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The Summer Book
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
In The Summer Book Tove Jansson distills the essence of the summerits sunlight and stormsinto twenty-two crystalline vignettes. This brief novel tells the story of Sophia, a six-year-old girl awakening to existence, and Sophias grandmother, nearing the end of hers, as they spend the summer on a tiny unspoiled island in the Gulf of Finland. The grandmother is unsentimental and wise, if a little cranky; Sophia is impetuous and volatile, but she tends to her grandmother with the care of a new parent. Together they amble over coastline and forest in easy companionship, build boats from bark, create a miniature Venice, write a fanciful study of local bugs. They discuss things that matter to young and old alike: life, death, the nature of God and of love. On an island, thinks the grandmother, everything is complete. In The Summer Book, Jansson creates her own complete world, full of the varied joys and sorrows of life. Tove Jansson, whose Moomintroll comic strip and books brought her international acclaim, lived for much of her life on an island like the one described in The Summer Book, and the work can be enjoyed as her closely observed journal of the sounds, sights, and feel of a summer spent in intimate contact with the natural world. The Summer Book is translated from the Swedish by Thomas Teal.
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Rissreads
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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Pickpick

A fantastic start to my holidays! Reading by my friends pool (yes I did swim!) and eating fairy bread!
This is my book club book. It‘s a short, quiet, reflective read. It‘s a book about a 6 year old girl and her grandmother over one summer on an island. Not much really happens but it‘s beautiful and atmospheric. I hope to one day have grandchildren of my own who I can ramble around with in nature just enjoying life and each others company.

LeeRHarry Look at you with your fairy bread! 🥰 Happy New Year Nerissa 😊 (edited) 3mo
batsy It's such a gorgeous book and a lovely one to start the year with! 💛 3mo
BarbaraBB Lovely book, lovely setting! Happy new year! 3mo
39 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
HeatherBookNerd
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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Pickpick

A lovely, quiet book that follows a 6-year-old girl and her grandmother through one summer on an isolated island in Finland. Beautiful descriptions of island life and the relationship between these two strong minded, clever individuals.

quietlycuriouskate Lovely book!❤️ 3mo
Tamra 💙 3mo
34 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Bookwomble
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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#Top10Summer2023 @cinfen
Thanks for the tag, @batsy 😊

These were my 5⭐ reads for June-August - some of my 4.5 ⭐ books would comfortably sit here, too, but the judges scores are in, so my hands are tied!

batsy Thanks for sharing! As expected, interesting picks and all I've yet to read! *adds to TBR* 😁 7mo
Bookwomble 📚😊👍 7mo
Cinfhen So sorry I missed your post! Thanks for sharing 😁 6mo
37 likes3 comments
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Chelsea.Poole
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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Pickpick

I was at turns charmed, then saddened, then amused by grandmother and Sophia‘s adventures on their quaint island. Sophia‘s papa is around but absent…I don‘t remember a single thing he said in the book. The action is largely between the young (6) Sophia and the elderly grandmother who carve, explore caves, picnic and through it all discuss minute details of life on the island but have much deeper meaning. #NaturaLitsy readers would appreciate!

slategreyskies Oh, I read this last summer & really liked it. I remember I was planning on rereading it every summer, so thanks for this post! I‘d have forgotten otherwise. 💕 7mo
bnp I hadn't thought of the #NaturalLitsy connection, but you're right, this totally fits! 7mo
Tamra Such a lovely book! 💙 7mo
97 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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Chelsea.Poole
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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Next summer activity: baseball for my oldest! Love watching him play. Still slowly making some progress on this slim novel which I‘m finding both sweet and melancholic.

sarahbarnes I really want to read this at some point. 🤍 8mo
74 likes1 comment
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Chelsea.Poole
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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I‘m very much enjoying summer and soaking it all in with my family. We‘ve been camping this weekend with friends. The weather was perfect! Bonus: I snuck a few pages in while others unsuccessfully fished.
I‘m sorely behind on reviews but hope to catch up today! I‘ve missed you all!
Ps — The Summer Book is a perfect read for camping!

AllDebooks So glad you're having a great summer. What a perfect reading spot 😍 8mo
Suet624 Enjoy!! 8mo
PurpleyPumpkin I read this earlier this month and loved it! Glad you‘re enjoying camping. 👍🏽 8mo
jlhammar Love Tove! Such a wonderful book. 8mo
83 likes4 comments
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suvata
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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Pickpick

#StoryGraph: fiction classics literary lighthearted reflective relaxing scandinavian translated-works
165 pages • first pub 1972 • 4.5 Stars

Sophia and Grandma live together on a Scandinavian Island for the summer. This book is translated from the Swedish, is character driven and I would classify it as contemplative literary fiction. The story of these two endearing characters is told via small vignettes about their life and relationship.

Tamra Sweet novel without being too sentimental. 😊 8mo
suvata @Tamra it reminded me of the relationship between me and my granddaughter. 🥰 8mo
Pogue This was one of my #LMPBC books and I loved it. 8mo
50 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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PurpleyPumpkin
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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Pickpick

This was a lovely book with which to start the summer. A collection of short stories of a family‘s time spent at a summer cottage in Finland. The relationship between Sophia and her grandmother was rendered with grace and love. The author really captured the essence of both characters, likely because they were the image of their real life counterparts. I can see myself rereading this yearly as I ease into the warmer season. 5/5⭐️
(July 7, 2023)

slategreyskies That‘s almost exactly what I wrote about it when I read it at the end of last summer! I loved this one! Maybe I‘ll get out my copy and give it a reread. :) ☀️ 9mo
quietlycuriouskate Lovely book! 9mo
PurpleyPumpkin @slategreyskies Just saw your review! 🙌🏽 I so enjoyed this book. It was the perfect fit for me both for the time of year and for the feelings it evoked. Loved it! 9mo
PurpleyPumpkin @kathedron Wasn‘t it though? I don‘t often read novels as ebooks but it didn‘t matter to me with this one. I was so completely drawn in from the get-go! Now to buy my own physical copy… 9mo
41 likes4 comments
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Eggs
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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Pickpick

The story of 6 yo Sophia and her grandmother as they spend the summer on a tiny unspoiled island in the Gulf of Finland. They are quirky but solid companions, who find delight in their conversations, play, and building together. “On an island,” thinks the grandmother, “everything is complete.”

#Pantone2023 @Clwojick

68 likes2 stack adds
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AllDebooks
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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#Midsummersolace

Photo challenge - Day 1 -Summer

I chose this as I'm off to the Lake District tomorrow for a restful long weekend. I chose Tove Jansson's The Summer Book as I adore her work and fancied something different to Moomins.

What would you choose?

📷 Picollage stock photo

jlhammar Beautiful! Love The Summer Book. 10mo
JuniperWilde I loved The Summer Book, too. It‘s a gem that read every few years again and again. 10mo
TheBookHippie Beautiful pic!!! And a book stack 🤣 10mo
36 likes4 comments
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Blaire
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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Enjoying some wine, dessert, and an almost summer read of The Summer Book.

Ruthiella Cheers 🥂! 10mo
LeahBergen It‘s a lovely read, isn‘t it? 10mo
batsy Lovely! I adore the book 💙 10mo
See All 8 Comments
Tamra Perfect! I love this book too. 10mo
Cathythoughts Gorgeous pic 💫 10mo
Blaire @Ruthiella 😍 10mo
Blaire @LeahBergen @batsy @Tamra it‘s such a perfect read on summer evenings - love dipping into this world. 10mo
Blaire @Cathythoughts thank you! I always love having time to relax on the deck with the longer days. 10mo
57 likes8 comments
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Bookwomble
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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#TitlesAndTunes #IslandVibes @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB
Revisiting a favourite island in Tove Jansson's fictionalised childhood memoir of the close bond that develops between a grandmother & granddaughter during summer holidays on a tiny island in the Gulf of Finland.
Song choice is "That Summer Feeling" from a favourite album, Jonathan Richman's "Jonathan Sings!" It's a record packed with whimsically yearning songs of love, nostalgia and joy. ?️??

BarbaraBB I don‘t know the song (yet!) but the book is an awesome choice! 11mo
Cinfhen I still haven‘t read Tove Jansson 🙈Although I did read this book for #ReadingEurope #Finland 11mo
Cinfhen Song sounds wonderful but like @BarbaraBB I need to have a listen 🎧 💕🎶 11mo
30 likes4 comments
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ManyWordsLater
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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Makes me want summer. Soon. Right?

RobES Oooh, I read this last summer and Loved it ❤️ .... I think this author is the creator of the Moomins too! I love the Moomins! 12mo
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JenniferP
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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Since I‘m on track with my #clarissa March letters, I‘m doing a reread of one of my favorites to get myself a #bookspinbingo. This is my first month really participating in this challenge and I‘m really enjoying it! @TheAromaofBooks

BarbaraBB What a good choice to reread! 12mo
lauraisntwilder Oh, I love that book! 12mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 12mo
32 likes1 stack add3 comments
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bnp
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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Pickpick

Read this on the plane yesterday. Parts of it made me laugh out loud. No plot, just incidents from summers on an island off the coast of Finland featuring a girl and her grandmother, both outspoken.

#WomeninTranslation as well as the Baltic Sea challenge on LT.

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TrishB
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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#summer # booked2023 suggestions so far-
Afrofuturism- My Soul to Keep
Neighbours- A Good Neighbourhood
Trans/non-binary- George
Three generations- Marrying the Ketchups
Will be thinking a bit more about weird reviews/books and sunshine noir 🤔

Susanita Maybe Carl Hiassen for sunshine noir? 1y
Cinfhen Oh yay!!!The Ketchups are a great choice!!! Im gonna post some #sunshineNoir ideas soon 😎 1y
TrishB @Susanita any specific recommendations? I‘m not familiar with this author. 1y
See All 8 Comments
Susanita He wrote the book that was adapted for the movie Strip Tease. This is the one I read: 1y
CarolynM Great suggestion @Susanita I loved Skin Tight, it‘s hilarious. 1y
TrishB @Susanita @CarolynM thank you 😁 1y
Centique I love Carl Hiassen too. I read a few back in the 90s, I hope they still stand up well. But definitely remember Skin Tight as a good one. 1y
TrishB @Centique definitely looking like a positive recommendation. 1y
65 likes8 comments
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GerardtheBookworm
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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Pickpick

A meditative, sweet examination of life, death, and nature via the relationship of a young girl and her grandmother on coastal island of Finland one summer. A classic reprint from the New Review of Books.

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slategreyskies
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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Pickpick

I loved this book so much that I can see myself rereading it every summer. It felt like a little gem. I settled into it, not expecting it to go anywhere, but just to meander along for a while, and it was the perfect book for me. #Reading1001

#1001books
Book 30/1001

RobES I loved this book 💛 2y
Tamra Me too! 💙 2y
53 likes5 stack adds2 comments
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Gadzooks_Bazooka
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
Pickpick

This is a wonderful book, I love it.

review
Ididsoidid
Summer Book (Revised) | Tove Jansson (Intro by Esther Freud)
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Mehso-so

With summer ending I thought it might be time to try this, the adventures of Sophia and her grandmother as they spend one or many summers secluded on an island. Sometimes sweet, sometimes melancholy, something in the timelessness or detachment from society gave me sense of foreboding that I can‘t quite decipher. 6/10

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GatheringBooks
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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#ArtfulAugust Day 13: Nary a #Rain this summer. Sunny throughout in California. Taken last week when we rented a lakehouse with family and did some kayaking. 🏝 Preparing a few posts in advance since I will be traveling in the coming days.

Eggs Same here-no rain ☔️! Happy Travels! 2y
batsy That looks like bliss! 💙 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 💙💙💙 2y
64 likes3 comments
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Daisey
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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Pickpick

I‘m so glad to have read this as my summer break is winding down and I prepare to go back to school. It was the perfect timing for these vignettes of a grandmother and granddaughter together on an island in summer. I also thoroughly enjoyed the illustrations.

#ReadTheWorld #ReadingTheWorld #Finland #translated #1001books
#Reading1001 #TBRTakedown August 2022

60 likes2 stack adds
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vivastory
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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A great quote for both Jansson's birthday & National Book Lover's Day ! 📚📚

batsy 🙌🏾💜 2y
LeahBergen Love this! 2y
merelybookish Beautiful! 2y
See All 6 Comments
jlhammar I love Tove. Great book. 2y
Librariana Very true! Thank you for sharing this lovely quote, Scott! 😊💜📚 2y
Bookwomble ❤️📖❤️ 2y
58 likes6 comments
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GatheringBooks
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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#ArtfulAugust Day 4: We have a #Boat of sorts in this lakehouse we are renting for the next three days. I found the perfect reading corner close to the boat and the lake. I think I brought the perfect book(s) with me.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 😍 2y
Eggs Gorgeous 🚤 📚💙 2y
Hooked_on_books Ah, these pictures are so soothing! 2y
60 likes3 comments
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RobES
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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Pickpick

Perfect summer read- I loved it 💙 the author is the creator of the Moomins! This novella is based on her own family and the island they lived on. It is hilariously funny and simultaneously moving and sweet. Highly recommend!

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Kristin_Reads
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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I can‘t wait for my book haul to arrive! The New York Review Books summer sale was just too tempting …
#NYRB

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Oryx
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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What else to read on a train through Finland than a Tove Jansson selection? I'm nothing if not predictable.

LeeRHarry Hehe I read this on the ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki ….Love me some themed holiday reading! Loving seeing your photos of Finland 🥰 2y
Cathythoughts Looks lovely ❤️ 2y
batsy Perfect! 2y
Tamra Such a fabulous book! 2y
LeahBergen Oh, lucky you! 2y
74 likes5 comments
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rmaclean4
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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Pickpick

A delight of a book. Wonderful nature writting in this Scandinavian classic. A summer on an Island with Sophie and her Grandmother. Such a joy to read.

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Chrissyreadit
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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This was a lovely thing to see in the NYT - because when my brain can‘t focus on reading a book it can still focus on articles about books.

AmyG I will have to check this out. I am having trouble reading, too. 2y
thereadingpal I feel you on focusing - when I can't read, I read articles or blog posts about reading or books. If it works, it works 2y
75 likes2 comments
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BiblioLitten
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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Finally some delicious sunshine in the Prairies, and a perfect time to read this book set in #Finland.

That‘s Grandmother and Sophia. 💙☀️💙
#currentlyreading

LeahBergen This is such a lovely, quirky little book. 2y
Cathythoughts I‘m looking forward to this one. ❤️ 2y
erzascarletbookgasm Hope you enjoy! 2y
See All 6 Comments
jlhammar Love this book! 2y
BiblioLitten @LeahBergen @erzascarletbookgasm It is a lovely read. I love grandmother and Sophie. @jlhammar 2y
BiblioLitten @Cathythoughts It makes summer reading sweeter😊 2y
49 likes6 comments
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Cathythoughts
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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Thanks Kate for the lovely book. ! I also love this print 😍. I hope you and yours are all doing well now , take care ♥️ Cathy X

batsy This is such a lovely book 💙 2y
Bookwomble @batsy It is, isn't it? I think I may re-read it this summer as an antidote to real life! @Cathythoughts I hope you enjoy it, Cathy 🙂 2y
Cathythoughts @batsy @Bookwomble Thanks both of you 👍🏻👍🏻 I‘m looking forward to it 🥰 (edited) 2y
See All 14 Comments
Tamra I hope you love this one! ❤️ So evocative of time & place & the special grandparent/child relationship. (edited) 2y
squirrelbrain I loved this book! 2y
erzascarletbookgasm I loved this too! Hope you will 2y
Cathythoughts @Tamra Thanks! Sounds so good ❤️ 2y
Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain @erzascarletbookgasm Sounds like this is a special book 💫 2y
LeahBergen I think you‘ll like this one! 💙 2y
quietlycuriouskate @Cathythoughts Oh I'm so glad it's got there at last. We've not had any further unplanned experiments with the laws of gravity, so all is well here! 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Thanks Leah 👍🏻 (edited) 2y
Cathythoughts @kathedron Thanks again Kate! Im glad to hear that. Im following little yellow and the posts are brilliant. Im glad all is ok. (edited) 2y
batsy @Bookwomble It might be time for me re-read, as well. The perfect antidote! 2y
Bookwomble @batsy 😊👍🏻💙 2y
62 likes1 stack add14 comments
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Booksnchill
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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2021 top reads- apparently a year of reading classics by women and non fiction about women. @britt_brooke

britt_brooke Nice!! 2y
49 likes1 comment
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Lindy
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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Are you trying to get through more books before the end of the year? One strategy is to read shorter ones! You can see what I have to say about some darling gems here on a video that I made for Shawn the Book Maniac's booktube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joHQDnQmVOc

LeahBergen Oh, lovely! 👏🏻👏🏻 2y
TheLudicReader I enjoyed that video. 2y
Lindy @TheLudicReader Thanks, Christie! 2y
35 likes3 comments
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Tanisha_A
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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Pickpick

The gift of a book which makes you move while also bringing a stillness to the rhythm of life, is an excellent gift, no?

I received The Summer Book as a present from the sweetest, @JennyM last year. Thank you, love! 🥰

The writing in here encompasses multiple themes – philosophy, adventure, nature descriptions in their glory as well as chaos, inspirations from Jansson‘s life experiences, humour, mystery, literature and learning. 👇🏽

Tanisha_A Set on the Gulf of Finland, it‘s the story of a blooming relationship between a grandmother and her granddaughter. They pass their days on the island talking about life, its constituents – nature and its beings (humans, non-humans), relationships, travel, love, death, afterlife – they fight, and they saunter through the island‘s landscape together and at times on their own. 3y
Centique I love this book! 3y
JennyM I‘m so glad you enjoyed it, T. It‘s such a lovely book. Hope you are keeping well. Sending hugs xx😘 3y
See All 6 Comments
Tanisha_A @JennyM It‘s one of my favourites of the year! All good here. Hope things are well with you and fam. All the love! 🎈❤️ 3y
Tanisha_A @Centique It was one of the most satisfying reads. So wholesome! 3y
Tamra Such a wonderful book to gift! 2y
68 likes5 stack adds6 comments
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a.wilde.juniper
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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Pickpick

I love this book. I savoured all 172 pages. It is unlike anything else I‘ve read. It celebrates the relationship between a wild young girl and her equally wild grandmother as they spend the summer on a small Finnish island. Quote: “Wise as she was, she realized that people can postpone their rebellious phases until they're eighty-five years old, and she decided to keep an eye on herself.”
― Tove Jansson, The Summer Book

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ValerieAndBooks
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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Pickpick

This vignette-filled short novel should really only be read during summer time 🌞. The relationship between Sophia and her grandmother, on an island home in Finland, was touching— but yet not saccharine.

I‘m surprised by the low overall Litsy rating on this one, which is also a #1001Books.

MicheleinPhilly You are brave sitting outside. I would never leave the pool. 🥵 3y
Leftcoastzen Lovely edition 3y
youneverarrived Love the cover 😍 3y
See All 12 Comments
Tamra I loved this one - all the summer vibes! 😎 3y
EvieBee Gosh, what an awesome edition. 3y
ValerieAndBooks @MicheleinPhilly I stepped out briefly just to take the photo 😉 . Yes it‘s been way too hot lately to be outside except to take dips in the pool! Think we‘re supposed to get a slight break next week 🤞 3y
ValerieAndBooks @Tamra I can see myself re-reading again next summer! Maybe on the first day of summer 😊 3y
ValerieAndBooks @Leftcoastzen @youneverarrived @EvieBee Agree 💖 !! It‘s the 1st American Edition, 1974. Slight spine damage of the dust jacket at the bottom due to someone ripping off a sticker, but at $1.50 from the used bookstore I couldn‘t resist. Glad I picked it up, it‘s a little gem of a book! 3y
Suet624 It's funny because the rating I see on Litsy is 100%. As it should be. 3y
ValerieAndBooks @Suet624 that‘s odd! It was 33% when I looked at it, then it went up to 56% after I gave it a pick. Glad to know you loved it too. 3y
Suet624 Wait. Now it says 56%. Where did the 100% go? Darn! How weird. 3y
Suet624 Oh. Apparently I was looking at The Summer Book by a different author. 3y
65 likes2 stack adds12 comments
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ValerieAndBooks
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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Just learned that yesterday was #nationalbookloversday . But that‘s everyday for us, right 😉?

📚📚📚📚📚

The 3 large oak bookcases here were built by my dad (who would have been 82 in two days ) ❤️

Tagged book is my current read.

Aims42 Such a great reading spot 🤩😍 3y
TrishB Lovely ❤️ 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Gorgeous ❤️📚 3y
See All 14 Comments
merelybookish Beautiful! 😍 3y
LeahBergen Lovely!! 📚📚 3y
DivineDiana Absolutely! ❤️ 3y
Cathythoughts Very beautiful 😍 3y
BookDadGirlDad Almost shorted out my phone drooling over that library!!! Love the hand made cases.😍😍😍 3y
Leftcoastzen Beautiful! 3y
erzascarletbookgasm Lovely, cosy reading spot 👌 3y
Reggie What a craftsman he was . What a great space! Hope you‘re feeling better. 3y
ValerieAndBooks @Aims42 @TrishB @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @merelybookish @LeahBergen @DivineDiana @Cathythoughts @BookDadGirlDad @Leftcoastzen @erzascarletbookgasm Thanks all! I‘m fortunate to have this legacy from my Dad and other pieces of furniture he made for us over the years 💖. @Reggie thank you— feeling a lot better although I still go to bed earlier than usual! 3y
Suet624 How beautiful! 3y
Lynnsoprano What a beautiful space! 3y
74 likes1 stack add14 comments
review
eccburnham
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
Mehso-so

Read this for Mol‘s bookclub (same as Cantoras) - very Steinbeck but a little girl and Gulf of Finland. Great imagery and cherry scenes - some great humor. Curious about her comic.

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Gillyreads
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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Got tagged in Instagram to do #SixBooksSixCountries from my #TBRPile so thought I‘d share here too

Finland ~ The Summer Book by Tove Jasson
Sri Lanka ~ Ruins by Rajith Savanadasa
England ~ NW by Zadie Smith
Turkey ~ Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafak (also part set in Oxford but still counts?)
Manus Island(PNG)/ but really stateless ~ No Friend But The Mountains by Behrouz Boochani
Australia ~ Song of the Crocodile by Nardi Simpson

24 likes1 stack add
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Tanisha_A
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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Hi, my love @JennyM ! Thanks for thinking of me & sending this beautiful package of love. The Summer Book sounds joyful & just apt for this time of the year. I am super excited about my intro to Australian fiction, & there are plenty to read now ( @Rissreads sent some too). 🥰 Looking forward to discussing them all with you. Litsy has been my happy place since i joined, & as you said it, we have found some wonderful friends here. Happy '21! 😘💙🎈

JennyM I‘m so glad that I was *finally able to send you this package! I think you are really going to love The Summer Book. Enjoy my lovely 😘 3y
Rissreads Awwww @JennyM you are a good egg! How cool no double ups! Littens are fabulous people! 😍 3y
batsy How lovely! And The Summer Book is wonderful 💙 3y
See All 6 Comments
Crazeedi Littens are the best! 3y
Centique Yay! I just read The Summer Book and it was blissful. 💕 3y
66 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Centique
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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Pickpick

This little book was perfection for my mood and this place I‘m holidaying in. It really is just a series of vignettes about a girl and her grandmother on an island. It‘s almost written like a picture book - focused on the immediate, with no explanations. What is unsaid is beautiful - as you piece together for yourself why one of them is sad or scared. And they‘re not idealised characters, they‘re knotty and stormy much like the island itself. ⬇️

Centique I think this is the kind of grandmother I want to be when I grow up! But this book .... I‘m in love. It made me feel the way I felt as a kid reading Astrid Lindgren‘s Lotta series, which is a wonderful nostalgia for me. 3y
JennyM I loved this little 💎 of a book. Perfect time of year to read it, too ☀️ 3y
LeahBergen Isn‘t it an absolute delight?? 😍 3y
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Centique @LeahBergen it sure is! Truly a 💎 @JennyM 3y
Megabooks Enjoy your holiday! 3y
erzascarletbookgasm Lovely review. 💙 3y
batsy This book is indeed an understated gem. And very wise. 3y
Michael_Gee @Centique I want to be knotty and stormy! I love that description. 3y
LeeRHarry Great review - I enjoyed this one too😊 3y
Centique @GhostStories thank you! I seem to be on a spate of cantankerous old people in novels. Love em 😍 3y
Centique @Megabooks thank you Meg. It is lovely so far 💕 3y
a.wilde.juniper I loved TSB, too. Moody, funny. A celebration of the wild feminine. 3y
Centique @a.wilde.juniper I love that take on it! I think I‘m going to read this book every year, it has such a place in my heart now. 3y
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Centique
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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How‘s this for a reading spot @rockpools ? #armchairtravel as requested. I can hear the water lapping against the rocks as I read. (On the other hand I have been bitten by ants! 🥴)

wanderinglynn Gorgeous 💚 (except the bit about the ants—ouch!) 3y
LeahBergen Oh, that‘s lovely (even if you had to do a “leaping ant dance” 😆). 3y
rockpools Gorgeous! And ouch! 3y
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Librariana Ditto to previous comments. Does look lovely, but ouchies! 3y
Reggie What a lovely view. 3y
Freespirit Perfect spot for reading The Summer Book💕 3y
CarolynM Wow! That looks lovely😍 Hope the weather is good for you (Wet and miserable here ☹️) 3y
BooknerdsLife Beautiful view 😍 3y
AlaMich I‘m not jealous at all! It‘s lovely! 😊 3y
youneverarrived Beautiful 😍 3y
Rissreads Wow! Gorgeous! 3y
Nute Wow! Are you in vacation or is this a close-to-home spot? Perfect for reading -ants excluded but the sound of lapping water...oooh! 3y
Centique @Nute this is summer vacation for us - it‘s the Bay of Islands which is about a 4 hour drive. Staying at a cottage on a friend‘s land. It was a lovely break - even though this photo looks a bit chilly, it was about 28 degrees (83 fahrenheit) every day 🌞🌞🌞 3y
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Centique
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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Packing for a week away - most important items first 😂 I knew Littens would understand!

Just going for a summer holiday break at a friends cottage up in the Bay of Islands. I know we‘re very lucky to be able to get away from the city for a break - many of my friends and family overseas can‘t do this - and I will have them all in my heart as we go.

Arohanui to you all and hoping for 2021 to bring a huge improvement to each of you 💕

Ruthiella Have a good trip! Hope you read lots! 😀 3y
LeahBergen Enjoy your holiday to the fullest!! 😘😘 3y
readordierachel Hope you have a lovely time 💕 3y
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Twainy 📚📚📚📚📚 I always bring a paperback in case my batteries suddenly die. Happy vacationing! 😁 3y
Kalalalatja Enjoy! 3y
rockpools Aww, The Summer Book sounds like a perfect match for the Bay of Islands. Have an amazing time. Please send photos (cos armchair travel is Where It‘s At this year!) 3y
Laughterhp Enjoy! I brought 6 books with me for my week vacation and only read 2 and a half 😂 3y
Centique @rockpools oh yes that‘s a good idea 😊 I have been looking at Instagram photos of Greek islands and Scottish castles for that reason too! 3y
Centique @Laughterhp I know right? I‘m so optimistic about how much reading I‘ll get done. I‘ll be lucky to get 2 and a half I think! 😂😂 3y
CarolynM Enjoy your holiday. 3y
Centique @CarolynM thank you Carolyn. Are you having a break of some kind? I know you guys can‘t move out of Victoria though. 🙁 Still Victoria is a wonderful place! I‘m really missing seeing my family in Melbourne. 💕 3y
batsy Happy new year Paula, and enjoy your holiday ❤️ The Summer Book is *perfect* for a cottage getaway vacation read 🙂 3y
Reggie Have a good time!!! 3y
CarolynM We were planning to go to Sydney next week but that's off the agenda now ☹️ 3y
Centique @CarolynM aargh that‘s a darn shame! Still I am glad you are all keeping safe. Fingers crossed for a rapid and thorough vaccination roll-out 🤞🤞 3y
Centique @batsy I‘m so looking forward to it! 3y
Centique @Reggie thank you lovely and happy new year to you! 😘 3y
Cathythoughts Have a lovely trip 😘 3y
Jeg Lucky you. On my one trip to the North Island of NZ in 1983 my favourite part was The Bay of Islands. Need to go again. Have been to South Island many times as we have friends there. Love NZ. 3y
Centique @Jeg I‘m so looking forward to having our Aussie-NZ travel back in place. I‘ll never take it for granted again! I know I‘m going to cry when I get to see Melbourne again and my nieces and nephew 💕💕 3y
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Annas_books
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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‘“An orange!” said Sophia contemptuously. “Do you think people care about oranges when they‘re talking about God and the Devil?” Grandmother poked the cow dung off her shoe with her walking stick as best she could.
“My dear child,” she said, “with the best will in the world I cannot start believing in the Devil at my age. You can believe what you like, but you must learn to be tolerant.”‘

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Caroline2
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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July has been a weird reading month for me, full of weird reads!! It started off with a slump and bails but ended ok. The Summer book is the stand out but The Bookshop is a lovely comforting read. 👍 #julystats

rockpools That looks like a great month! The Summer Book is quite lovely 🌞 4y
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