Finland is brought to life in this quaint and charming story of an elderly artist and her granddaughter. “The Summer Book” is surprisingly fresh and beautiful, as well as quietly wise and humorous.
It is entirely character driven, but the delicious, warm setting of the island and the sea fills the gaps wonderfully. Both protagonists are fiercely independent in their own way, and the contrasts and similarities of their perspectives accounts for a lot of the enjoyment of the story. They can also be quite contrary to themselves, their fickle personalities playing on each other nicely.
Together they set out on small adventures each day, whether it is staying round the house, going down to the water, or climbing high up on the rocks. Often their parts will unfold simultaneously but separately, only a room apart, with occasional and limited interaction, such as when the grandmother has locked herself away in her room, and the child expresses her feelings through drawings that she holds up to the window.
I started reading this on the train ride home and couldn’t put it down. Sunshine lit up the carriage in the late afternoon, and the scenery could only have been more perfect if I was riding past the seaside. Only short, you’ll finish it within the hour, it would also make a great read for a day cooped up at home.
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