Reading Tove Jansson: From the Moomins to her books for adults
Shortly before what would have been her 105th birthday on 9th August 2019, I started this reading project, which involves building a library of books by, about or connected in some way with one of my favourite authors, the Finnish-Swedish writer and artist, Tove Jansson (1914–2001).
This remarkable woman achieved worldwide fame as the creator of stories about the Moomins, written and illustrated between 1945 and 1977. However, not only did I decide to re-read her novels and short stories for children but to gradually work my way through (and around) her books for adults, collections of letters, biographies and so on.
I haven’t set a time-limit to complete this task, it will be ongoing – I shall simply pick up one of her works at random whenever an opportunity arises. I hope eventually to share my thoughts on all Tove’s titles translated into English, except perhaps for her picture books aimed at the very young (maybe those too, eventually). I will tick titles off as I add a post about them to this blog.
If any fellow Toveites would like to join me in reading these books, please feel free to do so. You may of course use the above graphic, but if you do, please link back to this page.
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THE BOOKS
MOOMIN BOOKS >>
Original Series
1. The Moomins and the Great Flood (1945) ✓
2. Comet in Moominland (1946) ✓
3. Finn Family Moomintroll (1948)
4. The Memoirs of Moominpappa (1950)
5. Moominsummer Madness (1954) ✓
6. Moominland Midwinter (1957) ✓
7. Tales from Moominvalley (1962) ✓
8. Moominpappa at Sea (1965) ✓
9. Moominvalley in November (1970)
Comic Strips
Moomin (books 1–6 released in English)
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NON-MOOMIN BOOKS >>
Novels
1. The Summer Book (1972)
2. Sun City (1974)
3. The True Deceiver (1982)
4. The Field of Stones (1984) Not published in English
5. Fair Play (1989) ✓
Short Story Collections
1. Sculptor’s Daughter (1968 autofiction)
2. The Listener (1971) ✓
3. Art in Nature (1978)
4. Travelling Light (1987)
5. Messages (1998) Not published in English
6. Letters from Klara and Other Stories (1997)
7. Selected stories 1971–1997 (1998)
8. A Winter Book (2006) ✓
Miscellaneous Reading
1. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Tove Jansson Edition by Lewis Carroll, Tove Jansson (Illustrator)
2. Notes from an Island (1996 memoir; illustrated by Tuulikki Pietilä) ✓
3. Sara and Pelle and the Octopuses of the Water Sprite (1933 under the pseudonym of Vera Haij)
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TOVE JANSSON-RELATED BOOKS >>
Miscellaneous
1. Letters from Tove, edited by Boel Westin & Helen Svensson, translated by Sarah Death (2014)
2. Moomin Management: Redefining Generosity by Paul Savage & Janne Tienari (2024)
3. Moomin Mugs: Moomin Arabia Mugs 1990-2025 by Anna-Kaisa Huusko (2025)
4. Tove Jansson: Life, Art, Words by Boel Westin (2007) ✓
5. Tove Jansson Rediscovered, edited by Malin Lidström Brock & Kate McLoughlin (2007)
6.Tove Jansson: Work and Love by Dr Tuula Karjalainen (2013)
7. The World of Moominvalley by Philip Ardagh (2017) ✓
There are undoubtedly many more books relating to Tove Jansson and the Moomins. If you know of any interesting titles that do not appear on this list, please let me know.
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TOVE JANSSON-RELATED BOOK JOTTER FEATURES >>
A Rare Travel Documentary
Help the Moomins Save the Baltic Sea
Reading, Writing and the Moomins
Wedding in Moominland
What is Finland?
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POSTS FROM OTHER TOVE TROVERS >>
A Finnish microcosm by Chris Lovegrove @ Calmgrove
A light in the darkness by Chris Lovegrove @ Calmgrove
A Moomin memoir by Chris Lovegrove @ Calmgrove
A seaworthy craft by Chris Lovegrove @ Calmgrove
A Winter Book by Jane @ Just Reading a Book
Falling under a spell by Chris Lovegrove @ Calmgrove
Fierce wistfulness by Chris Lovegrove @ Calmgrove
The Magician and his hat by Chris Lovegrove @ Calmgrove
Moominland Midwinter by Jane @ Just Reading A Book
The Moomins and the Great Flood | Tove Jansson by Brona @ This Reading Life
Moominvalley favourites by Chris Lovegrove @ Calmgrove
Muminsaga yarns by Chris Lovegrove @ Calmgrove
The quest for home: #ReadIndies by Chris Lovegrove @ Calmgrove Books
“Rather happy tales” by Chris Lovegrove @ Calmgrove Books
Reading Tove, and more by Chris Lovegrove @ Calmgrove
The Summer Book by Jane @ Just Reading a Book
TOVE TROVE: Moomins by Ola G @ Re-enchantment Of The World
Untethered by Chris Lovegrove @ Calmgrove
Winter reading by the blog host @ I read that in a book
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I have finally collated a selection of external links to interesting Tovian articles, artworks, websites and other sources of information. I hope you find it useful:
>> TOVE TRUFFLING: A Collection of Tovian Links >>
All images © Moomin Characters™
Categories: LGB, Reading Challenges, Tove Jansson
What a fab project Paula! I’ve got my two neverending reading challenges ongoing, otherwise I’d join you – if I ever get those finished, I will! She’s such a wonderful writer, I’m really looking forward to your posts and progress 🙂
Many thanks, Madame B. Feel free to hop on any time. 😊
One of my absolute favourites too. I have most of her work on the shelves, so I am tempted to join in at least occasionally.
Occasionally is fine, Marina. This is a really relaxed challenge. 😊
How lovely! I’ve read the Art in Nature collection and the wonderful The Summer Book, but feel the yen to try another novel in the not too distant future! Looking forward to seeing what you choose, Paula, and I’ll use your logo when my turn comes round.
Many thanks, Chris. I remember your lovely post about The Summer Book. 😊
This is an awesome idea. I keep meaning to make use of the fact that so many of her own recordings of her books are available on Spotify, this seems like a great excuse.
I’m so glad you like the idea. I don’t use Spotify but it sounds like a great idea! 😊
What fun! I have Finn Family Moomintroll on the nightstand at the moment, which means that with luck it should get read pretty soon (reread, in fact, because I tore through all the earlier Moomins fifty or sixty years ago). I’ve read just the one of her other novels, The True Deceiver, and keep meaning to add more.
Oh, Finn Family Moomintroll – it’s years since I read that book. I hope you love it!
Great idea! I love her Moomins books, but haven’t yet read any non-Moomin novel, so maybe it’s a good opportunity to try 🙂
I remember you saying you were a fan of the Moomins, Ola. I look forward to reading your thought’s on her other works. 😊
Wonderful idea Paula! I’ve read a lot of her work fairly recently but I may try to join in with the ones I haven’t read!
Thank you so much, Kaggsy. I’ve been meaning to do something like this for a while. Hope you’re able to join in. 😊
I keep saying I’m going to read some of her work, especially the Moomins books. Just not enought time! But this is a great project, Paula, and if you are posting on her books every so often it will keep the flame burning and nudge me into starting 🙂
I’ve wanted to re-read the Moomin books for a long time as there are several I haven’t looked at since childhood. The Tove Trove project will enable me to do this (and hopefully pick-up her later works) at my own snail-like pace. It’s an incredibly undemanding undertaking on my part, so please feel free to comment or contribute at any point, Sandra, if you find yourself struck by a Moomin mood! 😊
A Moomin fan as a kid I have sought out her books but our library do not stock them. Maybe I shall interlibrary loan…
It’s surprising how few people are aware of the Moomins in Britain outside the bookish community. Such a shame! 😢
They’re better known in Britain than they are here in the States.
They seem hugely popular in Japan and other far eastern countries!
True. Maybe a renaissance of Moomins is needed.
What a freak idea! I love her work, both her literature and her art. I have a good biography by Tuula Karjalainen, called “Tove Jansson, Work and Love”.
I shall follow your progress:-)
Thank you, Elisabeth. It’s always a delight to meet a fellow Tovian. I must seek out the book you mention and add it to the list! 😊
She’s one of a kind! Very talented artistically 😊
An absolute one off!
What a lovely project! I hope you have tons of fun re-discovering a favourite. 🙂
Thank you so much. 😊
One of my favourite writers! I would love to get my hands on Field of Stones, but no copies seem to be available. My plan – having enjoyed Boel Westin’s biography a little while ago – is to read Tuula Karjalainen’s. It has the benefit of being one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever seen!
I’m so pleased to learn you’re a fellow Tovian, Simon. I must keep a look out for Field of Stones when I’m snuffling about in secondhand book shops. Yes, I agree, Work and Love is very much on my bookdar, too! 😃
I look forward to following this! Perhaps it would be a good opportunity to get The True Deceiver off my TBR-shelf…
I’m so pleased you like the idea. I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on The True Deceiver. 😊
I’ve put it in the priority pile 🙂 Although I’m not sure I will review it even if i do read it, I generally find Jansson’s novels hard to capture in a review.
I love the idea of this. I haven’t read anything by her yet but went to an exhibition of her art recently and am very interested in finding out more – perfect timing, thank you!
Thank you, Jane. I really hope you enjoy TJ’s work. 😊
I’ve just back to check from Calmgrove’s post and I see that I didn’t attach the badge to my posts, so I’ll do that and copy your list of publications if that’s ok?
Where is your post, Jane? I will happily link to it. 😊
What an incredibly tempting project. I’d love to read all of her books and, at various times, have selected a single one from the library which seemed particularly tempting in a given moment, but I’ve always put it back because I feel it’d be opening a door to a true reading binge.(Which is what’s happening to me now with Elizabeth Strout’s books. I was just petting one of those at the library and whispering “soon….”). When I do turn that corner into Jansson’s world, I’ll be sure to tell you!
I have a real soft spot for Jansson’s work and it cheers me no end when others enjoy her books. I’m sure you’ll get around to reading that book (once you’ve worked your way through every Strout in the library). I imagine this project will continue for quite some time, so please feel free to contribute or comment at any point. ☺
Oh, also, you asked if there were other books: there is a 2014 collection from NYRB called The Woman Who Borrowed Memories.
You have so many individual collections of stories listed that I’m sure you’ve got the contents of this volume covered off, but I thought i’d mention it anyway, lest there are North American readers interested in trying her who might have more difficulty finding Euro-editions.
This arose in my Mavis Gallant project too, in that her earlier proper collections are difficult to source, but NYRB has reissued at least two collections, three maybe, which offer another way into her work.
Many thanks, Marcie. That’s extremely useful information, I’ll definitely seek it out. 😀
I’m not a blogger- merely a reader but I will follow this project with interest. Read Summer and Winter Books and some of the Moomins. What a talent she had.
I’m delighted to meet you, Anne. Please feel free to comment or join conversations at any time, there’s no rule that says you must be a blogger – there are no rules at all, in fact. I look forward to seeing you around. 😊
This is such a good idea, I love it when I get involved in a reading project! I haven’t read any of her books yet and would love to follow along in an ad hoc way if that’s ok?
I’m so glad you’ve decided to take part in the project, Jane. Ad hoc is perfect – I’m doing the same. I hope you come to love the books as much as I do. 😊
https://justreadingabook.wordpress.com/2020/12/27/a-winter-book/
https://justreadingabook.wordpress.com/2020/07/19/the-summer-book/
These are links to the two I’ve read and posted – I need to go back and sort myself out with Tove Trove badges etc. I’m afraid I’m a bit all over the place tech!
https://justreadingabook.wordpress.com/2020/07/19/the-summer-book/
https://justreadingabook.wordpress.com/2020/12/27/a-winter-book/
These are links to the two posts so far !
Thank you so much, Jane. I have linked to both your pieces (above). Please do let me know if you post any further TJ articles. 😊
The Moomin novels feels like exactly what I need right now. I just finished Finn Family Moomintroll and am tempted to follow it up immediately with The memoirs of Moominpappa, just to get an excuse to stay in Moominvalley.
Go for it. You know you want to! 😃
I’ve tried to leave my links but they don’t seem to be here! I’ll try again another time!!