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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: Alcohol, Vomit, and Animal cruelty
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, Death of parent, and Grief
drj's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-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
5.0
This is a delight to read. The writing and the translation are beautiful. The trivial to-and-fro of island life, and in particular the relationship between a young girl and her grandmother, becomes a whole world for the reader and the inhabitants to explore. A wonderful space is created on many levels. The space of the island, its surrounding islands, and the sea; the space between short pieces of dialogue; and, the space between each of the short episodes.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death
francesca89it's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
alsira98's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Animal death
marissab's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol, and Animal death
careinthelibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Animal death, and Death
neckili's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Vomit and Death of parent
lucy12345's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Animal death
ceallaighsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
[Sophia dictating her book to her grandmother]: “The worm probably knows that if it comes apart, both halves will start growing separately. Space. But we don’t know how much it hurts. And we don’t know, either, if the worm is afraid it’s going to hurt. But anyway, it does have a feeling that something sharp is getting closer and closer all the time. This is instinct. And I can tell you this much, it’s no fair to say it’s too little, or it only has a digestive canal, and so that’s why it doesn’t hurt. I am sure it does hurt, but maybe only for a second… Nothing is easy when you might come apart in the middle at any moment.”
TITLE—The Summer Book
AUTHOR—Tove Jansson; trans. Thomas Teal
PUBLISHED—1972
GENRE—literary fiction
SETTING—an island in the Gulf of Finland
MAIN THEMES/SUBJECTS—coming of age, family relationships, Nature
WRITING STYLE—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
CHARACTERS—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
PLOT—n/a
BONUS ELEMENT/S—Oh my god this book had me laughing so hard and the chapter “On Angleworms and Others” was TOO precious. 🥰
PHILOSOPHY—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“You’re a very good climber,” said Grandmother sternly. “And brave, too, because I could see you were scared. Shall I tell him about it? Or shouldn’t I?” “Sophia shrugged one shoulder and looked at her grandmother. “I guess maybe not,” she said. “But you can tell it on your deathbed so it doesn’t go to waste.”
I absolutely adored this book! My favorite chapters were The Magic Forest, The Cave, and On Angleworms and Others. There were so many lovely little vignettes of simple island living in the Gulf of Finland, and the simple cares and worries of a childhood lived there. The relationship between the Grandmother and her granddaughter, Sophia, was SO precious. I loved all the underlying currents of natural magic and animism as well. ❤️
So glad I finally read something by Tove Jansson! Now to immediately track down everything else she’s written. 🥰
“It’s funny about me,” Sophia said. “I always feel like such a nice girl whenever there’s a storm.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TW // animal death
Further Reading—
- I promise not every book is going to remind me of The Bone People (Keri Hulme) but this one really did 😂
- The Icarus Girl, by Helen Oyeyemi
- I’m trying to think of other adult literary fiction books I’ve read with child MCs… I feel like Shirley Jackson has one?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
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