Moominpappa at Sea (Moomins, 7)

A masterpiece of children's literature. Appropriate 5th grade to adult (yes, adults may enjoy this too). Sophisticated storytelling with an emphasis on character and setting. Book is excellent for exploring points of view of various peoples and creatures. Children reading this book (actually all of Moomin books) will be exposed to anti-narcissistic literature! That is no star of the show "snowflakes" that suck up the whole storyline with their "greatness". In a modern cultural world of me, me ,me.. books like these are sorely needed. Also marginalized peoples/creatures are given voices in these authors books. Relationships with the natural world, philosophy, individualism, generational concepts all explored. Moominpapa at Sea is my favorite of all the books. The setting really becomes a interesting focal point the book. Have a dictionary handy, so kids can look up some vocabulary.

"Bringing darkness into light" so ends an 8th century Irish poem about a scholar & his cat, Pangur Ban. It may be the close of this episode of the Finn Family Mommintroll, or, despite their experiences on an island far far in the ocean, it may not.In this darker book, Pappa uproots his immediate family---Moominmamma, Moomintroll (now an older teenager) and Little My----to a remote island that may (or may not) be actually charted. Feeling under-appreciated and at loose-ends, aware of the shadowed currents in his family, Moominpappa decides only a completely fresh start will set things right. So he hoists sail in The Adventure, does locate an island with an abandoned lighthouse, and in the hour of their arrival, finds he cannot locate the key, and that the reality is far, far from his wistful and self-glorifying imagination.Throughout the story, each family member deals with the difficult situations in their own characteristic ways. Moominpappa abandons practical needs for self-glorifying grandiose purposes until reality finally sinks in, leaving him more appreciative of what he is and has. Poor Moominmanna struggles gallantly to make a loving home, overcome an almost psychosis-inducing home-sickness, and learns she can adapt & cope and find a "home" on the Island. Moomintroll falls in love with two gorgeous magical blondes---true sea horses---and so on and on and on in their island adventures.Throughout, the enormous strength & anger of the sea pervades the story, as does the Groke, who, following the Moomins hopeful yet dark emotions, is herself yearning for light & recognition and follows them even to their island. As Horace noted, we can change our skies, not ourselves.This sounds dismal yet Tove Janesson brings freshness to the story and her story of hope of light out of darkness is constant & sustaining. Young children may hear an adventure story, giggling at Little My's swift & accurate comments; older readers may see a coming of age tale, and still older readers, an amazingly insightful, wise, non-preaching story of how human relationships can get through storms.Tove Jannneson's Moomin tales are largely autobiographical. He own father was very like Moominpappa; her mother suffered the pain & stresses of Moominmamma including finding escape in her paintings of her home, and yes, for quite a while, they lived on a remote ocean island as her father tried to find himself and exercise a lost control & leadership of a family. Tove herself did find light from darkness, living for years with her life partner (Tootikky in the stories) on a remote island not too far from her parents.A beautiful, wise, and imaginative tale from life---and from the transformative imagination of a great writer & artist. Wish I could have known her!

recently discovered the moomins, can't get enough of them, this is a beautiful novel with memorable characters in quirky situations. oftentimes like reading a poem, such striking imagery. could be for children, I'm 74.

My son started reading them at 6 and read all the books.

Moominpapa is probably my least-favorite character in the Moomin series, so this book doesn't rank among my top choices. That said, it's still a worthwhile read for Moomin fans... but for me it's missing parts of the Moomin world that drew me to the books in the first place.

While I was reading this book I kept wondering "What is happening on the Moomins?","Why are they behave like that?", "How do they live in such lonely island?". And at last page of the book, all the questions and uneasiness were cleared up! This book was a bit different from another Moomin books but it was very interesting for me.

The Moomins are absolutely magical. I read them as a child and now I'm delighted thaty children share my love for the Moomins. They are such gentle trolls, always with room in the home and their hearts for all their woodland friends. The lessons my children learn from the Moomins are ones of gentleness, kindness, but most of all, joy at the simple beauty of life and nature and exploration.

The book arrived quickly and was in pristine condition. It's going to be a great Christmas Present!

A recent trip to Finland (and Sweden) re-introduced me to the Moomins which I'd read as a child. My memories were of a lovable family of strange creatures. The stories were complex and I always had a sense that I was missing something - although I always enjoyed Tove Jansson's wonderful illustrations. Talking to my Scandinavian friends, I discovered that Jansson was writing as much for adults as children and decided to re-read her.Momminpappa at Sea is basically about Moominpappa's midlife crisis and the whole family sets off to sea to live on a small island with a lighthouse inspired by his dreams. However, the Groke, a cold dark figure that longs for light and kills the grass (and any plant) that she sits on, freezes the water all around her and floats after them. Guess where she lands up? The book is like a modern fairytale and the Moomins are all archetypes. No wonder, I sensed as a kid that there was a lot going on that I didn't quite understand. Almost fifty years after first reading this book, I am bowled over by how well Jansson captures both the midlife crisis and depression and therefore amazed that the book, despite such adult themes, still spoke to me all those years ago. As a therapist, I can only applaud how well her characters face these problems and slightly spooked to discover the solution is something I try and teach my clients today. Could I have picked up more than I thought from my first reading?

I've read this book SO many times since I acquired my original copy some 43 years ago. (It cost 30p and has just fallen apart, but I'll keep it somewhere.)This is a lovely, new edition for me, which feels solid and comfortable in the hand. And, hopefully, it'll also last another 43 years.This title is where the Moomin books do start to take a dark turn, I guess beginning Moominland Midwinter, but if book series are supposed to grow with its readership, (Comet in Moominland was published in the mid 1940s, this one in 1965) then this series has.I'm not going to outline the story or its meaning but I think it's something to do with finding one's place in, not only a changing world but also a changing family AND one's own changing life.A great read for a man in his 60s!

I really can't fault these magnificent recordings of the Moomin tales. Hugh Dennis makes an idea teller of Tove's wonderful tales. I find them so relaxing, funny and profound. I love all Hugh's character voices (little My is wickedly funny). These stories have transformed every cat journey. I do recommend them to my fellow moomin fans.

I was obsessed and fascinated by 'Comet in Moominland' when I was a small child. I am now discovering all the Moomin books as an adult. Of course now I can see the real depth and appreciate them much more. They are still brilliant stories for children but there is so much going on I find I can read and reread as a 48 year old. This particular book is really rather dark and the Groke is quite disturbing but I cannot fault any Tove Jansson book, just buy and own them all.

I'm in my fifth decade and this is my second reading, for me this time, not to my (now adult) children. Can't wait for grandchildren so I can see the wonder in their eyes. Such philosophy and quirky charm. Highly recommend all Jansson's books for all ages ... eternal classics.