Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson
I keep coming back to Tove, don’t I? Those fluffy little creatures the Moomins, with their quiet wisdom, are very appealing, and I guess I’m trying to make up for lost time by reading books I should have read as a child, or at least read to my own children!
Of course, being an adult reader, I do seem to see subtexts all the time… The life of the Moomins is often strange and unsettling, with little permanence and an ever-changing cast of original little critters; and this volume is no exception.
It is winter time in Moominvalley; the Moomins and all their friends are cosily hibernating when suddenly Moomintroll awakens. The valley is covered with snow, which he’s never seen before, and even though the family stay slumbering, Moomintroll finds it impossible to get back to sleep. Along with the irresponsible and irrepressible Little My, he sets off to explore the winter world, a very different one from his usual one.
I found that this book had surprising depths; Moomintroll is obviously isolated, separated from his family by their apparent inability to waken, he encounters many strange new peoples and comes across unexpected dangers. And many of his new friends and acquaintances are vulnerable, needing to raid the jam store to survive the winter. Then there is the large-than-life and very hearty Hemulen, who tries to get all the creatures to get involved in his winter sports when all they’re really trying to do is get through the cold days and nights.
In many ways, Moomintroll seems a little lost, despite his usual practicality; and it’s the new character Too-ticky who appears to be the sensible one, obliquely helping him survive through the cold and deal with threats from The Groke and The Lady of the Cold. And despite the rather threatening environment, Moomintroll has some wonderful new experiences and ends up reunited with old friends and family, as well as plenty of new ones.
“Moominland Midwinter” turned out to be one of the most thought-provoking volumes in the series so far; I’m not sure how I would have reacted to it as a child, but I loved it as an adult!
Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings 
May 28, 2015 @ 16:32:17
Reading the moomins as an adult gives surprisingly food for thoughts indeed. I think it is rare gift that books are wonderful for Children and adults!
May 28, 2015 @ 18:36:42
Indeed – I’m glad in some ways I didn’t read them as a child!
May 30, 2015 @ 16:25:53
They were fabulous books to read (and have read to one) as a child; you missed out there I think. However I am glad you see (as I and obviously many others do) the depths and very adult themes and concerns that creep out and engulf you like the winter nights.
May 30, 2015 @ 16:29:46
I think I did miss out – not sure why, as I had a reasonably bookish childhood. Perhaps I was misled by the seeming innocence of the covers… But I definitely see the depths there – Jansson was really rather subversive as a writer!
May 30, 2015 @ 01:20:41
I have not read this one since I was a child. It sounds like it is worth revisiting. I have also read “The Summer Book” which is one of her books for adults. It was in some ways like a Moomin book but with real people rather than fantasy creatures. I should get around to reading some more of her books for adults.
May 30, 2015 @ 08:51:46
The more I read of Jansson’s work, the more the lines between adult and child seem to blur – basically, I love all her books!
May 30, 2015 @ 08:26:42
The illustrations are so beautiful – I must re-visit the Moomin books. Whenever I’ve been to the Moomin shop the adults seem as excited as the kids to be there – the appeal clearly endures!
May 30, 2015 @ 08:50:06
I can see that it does! I’m currently trying to restrain myself from rushing into my local Waterstones and buying a Moomin keyring!
“Summer, summer, summertime.” (Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince) | madame bibi lophile recommends
Jun 06, 2015 @ 21:01:24
Jun 10, 2015 @ 22:15:25
Thank you so much for this review. I loved Moominsummer Madness as a child, but was scared of reading the winter books by the knowledge that Jansson was writing in Finland and I was worried about just how cold and dark it might get. In the south of Finland there’s about 6 hours of daylight in the winter and in the very north it’s permanently dark during these months – maybe this contributes to some of the sense of threat and isolation in Winter Wonderland?
Jun 11, 2015 @ 08:27:20
I hadn’t thought of that, but if Jansson was experiencing that kind of weather it could well have informed the Moomin stories. Certainly that would explain why they hibernated…. 🙂
Jun 14, 2015 @ 23:30:39
I was never attracted to the Moomin books as a child – somehow the illustrations turned me off. I came to them as an adolescent, and I was delighted to discover the depths in them. As a byproduct of loving the books, I changed my opinion of the illustrations completely – now I love them because they evoke the stories, and I have quite a few Moomin mugs as well as some Moomin bags and other accessories.
Jun 15, 2015 @ 08:21:48
I must confess that I love the illustrations – but then I came to them as an adult! And I’m trying very hard to resist the Moomin memorabilia! 🙂