#BestofJuly: I gave 10 (out of 28) books 5 stars in Goodreads. Two of these were favourites that I reread: Birdie, and The Summer Book #JanssonBuddyRead. Only bailed on one book in July: Wanderlust.
pickLove Moomin but h️ave never read Jansson's adult books. Glad I squeezed this in for the #JanssonBuddyRead. It's a deceptively simple book, but deep, wise & idiosyncratic. The formal structure of the book mimics nature's time, & it takes you out of urban, automated work-time. Reading it is like a gift that helps to refocus the mind, showing us how to pay attention & to live with others without false hope or cynicism. Bittersweet, tender, & moving.
This book, like the rhythms of nature in summer, requires close attention. It yields its delights, especially its humour, in understated, surprising ways.
#JanssonBuddyRead
"She started thinking about all the euphemisms for death, all the anxious taboos that had always fascinated her. It was too bad you could never have an intelligent discussion on the subject. People were either too young or too old, or else they didn't have the time."
#JanssonBuddyRead
"... And morning coffee was no longer what it had been."
#JanssonBuddyRead
pickA friend who knows my reading tastes well recommended this years ago. She was right: I was totally enchanted by this gem. A gentle, humorous blend of nature journal / grief memoir / slice of life literary novel. Re-reading it for the #Janssonbuddyread was a delight, and I also enjoyed seeing other posts about it on Litsy. #translation
pickI didn't know this book existed until just about everyone who I follow on Litsy joined the #janssonbuddyread. I'm so glad you all made me pick it up. Sophia and her Grandmother are either too young or too old for the party, but at least they have each other. There is an undercurrent of grief, and no little rage, running throughout, but I still completely enjoyed spending part of my summer with these two. I would absolutely visit again.
pickWhat a lovely book this is. Obviously there's melancholy awareness of mortality running through it (there usually is in Tove Jansson's books, even the Moomin ones) but it's very sweet. #JanssonBuddyRead
Thoughts about death and separation through the lens of angleworms... by Sophia... "They couldn't grow back together, because they were terribly upset...they knew that by and by they'd grow out again, both of them. ... They realized that from now on life would be quite different, but they didn't know how, that is, in what way. ... Nothing is easy when you might come apart in the middle at any moment." #janssonbuddyread
What an odd, beautiful little book this is. Some of the stories are philosophical but some, like this one called The Crooks are more whimsical to me and show the lighter side of Grandmother and Sophia's relationship. "Yes, yes, yes," Grandmother said, "Make up something for yourself then, if you don't believe my story." #janssonbuddyread
