Nature Book Reader June 2020 - Flipbook - Page 100
A Nature Book Reader
KEVIN PEARCE
Writing. Music. Connections
The Summer Book by Tove Jannson
The most precious things
are often those we find by
chance. I stumbled across a
copy of The Summer Book by
Tove Jannson while looking
for something ‘light’ to read
in the local library. It was
the title that attracted me.
I don’t think at the time I
made a connection between
the author and the Moomin
books of my youth. I
borrowed it, devoured it,
and have often returned to it.
I am not a great reader of
nature books. I hate stories
of disenchanted city folk who
have retreated to pastures
new and feel compelled
to share their experiences.
It’s all so forced. But there
is a beautiful simplicity
and naturalness about this
‘adult’ book by Tove Jannson.
It’s really a collection of
strikingly stark tales about
a girl of six and her contrary
100
grandmother, and the time
they spend together on their
small island in the gulf
of Finland.
It’s so much more than
that though. And it makes
me desperately want to visit
that island. It makes me want
to hug that old grandmother
and hear some of her words
of wisdom. It makes me
want to copy chunks of text
out which I can chuckle over
at leisure. And it makes me
want to buy copies to give to
loved ones.
