Tales from the Inner City

Tales from the Inner City is a gorgeously written and illustrated volume featuring Shaun Tan’s paintings and drawings, one that invites the reader into a wildly imaginative, surreal world. It explores the mysteries and wonders of the natural world, one that humans may never fully comprehend. In the world Tan creates, there are crocodiles living on the 87th floor of a skyscraper, pigs stranded in apartment backrooms, moonfish swimming the night skies, eagles hunting in airports, and a rooftop tree that blooms briefly once in a lifetime, among other stories. The artwork is luminous, the writing, lyrical. What the reader will discover in this latest offering by this amazing artist/author is a genuinely unconventional, exceptionally imaginative, and poetically presented world. Tales from the Inner City is a true gem and creative wonder in its own right, and a book that is well worth reading.

I have never written a review. I'll make this short. Get this damn book. I'm stunned/shocked from how beautiful it is. His artwork alone, brought me to tears. I did not expect anything from this book, bought it on a whim. There is something here that I can't describe. Maybe, its just pure heart mixed with talent. I'm tempted to drain my entire bank account on this author. Just amazing. So, if you where once like me, trying to siphon through reviews...stop. Get this book.

This book is beautiful and amazing. The stories and art are deeply moving. You will be transported to another world that is still very much of this one. Shaun Tan has put the intangible into words and images. Brilliant. Poetic. Lyrical. Simultaneously real and surreal.

Amazing book, I pick it up all the time and get something new out of it each time. Beautiful artwork and words. I love this kind of work that is engaging for people of any age.

Each chapter responds to the world we are in with inspiring imagination and relationships.

So many wonderfully unique short stories and beautiful illustrations. In 6 sentences Tan can conjure an impossible reality that can be so readily accepted and imagined. Though his storytelling can work on different levels, from fanciful to thought provoking, I would characterize his stories in this book as the latter which, for me, makes it all the more enjoyable.

This is a really unusual book.It's highly illustrated and the pictures are gorgeous. Most of the short stories are bizarrely, surreally beautiful…and sad. The language is poetic. I loved the one about fishing from the rooftops. The lost cat story was my favorite (though it wasn't surreal like the rest). Other greats: the one beginning "The monster of our nightmares was finally dead," the board member/frog one, the one about the boy wonder, the butterfly one, and the orca in the sky.Many of the other pieces were more like meditations, philosophy rambles, prose poetry, poetic rants, etc. I personally didn't enjoy those nearly as much, especially the ones that were really metaphorical or surreal. However, I think some people will really love them.Personal enjoyment of the actual stories: a strong 4 starsPersonal enjoyment of the other writing: 2-3 stars, depending on the piece—though I can see how others would rate them much higherArt: a strong 4 starsIf you like poetry (and things written as prose that feel like poetry), you should try this book.

An ode to animals. Frank, sad and beautiful.