What a lovely book. My brother got me Notes From An Island (1996, translated 2021) by Tove Jansson for my birthday – knowing my love of Jansson – and I couldn’t wait to dive in and enjoy this beautifully produced tale of an island where Jansson lived with her partner Tuulikki Pietilä, known as Tooti, who created the lovely copperplate etchings and wash drawings of the island that are reproduced in this edition. You can see some atmospheric examples on the Granta website.
The island is Klovharun, and Notes From An Island is a short book following the couple from their early decision to move to this fairly unwelcoming island – until they realise they have leave it behind. They had previously lived on a much more idyllic island – but this skerry, though it seems unprepossessing and sparse, turns into an idyll of their own making. Readers of the novella Fair Play will be familiar with their life there.
An intriguing additional voice to the notes in this volume is Brunström’s – a man whose gifts were in constructing Jansson and Pietila’s house (evading authorities and their regulations where possible), and not in poetic writing. The contrast between his plebeian descriptions and Jansson’s beautiful diary entries are brought out wonderfully in Thomas Teal’s translations. Thank goodness he is on hand to translate again, as he has done for Jansson for decades.
Jansson is incapable of writing a bad or unevocative sentence. I loved her snapshots of life on this island – of companionship with Tooti, of battling the elements, of never quite knowing what nature will do – whether flora, fauna, or the unpredictable sea. Here is a small moment that I loved:
Every summer there was the same wait for swallows. Brunström had told us that they nest only in houses where people are happy, but not if the house is painted with Valtti or Pinotex. The swallows came and, as expected, put on a great show, ripping through the air like shrieking knives, around the cabin again and again, to our admiration – and then, presto, they were gone, leaving no promises behind. If only we could be like that come back only when people no longer expect us! That would be so elegant.
Oh, I love Jansson’s writing so much. And I loved this addition to Jansson’s oeuvre in English. It is short, but it is not a minor work. It is perfect.
I’m curious: why was their builder evading the authorities and their regulations? They weren’t breaking rules designed to protect the environment, I hope…
I suspect mostly in the interests of time!
That is truly a lovely book and sounds like a perfect companion read for The Summer Book.
Yes, reading all her island books together would be really lovely
Like you, I love her writing and when I saw this I was very excited – a new book by her is something to celebrate. I may have to drop some heavy hints about this to Father Christmas…
You must :D
Tove Jansson’s Moomintroll stories, which I came across in our local library at about the age of 8, provided my first experience of ‘the shock of the new’. I must get round to reading her adult fiction and memoirs! thanks for the pointer.
Oh do, there are so many treats in store!
So wonderful – I really want to read this one! Tove’s writing is always perfect!
You’ll love it!
This sounds absolutely gorgeous – her writing is so beautiful and so evocative. The illustrations and Brunström’s voice sound very engaging too. What a lovely edition.
Yes, such a delight
Wow, this really looks amazing!