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4.38 AVERAGE
4.38 AVERAGE
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This was a book club book so I didn't choose it on my own. I know about moomins but I never actually watched the show so I was not emotionally involved with this book. But it was cute and I really loved the pictures.
4.5 stars.
My fifth Moomin book and possibly the best one yet.
Moomin wakes early from his hibernation and is left to explore the deep Finnish winter on his own, with the help of new character Tooticky and the returning Little My.
Lighter on action and whimsy than the previous ones, as well as featuring a limited cast - no Sniff or Snufkin here, as they’re all asleep. Captures the feel for deep, dark winter in a magical way. Goes to quite existential places for a kids book, but with plenty of cute characters to keep things light. With a cameo from the terrifying Groke (but what if she’s not evil, just lonely?).
A great, great read.
My fifth Moomin book and possibly the best one yet.
Moomin wakes early from his hibernation and is left to explore the deep Finnish winter on his own, with the help of new character Tooticky and the returning Little My.
Lighter on action and whimsy than the previous ones, as well as featuring a limited cast - no Sniff or Snufkin here, as they’re all asleep. Captures the feel for deep, dark winter in a magical way. Goes to quite existential places for a kids book, but with plenty of cute characters to keep things light. With a cameo from the terrifying Groke (but what if she’s not evil, just lonely?).
A great, great read.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Read with my 7 year old. We love the Moomins!
I read this with my kids because it was excerpted in our homeschool writing curriculum, Writing With Ease. It was not bad, but it is not the first book in the series, apparently, and having not read any of the others, we didn't know who any of the characters were supposed to be or what was going on. Anyway, Moomins are apparently magical creatures, and they usually hibernate through the winter, but in this book one of them, Moomintroll, wakes up and experiences winter . . .
A reread. I have read this book few times. Always in the summer - it's most delicious read that time. Every summer cottage in Finland should have this book in their library to be on hand for rainy or stormy days.
This is not the first time I've read this book, but I started it again yesterday. I love the moomin books, and they're some of the children's books I've kept that I can still read and enjoy now as an adult. I'd actually got this one out for my voluntary job yesterday. The radio had come to us to get some sound bites for our favourite characters, and I had been thinking about using Little My for mine, but in the end I went with Pippi.
Anyway, this is a fantastic read. It's an etheral, beautifully written story of Scandinavian winter, with the lack of light, the freezing cold (The Lady of the Cold) and learning to love winter. Moomins usually hibernate (and I've actually been to Moominland in Finland at the start of March, so I've seen their house covered in snow!) but this year Moomintroll wakes up and experiences winter for the first time in his life, and meets some of the curious characters who only come out at this time of year, including his ancestor, who moves into their wood burner.
Little My is fantastic, really getting into the spirit of winter and exploring and testing out all the things you can do. Moomintroll is a little more cautious and longing for spring (more like me!). Tove's illustrations are wonderful too. It's a great read regardless of how old you are.
2016 note - review from my 2007 bookcrossing journal.
Anyway, this is a fantastic read. It's an etheral, beautifully written story of Scandinavian winter, with the lack of light, the freezing cold (The Lady of the Cold) and learning to love winter. Moomins usually hibernate (and I've actually been to Moominland in Finland at the start of March, so I've seen their house covered in snow!) but this year Moomintroll wakes up and experiences winter for the first time in his life, and meets some of the curious characters who only come out at this time of year, including his ancestor, who moves into their wood burner.
Little My is fantastic, really getting into the spirit of winter and exploring and testing out all the things you can do. Moomintroll is a little more cautious and longing for spring (more like me!). Tove's illustrations are wonderful too. It's a great read regardless of how old you are.
2016 note - review from my 2007 bookcrossing journal.
3.5
This was so cozy and had quite a few really good quotes about loneliness and how to deal with the cold of winter and it’s was a very sweet little novel
This was so cozy and had quite a few really good quotes about loneliness and how to deal with the cold of winter and it’s was a very sweet little novel
I wish I’d known sooner that bittersweet children’s fiction had its own branch of Scandi noir.