The Summer Book

The Summer Book by Tove Jansson, more famous perhaps for the Moomin stories, is one of her adult novels and is held to be a classic of modern literature in her native Finland.

Set on a small island in the Gulf of Finland, this episodic novel tells of the relationship between a Grandmother and her six year old granddaughter, Sophia. It's a heartwarming, at times funny tale of two people over a summer talking about nature, life, love and loss.

It's short, easy to read, pleasant book but if not call it a modern classic. Moominpapa at Sea was far more profound.