Reviews

Moominpappa at Sea by Tove Jansson

hetw82's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.25

thebookmagpie's review against another edition

3.5

The last two Moomin books are incredibly depressing, and while I understand the real-world reasons for this, I think it's to the detriment of the stories. The other books all have dark undertones but this centres the darkness in a way that I don't find edifying and that I think is really one note and makes them seem far more unrealistic than they did with the more positive balance. 

amaezing's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

lenitat's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

gunnaraj's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

alexis_something_rose's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

spav's review against another edition

4.0

Deeper than what you might think for a young adult's book.

heisiiri's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Moominpappa is having both a midlife crisis and a masculinity crisis at the same time, and makes his family move to a remote island to fulfill his life fantasies. Self-reflection and identity searching ensue for each member of the Moomin family. 

Tove Jansson uses metaphors, foreshadowing and character dynamics fantastically to explore many different themes. This book is about identity, growing up, and loneliness. It also reflects on family dynamics in a brilliant way. I really felt for Mamma here, and she made me think of my own mother quite a lot. Fathers and children are allowed to explore, to distance themselves from their families, to build their own identities outside of their family roles. Mothers are rarely afforded that luxury. 

I also loved the role that The Groke was given in this story! She was such an important character here. 

eejit's review against another edition

4.0

lite seg i början men jättebra. tove gör sådana ovanliga men perfekta beskrivningar genom liknelser som målar en alldeles levande bild.

ninnips's review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5