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Mumintrollen #6
袨屑邪谐褜芯褋邪薪邪 蟹懈屑邪
袦褍屑懈薪褌褉芯谢 芯褌懈写械 写芯 锌褗褌薪邪褌邪 胁褉邪褌邪 懈 褋械 芯锌懈褌邪 写邪 褟 斜褍褌薪械. 小褌芯褉懈 屑褍 褋械, 褔械 屑褗薪懈褔泻芯 锌芯写写邪写械. 袙泻芯锌褔懈 蟹写褉邪胁芯 谢邪锌懈褌械 褋懈 胁 锌芯写邪 懈 薪邪褌懈褋薪邪 褋 胁褋懈褔泻懈 褋懈谢懈.
袘邪胁薪芯, 斜邪胁薪芯 胁褉邪褌邪褌邪 胁蟹械 写邪 褋械 芯褌胁邪褉褟, 泻邪褌芯 懈蟹斜褍褌胁邪褕械 褋薪械卸薪邪褌邪 谐褉邪屑邪写邪 锌褉械写 褋械斜械 褋懈.
袦褍屑懈薪褌褉芯谢 薪械 褋械 芯褌泻邪蟹邪, 写芯泻邪褌芯 胁褉邪褌邪褌邪 薪械 蟹械泄薪邪 褕懈褉芯泻芯 泻褗屑 薪芯褖褌邪.
袙褟褌褗褉褗褌 薪邪褏谢褍 锌褉邪胁芯 胁 褋邪谢芯薪邪, 懈蟹写褍褏邪 锌褉邪褏邪 芯褌 褌褞谢邪 薪邪 锌芯谢懈谢械褟 懈 薪邪锌褉邪胁懈 械写薪邪 芯斜懈泻芯谢泻邪 懈蟹 锌械锌械谢褌邪 胁 锌械褔泻邪褌邪. 袩芯褋谢械 锌芯胁写懈谐薪邪 谢械泻懈褔泻芯 谢褗褋泻邪胁懈褌械 泻邪褉褌懈薪泻懈, 蟹邪谢械锌械薪懈 锌芯 褋褌械薪懈褌械. 袝写薪邪 芯褌 褌褟褏 褋械 芯褌泻褗褋薪邪 懈 懈蟹谢械褌褟 薪邪胁褗薪.
袦懈褉懈蟹屑邪褌邪 薪邪 薪芯褖 懈 斜芯褉芯胁邪 谐芯褉邪 懈蟹锌褗谢薪懈 褋褌邪褟褌邪 懈 袦褍屑懈薪褌褉芯谢 褋懈 锌芯屑懈褋谢懈: "孝芯胁邪 械 写芯斜褉械. 小械屑械泄褋褌胁芯褌芯 褌褉褟斜胁邪 芯褌 胁褉械屑械 薪邪 胁褉械屑械 写邪 褋械 锌褉芯胁械褌褉褟胁邪." 小械褌薪械 蟹邪褋褌邪薪邪 薪邪 褋褌褗锌邪谢邪褌邪 懈 胁锌械褉懈 芯褔懈 胁褗胁 胁谢邪卸薪邪褌邪 褌褗屑薪懈薪邪.
"小械谐邪 懈屑邪屑 胁褋懈褔泻芯 - 褉械褔械 褋懈 袦褍屑懈薪褌褉芯谢. - 懈屑邪屑 褑褟谢邪褌邪 谐芯写懈薪邪. 袟邪械写薪芯 褋褗褋 蟹懈屑邪褌邪. 袗蟹 褋褗屑 锌褗褉胁懈褟褌 M褍屑懈薪褌褉芯谢, 泻芯泄褌芯 械 卸懈胁褟谢 褑褟谢邪 谐芯写懈薪邪."
袘邪胁薪芯, 斜邪胁薪芯 胁褉邪褌邪褌邪 胁蟹械 写邪 褋械 芯褌胁邪褉褟, 泻邪褌芯 懈蟹斜褍褌胁邪褕械 褋薪械卸薪邪褌邪 谐褉邪屑邪写邪 锌褉械写 褋械斜械 褋懈.
袦褍屑懈薪褌褉芯谢 薪械 褋械 芯褌泻邪蟹邪, 写芯泻邪褌芯 胁褉邪褌邪褌邪 薪械 蟹械泄薪邪 褕懈褉芯泻芯 泻褗屑 薪芯褖褌邪.
袙褟褌褗褉褗褌 薪邪褏谢褍 锌褉邪胁芯 胁 褋邪谢芯薪邪, 懈蟹写褍褏邪 锌褉邪褏邪 芯褌 褌褞谢邪 薪邪 锌芯谢懈谢械褟 懈 薪邪锌褉邪胁懈 械写薪邪 芯斜懈泻芯谢泻邪 懈蟹 锌械锌械谢褌邪 胁 锌械褔泻邪褌邪. 袩芯褋谢械 锌芯胁写懈谐薪邪 谢械泻懈褔泻芯 谢褗褋泻邪胁懈褌械 泻邪褉褌懈薪泻懈, 蟹邪谢械锌械薪懈 锌芯 褋褌械薪懈褌械. 袝写薪邪 芯褌 褌褟褏 褋械 芯褌泻褗褋薪邪 懈 懈蟹谢械褌褟 薪邪胁褗薪.
袦懈褉懈蟹屑邪褌邪 薪邪 薪芯褖 懈 斜芯褉芯胁邪 谐芯褉邪 懈蟹锌褗谢薪懈 褋褌邪褟褌邪 懈 袦褍屑懈薪褌褉芯谢 褋懈 锌芯屑懈褋谢懈: "孝芯胁邪 械 写芯斜褉械. 小械屑械泄褋褌胁芯褌芯 褌褉褟斜胁邪 芯褌 胁褉械屑械 薪邪 胁褉械屑械 写邪 褋械 锌褉芯胁械褌褉褟胁邪." 小械褌薪械 蟹邪褋褌邪薪邪 薪邪 褋褌褗锌邪谢邪褌邪 懈 胁锌械褉懈 芯褔懈 胁褗胁 胁谢邪卸薪邪褌邪 褌褗屑薪懈薪邪.
"小械谐邪 懈屑邪屑 胁褋懈褔泻芯 - 褉械褔械 褋懈 袦褍屑懈薪褌褉芯谢. - 懈屑邪屑 褑褟谢邪褌邪 谐芯写懈薪邪. 袟邪械写薪芯 褋褗褋 蟹懈屑邪褌邪. 袗蟹 褋褗屑 锌褗褉胁懈褟褌 M褍屑懈薪褌褉芯谢, 泻芯泄褌芯 械 卸懈胁褟谢 褑褟谢邪 谐芯写懈薪邪."
136 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
367 people are currently reading
6,610 people want to read
About the author
Tove Jansson
794听books3,690听followersTove Jansson was born and died in Helsinki, Finland. As a Finnish citizen whose mother tongue was Swedish, she was part of the Swedish-speaking Finns minority. Thus, all her books were originally written in Swedish.
Although known first and foremost as an author, Tove Jansson considered her careers as author and painter to be of equal importance.
Tove Jansson wrote and illustrated her first Moomin book, (1945), during World War II. She said later that the war had depressed her, and she had wanted to write something naive and innocent. Besides the Moomin novels and short stories, Tove Jansson also wrote and illustrated four original and highly popular picture books.
Jansson's Moomin books have been translated into 33 languages.
Although known first and foremost as an author, Tove Jansson considered her careers as author and painter to be of equal importance.
Tove Jansson wrote and illustrated her first Moomin book, (1945), during World War II. She said later that the war had depressed her, and she had wanted to write something naive and innocent. Besides the Moomin novels and short stories, Tove Jansson also wrote and illustrated four original and highly popular picture books.
Jansson's Moomin books have been translated into 33 languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,235 reviews
April 3, 2010
This book has the best footnotes.
And a bit later on, when we are so sad because squirrel is dead, the most comforting footnote I've ever read:
A displaced hedgehog is a hedgehog that has been removed from its home against its will and not even had time to pack its toothbrush.
And a bit later on, when we are so sad because squirrel is dead, the most comforting footnote I've ever read:
In case the reader feels like having a cry, please take a quick look at p. 126.
December 19, 2023
Dlaczego ca艂e 偶ycie my艣la艂am, 偶e Buki by艂o du偶o wi臋cej w muminkach?
September 17, 2021
Oh, the things that happen to you if you can't hibernate properly!
Reread with my big kids in Scandinavian mid-winter. A delight to revisit after a decade!
Reread with my big kids in Scandinavian mid-winter. A delight to revisit after a decade!
January 7, 2021
2020 is the 75th birthday of Moomintrolls!
I read these all out of order. I'm not sure how much difference it makes. This probably isn't the best place to start, as most of the Moomin family is hibernating through winter, so you don't meet them or Snufkin.
On the other hand, it has an amazing feel for winter landscape and nature.It was incredible that she was able to convey appreciation for a season so inimical to life. I wouldn't go to Finland in midwinter if you paid me. Unless it was a lot of money and we were only looking at snow though the windows.
This was less anxious than the Comet episode. Jansson as always has great writing and profound understanding of personalities.
p.s. I learned from this book that there is such a thing as a "champagne whisk," which is intended for stirring the bubbles out of sparkling wine. I don't know why one would do this...
I read these all out of order. I'm not sure how much difference it makes. This probably isn't the best place to start, as most of the Moomin family is hibernating through winter, so you don't meet them or Snufkin.
On the other hand, it has an amazing feel for winter landscape and nature.It was incredible that she was able to convey appreciation for a season so inimical to life. I wouldn't go to Finland in midwinter if you paid me. Unless it was a lot of money and we were only looking at snow though the windows.
This was less anxious than the Comet episode. Jansson as always has great writing and profound understanding of personalities.
p.s. I learned from this book that there is such a thing as a "champagne whisk," which is intended for stirring the bubbles out of sparkling wine. I don't know why one would do this...
February 21, 2021
My kid and I keep loving these books. Each one is a delight to read. This one, of darkness and snow and the northern lights and all the people of winter, was maybe the best one so far?
July 3, 2015
'"When one's dead, then one's dead," said Too-Ticky kindly. "This squirrel will become earth all in his time. And still later on there'll grow trees from him, with new squirrels skipping about in them. Do you think that's so sad?"
"Perhaps not," said Moomintroll.'
Granted, I've only just finished reading it, but this might just be my favourite book. Towards the end, when Moomintroll's long and lonely ordeal is finally over, someone suggests that he should put a glass over a budding crocus to protect it overnight. No, he says: "Let it fight it out. I believe it's going to do still better if things aren't so easy."
These are stories to live by.
"Perhaps not," said Moomintroll.'
Granted, I've only just finished reading it, but this might just be my favourite book. Towards the end, when Moomintroll's long and lonely ordeal is finally over, someone suggests that he should put a glass over a budding crocus to protect it overnight. No, he says: "Let it fight it out. I believe it's going to do still better if things aren't so easy."
These are stories to live by.
October 8, 2014
The human world is a huge mess that somehow survives the day. I don鈥檛 know how it happens, and I鈥檓 not sure that all our (un)concerted efforts to help it survive don鈥檛 just further complicate things and make that daily survival less and less possible. My attitude in these matters is generally that of a cynical Taoist 鈥� a profound faith in things as they are functioning 鈥減erfectly鈥� in enormous rhythms of time wedded to an understanding that most humans only make things worse. If pressed my explanation would be that collectively we see a new day every day due to an inherent survival mechanism of such incredible complexity that even our brightest brains can鈥檛 understand it. If pressed I would also add that this survival mechanism is beyond the reach of our brains, which itself is part of that very survival mechanism, as our brains would invariably muck it up irreparably if given access.
Brains muck up enough already, and what they can鈥檛 muck up they often try to ruin for everyone. Even our very own brains try to muck up our very own lives. For instance, some brains are wont to tell their soul/body vessels that in the face of such muckity-mucked-up global complexity to seek solace or refuge or even wisdom in the simple is irresponsible; that complexity must be confronted with complexity; that it is our duty as primates on the intellectual pinnacle to figure out every last detail of our infinitely long queue of problems, and to come up with solutions, before we can enjoy the simplicity of our gods-given natures; that we need to read complicated adult books rather than so-called children鈥檚 books as a means of understanding our conditions. Just as I don鈥檛 know how we survive, I don鈥檛 know why we continue to operate under the directive of seriously flawed adult logic and over-educated instruction manuals when the clear-eyed (& anarchic) wisdom of childhood (& even old age) is intuitively the better course. Children and the elderly aren鈥檛 in the game, and they鈥檙e the wiser for it, though of course there are exceptions - demonic kids and avaricious old folks.
Which brings me to Mooninvalley, where I now live. I feel lucky that I can read these books for the first time as an adult. Sure, it would be nice to have read these as a youngster so that as they were directly affecting (& effecting) my development they were planting themselves in my being鈥檚 very marrow; but to read them as an adult is potentially even more affecting as there are so many mental/emotional rigidities to overcome, so much intellectual scar tissue to flex out, and so many more grey clouds and mucky accretions to pierce in order to see the Sun as if on the first day of creation. Which is not to say that Tove Jansson aspirations are so lofty, as from what I can tell her main intentions were to entertain and delight while embodying her philosophy of natural magic, clear-sighted pragmatism, anarchic creativity, and self-sufficiency through the simple complex of her cast of wildly diverse characters.
Life in Moominvalley is simple, though complicated enough to engender stories worth telling, and though it鈥檚 a remote utopia of sorts it鈥檚 essence is capable of resonating within the hearts and minds of those people still receptive to a wisdom that can be both simple and true. And just as I don鈥檛 really care to know how we as a species continue to survive, I don鈥檛 really care to over-discuss my life in Moominvalley. I prefer to just live it. And I should stop talking before anyone mistakes me for Garrison Keillor.
Brains muck up enough already, and what they can鈥檛 muck up they often try to ruin for everyone. Even our very own brains try to muck up our very own lives. For instance, some brains are wont to tell their soul/body vessels that in the face of such muckity-mucked-up global complexity to seek solace or refuge or even wisdom in the simple is irresponsible; that complexity must be confronted with complexity; that it is our duty as primates on the intellectual pinnacle to figure out every last detail of our infinitely long queue of problems, and to come up with solutions, before we can enjoy the simplicity of our gods-given natures; that we need to read complicated adult books rather than so-called children鈥檚 books as a means of understanding our conditions. Just as I don鈥檛 know how we survive, I don鈥檛 know why we continue to operate under the directive of seriously flawed adult logic and over-educated instruction manuals when the clear-eyed (& anarchic) wisdom of childhood (& even old age) is intuitively the better course. Children and the elderly aren鈥檛 in the game, and they鈥檙e the wiser for it, though of course there are exceptions - demonic kids and avaricious old folks.
Which brings me to Mooninvalley, where I now live. I feel lucky that I can read these books for the first time as an adult. Sure, it would be nice to have read these as a youngster so that as they were directly affecting (& effecting) my development they were planting themselves in my being鈥檚 very marrow; but to read them as an adult is potentially even more affecting as there are so many mental/emotional rigidities to overcome, so much intellectual scar tissue to flex out, and so many more grey clouds and mucky accretions to pierce in order to see the Sun as if on the first day of creation. Which is not to say that Tove Jansson aspirations are so lofty, as from what I can tell her main intentions were to entertain and delight while embodying her philosophy of natural magic, clear-sighted pragmatism, anarchic creativity, and self-sufficiency through the simple complex of her cast of wildly diverse characters.
Life in Moominvalley is simple, though complicated enough to engender stories worth telling, and though it鈥檚 a remote utopia of sorts it鈥檚 essence is capable of resonating within the hearts and minds of those people still receptive to a wisdom that can be both simple and true. And just as I don鈥檛 really care to know how we as a species continue to survive, I don鈥檛 really care to over-discuss my life in Moominvalley. I prefer to just live it. And I should stop talking before anyone mistakes me for Garrison Keillor.
January 23, 2024
"- Widzisz - zacz臋艂a. - Tyle jest tego, co nie znajduje sobie miejsca ani latem, ani jesieni膮, ani na wiosn臋. To wszystko, co jest nie艣mia艂e i zagubione. Niekt贸re rodzaje nocnych zwierz膮t i tacy, kt贸rzy nigdzie nie pasuj膮 i w kt贸rych nikt nie wierzy... Trzymaj膮 si臋 ma uboczu ca艂y rok. A potem, kiedy jest spokojnie i bia艂o, i kiedy noce staj膮 si臋 d艂ugie, a wszyscy posn臋li snem zimowym - wtedy wychodz膮.
- Znasz ich? - spyta艂 Muminek.
- Niekt贸rych - odpar艂a Too-tiki. - Tego na przyk艂ad, kt贸ry mieszka pod szafk膮, znam bardzo dobrze. Ale on, jak si臋 wydaje, chce 偶y膰 w ukryciu, wi臋c nie mog臋 was sobie przedstawi膰". Och.
PS Kocham Buk臋, pozw贸lcie mi by膰 le艣n膮 drobink膮.
- Znasz ich? - spyta艂 Muminek.
- Niekt贸rych - odpar艂a Too-tiki. - Tego na przyk艂ad, kt贸ry mieszka pod szafk膮, znam bardzo dobrze. Ale on, jak si臋 wydaje, chce 偶y膰 w ukryciu, wi臋c nie mog臋 was sobie przedstawi膰". Och.
PS Kocham Buk臋, pozw贸lcie mi by膰 le艣n膮 drobink膮.
March 11, 2021
When Moomintroll awakes from hibernation early he discovers a sunless, snow-covered world he had never even dreamed existed and I get what is definitely my favourite Moomins book so far. Simply magical.
My next book: Giant-Size X-Men vol. 1
My next book: Giant-Size X-Men vol. 1
September 30, 2017
Cynical comfort reading. Jansson's stories won't warm the depths of mid-winter, but may encourage you to accept that the frozen snowy dark is temporary and not entirely meritless if one remains open to its potential. People also. Most of them are irritating in some way or another, but it'll be okay. They're probably also well-meaning in some way.
December 13, 2020
All things are so very uncertain, and that's exactly what makes me feel reassured.
Had the urge to reread this because it kept popping up to my bookstagram feed, so thanks, guys. It was even better than I remembered, and a perfect December read. (Same in 2020!)
Had the urge to reread this because it kept popping up to my bookstagram feed, so thanks, guys. It was even better than I remembered, and a perfect December read. (Same in 2020!)
January 14, 2020
鈥淎ll was silent, nothing stirred, and slender stars were shining everywhere and twinkling in the ice. It was terribly cold.鈥�Moomins go into a state of deep hibernation from November to April, until the ice melts and spring sunshine warms their fur 鈥� it has always been so, or was, until a particular winter when something utterly perplexing happens to Moomintroll: he wakes from his state of torpor and cannot not get back to sleep. As his family slumber in their beds, oblivious to his predicament, he emerges into a world where the clocks have stopped, there is nothing to eat and the land is covered with snow.
Although we never learn the reason for his wakefulness, it seems plain that in some fundamental way this behaviour goes against nature. He was, in his own words, 鈥渢he first Moomin to have lived through an entire year鈥�, and he feels desperately isolated.
Despite first appearances, the young troll gradually realises he is far from alone. Indeed, the valley is teeming with creatures unknown to the sleeping inhabitants, in some instances because they emerge only to make a midwinter bonfire then depart with the arrival of spring. To Moomintroll鈥檚 delight, one old friend does make an appearance: the indomitable Little My (a great favourite with Moominites). Physically diminutive but immense in personality, she is unafraid of anything, says exactly what she thinks and often annoys others. The snow holds no fear for her, and she uses kitchen knives as skates and Moominmamma鈥檚 tea tray as a sledge, reaffirming her reputation for recklessness.
Moomintroll also meets new acquaintances, such as the Hemulen Skier who, unlike most hemulens, doesn鈥檛 wear a dress and doesn鈥檛 follow rules or collect things. He鈥檚 a big, cheerful outdoorsy type who announces his arrival by blowing a bugle. When he isn鈥檛 plunging into freezing cold water or whizzing down precipitous slopes on skis, he鈥檚 annoying everyone by disturbing their afternoon nap, chivvying them to get out in the fresh air.
Tuulikki Pietil盲 (known affectionately as Tuuti), Jansson鈥檚 life partner, is immortalised in Moominland Midwinter as the calm and wise Too-Ticky, a character who teaches Moomintroll how to survive in this new environment. In her striped sweater and bobble hat, she is presented as a practical, independent individual who lives in the Moomins鈥� bathhouse with eight invisible shrews.
Other memorable characters include the melancholy Sorry-oo, a wan little dog whose greatest wish is to run wild with the wolves, and the Ancestor (or dweller behind the stove), a small, hairy creature with a large snout. He too is a troll, a antecedent of the Moomin family but with a great many generations separating them. He should perhaps be described as a mooministic primogenitor.
The creature I find most fascinating is the mysterious Groke, a solitary, expressionless being who appears unexpectedly and brings with her an unnatural chill. She leaves the ground frozen beneath her feet and those who encounter her are forever reminded of the bleakest winters. Sometimes death.
Many others, whom I鈥檓 tempted to call climate refugees, arrive from the north seeking food and shelter. Since the Lady of the Cold passed through their valley, they have suffered starvation. Their plight leads Moomintroll to exclaim: 鈥淲hat troubles people have鈥�. He opens both his home and Moominmamma's jam store to these troubled incomers.
Far less jolly than its predecessors, Moominland Midwinter is a haunting yet joyful tale of a frightened, angry, isolated young troll who learns to respect and care for creatures unlike himself. While this book is far more introspective than its predecessors, it fully retains the charm of the previous novels while exploring serious subjects such as dealing with death, facing one's fears and embracing change. It is also, I suspect, Jansson鈥檚 oblique nod to Darwinism.
Re-reading this book for the first time in several decades, I was thrilled to find it remains my favourite book of the series. Tove Jansson鈥檚 distinctive illustrations still captivate this adult reader and her simple stories never fail to evoke a range of complex emotions.
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January 13, 2024
More strange and existential than the others, this might be my favorite. The meditations on winter and the nature of the creatures that choose to dwell in the cold and dark were gorgeous. And though much of this was lost on my children, the 7YO seemed to appreciate the melancholy and loneliness of Moomintroll being the only one of his family awake, while the 3YO liked the little moments with Little My or the skiing hemulen.
Re-read-aloud 2015: The kids and I loved this again. So odd and dreamy, and her descriptions of the ice and snow and the spring coming slowly are so gorgeous.
Re-read-aloud 2024: 15yo & 11yo were like, "This is weird, I don't remember anything about this" after the first chapter. After the end they were like, "I love the Moomins, I 'am' Moomintroll."
Re-read-aloud 2015: The kids and I loved this again. So odd and dreamy, and her descriptions of the ice and snow and the spring coming slowly are so gorgeous.
Re-read-aloud 2024: 15yo & 11yo were like, "This is weird, I don't remember anything about this" after the first chapter. After the end they were like, "I love the Moomins, I 'am' Moomintroll."
August 5, 2022
Gr膩mata, pilna domu un da啪膩du 姆ipari艈u, un centr膩 膷inkstul墨gs troll墨tis Mumins, kur拧 pamaz膩m iepaz墨st ziemu, kura, iesp膿jams, nav nemaz tik slikta. 幕oti pat墨kami las墨t par sniega v膿tr膩m pa拧膩 vasaras cepumi艈膩.
鈥淭墨ri vai 啪膿l, ka viss saisto拧ais alla啪 beidzas, kad tu vairs nebaidies un kad tev beidzot k募奴st jautri.鈥�
鈥淭墨ri vai 啪膿l, ka viss saisto拧ais alla啪 beidzas, kad tu vairs nebaidies un kad tev beidzot k募奴st jautri.鈥�
January 19, 2022
醿曖儝醿樶儫醿撫償醿戓儤 醿п儩醿曖償醿� 醿涐儩醿涐儞醿斸儠醿溼儩 醿儤醿掅儨醿ㄡ儤 醿犪儩醿掅儩醿� 醿ａ儰醿犪儩 醿撫儛 醿ａ儰醿犪儩 醿撫儛醿儠醿斸儸醿樶儦醿� 醿儞醿斸儜醿� 醿掅儛醿犪償醿涐儩醿�, 醿♂儤醿⑨儯醿愥儶醿樶償醿戓儤醿�, 醿戓儯醿溼償醿戓儤醿� 醿愥儲醿償醿犪償醿戓儤. 醿掅儛醿溼儯醿涐償醿濁儬醿斸儜醿氠儛醿�, 醿涐儺醿濁儦醿濁儞 醿⑨儯醿曖償醿� 醿♂儮醿樶儦醿ㄡ儤.
醿栣儛醿涐儣醿犪儤醿� 醿斸儭醿椺償醿⑨儤醿欋儛 醿♂儛醿濁儶醿犪儛醿� 醿愥儱醿曖儭 醿掅儛醿撫儧醿濁儶醿斸儧醿ａ儦醿�. 醿犪儩醿� 醿愥儲醿愥儬醿愥儰醿斸儬醿� 醿曖儣醿メ儠醿� 醿樶儧 醿撫儤醿愥儞 醿樶儞醿斸償醿戓儢醿�, 醿犪儩醿涐儦醿斸儜醿樶儶 醿愥儭醿� 醿濁儭醿⑨儛醿⑨儯醿犪儛醿� 醿愥儱醿曖儭 醿┽儛醿犪儣醿ａ儦醿� 醿愥儧 醿斸儬醿椺儤 醿ㄡ償醿償醿撫儠醿樶儣 醿♂儛醿戓儛醿曖儴醿曖儩 醿儤醿掅儨醿ㄡ儤.
醿撫儛 醿犪儛醿︶儛醿儨醿愥儤醿犪儛醿� 醿♂儛醿欋儯醿椺儛醿犪儤 醿椺儛醿曖儤醿� 醿犪儸醿涐償醿溼儛 醿撫儛 醿戓儬醿儩醿氠儤醿� 醿ａ儨醿愥儬醿� 醿ㄡ償醿涐儧醿愥儮醿� 醿愥儧 醿欋儩醿溼儥醿犪償醿⑨儯醿氠儧醿�. 醿栣儛醿涐儣醿愥儬醿� 醿涐儯醿涐儤醿溼儮醿犪儩醿氠儭 醿椺儛醿曖儤醿撫儛醿� 醿涐儮醿犪儯醿� 醿♂儛醿涐儳醿愥儬醿濁儞 醿儛醿犪儧醿濁償醿♂儛醿儛, 醿椺儯醿涐儶醿� 醿撫儬醿濁儤醿� 醿掅儛醿♂儠醿氠儛醿♂儣醿愥儨 醿斸儬醿椺儛醿� 醿樶儭醿� 醿ㄡ償醿斸儣醿曖儤醿♂儛 醿撫儛 醿撫儛醿♂儷醿氠儤醿� 醿п儩醿曖償醿氠儝醿曖儛醿犪儤 醿ａ儛醿犪儳醿濁儰醿樶儣醿� 醿掅儛醿溼儸醿п儩醿戓儛 醿栣儛醿涐儣醿犪儤醿� 醿涐儤醿涐儛醿犪儣, 醿犪儩醿� 醿掅儛醿栣儛醿め儺醿ａ儦醿� 醿ａ儜醿犪儛醿氠儩醿� 醿戓儯醿溼償醿戓儬醿樶儠 醿掅儛醿掅儬醿償醿氠償醿戓儛醿� 醿涐儩醿斸儵醿曖償醿溼儛 醿栣儛醿涐儣醿犪儤醿♂儛.
醿掅儛醿♂儛醿儤醿犪儭, 醿メ儛醿犪儜醿ａ儱醿�, 醿椺儩醿曖儦醿�, 醿涐儛醿犪儮醿濁儩醿戓儛醿�, 醿愥儺醿愥儦 醿ａ儵醿曖償醿ａ儦醿� 醿♂儛醿涐儳醿愥儬醿濁儴醿� 醿涐儩醿儠醿斸儞醿犪儛醿� 醿♂儬醿ａ儦醿樶儛醿� 醿ａ儶醿儩 醿愥儬醿♂償醿戓償醿戓儣醿愥儨 醿斸儬醿椺儛醿� 醿ㄡ償醿儦醿斸儜醿樶儭醿撫儛醿掅儠醿愥儬醿愥儞 醿涐償醿撫儝醿犪儛醿� 醿撫儛醿ａ儺醿曖儞醿�, 醿戓償醿曖儬醿� 醿掅儛醿溼儭醿愥儶醿撫償醿氠儤 醿掅儛醿涐儩醿樶儛醿犪儛, 醿儠醿氠儤醿氠償醿戓儛 醿掅儛醿溼儤醿儛醿撫儛, 醿撫儛醿涐儩醿欋儤醿撫償醿戓儯醿氠償醿戓儛, 醿償醿撫儠醿� 醿ㄡ償醿樶儶醿曖儛醿氠儛 醿п儠醿斸儦醿愥儰醿犪儤醿♂儛醿撫儧醿� 醿撫儛 醿掅儛醿栣儛醿め儺醿ａ儦醿樶儭 醿涐儩醿♂儠醿氠儤醿♂儛醿� 醿♂儤醿涐儴醿曖儤醿撫償 醿ａ儥醿曖償 醿溼儛醿炨儩醿曖儨醿� 醿搬儱醿濁儨醿撫儛.
醿ａ儢醿濁儧醿濁儞 醿涐儤醿п儠醿愥儬醿� 醿涐儯醿涐儤醿溼儮醿犪儩醿氠儤醿♂儛 醿撫儛 醿♂儨醿ａ儭醿涐儯醿涐儬醿樶儥醿樶儭 醿涐償醿掅儩醿戓儬醿濁儜醿�, 醿樶儭 醿涐儩醿氠儩醿撫儤醿溼儤醿� 醿炨儬醿濁儶醿斸儭醿樶儶 醿涐儤醿п儠醿愥儬醿�, 醿涐償醿� 醿涐儯醿涐儤醿溼儮醿犪儩醿氠儣醿愥儨 醿斸儬醿椺儛醿� 醿涐儣醿斸儦醿� 醿儤醿掅儨醿� 醿涐儤醿� 醿撫儛醿戓儬醿ａ儨醿斸儜醿愥儭 醿犪儩醿� 醿曖償醿氠儤:
鈥溼儮醿欋儜醿樶儦醿愥儞 醿樶儷醿樶儨醿� 醿撫儛 醿愥儬 醿涐儩醿樶儸醿п儤醿溼儩. 醿掅儛醿栣儛醿め儺醿ａ儦醿樶儭 醿炨儤醿犪儠醿斸儦醿♂儛醿曖償 醿椺儜醿樶儦 醿撫儲醿斸儭 醿撫儛醿掅儤醿戓儬醿ａ儨醿撫償醿戓儤. 醿撫儛醿涐償醿氠儩醿撫償 醿撫儛 醿斸儬醿椺儛醿� 醿愥儠醿愥儴醿斸儨醿濁儣 醿撫儛醿涐儜醿� 醿涐儞醿樶儨醿愥儬醿斸儢醿�.鈥�
醿涐儤 醿犪儛醿︶儛醿儨醿愥儤醿犪儛醿� 醿♂儨醿樶儰醿� 醿涐儛醿儭醿斸儨醿斸儜醿撫儛 醿ａ儧醿斸儮醿斸儭醿愥儞, 醿儩 醿撫儛 醿♂儨醿樶儰醿� 醿儛醿氠儤醿愥儨 醿涐儩醿涐償醿溼儛醿⑨儬醿�.
醿⑨儯醿曖償 醿┽儠醿斸儯醿氠償醿戓儤醿♂儛醿涐償醿戓儬 醿♂儛醿濁儶醿愥儬醿樶儛.
醿栣儛醿涐儣醿犪儤醿� 醿斸儭醿椺償醿⑨儤醿欋儛 醿♂儛醿濁儶醿犪儛醿� 醿愥儱醿曖儭 醿掅儛醿撫儧醿濁儶醿斸儧醿ａ儦醿�. 醿犪儩醿� 醿愥儲醿愥儬醿愥儰醿斸儬醿� 醿曖儣醿メ儠醿� 醿樶儧 醿撫儤醿愥儞 醿樶儞醿斸償醿戓儢醿�, 醿犪儩醿涐儦醿斸儜醿樶儶 醿愥儭醿� 醿濁儭醿⑨儛醿⑨儯醿犪儛醿� 醿愥儱醿曖儭 醿┽儛醿犪儣醿ａ儦醿� 醿愥儧 醿斸儬醿椺儤 醿ㄡ償醿償醿撫儠醿樶儣 醿♂儛醿戓儛醿曖儴醿曖儩 醿儤醿掅儨醿ㄡ儤.
醿撫儛 醿犪儛醿︶儛醿儨醿愥儤醿犪儛醿� 醿♂儛醿欋儯醿椺儛醿犪儤 醿椺儛醿曖儤醿� 醿犪儸醿涐償醿溼儛 醿撫儛 醿戓儬醿儩醿氠儤醿� 醿ａ儨醿愥儬醿� 醿ㄡ償醿涐儧醿愥儮醿� 醿愥儧 醿欋儩醿溼儥醿犪償醿⑨儯醿氠儧醿�. 醿栣儛醿涐儣醿愥儬醿� 醿涐儯醿涐儤醿溼儮醿犪儩醿氠儭 醿椺儛醿曖儤醿撫儛醿� 醿涐儮醿犪儯醿� 醿♂儛醿涐儳醿愥儬醿濁儞 醿儛醿犪儧醿濁償醿♂儛醿儛, 醿椺儯醿涐儶醿� 醿撫儬醿濁儤醿� 醿掅儛醿♂儠醿氠儛醿♂儣醿愥儨 醿斸儬醿椺儛醿� 醿樶儭醿� 醿ㄡ償醿斸儣醿曖儤醿♂儛 醿撫儛 醿撫儛醿♂儷醿氠儤醿� 醿п儩醿曖償醿氠儝醿曖儛醿犪儤 醿ａ儛醿犪儳醿濁儰醿樶儣醿� 醿掅儛醿溼儸醿п儩醿戓儛 醿栣儛醿涐儣醿犪儤醿� 醿涐儤醿涐儛醿犪儣, 醿犪儩醿� 醿掅儛醿栣儛醿め儺醿ａ儦醿� 醿ａ儜醿犪儛醿氠儩醿� 醿戓儯醿溼償醿戓儬醿樶儠 醿掅儛醿掅儬醿償醿氠償醿戓儛醿� 醿涐儩醿斸儵醿曖償醿溼儛 醿栣儛醿涐儣醿犪儤醿♂儛.
醿掅儛醿♂儛醿儤醿犪儭, 醿メ儛醿犪儜醿ａ儱醿�, 醿椺儩醿曖儦醿�, 醿涐儛醿犪儮醿濁儩醿戓儛醿�, 醿愥儺醿愥儦 醿ａ儵醿曖償醿ａ儦醿� 醿♂儛醿涐儳醿愥儬醿濁儴醿� 醿涐儩醿儠醿斸儞醿犪儛醿� 醿♂儬醿ａ儦醿樶儛醿� 醿ａ儶醿儩 醿愥儬醿♂償醿戓償醿戓儣醿愥儨 醿斸儬醿椺儛醿� 醿ㄡ償醿儦醿斸儜醿樶儭醿撫儛醿掅儠醿愥儬醿愥儞 醿涐償醿撫儝醿犪儛醿� 醿撫儛醿ａ儺醿曖儞醿�, 醿戓償醿曖儬醿� 醿掅儛醿溼儭醿愥儶醿撫償醿氠儤 醿掅儛醿涐儩醿樶儛醿犪儛, 醿儠醿氠儤醿氠償醿戓儛 醿掅儛醿溼儤醿儛醿撫儛, 醿撫儛醿涐儩醿欋儤醿撫償醿戓儯醿氠償醿戓儛, 醿償醿撫儠醿� 醿ㄡ償醿樶儶醿曖儛醿氠儛 醿п儠醿斸儦醿愥儰醿犪儤醿♂儛醿撫儧醿� 醿撫儛 醿掅儛醿栣儛醿め儺醿ａ儦醿樶儭 醿涐儩醿♂儠醿氠儤醿♂儛醿� 醿♂儤醿涐儴醿曖儤醿撫償 醿ａ儥醿曖償 醿溼儛醿炨儩醿曖儨醿� 醿搬儱醿濁儨醿撫儛.
醿ａ儢醿濁儧醿濁儞 醿涐儤醿п儠醿愥儬醿� 醿涐儯醿涐儤醿溼儮醿犪儩醿氠儤醿♂儛 醿撫儛 醿♂儨醿ａ儭醿涐儯醿涐儬醿樶儥醿樶儭 醿涐償醿掅儩醿戓儬醿濁儜醿�, 醿樶儭 醿涐儩醿氠儩醿撫儤醿溼儤醿� 醿炨儬醿濁儶醿斸儭醿樶儶 醿涐儤醿п儠醿愥儬醿�, 醿涐償醿� 醿涐儯醿涐儤醿溼儮醿犪儩醿氠儣醿愥儨 醿斸儬醿椺儛醿� 醿涐儣醿斸儦醿� 醿儤醿掅儨醿� 醿涐儤醿� 醿撫儛醿戓儬醿ａ儨醿斸儜醿愥儭 醿犪儩醿� 醿曖償醿氠儤:
鈥溼儮醿欋儜醿樶儦醿愥儞 醿樶儷醿樶儨醿� 醿撫儛 醿愥儬 醿涐儩醿樶儸醿п儤醿溼儩. 醿掅儛醿栣儛醿め儺醿ａ儦醿樶儭 醿炨儤醿犪儠醿斸儦醿♂儛醿曖償 醿椺儜醿樶儦 醿撫儲醿斸儭 醿撫儛醿掅儤醿戓儬醿ａ儨醿撫償醿戓儤. 醿撫儛醿涐償醿氠儩醿撫償 醿撫儛 醿斸儬醿椺儛醿� 醿愥儠醿愥儴醿斸儨醿濁儣 醿撫儛醿涐儜醿� 醿涐儞醿樶儨醿愥儬醿斸儢醿�.鈥�
醿涐儤 醿犪儛醿︶儛醿儨醿愥儤醿犪儛醿� 醿♂儨醿樶儰醿� 醿涐儛醿儭醿斸儨醿斸儜醿撫儛 醿ａ儧醿斸儮醿斸儭醿愥儞, 醿儩 醿撫儛 醿♂儨醿樶儰醿� 醿儛醿氠儤醿愥儨 醿涐儩醿涐償醿溼儛醿⑨儬醿�.
醿⑨儯醿曖償 醿┽儠醿斸儯醿氠償醿戓儤醿♂儛醿涐償醿戓儬 醿♂儛醿濁儶醿愥儬醿樶儛.
January 2, 2021
My last book of 2020, a year that has felt like a long hibernation. A year when more than ever I needed to meet someone like Tove Jansson. Unfortunately I didn't get to meet her in person because A) she's dead, B) she lives on an island in Finland, C) I'm rather shy, D) lockdown. I did get to meet many of her wonderful characters, though. Thank you Tove for bringing some much needed poetry, solace and fun to my days. And thank you to all of you kindred spirits out there, wherever you may be, you passionate readers who, virus or no virus, will go on reading long into the night of many Winters to come. So long as there are books to read, the reader will read. We shan't be deterred!
"Now came spring, but not at all as he had imagined its coming. He had thought that it would deliver him from a strange and hostile world, but now it was simply a continuation of his new experiences of something he had already conquered and made his own."
"Now came spring, but not at all as he had imagined its coming. He had thought that it would deliver him from a strange and hostile world, but now it was simply a continuation of his new experiences of something he had already conquered and made his own."
July 15, 2020
This was and always will be my favourite Moomin book. I read it the first time when I barely knew how to read, and since then I read it so many times that I know it by heart. It started my love for this series and it's one of the most important books I ever read for my growth as a reader. Love this <3
December 24, 2021
Prawdziwie pi臋kna historia.
August 19, 2019
For my full review:
The first Moomins book that I read was听Finn Family Moomintroll and I fell in love. Moominvalley seemed a magical place of eternal sunshine. The food was plentiful, the company enchanting and even when risky characters such as the Hobgoblin showed up, the threat never felt particularly severe. Eight year-old me was in rapture. But it was a library book and I was not allowed to keep checking it out indefinitely and nor was I allowed a copy of my own. When I discovered that there were听other听Moomin books, I thought I had found the perfect solution. When I read听Moominland Midwinter however, I felt I had made a terrible mistake. Thingummy and Bob were gone. Snufkin was travelling in foreign lands. Most of the other characters were asleep. Even the sun was gone. I plodded to the end but it would be many years before I ventured back to Moominvalley. Returning to the book now as an adult, would it still seem so very gloomy?
The very title of听Finn Family Moomintroll听confirms that it is about community and belonging - a family. In that respect,听Moominland Midwinter听is its polar opposite. It is an incredible - perhaps even unique - study of depression and loneliness on the child's eye level. I can also see why it was not at all what eight year-old me was expecting. Moomins usually hibernate between the months of November and April but then one year, Moomintroll wakes up and is unable to settle himself again.
The winter which Moomintroll encounters is a disturbing one and he faces it alone. As a child who longed fruitlessly every year for snow in the hope of finally testing out my sledge, the idea that it could take on a sinister side seemed strange. I did not realise that this was the flip-side to the long sunny days of听Finn Family, that now Moominvalley had to endure months of perpetual darkness. As an adult, I have a tendency to get grumpy during the winter months when it can too often feel that one goes to work in darkness and then return home in the same; I can better understand how a Finnish winter could really depress one's spirits.
There is something really eerie too about being awake while those around you are asleep. Following on from the birth of my first child, I had an extended bout of insomnia over the winter of last year. He would wake up, I would feed him, he would sleep again but I would not. Reading Moomintroll's bewilderment and frustration about being awake when the rest of his family are not made me remember that period. Padding about in the dark, trying different corners of the house to see if I could get sleepy again and then always, always staying awake. The long nights of winter seemed endless. The phase was not long but it was quite enough for me.
Fortunately, Moomintroll discovers an alternative community which exists during the winter months, a group of characters equipped to survive the harsh conditions. Chief among these is Too-Ticky, who occupies the Moomin family's bath-house. Based on author Tove Jansson's long-term partner Tuulikki 'Tooti' Pietil盲, Too-Ticky is a practical philosopher. Where Moomintroll rails against the harshness of the season, Too-Ticky encourages him to see that there is more to snow than mere bland whiteness.
You believe it鈥檚 cold, but if you build yourself a snowhouse it鈥檚 warm. You think it鈥檚 white, but at times it looks pink, and another time it鈥檚 blue. It can be softer than anything, and then again harder than stone. Nothing is certain.
Tove Jansson with her partner Tuulikki Pietil盲
If Too-Ticky is indeed an accurate representation of Tuulikki Pietil盲, then Tove Jansson was very fortunate to have her as a partner. She is one of those rare and wonderful people who accepts each new situation unflinchingly. Even the coming of the deadly Lady of the Cold does not spark fear in Too-Ticky. She sets out to make sure everyone is organised but never panics. Like Moomintroll, I was horror-struck as a child by the demise of the squirrel who encounters the Lady of the Cold. Somehow I seemed to miss the author note the first time around. Too-Ticky's deadpan pronouncement of 'When one's dead, one's dead' was completely alien to me at the time. Yet she shows Moomintroll that while in winter, he is living by different rules.
There are such a lot of things that have no place in summer and autumn and spring. Everything that鈥檚 a little shy and a little rum. Some kinds of night animals and people that don鈥檛 fit in with others and that nobody really believes in. They keep out of the way all year. And then when everything鈥檚 quiet and white and the nights are long and most people are asleep听鈥� then they appear.
The characters who emerge in the winter are a crew of misfits. There is Sorry-oo the dog who longs to run with wolves, the boisterous skiing Hemulen who everyone hopes will move on and leave them alone and Salome the little Creep who hopes to be noticed, the mysterious Ancestor who Moomintroll can barely recognise as kin - few of the characters appear truly contented.听The idea of being suddenly adrift from one's family alarmed me as a child. I was like Moomintroll, I did not like Moominvalley in the winter. Yet when I reread it, I felt that I had missed the most important point - things get better.
Even when the book is at its darkest, things improve. Sorry-oo realises that he cannot be a wolf (heartbreaking passage there) and he is saved before he can be devoured by the pack. The sun returns, a little at first and then gradually more and more. Moominmamma wakes up. She wakes and she takes care of Moomintroll, sets the house to rights and remarks how nice it is to be up a little early to have some extra time to herself. The jam stores which Moomintroll had worried over so much turn out to be not so important. Spring is here. There is another squirrel hopping about who looks just like the one who perished under the gaze of the Lady of the Cold.
But when Moomintroll finds Snork Maiden and the two of them spot an early crocus, she suggests putting a glass over it to protect it from the cold. Moomintroll responds 'No, don鈥檛 do that. Let it fight it out. I believe it鈥檚 going to do still better if things aren鈥檛 so easy.' Not only do things get better, but you are stronger as a person from what has gone before. In early books, particularly The Moomins and the Great Flood, Moomintroll was a mere child and had little agency. With听Midwinter, we see him take on responsibility and face down challenges, adding far greater depth to his character.
Unfortunately, I think I was just too young for听Moominland Midwinter听when I first read it. I saw only the bleakness and had lost interest before the new growth. The lesson of how we grow as people through trial and toil is a hefty one for a child to take on board but it is such an important one - I can think of few writers who could have put this across so beautifully as Jansson manages to do here. Her version of winter does not focus on the fun of sledging or skiing or snowball fights but on the slog to survive it and yet she does not stir from the world she has created. The glorious thing about the Moomins is that they are a kind of adult fairy tale that you can enjoy at any stage of life. I hope very much to share this story one day with my own child, that he too might learn that things may well get tough, but he can rise to the challenge.
The first Moomins book that I read was听Finn Family Moomintroll and I fell in love. Moominvalley seemed a magical place of eternal sunshine. The food was plentiful, the company enchanting and even when risky characters such as the Hobgoblin showed up, the threat never felt particularly severe. Eight year-old me was in rapture. But it was a library book and I was not allowed to keep checking it out indefinitely and nor was I allowed a copy of my own. When I discovered that there were听other听Moomin books, I thought I had found the perfect solution. When I read听Moominland Midwinter however, I felt I had made a terrible mistake. Thingummy and Bob were gone. Snufkin was travelling in foreign lands. Most of the other characters were asleep. Even the sun was gone. I plodded to the end but it would be many years before I ventured back to Moominvalley. Returning to the book now as an adult, would it still seem so very gloomy?
The very title of听Finn Family Moomintroll听confirms that it is about community and belonging - a family. In that respect,听Moominland Midwinter听is its polar opposite. It is an incredible - perhaps even unique - study of depression and loneliness on the child's eye level. I can also see why it was not at all what eight year-old me was expecting. Moomins usually hibernate between the months of November and April but then one year, Moomintroll wakes up and is unable to settle himself again.
The winter which Moomintroll encounters is a disturbing one and he faces it alone. As a child who longed fruitlessly every year for snow in the hope of finally testing out my sledge, the idea that it could take on a sinister side seemed strange. I did not realise that this was the flip-side to the long sunny days of听Finn Family, that now Moominvalley had to endure months of perpetual darkness. As an adult, I have a tendency to get grumpy during the winter months when it can too often feel that one goes to work in darkness and then return home in the same; I can better understand how a Finnish winter could really depress one's spirits.
There is something really eerie too about being awake while those around you are asleep. Following on from the birth of my first child, I had an extended bout of insomnia over the winter of last year. He would wake up, I would feed him, he would sleep again but I would not. Reading Moomintroll's bewilderment and frustration about being awake when the rest of his family are not made me remember that period. Padding about in the dark, trying different corners of the house to see if I could get sleepy again and then always, always staying awake. The long nights of winter seemed endless. The phase was not long but it was quite enough for me.
Fortunately, Moomintroll discovers an alternative community which exists during the winter months, a group of characters equipped to survive the harsh conditions. Chief among these is Too-Ticky, who occupies the Moomin family's bath-house. Based on author Tove Jansson's long-term partner Tuulikki 'Tooti' Pietil盲, Too-Ticky is a practical philosopher. Where Moomintroll rails against the harshness of the season, Too-Ticky encourages him to see that there is more to snow than mere bland whiteness.
You believe it鈥檚 cold, but if you build yourself a snowhouse it鈥檚 warm. You think it鈥檚 white, but at times it looks pink, and another time it鈥檚 blue. It can be softer than anything, and then again harder than stone. Nothing is certain.
Tove Jansson with her partner Tuulikki Pietil盲
If Too-Ticky is indeed an accurate representation of Tuulikki Pietil盲, then Tove Jansson was very fortunate to have her as a partner. She is one of those rare and wonderful people who accepts each new situation unflinchingly. Even the coming of the deadly Lady of the Cold does not spark fear in Too-Ticky. She sets out to make sure everyone is organised but never panics. Like Moomintroll, I was horror-struck as a child by the demise of the squirrel who encounters the Lady of the Cold. Somehow I seemed to miss the author note the first time around. Too-Ticky's deadpan pronouncement of 'When one's dead, one's dead' was completely alien to me at the time. Yet she shows Moomintroll that while in winter, he is living by different rules.
There are such a lot of things that have no place in summer and autumn and spring. Everything that鈥檚 a little shy and a little rum. Some kinds of night animals and people that don鈥檛 fit in with others and that nobody really believes in. They keep out of the way all year. And then when everything鈥檚 quiet and white and the nights are long and most people are asleep听鈥� then they appear.
The characters who emerge in the winter are a crew of misfits. There is Sorry-oo the dog who longs to run with wolves, the boisterous skiing Hemulen who everyone hopes will move on and leave them alone and Salome the little Creep who hopes to be noticed, the mysterious Ancestor who Moomintroll can barely recognise as kin - few of the characters appear truly contented.听The idea of being suddenly adrift from one's family alarmed me as a child. I was like Moomintroll, I did not like Moominvalley in the winter. Yet when I reread it, I felt that I had missed the most important point - things get better.
Even when the book is at its darkest, things improve. Sorry-oo realises that he cannot be a wolf (heartbreaking passage there) and he is saved before he can be devoured by the pack. The sun returns, a little at first and then gradually more and more. Moominmamma wakes up. She wakes and she takes care of Moomintroll, sets the house to rights and remarks how nice it is to be up a little early to have some extra time to herself. The jam stores which Moomintroll had worried over so much turn out to be not so important. Spring is here. There is another squirrel hopping about who looks just like the one who perished under the gaze of the Lady of the Cold.
But when Moomintroll finds Snork Maiden and the two of them spot an early crocus, she suggests putting a glass over it to protect it from the cold. Moomintroll responds 'No, don鈥檛 do that. Let it fight it out. I believe it鈥檚 going to do still better if things aren鈥檛 so easy.' Not only do things get better, but you are stronger as a person from what has gone before. In early books, particularly The Moomins and the Great Flood, Moomintroll was a mere child and had little agency. With听Midwinter, we see him take on responsibility and face down challenges, adding far greater depth to his character.
Unfortunately, I think I was just too young for听Moominland Midwinter听when I first read it. I saw only the bleakness and had lost interest before the new growth. The lesson of how we grow as people through trial and toil is a hefty one for a child to take on board but it is such an important one - I can think of few writers who could have put this across so beautifully as Jansson manages to do here. Her version of winter does not focus on the fun of sledging or skiing or snowball fights but on the slog to survive it and yet she does not stir from the world she has created. The glorious thing about the Moomins is that they are a kind of adult fairy tale that you can enjoy at any stage of life. I hope very much to share this story one day with my own child, that he too might learn that things may well get tough, but he can rise to the challenge.
Read
December 17, 2023Ju偶 wiem, sk膮d moja mi艂o艣膰 do literatury skandynawskiej. Nawet ta forma dla dzieci, ma w sobie pewn膮 surowo艣膰.
Fascynacja muminkami za czas贸w dzieciaka, powr贸ci艂a馃馃徎
Fascynacja muminkami za czas贸w dzieciaka, powr贸ci艂a馃馃徎
July 6, 2021
4.5 stars
Thanks to Hilary for introducing me to the Moomins! I don't how I missed these when I was a child or when my children were young.
The Moomins are cartoonish little characters with cute little hippo faces and roly-poly bodies that you feel you would like to hug. I would recommend these chapter books for grades 2 and up.
As the book begins, Moomintroll wakes up midwinter and can't go back to sleep (something I can empathize with). His house is quiet. Moominmamma, Moominpappa and Snork Maiden (his friend) are asleep. Moomintroll looks out the window to a world covered in snow, something he has never encountered before as Moomins sleep all winter long from November to April.
Thus begins Moomintroll's great adventure in the snow which is propelled by his childlike innocence and boundless curiosity. He meets many different creatures during his adventures, each one teaching him or learning from him. He learns to broaden his horizons, to try new things and to appreciate the beauty and fierceness of nature. Those he meets learn to appreciate his kindness, bravery, compassion and generosity.
This is a beautiful book that wraps values and virtues in a winter wonderland of adventure. In the end Moomintroll's loving family wakes up and joins him as winter ends. Even though her house is turned upside down, Moomintroll's mamma expresses her pride in his kindness and generosity to others during the long cold winter. Tove Jansson, author of the Moomin series, said that she modeled the loving Moomin family after her own childhood family.
Moominland Midwinter was originally published in 1957. The paperback edition which I checked out from my local library was reissued in 2010. There is a map of Moominland in the beginning and three pages of illustrations of the different creatures who inhabit Moominland. In the back of the book there is a brief biography and timeline of Tove Jansson's life.
I can't wait to read more in this series! It is the perfect book to draw children and adults alike into a kind, cozy and comforting fantasy world.
Thanks to Hilary for introducing me to the Moomins! I don't how I missed these when I was a child or when my children were young.
The Moomins are cartoonish little characters with cute little hippo faces and roly-poly bodies that you feel you would like to hug. I would recommend these chapter books for grades 2 and up.
As the book begins, Moomintroll wakes up midwinter and can't go back to sleep (something I can empathize with). His house is quiet. Moominmamma, Moominpappa and Snork Maiden (his friend) are asleep. Moomintroll looks out the window to a world covered in snow, something he has never encountered before as Moomins sleep all winter long from November to April.
Thus begins Moomintroll's great adventure in the snow which is propelled by his childlike innocence and boundless curiosity. He meets many different creatures during his adventures, each one teaching him or learning from him. He learns to broaden his horizons, to try new things and to appreciate the beauty and fierceness of nature. Those he meets learn to appreciate his kindness, bravery, compassion and generosity.
This is a beautiful book that wraps values and virtues in a winter wonderland of adventure. In the end Moomintroll's loving family wakes up and joins him as winter ends. Even though her house is turned upside down, Moomintroll's mamma expresses her pride in his kindness and generosity to others during the long cold winter. Tove Jansson, author of the Moomin series, said that she modeled the loving Moomin family after her own childhood family.
Moominland Midwinter was originally published in 1957. The paperback edition which I checked out from my local library was reissued in 2010. There is a map of Moominland in the beginning and three pages of illustrations of the different creatures who inhabit Moominland. In the back of the book there is a brief biography and timeline of Tove Jansson's life.
I can't wait to read more in this series! It is the perfect book to draw children and adults alike into a kind, cozy and comforting fantasy world.
December 21, 2020
This is one of those books that you do not realize how great it is until you read it as an adult. It is a book about death, struggle, acceptance, and difference. At first Moomintroll is lonely but he learns about winter and learns to thrive.
And we should all be as fearless as Little My.
And we should all be as fearless as Little My.
January 20, 2019
So wintry and lovely. My copy had 17 pages missing so I shall have to hunt them down and enjoy them on their own.
January 24, 2015
There's a fab essay by , encompassing "the paradox of active surrender." Highly recommended.
***
Found my childhood copy of this while cleaning out an old box last night, and to my delight I enjoyed it just as much as a grown up. My favourite of all the moomin books, because of the haunting quietness. On my must-read list for all children.
***
Found my childhood copy of this while cleaning out an old box last night, and to my delight I enjoyed it just as much as a grown up. My favourite of all the moomin books, because of the haunting quietness. On my must-read list for all children.
February 4, 2023
My girlfriend cried when the little squirrel died. There were couple of details funnily translated but this was a wonderful bedtime story to read out loud taking turns. Perfect the cold Finnish January. Te amo mucho novia, I know you understood more about polar night melancholy and coldness with this one.
January 26, 2021
And so Moomintroll was helplessly thrown out in a strange and dangerous world and dropped up to his ears in the first snowdrift of his experience. It felt unpleasantly prickly to his velvet skin, but at the same time his snout caught a new smell. It was a more serious smell than any he had felt before, and slightly frightening. But it made him wide awake and greatly interested.
This is my first Moomintroll book - and appropriately enough, the book is about new experiences. Specifically, it is about Moomintroll's first experience of winter. Despite a family tradition of hibernating every year - they always slept from November to Paris, because such was the custom of their forefathers - Moomintroll wakes up in the dead of winter and he cannot go back to sleep. Thus begins the adventure.
This is a book which can be 'read' in many ways, although it needn't be read for any purpose other than enjoyment. It can be thought of as a 'rite-of-passage' story, because for the first time Moomintroll has a big and unique adventure without the support or guidance of his family. As one of the characters says, (the philosophical Too-ticky, who takes up residence in the Moomin's summer bathing house): "One has to discover everything for oneself. And get over it alone."
Winter itself can be treated both literally and metaphorically. At first the lack of light and the weather extremes and all of the hitherto unknown winter creatures ("the shy and rum") are off-putting, destabilising and even frightening. Moomintroll is quite sure "that your winter's not for me." But gradually, he begins to accustom himself - he adapts, even as his fur thickens - and he starts to enjoy himself.
It's easy enough to draw lessons from the book - whether one is a child or adult reader - but Tove Jansson is not really an earnest or proselytising sort of author. She suggests, instead, that winter is interesting; that new experiences in life are interesting, bracing and necessary.
I have read several of Jansson's adult books and there is definitely a similarity of tone in all of her work. It's tempting to describe her style as 'quirky', but not in a self-conscious (or maybe even deliberate) way. She just has an unusual sensibility and sense of humour. The majority of her characters make no attempt to be 'likeable', and somehow that's what you like them for. Her inimitable style might be difficult to define, but you cannot help but recognise it immediately.
I've begun in the middle of the Moomin series, but I intend to read the rest of the books - perhaps starting at the beginning, but just as likely in any old order. As the author herself says, in the final words of this book: "The End and The Beginning"
October 22, 2021
While I am still not totally enamoured of the narrative flow of Thomas Warburton鈥檚 English language translation for Tove Jansson鈥檚 1957 Trollvinter, certainly with regard to thematics and contents, Moominland Midwinter has generally been both very much enjoyable and also delightfully introspective. But most definitely, I should indeed also point out that I do tend to find Thomas Warburton鈥檚 textual efforts with Moominland Midwinter considerably superior to his earlier Moomin novel translations, but that well, Warburton鈥檚 general narrational cadence and rhythm, they still feel a trifle too choppy for me and thus not really stylistically all that successfully mirroring that Moominland Midwinter is obviously taking place during the coldest months of the year, during a time of silence, of ice and snow.
And thematically speaking with regard to Moominland Midwinter, while as a total lover of winter (and it also being my absolute favourite of the four seasons), I at first was finding it rather annoying and frustrating how much the awake and not able to get back to sleep (to hibernate) Moomintroll is constantly whining about the snow, the lack of sunlight and that he is feeling abandoned and lonely, after a bit of reflection, I did and do realise that Moomintoll鈥檚 initial reaction to winter in fact totally makes sense and is actually even to be approached as a massive case of culture shock (since everything looks and feels different in the winter, and that it of course will take time for Moomintroll to understand what winter is, to get used to the cold, the snow, the many different winter guests, the lack of sunlight and indeed that learning to ski can be something daunting and even quite majorly scary).
Not a perfect story for me is Moominland Midwinter, as even with me understanding Moomintroll鈥檚 original negative reaction to winter, I personally still rather consider Tove Jansson鈥檚 contents and themes a bit too negative regarding winter in general for my own feelings (since I really do majorly tend to enjoy cold and even freezing weather much more than summer heat and also the showers of springtime). But it has definitely been fun reading about Moomintroll slowly but surely learning to at least appreciate winter as a season, to fight against his negativity and to come springtime have learned that as a season, winter is actually not something to fear and to despise.
And thematically speaking with regard to Moominland Midwinter, while as a total lover of winter (and it also being my absolute favourite of the four seasons), I at first was finding it rather annoying and frustrating how much the awake and not able to get back to sleep (to hibernate) Moomintroll is constantly whining about the snow, the lack of sunlight and that he is feeling abandoned and lonely, after a bit of reflection, I did and do realise that Moomintoll鈥檚 initial reaction to winter in fact totally makes sense and is actually even to be approached as a massive case of culture shock (since everything looks and feels different in the winter, and that it of course will take time for Moomintroll to understand what winter is, to get used to the cold, the snow, the many different winter guests, the lack of sunlight and indeed that learning to ski can be something daunting and even quite majorly scary).
Not a perfect story for me is Moominland Midwinter, as even with me understanding Moomintroll鈥檚 original negative reaction to winter, I personally still rather consider Tove Jansson鈥檚 contents and themes a bit too negative regarding winter in general for my own feelings (since I really do majorly tend to enjoy cold and even freezing weather much more than summer heat and also the showers of springtime). But it has definitely been fun reading about Moomintroll slowly but surely learning to at least appreciate winter as a season, to fight against his negativity and to come springtime have learned that as a season, winter is actually not something to fear and to despise.
March 9, 2022
"賯丕賱 賱賴丕 : 乇亘賷毓 爻毓賷丿貙 賵賮賷 丕賱賵賯鬲 賳賮爻賴 鬲爻丕亍賱 賲丕 廿匕丕 賰丕賳 爻賷鬲賲賰賳 賷賵賲賸丕 賲賳 廿禺亘丕乇賴丕 毓賳 卮鬲丕卅賴 丨鬲賶 鬲賮賴賲賴"
賲賳鬲氐賮 丕賱卮鬲丕亍 賮賷 賵丕丿賷 丕賱賲賵賲賷賳貙 賵亘賷賳賲丕 丕賱賵丕丿賷 賲賱賵賳 亘丕賱睾爻賯 丕賱乇賲丕丿賷 丕賱賲賳毓賰爻 賲賳 丕賱孬賱賵噩貙 賵賰賱 丕賱賰丕卅賳丕鬲 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞 賳丕卅賲丞 鬲丨賱賲 亘丕賱乇亘賷毓 丕賱賯丕丿賲貙 賵賲毓賴丕 毓丕卅賱丞 丕賱賲賵賲賷賳 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賳丕賲 賲賳 賳賵賮賲亘乇 廿賱賶 廿亘乇賷賱貙 賱兀賳 賴匕丕 賲丕 丿乇噩 毓賱賷賴 丕爻賱丕賮賴丕 賵丕賱賲賵賲賷賳 賷鬲賲爻賰賵賳 亘丕賱鬲賯丕賱賷丿貙
賯乇乇 丕賱丕亘賳 丕賱氐睾賷乇 貙賲賵賲賷賳 鬲乇賵賱貙 兀賳 賷禺乇噩 廿賱賶 丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱乇賲丕丿賷 丕賱賳丕卅賲 賱賷賰鬲卮賮賴貙 賵賷丨丕賵賱 兀賳 賷賵賯馗賴 賲賳 爻亘丕鬲賴 丕賱卮鬲賵賷貙 賱兀賳賴 賮賷 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 賱丕 賷丨亘 丕賱卮鬲丕亍 賰孬賷乇賸丕貙 乇亘賲丕 賯賱賷賱賸丕 賮賯胤貙
賵鬲丨鬲 兀囟賵丕亍 丕賱卮賲丕賱 丕賱亘乇丕賯丞 賵爻賲丕亍 賲鬲兀賱賯丞 亘丕賱賳噩賵賲 丕賱賱丕賲毓丞貙 賵孬賱噩 賷鬲賱兀賱兀 亘夭乇賯丞 賱丕賲毓丞 賮賷 囟賵亍 丕賱賯賲乇貙 賵馗賱丕賱 丕賱賱賷賱賰 賵丕賱賷丕爻賲賷賳 鬲賳毓賰爻 毓賱賶 丕賱孬賱噩 賮賷 囟賵亍 丕賱賯賲乇 丕賱禺丕賮鬲貙
毓丕卮 賲賵賲賷賳 鬲乇賵賱 賲睾丕賲乇丞 賱胤賷賮丞 賮賷 毓丕賱賲 噩丿賷丿 賱賲 賷乇丕賴 賲賳 賯亘賱貙 噩毓賱賴 賷賮賰乇 賯賱賷賱賸丕 賮賷 噩賲丕賱 丕賱卮鬲丕亍貙 賵乇亘賲丕 賷亘丿兀 兀賳 賷丨亘賴 賯賱賷賱賸丕貙
賵賱賰賳賴 賲丕夭丕賱 賷乇賷丿 卮乇賮丞 夭乇賯丕亍 賵賳丕賮匕丞 賲卮乇毓丞 胤賵丕賱 丕賱賵賯鬲 毓賱賶 丨丿賷賯丞 賲夭乇賵毓丞 亘丿賵丕乇 丕賱卮賲爻 賵丕賱賳丨賱 丕賱胤賳丕賳 賷乇賯氐 賲毓賴 鬲丨鬲 丕賱卮賲爻 丕賱亘乇鬲賯丕賱賷丞 丕賱丿丕賮卅丞 賮賷 丕賱爻賲丕亍 丕賱夭乇賯丕亍貙
賵賮賰乇 乇亘賲丕 賱賵 丕爻鬲胤丕毓 鬲卮睾賷賱 賰賱 爻丕毓丕鬲 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賮賷 賳賮爻 丕賱賵賯鬲貙
賱毓賱 賴匕丕 賷噩毓賱 丕賱乇亘賷毓 賷亘賰乇 賯賱賷賱丕賸 賮賷 賯丿賵賲賴貙 賱兀賳賴 丕卮鬲丕賯 廿賱賷賴....
丨賰丕賷丕鬲 賵兀賮賰丕乇 丿丕賮卅丞 賲賳爻賵噩丞 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱噩賲賷賱丞 毓賳 丕賱卮鬲丕亍 丕賱胤賵賷賱 賵丕賱丨賳賷賳 賵丕賱丨賱賲 亘丕賱乇亘賷毓 丕賱丿丕賮卅 賮賷 賲賳鬲氐賮 丕賱卮鬲丕亍貙 丕賱匕賷 賷丨賱賲 亘賴 賲賵賲賷賳 鬲乇賵賱 貙
丨爻賳賸丕 賷丕 賲賵賲賷賳 鬲乇賵賱貙 賵賲賻賳 賲賳丕 賱丕 賷賳鬲馗乇 丕賱乇亘賷毓 丕賱丿丕賮卅 乇睾賲 丨亘賴 賱賱卮鬲丕亍貙
賰賱賳丕 賳賳鬲馗乇 丕賱乇亘賷毓 賱賳夭賴乇 賲毓 丕賱賱賷賱賰 賵丕賱賷丕爻賲賷賳 貙
賵賷賰賵賳 乇亘賷毓賸丕 丿丕賮卅賸丕 賵爻毓賷丿賸丕 馃挏馃尲馃尭馃挏
9.3.2022
賲賳鬲氐賮 丕賱卮鬲丕亍 賮賷 賵丕丿賷 丕賱賲賵賲賷賳貙 賵亘賷賳賲丕 丕賱賵丕丿賷 賲賱賵賳 亘丕賱睾爻賯 丕賱乇賲丕丿賷 丕賱賲賳毓賰爻 賲賳 丕賱孬賱賵噩貙 賵賰賱 丕賱賰丕卅賳丕鬲 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞 賳丕卅賲丞 鬲丨賱賲 亘丕賱乇亘賷毓 丕賱賯丕丿賲貙 賵賲毓賴丕 毓丕卅賱丞 丕賱賲賵賲賷賳 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賳丕賲 賲賳 賳賵賮賲亘乇 廿賱賶 廿亘乇賷賱貙 賱兀賳 賴匕丕 賲丕 丿乇噩 毓賱賷賴 丕爻賱丕賮賴丕 賵丕賱賲賵賲賷賳 賷鬲賲爻賰賵賳 亘丕賱鬲賯丕賱賷丿貙
賯乇乇 丕賱丕亘賳 丕賱氐睾賷乇 貙賲賵賲賷賳 鬲乇賵賱貙 兀賳 賷禺乇噩 廿賱賶 丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱乇賲丕丿賷 丕賱賳丕卅賲 賱賷賰鬲卮賮賴貙 賵賷丨丕賵賱 兀賳 賷賵賯馗賴 賲賳 爻亘丕鬲賴 丕賱卮鬲賵賷貙 賱兀賳賴 賮賷 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 賱丕 賷丨亘 丕賱卮鬲丕亍 賰孬賷乇賸丕貙 乇亘賲丕 賯賱賷賱賸丕 賮賯胤貙
賵鬲丨鬲 兀囟賵丕亍 丕賱卮賲丕賱 丕賱亘乇丕賯丞 賵爻賲丕亍 賲鬲兀賱賯丞 亘丕賱賳噩賵賲 丕賱賱丕賲毓丞貙 賵孬賱噩 賷鬲賱兀賱兀 亘夭乇賯丞 賱丕賲毓丞 賮賷 囟賵亍 丕賱賯賲乇貙 賵馗賱丕賱 丕賱賱賷賱賰 賵丕賱賷丕爻賲賷賳 鬲賳毓賰爻 毓賱賶 丕賱孬賱噩 賮賷 囟賵亍 丕賱賯賲乇 丕賱禺丕賮鬲貙
毓丕卮 賲賵賲賷賳 鬲乇賵賱 賲睾丕賲乇丞 賱胤賷賮丞 賮賷 毓丕賱賲 噩丿賷丿 賱賲 賷乇丕賴 賲賳 賯亘賱貙 噩毓賱賴 賷賮賰乇 賯賱賷賱賸丕 賮賷 噩賲丕賱 丕賱卮鬲丕亍貙 賵乇亘賲丕 賷亘丿兀 兀賳 賷丨亘賴 賯賱賷賱賸丕貙
賵賱賰賳賴 賲丕夭丕賱 賷乇賷丿 卮乇賮丞 夭乇賯丕亍 賵賳丕賮匕丞 賲卮乇毓丞 胤賵丕賱 丕賱賵賯鬲 毓賱賶 丨丿賷賯丞 賲夭乇賵毓丞 亘丿賵丕乇 丕賱卮賲爻 賵丕賱賳丨賱 丕賱胤賳丕賳 賷乇賯氐 賲毓賴 鬲丨鬲 丕賱卮賲爻 丕賱亘乇鬲賯丕賱賷丞 丕賱丿丕賮卅丞 賮賷 丕賱爻賲丕亍 丕賱夭乇賯丕亍貙
賵賮賰乇 乇亘賲丕 賱賵 丕爻鬲胤丕毓 鬲卮睾賷賱 賰賱 爻丕毓丕鬲 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賮賷 賳賮爻 丕賱賵賯鬲貙
賱毓賱 賴匕丕 賷噩毓賱 丕賱乇亘賷毓 賷亘賰乇 賯賱賷賱丕賸 賮賷 賯丿賵賲賴貙 賱兀賳賴 丕卮鬲丕賯 廿賱賷賴....
丨賰丕賷丕鬲 賵兀賮賰丕乇 丿丕賮卅丞 賲賳爻賵噩丞 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱噩賲賷賱丞 毓賳 丕賱卮鬲丕亍 丕賱胤賵賷賱 賵丕賱丨賳賷賳 賵丕賱丨賱賲 亘丕賱乇亘賷毓 丕賱丿丕賮卅 賮賷 賲賳鬲氐賮 丕賱卮鬲丕亍貙 丕賱匕賷 賷丨賱賲 亘賴 賲賵賲賷賳 鬲乇賵賱 貙
丨爻賳賸丕 賷丕 賲賵賲賷賳 鬲乇賵賱貙 賵賲賻賳 賲賳丕 賱丕 賷賳鬲馗乇 丕賱乇亘賷毓 丕賱丿丕賮卅 乇睾賲 丨亘賴 賱賱卮鬲丕亍貙
賰賱賳丕 賳賳鬲馗乇 丕賱乇亘賷毓 賱賳夭賴乇 賲毓 丕賱賱賷賱賰 賵丕賱賷丕爻賲賷賳 貙
賵賷賰賵賳 乇亘賷毓賸丕 丿丕賮卅賸丕 賵爻毓賷丿賸丕 馃挏馃尲馃尭馃挏
9.3.2022
December 27, 2023
Second read, 12/2023, 5/5
Muumien viisauksiin ei vaan kyll盲sty, ja t盲m盲 oli erityisen t盲ydellist盲 lukemista lumisena aatonaaton iltana takkatulen loimussa.
First read, 3/2020, 5/5
In these uncertain and scary circumstances nothing feels as comforting as the Moomins. I haven't read any of the books since I was a child, and The Moominland Midwinter brought me back to simpler days.
Muumien viisauksiin ei vaan kyll盲sty, ja t盲m盲 oli erityisen t盲ydellist盲 lukemista lumisena aatonaaton iltana takkatulen loimussa.
First read, 3/2020, 5/5
In these uncertain and scary circumstances nothing feels as comforting as the Moomins. I haven't read any of the books since I was a child, and The Moominland Midwinter brought me back to simpler days.
April 16, 2023
Buka 馃枻馃槶
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