain level of maturity and experience with other literature for true enjoyment.

This is an interesting book, to say the least. It says it's for kids 12 and older, and I would agree. Younger children would probably find it... a bit confusing.

There are a number of short stories, some as short as a page. The illustrations are pretty cool, and there are a lot of them. A couple of the stories have quite a few pages of drawings to go with the short text. They help to flesh out the story more visually.

When I said some may find them confusing, I mean that the author doesn't really end the stories. They are mostly open ended, making the reader ask some questions, and continue the story in their own mind and imagination. This isn't a bad thing at all, it's a good way to get kids to stretch their minds a bit. But for some with extremely short attention spans, or too young, it can be a little trying.

One of my favorites was about what happens to poetry that no one reads, gets tucked away in books, behind things, etc. It was pretty much entirely illustrated. You read it on scraps of paper that seem to have randomly come together to create the story. Quite inventive, and imaginative.

"On a cold night last winter there was a fire at the house of a man who only days before had beaten his dog to death. Being a strong man, he was able to rescue all his belongings single-handedly, carryng them out of the burning building and onto the front lawn. As soon as he finished, a hundred dogs of every shape and size trotted into the flickering light from the surrounding shadows and promptly sat on top of every appliance a piece of furniture as if it were there own. They would not let the man come close and snapped at him viciously when he tried to hit them, but otherwise remained still, staring impassively at the flames." -- From the story Wake, in Tales from Outer Suburbia

I hadn't heard of Shaun Tan when I selected Tales from Outer Suburbia from the Amazon Vine Program, but the cover on the Advanced Copy was enough to snag my interest.

In all the thousands of books I've read over the years, I can honestly say I have never seen anything like Tales from Outer Suburbia! For those who appreciate idiosyncratic art, skewed (yet poetic) observations, and unusual presentation, this book will be right up your alley.

Geared towards children aged 12 and up (but prized by adults of any age who are inspired by utter originality), Tales from Outer Suburbia fifteen "stories" accompanied by Tan's stunning, pleasantly strange artwork. One "story" is a public service announcement about making your own pet out of discarded items, while another describes a hidden world found in attics all around a neighborhood.

Stick figures roam the suburbs in yet another story, while a bizarre nameless holiday chronicles the yearly ritual of leaving one's most prized possessions under a decorated TV roof antennae for an enormous, blind reindeer to hook upon its antlers before leaping gracefully, taking the beloved objects with him.

And what book can boast that theTable of Contents is just as handsome and original as the rest of its pages? Well, Tales from Outer Suburbia can! The TofC looks like a plain brown mailing envelope with the publisher information as the return address, the mailing address serving as the dedication, and actual story titles represented by mailing stamps--complete with title, story art and page number (the page numbers being the "cost" of the stamp). Too awesome!

If your pre-teen or young adult appreciates smart writing and skilled artistry in various forms, Tales from Outer Suburbia would be a superb addition to their library. Adults who love unusual tales would also appreciate this 96-page book, as would writers and artists who would benefit from a delightful jolt of inspiration and whimsy.

Next, I look forward to reading Tan's acclaimed book The Arrival!

-- Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book

When I read this book I was completely unfamiliar with Shaun Tan so I really had no idea what to expect. The art is strong, intriguing and caught my attention immediately. The stories are imaginative and seem to suggest multiple levels of meaning.

Both art and story line combine elements of realism and fantasy in a way that provokes one to think. This book will probably be most appreciated by older readers with vivid imaginations. If a reader can easily set aside conventional perspectives and simply go with the assumptions presented then it is more likely the reader can appreciate this book.

In summary, this book is a series of fantasy vignettes with a morality twist; if the reader is either a fan of fantasy or Shaun Tan then this book may please.

Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan is unlike anything I have ever "read". As has been said you "read" it via wonderfully drawn art--there are very few words in the entire book which forces you outside your comfort zone right away. As Americans we like things clearly laid out and able for us to understand at a glance. This book takes that power away from you and forces you to examine the art for both the story line and then as hints to the meaning. This provides the result of people creating their own personal meaning to stories. Overall the book reminds me of seeing someone dreams and trying to figure out the meaning behind them.

As has been said, early teens will "see" different things but re-reading this book over time will change the story for them so I think I view it as a good thing--if they like it enough to revisit it again. It is hard to put a number (rating) on something so personal but that is exactly the point.

This book is full of short stories of the unusual sort. Very imaginative they make you really think as to their meanings but they are told in a good creative way. Nothing scarey, mostly they are just little tales that would be handed down from generation to generation without all the fluff. The photos and artwork are very, very creative and the author gives us a sense of trying to figure out what each story means when we finish them. A nice quick read especially for teens that have trouble with books holding their interest.

This book is bursting with imaginative artwork and creative stories. Tweens and younger Teens should find this particularly enjoyable - the artwork is detailed and complements the stories amazingly well. The stories are short but each one gives the reader glimpses of different viewpoints - what if's that encourage the reader to stretch his or her mind and expand conventional thought past the mundane. This book can be read and enjoyed by adults as well because the stories and graphics can affect readers in different ways and on different levels. My favorite stories were ERIC about an unusual exchange student and ALERT BUT NOT ALARMED about the concept of security in a volatile world.

This is a very different book by Shaun Tan, author of the also very different (and wordless but awesome) The Arrival.

Tales from Outer Suburbia is a collection of 15 short stories that are beautifully and intriguingly illustrated, in the style of a graphic novel. The tales range in length from 1 page to a dozen. The content is bizarre and somewhat random on the surface, but given thought, the stories really do speak to some universal truths (racism, for one example, finding joy where there was only despair for another) of the world.

Some of my favorites include the short but telling 'Water Buffalo' (is the Water Buffalo perhaps God?), the very sweet 'Eric' about a foreign exchange student who lives in the pantry, the poem (?) 'Distant Rain', and the very thought -provoking 'Stick Figures' (about people who are different), 'No Other Country' (about finding good things where you think there are none), and 'The Nameless Holiday' (about what you gain when you give up what is dearest to you).

As far as target audience, this book is advertised as being for 7th grade and up. I personally think that this book would appeal to some middle schoolers - perhaps those who are a little different themselves, or those who are very smart. It would be a GREAT book to teach to middle-schoolers. Otherwise it might be a little over the heads of the younger teens. For anyone who appreciates things that are a little 'outside the box', this is a great read.

I know of Shaun Tan from his earlier book, "The Arrival". This predecessor I thought was absolutely amazingly stunning, but it really didn't prepare me for "Tales from Outer Suburbia". In this book, the artwork actually takes second place to the writing which varies from stories any child or adult-with-whimsy might love, to stories that are politically biting, and nothing a young child could grasp.

There is one story, for example, that blithely describes the 'arms race'. Except in this case, the missiles were parceled out to regular joes like you and me. Tan describes how at first it was a rather novel event. The government would send out a letter, and a week later your missile would arrive. After awhile though, it became an event of little interest, which is when families began to take a more creative interest in the weapons. (And no, I won't say more.)

I found all of the writing to be very good. In fact, at times it was nearly poetic. But despite the quality, the tales never lost their humorous edge. Nor did they develop any sameness.

No, "Tales from Outer Suburbia" was great fun to read. It's a book I'd happily send to most of my "adult" friends. And it's a book I think should appeal to the YA and even the MG (middle school) crowd. (#1038)

Pam T~
mom and reviewer at BooksforKids-reviews

TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA BY SHAUN TAN: Artist and writer Shaun Tan returns with another spectacular piece of artwork. Unlike bestselling The Arrival, Tales From Outer Suburbia features both entertaining and moving short stories and flash fiction, combining with beautiful original artwork, making the reader savor each word choice and brush stroke on the page.

Like The Arrival, this is also a commentary on our current western civilized society of suburbia and what it really means to be ordinary and bland, with everything perfect and the same. Tan looks to shake up this foundation with bizarre stories that have deeper meanings that go beyond a simple tale. There is the story of Eric, the foreign exchange student, who looks and acts very different and is just strange, but upon going back to his home, leaves an indelible gift. The story of the sea cow, or dugong, that miraculously appears on the lawn of a family going through personal troubles, giving the child something new and different in his life. In "Grandpa's Story," grandpa tells the tale of the special journey he and his newlywed wife had to go through that was dangerous and life-threatening, but ultimately brought them closer together.

Tales From Outer Suburbia is a collection of unique stories that will have you grabbing it off the shelf at least once a month, perhaps to escape from the ordinariness of your life, or to just be entertained by the bizarre. Ultimately, you will be comforted by these stories, as each of them serves as a cathartic tonic.