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sardini's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
carlylarsson's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
bonus's review against another edition
5.0
If she really were what she pretends to be, everything would have been wrong, everything I did and said and tried to get her to see, it would all have been monstrous. But her innocence left her a very long time ago, and she never noticed. She eats only grass, but she has a meat eater’s heart. And she doesn’t know it, and no one has told her. Maybe they don’t care enough about her to take the chance.
A cold and atmospheric tale. Deceptively quiet, with exciting tension.
🐇
merle98's review against another edition
4.0
Why was this so unsettling? Who is pulling the strings, really?? Who won at the end??? This was really bizarre, I loved it!
valabirna's review against another edition
4.0
mjög hrifin af persónusköpuninni (sérstaklega katri<3) og hversu lúmsk hún var að skipta úr þriðju í fyrstu persónu. ég hélt að ég hefði verið ósátt með endann en ég þurfti bara að sofa á honum og núna finnst mér hann flottur.
fyrsta tove bókin mín en er spennt að lesa þarna sumarbókina hennar í ööööö sumar.
fyrsta tove bókin mín en er spennt að lesa þarna sumarbókina hennar í ööööö sumar.
ryureadss's review against another edition
5.0
My only problem with this book, is that it does not have a sequel. A comfort book. Beautiful. This book is wayyy better than "the summer book" and "fair play".
iloveolaf's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
rileymaeburns's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sydsnot71's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first non-Moomin novel of Tove Jansson I've read and my tenth Jansson book. I found I could barely bring myself to put it down.
The writing - translated by Thomas Teal - is superb. Cold, straightforward, and sharp. The question the book asks us is who is the True Deceiver, Katri or Anna? And is the person they're deceiving themselves?
It almost feels like a psychological thriller. Indeed, perhaps if I want to pigeon-hole it as anything that is what it is. A battle of wits between two people. One of whom doesn't realise - at least consciously - that she's in a battle at all but still might end up winning.
I want to say there's an biographical element in this story. That Anna, the illustrator of children's books about flower covered rabbits, is Jansson herself. And perhaps Katri is too? That this is a book about two sides of Jansson. Or of a relationship she once had. Or it is about the creative process. The separation of art and commerce. Perhaps it is all of these things or none of them.
Whatever the case I enjoyed reading it. I found the characters interesting, including Mats (Katri's simple brother.) And I'm still thinking about how the book ended. This is the very opposite of a sentimental book.
Oh, this edition has an introduction by Ali Smith which is well-worth reading.
The writing - translated by Thomas Teal - is superb. Cold, straightforward, and sharp. The question the book asks us is who is the True Deceiver, Katri or Anna? And is the person they're deceiving themselves?
It almost feels like a psychological thriller. Indeed, perhaps if I want to pigeon-hole it as anything that is what it is. A battle of wits between two people. One of whom doesn't realise - at least consciously - that she's in a battle at all but still might end up winning.
I want to say there's an biographical element in this story. That Anna, the illustrator of children's books about flower covered rabbits, is Jansson herself. And perhaps Katri is too? That this is a book about two sides of Jansson. Or of a relationship she once had. Or it is about the creative process. The separation of art and commerce. Perhaps it is all of these things or none of them.
Whatever the case I enjoyed reading it. I found the characters interesting, including Mats (Katri's simple brother.) And I'm still thinking about how the book ended. This is the very opposite of a sentimental book.
Oh, this edition has an introduction by Ali Smith which is well-worth reading.
paul281f's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0