Summer Book (New York Review Books Classics)

by Tove Jansson

[brokentune]

A person can find anything if he takes the time, that is, if he can afford to look. And while he’s looking, he’s free, and he finds things he never expected.

This book is brilliant. It’s the story of 6-year-old Sophia and her grandmother and the summer they spend together on an island – they go exploring, they play and cheat at cards, they pick their new neighbour’s lock. Sophia and her gran are absolutely fab.

Every chapter is a different short story, full of warmth and allegorical depth.

I think I will need to read Jansson’s other books, too.

“It’s funny about love,” Sophia said. “The more you love someone, the less he likes you back.”
“That’s very true,” Grandmother observed. “And so what do you do?”
“You go on loving,” said Sophia threateningly. “You love harder and harder.”
Her grandmother sighed and said nothing.