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sommerblond's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
jmdressel's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
a beautiful montage of vignettes depicting interactions and inner thoughts of grandma and granddaughter. cozy, sweet, silly at times, really a comfort book! loved the illustrations too!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Dementia
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Vomit, and Death of parent
alyssapusateri's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Vomit
wildflowercrypt's review
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
this is the story of a girl who comes to live with her Grandmother on an island, after her own mother dies. although the story is not about that loss or the accompanying grief, you can still feel it in the room with you everywhere you go with Grandmother and Sophia; it lingers in the back of the mind, coloring the narrative and giving weight to what might seem an otherwise insignificant moment. The Summer Book played out like a movie (a Studio Ghibli movie at that) in my head, i could see it all so clearly; a new favorite i hope to re-read for many summers to come.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
anni_swanilda's review against another edition
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Vomit, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death and Death of parent
elizlizabeth's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Lovely collection of short, slice of life stories. I felt very at peace reading them, albeit a little melancholy.
This is my second read of this after some years. Will definitely be reading again in the future as I feel you get something different out of it everytime.
This is my second read of this after some years. Will definitely be reading again in the future as I feel you get something different out of it everytime.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Grief, and Death of parent
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
this...was not for me. while the summer book features an idyllic island setting mainly focused ona grandmother and granddaughter duo, i find it surprisingly tedious bc of its plotless and aimless wanderings, despite some funny and wise moments, and honestly dont rly get the rave reviews.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
booitsnathalie's review
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.0
A charming and reserved collection of vignettes wherein very little happens but everyone comes out a bit wiser. I have been a huge fan of Jansson's Moomin series for years and didn't realize until the introduction that this was also written by her (was looking for summer books and, well...). Her voice is very similar to her comics and still a delight, though I feel like something is lost without her illustrations. She has a way of describing the world like a depressed and cerebral child, whichs works amazing when paired with the silly Moomin designs but here just creates a sense of absence. In a way it's fitting for the themes of death, growing old, bodies wearing down, but feels more an accident of form than an intentional tone.
Was not quite the carefree summer getaway I was looking for, but I'm beginning to notice that most media centered around summer is almost by necessity a meditation on the passage of time and the implacable sadness that follows.
Was not quite the carefree summer getaway I was looking for, but I'm beginning to notice that most media centered around summer is almost by necessity a meditation on the passage of time and the implacable sadness that follows.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
cpoole's review
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent