Received as a BookMooch.

In The Summer Book, Tove Jansson tells the story of Sophia, a six-year-old girl awakening to existence, and her grandmother, nearing the end of hers, as they spend the summer on a tiny unspoilt island in the Gulf of Finland. The grandmother is wise if a little cranky; Sophia is impetuous and volatile, but she tends to her grandmother with the care of a parent. Jansson creates a world, full of the joys and sorrows of life.

Each chapter is a separate vignette and there is little in the way of plot. Sophia and her grandmother are interesting characters who sometimes really get on each other’s nerves. Grandmother has physical issues. She walks with a cane meaning that Sophia spends much of the time running around the island on her own. Living with them is Sophia’s father, but he drifts in and out of the story and never once utters a word of dialogue.

Despite their disagreements, it's obvious that Sophia and her grandmother really love each other.

I must admit that I enjoyed Jansson's writing style. Each chapter beautifully describes the flora and fauna inhabiting the island and I could almost feel myself there. It is a quick read, but the lack of structure also frustrated me making this an interesting read rather than a memorable one.

Going out as part of a Wishlist Tag thread. Enjoy!

Thank you for the tag! Arrived safely today. 😊