A review by drj
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

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.
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