Moomin: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip - Book Two (1956)

Again, like the other Moomin comic strip collections, cute and funny, and often quite knowing and wry. I enjoy them a lot, and I really don't think they're just for children, whatever my local library does with 'em... ( )

Not only is this whole series beautiful as far as the physical books themselves are concerned but the comic strips are so very funny too. I particularly liked the second strip in the book (Moomin Mamma's Maid) where the fun-loving Moomins with their eccentric and fairly anarchic ways contrast so beautifully with their new maid who feels she is perpetually persecuted by the entire world and thrives on hard work and privation! I definitely found myself identifying with Moomin Mamma when Mrs Fillyjonk from next door is suggesting that she should hire a maid like hers. When Mrs F sits down on the bed under which the family are hiding the dirty dishes ("It's so much tidier keeping dirty dishes under the bed"), she comments "But haven't you got a maid?", to which Moomin Mamma replies "Oh no... you see, we love housekeeping - sometimes, when we feel like it..." Then Mrs F explains her family routine, beginning with "Up at four every morning to air and clean and dust", to which Moomin Mamma replies "Oh...I see...MY family lies reading in the morning..." It's always nice to know that your family is not alone! ( )

Imagine my delight when I found these, my favorite books from childhood that are out-of-print in Sweden! I think every Nordic person has Mumintrollen living somewhere in their heart, and although these books are translated into English and it's a little bit harder to "hear" their Finnish-accented Swedish, they are still as fantastic as I remember them. Muminpappa cherishes his crazy adventures, Muminmamma her home and hearth, Snorkfröken her romances, and Mumin himself just wants everyone to be happy and get along. Different as they are, they have one over-riding goal in common: to have fun! The ultimate in anarchy, you just can't help but admire their guts and gusto and their complete devotion to each other. Or, as the character Stinky puts it, "Indeed you are the most idiotic family I ever saw - but you are at least living every minute of the day!!" ( )

No two ways about it: Tove Jansson is a treasure. ( )