Category Archives: Book reviews

If you enjoyed the themes of The Arrival, this might be a picture book you would enjoy next. There are words in this, but only a few to tie the story together; most of the story focuses on the fascinating individual matchboxes in the collection of a little girl’s great-grandfather. These matchboxes create the diary of his life which he started when he was unable to read or write. His marvellous collection of objects reveal the twists and turns in his life following his immigation to New York from Italy as a child. This makes a thought-provoking and almost poetic tale which sends you on a voyage of discovery. Its themes and images of early twentieth century migration offer an interesting parallel to The Arrival.