The Summer Book
Playful
Simple
Timeless

The Summer Book

Tove Jansson2003
An elderly artist and her six-year-old grand-daughter while away a summer together on a tiny island in the gulf of Finland. As the two learn to adjust to each other's fears, whims and yearnings, a fierce yet understated love emerges - one that encompasses not only the summer inhabitants but the very island itself.Written in a clear, unsentimental style, full of brusque humour, and wisdom, The Summer Book is a profoundly life-affirming story.Tove Janssoncaptured much of her own life and spirit in the book, which was her favourite of her adult novels. This new edition, with a Foreword by Esther Freud, sees the return of a European literary gem - fresh, authentic and deeply humane.
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Reviews

Photo of figments of one's sanity
figments of one's sanity@knittedthoughts
3 stars
Aug 31, 2025
Photo of Julen Hernandez
Julen Hernandez@julen
5 stars
Aug 3, 2025
Sweet
Simple
Timeless
Meaningful
Photo of Jacque
Jacque@jacque_who
5 stars
Mar 31, 2025
Touching
Timeless
Remarkable
Meaningful
Photo of Clay Carey
Clay Carey@clayclay
5 stars
Jul 27, 2024
Photo of Gelaine Trinidad
Gelaine Trinidad@gelaine
4 stars
Jul 5, 2024
Photo of Lila R E
Lila R E@lilaklara
5 stars
Dec 18, 2023
Photo of Anna Concannon
Anna Concannon @concannona
5 stars
Jul 9, 2023
Playful
Creative
Delightful
Refreshing
Surprising
Photo of charisa
charisa@charisa
4 stars
May 15, 2023
Photo of heleen de boever
heleen de boever@hlndb
4 stars
Apr 14, 2023
Photo of Nick Gracilla
Nick Gracilla@ngracilla
5 stars
Jan 16, 2023
Photo of Amy Thibodeau
Amy Thibodeau@amythibodeau
4 stars
Dec 26, 2022
Photo of Neil Murray
Neil Murray@neilswmurray
5 stars
Oct 6, 2022
Photo of juno
juno@tarobumma
3 stars
Sep 3, 2022
Photo of Laura Gill
Laura Gill@gillybookworm
5 stars
Mar 19, 2022
Unique
Playful
Beautiful
Page turning
Heartwarming
Unforgettable
Photo of Liv Rockwell
Liv Rockwell@lvrock13
3 stars
Dec 14, 2021
Photo of Michael Chen
Michael Chen@docmc03
5 stars
Nov 7, 2021
Photo of Erifili G
Erifili G@erifili
5 stars
Aug 12, 2021
Photo of Sarah Christine Gill
Sarah Christine Gill@Gilly
5 stars
Aug 8, 2021
Dry
Sweet
Vibrant
Timeless
Contemplative
Photo of asha
asha@ashabella
5 stars
Jul 30, 2025
Photo of Nica
Nica@maisonnica
4 stars
Jun 20, 2025
Photo of rachel
rachel@r4chll
4 stars
Jun 3, 2025
Photo of alice
alice@aliceinwords
4 stars
May 25, 2025
Photo of Niki Sotiropoulou-Nassika
Niki Sotiropoulou-Nassika@nikisn
5 stars
Feb 19, 2025
Photo of gabrielle v
gabrielle v@mariposa222
2 stars
Nov 12, 2024

Highlights

Photo of figments of one's sanity
figments of one's sanity@knittedthoughts
Photo of ella
ella@ellasreadings
Photo of ella
ella@ellasreadings