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lmurray74's review
5.0
I've been catching up on Shaun Tan's work while reading China Miéville's Railsea. The world/s Shaun Tan depicts and the quirkiness of his creations work at times feel like almost parallel universes to the one Miéville creates. It's almost impossible to put their work in a specific genre. Both Tan and Miéville take me places I've never been before. Eric is a very sweet, short tale. Tan's work often deals with the theme of living in a world where communication can be difficult but an understanding of sorts usually eventuates. Eric tells the story of an exchange student coming to live probably somewhere in Australia. It's told from the point of view of the child in the host house. Tan's illustrations never cease to amaze me. They are less complex here than in some of his other works but are just as appealing. What draws me in to books by Tan and Miéville are that they are able to address complex emotional and political issues without knocking you over the head like some fictional novels do. The worlds Tan creates are worlds that I revisit time and time again and probably will do for many years to come.
cweichel's review against another edition
4.0
This is a sweet story about a family that hosts a foreign student. Eric (his real name is too hard for them to pronounce) is a lovely little character even if he doesn't fit into the family's expectation of normal. Any contrast to their way of knowing the world is attributed to cultural difference. Readers are only aware of Eric's perspective through the images.
etienne02's review against another edition
4.0
Not sure why it was all about honestly... but I like it, it was good and pretty and above all kind of original in a weird way! Worth the time!
echooo's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
bengriffin's review against another edition
4.0
An adorable little book full of beautiful illustrations and a story that radiates warmth. The binding is perfect, the detail is amazing, and the last page is wonderful. It's such a concentrated blast of loveliness that it's hard not to recommend it.
littlerah's review against another edition
5.0
I should’ve bought every single Shaun Tan book that I saw at Clunes Booktown. This is an odd and charming read much like all of Tan’s work and I love it just the same.
”It must be a cultural thing.”
Eric is an exchange student who sleeps in the pantry. Each illustration and sentence is chosen wisely as Tan showcases difference and the importance of small things. It shows an outside perspective from a narrator trying to understand is honestly just beautiful.
I cried a little at the end and am honestly warmed by this book. Pay attention to detail and to person. Learn more about the people and world around you. Perspective is important. I love this.
”It must be a cultural thing.”
Eric is an exchange student who sleeps in the pantry. Each illustration and sentence is chosen wisely as Tan showcases difference and the importance of small things. It shows an outside perspective from a narrator trying to understand is honestly just beautiful.
I cried a little at the end and am honestly warmed by this book. Pay attention to detail and to person. Learn more about the people and world around you. Perspective is important. I love this.
librarianryan's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book was interesting but hard to describe. Eric is a foreign exchange student who comes to live with a family for a short while. The family does what they can to make him feel welcome and give him a memorable experience. But they are not sure they are successful. Even after he is gone, all they know is “it’s a culture thing”. I like this book, but I can not really say why. I love the illustrations, which are simple in color, and complex in execution. The story leaves me with many questions that are hard to articulate. I have a wonderful wondering sensation leftover from this reading that I think many should experience for themselves.