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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
strange and beautiful like all jansson books, with the characteristic melancholy of the second half of the moomin series. gentle mourning and gentle optimism. what a quiet and unexpected way to end the series.
--
11/18 reread notes
Bumping my rating up from 4 to 5 stars. The trajectory of the Moomin series is sincerely insane--to end on Moominpappa at Sea and Moominvalley in November as perfect sister novels of what it means to be lonesome in a space you share with other people. The main players of this book move through the skeleton of the Moomin house in an increasingly dreamlike state, each processing their own doubts and traumas. Earlier books have moments of sadness, but this is truly next-level. This is?? the saddest book?? in the world???
But this is also a book--more than any other Moomin book--that allows the characters to be real. Because sadness and introspection and jealousy and even going missing, these are things that happen in real life. And Moominvalley in November gives shades to the books that came before it: That our main characters had moments of anger and authenticity that we were never privy to, because they are "The Happy Family" in our heads as much as they are in Toft's. And it's not tidy but it feels true.
Anyway catch me two drinks in at the bar describing this book scene-by-scene to my sister. I don't think she was thrilled but at least she was polite!!!!!
--
11/18 reread notes
Bumping my rating up from 4 to 5 stars. The trajectory of the Moomin series is sincerely insane--to end on Moominpappa at Sea and Moominvalley in November as perfect sister novels of what it means to be lonesome in a space you share with other people. The main players of this book move through the skeleton of the Moomin house in an increasingly dreamlike state, each processing their own doubts and traumas. Earlier books have moments of sadness, but this is truly next-level. This is?? the saddest book?? in the world???
But this is also a book--more than any other Moomin book--that allows the characters to be real. Because sadness and introspection and jealousy and even going missing, these are things that happen in real life. And Moominvalley in November gives shades to the books that came before it: That our main characters had moments of anger and authenticity that we were never privy to, because they are "The Happy Family" in our heads as much as they are in Toft's. And it's not tidy but it feels true.
Anyway catch me two drinks in at the bar describing this book scene-by-scene to my sister. I don't think she was thrilled but at least she was polite!!!!!
11/2023:
Marraskuumasennus pehmeiden kansien välissä.
Helmet-haaste 2023:
25. Kirjan nimessä on viikonpäivä tai kuukausi
11/2021:
En ole ikinä lukenut kirjaa, joka tiivistäisi näin täydellisesti yhden kuukauden tunnun. En ole ikinä lukenut kirjaa, jossa olisi näin selkeästi oma, ainutlaatuinen tunnelmansa.
Samalla tämä on kertomus yhteisöllisyydestä, yksinäisyydestä, luonteesta, eri persoonallisuuksista, muutoksesta. Lopputulos on kaikessa melankolisuudessaankin (tai ehkä sen takia?) hymyilyttävä. On pimeä kylmä pelottava talo eikä mikään ole niin kuin pitäisi, mutta jotenkin synkkään marraskuuhunkin saa outo joukko yksinäisiä tai itsenäisiä luotua lämpöä, lyhtyjä ja juhla-aterian varjonäytelmineen. Jokainen on kuitenkin oma itsensä eikä voi muuttua, ja hyvä niin. Kaikkea voi tapahtua pimeässä marraskuussa.
Marraskuumasennus pehmeiden kansien välissä.
Helmet-haaste 2023:
25. Kirjan nimessä on viikonpäivä tai kuukausi
11/2021:
En ole ikinä lukenut kirjaa, joka tiivistäisi näin täydellisesti yhden kuukauden tunnun. En ole ikinä lukenut kirjaa, jossa olisi näin selkeästi oma, ainutlaatuinen tunnelmansa.
Samalla tämä on kertomus yhteisöllisyydestä, yksinäisyydestä, luonteesta, eri persoonallisuuksista, muutoksesta. Lopputulos on kaikessa melankolisuudessaankin (tai ehkä sen takia?) hymyilyttävä. On pimeä kylmä pelottava talo eikä mikään ole niin kuin pitäisi, mutta jotenkin synkkään marraskuuhunkin saa outo joukko yksinäisiä tai itsenäisiä luotua lämpöä, lyhtyjä ja juhla-aterian varjonäytelmineen. Jokainen on kuitenkin oma itsensä eikä voi muuttua, ja hyvä niin. Kaikkea voi tapahtua pimeässä marraskuussa.
I decided to try listening an easy book to practice my Swedish. Worked out nicely and I think I understood most of it.
In my opinion, Sent i november is likely the most adult of Moomin books. There is no adventure storyline but the book describes events that occur in the Moomin Valley while the family is away sailing (this story is told in another book). Several familiar and new characters happen to arrive to the empty Moomin house, each looking for the family for their own reasons, and each going through their own struggles.
One of them is lonely and traumatized, another dreams of a warm home and a mother figure, one wants to escape from troublesome relatives and one is in search of lost inspiration. Many serious themes related to mental health and human (Moomin?) relationships are discussed with gentle understanding and are resolved in ways that stem from the inner reflection the characters go through during the book.
While there is a serious and a little melancholy feeling to the book, it's still a comforting and uplifting read, and perfect for the season.
In my opinion, Sent i november is likely the most adult of Moomin books. There is no adventure storyline but the book describes events that occur in the Moomin Valley while the family is away sailing (this story is told in another book). Several familiar and new characters happen to arrive to the empty Moomin house, each looking for the family for their own reasons, and each going through their own struggles.
One of them is lonely and traumatized, another dreams of a warm home and a mother figure, one wants to escape from troublesome relatives and one is in search of lost inspiration. Many serious themes related to mental health and human (Moomin?) relationships are discussed with gentle understanding and are resolved in ways that stem from the inner reflection the characters go through during the book.
While there is a serious and a little melancholy feeling to the book, it's still a comforting and uplifting read, and perfect for the season.
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes