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Title: Moominvalley in November (Moomintrolls)
ISBN: 0374453098
Author:
Tove Jansson
Publicate Date: 2003-09-15
Publish: 2003-09-15
List Price: $6.95
Average Customer Rating: 5.0
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $2.25
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $1.25
Amazon Merchant Price: $6.95
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Somewhat odd final novel in the series...
Tove Jansson, Moominvalley in November (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1971)
Jansson's last Moominvalley book concerns itself not with the Moomins themselves, but with some of the ancillary characters from the series. In this one, it's November, and the Moomins have gone off somewhere for the winter. Seven of the valley's denizens-- among them Snufkin and the Fillyjonk-- decide to drop in and see what the Moomins are doing. Instead of finding the Moomins, they find one another, and hijinks commence.
Theres an odd undertone to this book, almost one of cruelty or menace, that's very unfamiliar to the series. I'd like to try and explain it away as simply Jansson's sadness at leaving a world she'd been a part of for so long, but it still jars unpleasantly from time to time, no matter what the reason for its existence. Still, if you've been a fan of the Moomin books all along, this one's pretty much a must-read for giving the reader insight into some previously minor characters. ***
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2: Beautiful Story
Lovable book! Easy to read but makes you think of your own life, silly little things and big questions of meanings. Just loved it, and will read it thousand times more.
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3: Peace in the Valley
This is a beautiful book about overcoming the differences between us and learning to live together. The book is set in Moominvalley. The Moomintrolls are away when their very different friends come to visit. Moominmama and Moominpapa figure mainly as inspiration for the other characters as they learn to get along with each other.
I fear that this is sounding preachy. The genius of Ms. Jansson is that she never preaches. Read the book, you'll see what I mean - it's lovely!
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4: A more melancholy Moomin book
Tove Jansson was a Swedish-speaking Finnish writer and illustrator who wrote many childrens books including the famous Moomin series. Here, the setting is Moominvalley which is basically the natural beauty and pristineness of Finland, populated by Moomins (who look like little hippos which stand upright and are fluffy) and a host of other weird and wonderful creatures. The action is mainly centred around the family with Moominpappa, Moominmamma and Moomintroll the kid. They set a tone for the whole series as Tove infused them and their whole universe with experiences of her own family which seem to have been a very bohemian, artistic, tolerant and warm lot. This makes the books great reading for kids from an early age as they invoke a wonderful sense of fun and silliness as well as acceptance and openmindedness.
One thing I remember from reading these as a kid is that the plot didn't really matter. In some books, it's hard to say exactly what happens. Rather, it is the atmosphere that I found the most important. In this book, the Moomins have gone away leading the other characters to miss them. Combined with the autumn feel in Moominvalley, the book has a melancholy feel and focuses on the side characters and their strengths and insecurities.
A great series overall, filled with imagination, surrealism, fun and warmth.
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5: Haunting, compassionate insight into inner landscapes
"November" is both intensely passionate and cold: it focuses on the empty spaces of the Moominfamily, and those who wanted the Moomins to fill the emptiness of their own souls.
The Moominfamily represents happiness, everything that is good about childhood, summers, or functional families: generous, nonjudgmental, forgiving, carefree. Their absence inspires horrific nostalgia (especially if you have read the previous books)-- and indeed the author follows the emotions of the characters as they struggle with their own emotions, personalities, and less-than-perfect relationships with each other. It sounds grueling, but the souls of these characters are described absolutely empathically, touching the heart of the reader like dream music. The story is about greyness, but the experience of reading it was one of the most colourful, memorable and healing experiences of childhood.
The plot idea of people becoming free from their dependence on happiness is utter genius-- it shows great hope for humanity that we finally have somebody expressing this idea more succinctly than our ancient texts. It's also extremely comforting when we're dealing with our own grieving or nostalgia, or with the tough issues of gaining inner freedom.
Tove's treatment in "November" of the concepts of emotion, memory, longing, love, freedom, purpose, relationships, joy, and death are brilliant, haunting, tender... a nourishing story when we find ourselves at an Ending and our inner landscape surprises us with its breadth.
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