Moominpappa's Memoirs [Paperback]

Tove Jansson (Author, Illustrator), Thomas Warburton (Translator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

Before he had a family, before he met Moominmamma, Moominpappa led a life of adventure and intrigue. But he's never told his story until now.
Now Moominpappa has a bad cold, and it's the perfect time to remember his youthful endeavors and to ponder the Experiences which have made him the remarkable Moomin he is. As he reads each chapter aloud to Moomintroll, Snufkin, and Sniff, they, and we, learn of his triumphs and tribulations, and his momentous meetings with the Joxter, the Muddler, and a cast of other characters too incredible (especially Edward the Booble) to list here.
"Moominpappa's Memoirs" has never before been translated into English, and Farrar, Straus and Giroux is proud to be able to add this title to its other Moomin books.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-Moominpappa has a terrible cold and decides that the best thing to do under the circumstances is to remain quiet and compile his memoirs. In a ponderous manner, he writes of his escape from a foundling home, his link-ups with Joxter, Muddler, and Hodgekins, and the escapades that follow. He reads the chapters aloud to his own little Moomintroll and to the sons of his fellow adventurers. Often they react as many readers will: "But all those sad feelings...are a bit unnecessary. It's all so long." Warburton's translation retains the witty and clever tone of the Finnish writer's tales of Moominland, but the allusions and sardonic humor are often too sophisticated to appeal to the young audience this animal fantasy is likely to attract. For instance, Moominmanna responds to one of Moominpappa's readings, "'Everything'll be much more vivid if you have some passages where you aren't bragging.'" The story moves slowly and the characters, with the exception of the Muddler, don't come alive. A selection mainly for fans of the author's previous stories set in Moominland.
Suzanne Hawley, Laurel Oak Elementary School, Naples, FL
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Stuck at home suffering from a terrible cold, Moominpappa puts his time to good use by setting down his adventures from the time he ran away from the strict and repressive Hemulen orphanage until he met and married the inestimable Moominmamma...A felicitous introduction for newcomers to the Moomin tales." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.

"Completely winning." --Kirkus Reviews

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (September 30, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374453071
• ISBN-13: 978-0374453077
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,125,748 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

TOVE JANSSON (1914-2001) is revered around the world as one of the foremost children's authors of the twentieth century for her illustrated Moomin chapter books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a good introduction, but still among one of the best!, May 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Moominpappa's Memoirs (Paperback)

After Moominsummer madness, Tove Jannson slipped into a more subtle and even philosophical vein (that is, more philosophical then the first three books), however, Memoirs (formerly Exploits of Moominpapa) returns to the more slapstick antics of her early book. Although I am a fan of all of these books, Memoirs was a welcome return to that earlier style, though it in itself is a unique entry in the series. In Memoirs, Moominpapa is both a wonderfully adorable character as well as a characture or himself, filled with pride, egotism, and prejudice--making him all the more human. The story itself is almost a parody of the big rolling adventure tales, full of various fantastic happenings, and culminating in Moominpapa's dilemma: to following his adventuring instinct, or another instinct that drives him to build moominhouses with moomin verandahs, etc etc... The end is as happy as finn family moomintroll, maybe even happier--completely over the top. Although this shouldn't be the first moominbook to read (since knowledge of the characters is pretty central to the humor here) it is nonetheless one of the most uplifting books in the series and I can't recommend it more!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly magical world, July 25, 2005

By 

Frikle - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moominpappa's Memoirs (Paperback)

Tove Jansson was a Swedish-speaking Finnish writer and illustrator who wrote many childrens books including the famous Moomin series. Here, the setting is Moominvalley which is basically the natural beauty and pristineness of Finland, populated by Moomins (who look like little hippos which stand upright and are fluffy) and a host of other weird and wonderful creatures. The action is mainly centred around the family with Moominpappa, Moominmamma and Moomintroll the kid. They set a tone for the whole series as Tove infused them and their whole universe with experiences of her own family which seem to have been a very bohemian, artistic, tolerant and warm lot. This makes the books great reading for kids from an early age as they invoke a wonderful sense of fun and silliness as well as acceptance and openmindedness.

One thing I remember from reading these as a kid is that the plot didn't really matter. In some books, it's hard to say exactly what happens. Rather, it is the atmosphere that I found the most important. In this book, Moominpappa writes his memoirs of his adventures when he ran away from home as a boy, and his encounters with creatures like an undignified prankster king.

A great series overall, filled with imagination, surrealism, fun and warmth.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moominpappa's Memoirs, October 5, 2005

By 

Danuta Berger (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Moominpappa's Memoirs (Paperback)

"Moominpappa's Memoirs" is one of great series of Tove Jansson's collection. I recommend this book to anyone of all age groups. You will enjoy Moominpappa's stories from his youth, full of wit and adventure. The book itself is nicely printed (I love soft covers) and contains beautiful and creative drawings by T. Jansson.