very short rec

I have been re-reading Moomin books lately. mostly because I have forgotten almost everything that happened, and so they are all fresh and new! (Whether this is a side-effect of losing a big slab of my memory to a taxi, or being Middle Aged, I'm not wholly sure.) Surprisingly, a lot of people in RL have said to me, 'Moomins? Never heard of them. Any good?'

To which I reply: 'Heathen! And Brilliant!'

It's almost impossible to explain the strange charm of the Moomins, but these lines from Moonimsummer Madness sum it up for me. Snufkin has been out travelling the world and come across Little My (who is thumb-sized and who was swept away from her sister by a wave), who has decided to travel in his pocket. A little while later, they find themselves taking care of 24 woodland children ...

"It's raining," said a small woody.

"I'm hungry," said another.

Snufkin looked helplessly at Little My.

"Scare them with the Groke!" she suggested. "That's what my sister used to do."

"Does it make you a good girl?" asked Snufkin.

"Of course not!" said Little My and laughed so she toppled over.

What child (or short adult) could fail to be utterly charmed by that?

The books come with fabulous little ink illustrations, and the stories are always positive, no matter how many strange or dreadful things, such as Grokes and Park Rangers, might appear. There are new editions out at the moment, which are cheap and easily found. If they weren't a staple of your childhood, I do recommend making them a part of your adulthood ;-)

very short rec

I have been re-reading Moomin books lately. mostly because I have forgotten almost everything that happened, and so they are all fresh and new! (Whether this is a side-effect of losing a big slab of my memory to a taxi, or being Middle Aged, I'm not wholly sure.) Surprisingly, a lot of people in RL have said to me, 'Moomins? Never heard of them. Any good?'

To which I reply: 'Heathen! And Brilliant!'

It's almost impossible to explain the strange charm of the Moomins, but these lines from Moonimsummer Madness sum it up for me. Snufkin has been out travelling the world and come across Little My (who is thumb-sized and who was swept away from her sister by a wave), who has decided to travel in his pocket. A little while later, they find themselves taking care of 24 woodland children ...

"It's raining," said a small woody.

"I'm hungry," said another.

Snufkin looked helplessly at Little My.

"Scare them with the Groke!" she suggested. "That's what my sister used to do."

"Does it make you a good girl?" asked Snufkin.

"Of course not!" said Little My and laughed so she toppled over.

What child (or short adult) could fail to be utterly charmed by that?

The books come with fabulous little ink illustrations, and the stories are always positive, no matter how many strange or dreadful things, such as Grokes and Park Rangers, might appear. There are new editions out at the moment, which are cheap and easily found. If they weren't a staple of your childhood, I do recommend making them a part of your adulthood ;-)