Journal Entry 1 by hippolein from Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland on Monday, June 29, 2009

Product Description
Tove Jansson's Moomin characters and books are admired the world over. In the United States the series beginning with Finn Family Moomintroll (first published in English in 1945) has accumulated generations of fans. Since Farrar, Straus and Giroux began reissuing the books in 1989, grateful readers old and new have been thrilled to have the stories available again. At last the final installment is being published – oddly, the only book that features none of the Moomin family themselves, though it does take place at their house. There familiar characters converge – Snufkin, the Hemulen, Fillyjonk, and others – seeking out the Moomins' welcoming company, only to find them absent. All remain at the house, all have very different personalities that clash often, but something about their homey cohabitation during the icy winter changes each visitor in a gratifying way. As The Times Literary Supplement put it, Moominvalley in November is "possibly the cleverest of the Moomin books."


Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Swedish
 

Journal Entry 2 by hippolein at By mail, Sweepstake Winner -- Controlled Releases on Monday, June 29, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (6/29/2009 UTC) at By mail, Sweepstake Winner -- Controlled Releases

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Hope you'll enjoy this book by Tove Jansson.
Have fun with BookCrossing!

 

Journal Entry 3 by Tsjara from Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Friday, July 03, 2009

The book arrived here safely yesterday (together with a lovely card). What a wonderful surprise! I loved the moomin cartoons when I was little, but I've never read the books. And this was (sort of) on my wishlist :) I really look forward to reading it.
Thank you so much hippolein! 

Journal Entry 4 by Tsjara from Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Tuesday, January 12, 2010

I read this book a little while back (somewhere at the end of November.. which was nice as the story takes place somewhere in November :p) but forgot to make a journal entry. It was a very enjoyable read. The creatures are lovely and really funny sometimes, especially Grandpa-Grumble and Fillyjonk. My favorite character is still Snufkin, he is kind of an einzelgänger/loner and seems to be quite clever (funny how the other characters also seem to look up at him). Tove Jansson has a nice writing style, sort of calm and relaxed. Oh and I love the drawings too :) Having read only one other Moomin book, I can't really make comparisons, but I think this is my favorite one so far (even though the Moomins themselves aren't there) ^_^

I would like to share this book with other readers so will make this into a bookring :)
(though part of me wants to keep it on my bookshelf for ever and ever :p) 

Journal Entry 5 by Tsjara from Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Journal Entry 6 by Tsjara at Heiloo, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (1/26/2010 UTC) at Heiloo, Noord-Holland Netherlands

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Hmm.. post office was already closed when I got there yesterday.. :p
So send it to waderwoman today :)

Happy reading everyone! 

Journal Entry 7 by waderwoman on Saturday, January 30, 2010

OOh thankyou Tsjara! This arrived safely and will be lovingly cherished and read before sending off on its merry little journey around the world! 

Journal Entry 8 by waderwoman on Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Ive almost finished this now- sorry its taken me a while but another Moomin book arrived around the same time!
Im pming Flambard for her address so I can get it off when Im done. 

Journal Entry 9 by waderwoman on Monday, March 22, 2010

I have just finished this- a little bit more surreal than the other moomin books Ive read but still fun!
Im getting it ready to send off to Flambards now. 

Journal Entry 10 by waderwoman at Horsham, West Sussex United Kingdom on Monday, March 22, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (3/23/2010 UTC) at Horsham, West Sussex United Kingdom

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If you are reading this then I have arrived safely!Please do a journal entry-Thanks xx

Sent off on its merry little way to Flambards- safe journey little book!
#23 4 Elements release 

Journal Entry 11 by flambard from Horsham, West Sussex United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Arrived so fast! Thank you so much waderwoman! (Not least for the choccy chicks and moomin stickers!) And thank you too to Tsjara for arranging the ring. The moomins always remind me of my childhood and really look forward to reading this one.
 

Journal Entry 12 by flambard from Horsham, West Sussex United Kingdom on Friday, April 02, 2010

A lovely gentle Moomin book without Moomins. Wonderful characters and magical drawings. Am waiting for TracyW to get back to me so that I can pass it on.
 

Journal Entry 13 by flambard at Royal Mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, April 08, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (4/8/2010 UTC) at Royal Mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

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On its way to TracyW in London 

Journal Entry 14 by TracyW on Saturday, April 10, 2010

Arrived safely and I'm looking forward to reading it. 

Journal Entry 15 by hakkalina from Budapest, Pest Hungary on Friday, April 30, 2010

The book is with me from now! Thanks Tracyw to send it.

Update: 2010.06.02.
Notification: I am behind with this book, I have started to read. And I hope I will send it on 06.14., a little bit after the deadline .. sorry. Now is "on 06.14.", and I was at the post office to collect my parcels, but somehow (??) I forgot to post the well wrapped book. I only have noticed it at home, when I put the things out of my backpack, and started to open the things I got, well, I had a big surprise :-o. Otherwise I liked the book, interesting characters, wise thoughts.. I think I need it for my PC shelf.  

Journal Entry 16 by hakkalina at Budapest, Pest Hungary on Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (6/15/2010 UTC) at Budapest, Pest Hungary

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Finally the book is on its way to South Africa. Thanks your patient towards me!

Update: 2010.06.18.
This day is the posting day.  

Journal Entry 17 by klaradyn at Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on Monday, June 28, 2010

Arrived today, thanks for sending, hakkalina! Will read and send on as soon as possible! 

Journal Entry 18 by klaradyn at Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on Friday, July 23, 2010

This Moomin book was a bit stranger than the others, I found it quite unsettling that the Moomins are not present and we never really find out where they've gone.  

Journal Entry 19 by klaradyn at Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on Friday, July 23, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (7/22/2010 UTC) at Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa

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Mailed yesterday to darkpunkangel in Canada, via air mail.

My book #24 for the Keep Them Moving challenge 2010 

Journal Entry 20 by darkpunkangel at Montréal, Québec Canada on Saturday, August 07, 2010

This book has arrived safe and sound. Thanks klaradyn for passing this on. Will get to this soon. 

Journal Entry 21 by darkpunkangel at Montréal, Québec Canada on Saturday, August 28, 2010

It was a nice read but I'm still wondering where the Moomins went? It would of been nice to know.

PMed the next person in line and will pass it on as soon as I get their address. 

Journal Entry 22 by darkpunkangel at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (9/14/2010 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Sent today to alassante from Singapore. Hope you enjoy the book! 

Journal Entry 23 by alassante at Palermo, Sicilia Italy on Saturday, October 02, 2010

it's here!
It arrived this morning and I have already started reading it. I just love Moomin books! ^_^ 

Journal Entry 24 by alassante at Palermo, Sicilia Italy on Thursday, November 25, 2010

I have read other Moomin books, and every time my thought is that they shouldn't be considered "children books" as in "just for children". But this one in particular seems to me like a book that would be enjoyed better by adults rather than children. Because of the Moomins' absence, but also -mostly- for the general atmosphere and strange mood, the waiting and longing for something not really well defined (the Moomins' return, yes, but also something else...) Nothing really happens in terms of "action" and adventures, but it's mostly how each of the six characters cope (or not) with changes, expectations, disappointment, social relations and life in general, growing up, growing old and so on.

It might be because I read this book with the perfect matching mood and at the perfect matching time of the year, but it touched some special chords.
Tove Jansson's sensitive, poetic style often does that to me. 

Journal Entry 25 by alassante at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, November 29, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (11/29/2010 UTC) at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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I took this lovely book to the post office this morning.
It should reach the next participant in a few days.
Enjoy it! :) 

Journal Entry 26 by Moem at Arnhem, Gelderland Netherlands on Monday, December 06, 2010

The book has arrived safely, thank you very much! 

Journal Entry 27 by Moem at Arnhem, Gelderland Netherlands on Monday, February 21, 2011

I really loved this book. It's strange and different amongst the Moomin books because of the absence of the actual Moomin family, but, having read the other books, I knew where they were.
Janssons style is poetic and loving as always. Each character ends up getting what s/he really needs.

PMming the ringstarter for hirs address. Sorry to have taken so long. 

Journal Entry 28 by Tsjara at Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Saturday, March 05, 2011

The book has returned safely back to me, thanks Moem! (and for the lovely card too ^_^).
It will stay and rest in my PC now (at least for a while), must be a bit tired after its journey around the world :P

Thanks everyone for making this a succesful bookring! :D