Based on Tove Jansson’s own summers in the cottage she built with her brother Lars on a tiny island they discovered in the gulf of Finland in 1947; The Summer Book follows a companionable summer shared between 6 year old Sophia and her grandmother, characters inspired by her own artist mother, Signe Hammarsten and her niece Sophia.
In the introduction Esther Freud describes how on a visit it takes her precisely 4½ minutes to walk around the island, but after being there for a couple of days she falls into ‘island time’ and realises ‘it would need a whole summer to discover everything there is to do’. And I felt that this was true of the reading. The short chapters with titles like ‘The Neighbour’ or ‘The Pasture’ or ‘Playing Venice’ entice you to slow down, don’t rush and dip into the adventures and conversations that Sophia and her grandmother are having, reading and absorbing in island time.
Sophia and her grandmother are so far apart in age but in the contained space of the house and island they are connected by their wonderfully creative and eccentric imaginations. That the island is a living place that they can’t possess or control is never taken for granted. Finding just the right sand under some juniper bushes for a nap, watching the sky, clouds and sea or navigating their way by old wild rose bushes; rocks and moss and miniature meadows of flowers, the tiny detail of the flora and fauna of the island is woven into their games.
The Summer Book was written in 1972 and finishes with the closing up of the house for the winter. I was struck by their generosity as they leave the house ready for anyone whose boat gets stranded there. Notices are left with instructions for using the fire and to make sure they don’t confuse the salt with sugar. I don’t know if this still happens, or if it’s common practice in Finland but at a time when I see more and more ‘Private, Keep Off’ signs this was so refreshingly warm and welcoming, that it made me love it even more.

This was my first adult Tove, and I absolutely loved it. I rather long for the solitude of that island…
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wouldn’t it be lovely . . . this is my first Tove of all, I think of everything it’s the creativity I love the most
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There’s something timeless about this book, almost as if it could have been written at virtually any point over the last century. I’m so glad you enjoyed it too.
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You’re absolutely right, there’s nothing to date it – I suppose because it’s so natural. . .
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Lovely! I wish I was on the island now!
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Me too, Rose!
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🙂
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A friend loaned me this some years ago, and I’ve never forgotten it. I keep meaning to get my own copy.
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It felt even more right this summer when we’re all contained in our little spaces! I hope you do get round to it, but I know how difficult it is, there’s so much to read . . .
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Sounds lovely! I hope we can all close up our little “islands” at the end of this summer and go back to the big world…
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It was a perfect read for this summer especially!
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I re-read this just last month and plan to write about it soon. It is perfect for these times, isn’t it. I’m glad you appreciated it too 😊
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I did Sandra and I’m looking forward to reading your thoughts. This was the first time I’ve read it but I’m already dipping back into it their conversations!
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I’ve only read Sun City and The True Deceiver but keep seeing mention of this one and The Winter Book so I think I will have to get hold of them at some point. I had issues with the Moomins which always unnerved me, so have only come to her as an adult reader!
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I haven’t read anything else by her yet but I’m eager to get going, do you recommend Sun City and The True Deceiver?
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Sun City was a weird one set in a retirement community in Florida but The True Deceiver was very good and atmospheric.
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A retirement community in Florida?! I was hoping everything would be in amazing Finland. . .
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I’m so glad that you enjoyed The Summer Book, it is one of my absolute favourite books.
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I loved the Moomins as a child, and loved reading them to my own kids. This was my first “adult” Tove, and I found it an astonishing book. I read it four times in a row, without a pause! I’m glad you enjoyed it too! A gem.
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I’m new to Tove so still have the Moomins to come, I feel quite lucky!
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