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My first Discworld book, but more importantly the book that finally ended my run of constantly DNFing books. This is the first novel I've read in its entirety in over a year. And it's good to be back in a reading mode. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a beautiful reading streak.
Ignoring all advices of not starting from the first chronologically released book, I picked up The Colour of Magic for my first experience of Sir Terry Pratchett's world, and to be honest, I was not disappointed. It was a fun, exciting story. I loved the characters and the relationship between Rincewind and Twoflower. Their contrasting personalities was a lot of fun. While I enjoyed all sections of the book, I did feel the book losing its steam the more it went on – each succeeding section being a bit less engaging than the one before.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ingenious setting of the book. The Discworld is such a cool world with seemingly limitless possibilities and is ideal for a fantasy series. If the books keep getting better as the series go on, I can't wait.
The writing is beautiful with its use of different imageries to describe various feelings and situations. It also brings a certain humour and levity to the book.
However, the story itself was disappointing and ineffective.
I may be bringing my own morals to the story, but i felt having Sayuri fixate so much on the Chairman, such that it basically robbed her of her other traits an awful aspect of the story.
Also, I did not like the ending.
A story told wordlessly, as only a masterful comic book artist could do.
The beautiful images placed next to one another form a visual thread that is easy to follow and understand. The story about the different experiences of immigration was poignant and felt realistic despite the fantastical setting. This authenticity was achieved through meticulous research and inspiration from real events without merely replicating them. (Shaun Tan's note at the end mentioned photos of post-war Europe and Ellis Island, among others as reference points)
A thought-provoking and captivating work of art, Shaun Tan's The Arrival is a graphic novel I highly recommend to anyone seeking to explore the possibilities of the medium.
