loloreid's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Tove Jansson creates worlds for a reader to inhabit that one can jump into quite easily, whether it is in her Moomin work or her novel writing. In this book Jansson takes us to a small coastal village in the midst of snowy winter, with three main characters of Katri Kling, her brother Mats, and a wealthy older woman Anna, a children's book illustrator. Katri is known in the town as an intelligent but brusque woman, while Mats is a kind and curious presence who enjoys odd jobs and all things boats. We witness Katri's mind at work in devising a plan to build a relationship with Anna through story and deed with the unfolding driving the plot. Jansson populates her work with unique characters whose specificity is part of their charm, and these characters are just that - delightfully odd. The approach to the writing is similar, with voices shifting from first to third person and the pacing varying from poetic description to faster paced dialogue. It is always enjoyable to spend some time in Jansson's writing, but this book feels more like a sketch than some of her other writing.
lokster71'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.
birth_mark's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
whoopsbooks's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
foxteeth's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
inkymouse's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
saguaros's review against another edition
4.0
I found this really difficult to rate because on the one hand, I really loved reading it *while* I was reading it, but on the other hand for a solid 2/3 of it when I wasn’t reading it I never wanted to pick it up and I had to force myself to go back to it before I had to send it back to the library.
Ultimately though, I just really liked it. I really love Tove Jansson but not everything she writes really resonates with me. This though, especially in the last third, really crept under my skin. There are layers here, in the sparse, direct, carefully chosen prose that I will think about for a while.
Ultimately though, I just really liked it. I really love Tove Jansson but not everything she writes really resonates with me. This though, especially in the last third, really crept under my skin. There are layers here, in the sparse, direct, carefully chosen prose that I will think about for a while.
fanny_skirbekk's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
annie_lulu's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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? Yes
4.0
maybeams's review against another edition
reflective
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
4.5
a book about autistic people