Reviews

The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

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satujensiivilla's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

elvatikan's review against another edition

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lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

gardenfairyreads's review against another edition

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5.0

oh my god… life is full of beautiful little mysteries and wonders… even in old age you can be shaped and changed by the splendor of the world and it’s inhabitants… even at a young age you can begin to comprehend the joyful, arduous, shining battle that is life… I love nature and islands and summer storms and stories and my grandma

wishpearl's review against another edition

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4.0

A story revolving around a grandmother and her granddaughter which is equal parts thoughtful and charming, but a bit melancholic as well. Absolutely filled with beautiful prose. There wasn’t much of a plot at all but it was still very lovely.

flynndatta's review against another edition

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5.0

The assertion that “nothing happens” in this book feels disingenuous to me; this book, although formatted as a novel, I think is better read as a collection of self contained stories linked by place and characters. As with the best fables, the quiet wisdom is not lost in translation. This book takes childhood seriously in a way rare outside of children’s literature, and the interactions between Sophia and Grandmother are refreshingly earnest. Vonnegut’s Look at the Birdie for cottagecore bitches.

badgalnat's review against another edition

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2.0

2 stars. I seem to always fall for the trap of reading short books “to get me out of a reading slump” that only send me further into the slump. this book isn’t bad, I just found it so boring. and I knew going into it that there’s not much of a plot and that it’s a very quiet book, but I was hoping to at least develop a deeper connection with the characters. instead, I felt so distant from them and just didn’t get it.

there were definitely some parts I liked, like Sofia’s frustration in her search for God, and the grandmother’s frustration in her stance that there is no God. I also really believe that this book has the potential to be a really beautiful and wholesome movie, but as a book it just didn’t do it for me.

some fave quotes:

[Grandma talking about hell] “Sophia,” she said, “this is really not something to argue about. You can see for yourself that life is hard enough without being punished for it afterwards.”

A very long time ago, Grandmother had wanted to tell about all the things they did, but no one had bothered to ask. And now she had lost the urge.

“But a person can also find solitude with others, although it is more difficult.”

[Sophia talking about how worms regrow after being split in half] “now the back end says, ‘Which way should I grow out? Should I make a new tail, or should I make a new head? Should I go on following and never have to make any important decisions, or should I be the one who always knows best, until I come apart again?’”

[Sophia still talking about the worms (maybe I am a worm)] Nothing is easy when you might come apart in the middle at any moment.