Moomin and the Sea

Moomin Comic Strip #12

by Tove Jansson

The Moomin family moves to a remote island for the sake of art


Another classic Moomin story reworked in full color, with a kid-proof but kid-friendly size, price, and format.

Moominpappa has committed to writing a Great Novel About the Sea, and so the whole family moves to a desolate island where Moominpappa becomes the lighthouse keeper. It soon becomes apparent that there are a few problems with the island: It's haunted, there's nowhere to enjoy a good cup of tea, and the rat family living in the transistor radio has strictly forbidden the Moomins from using the radio until the children have all grown up and moved out. Determined, the Moomins set about planting a rose garden, painting the beacon cheery colors, and finding other ways to make the lonely place their own. In the end, though, is a bleak lighthouse any place for a Moomin?
Tove Jansson's flawless cartooning is brought to life in a whole new way within these pages. A delight for the whole family!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Childrens, Graphic Novels Comics, Fantasy, Fiction, Classics

56 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Tove Jansson was born and died in Helsinki, Finland. As a Finnish citizen whose mother tongue was Swedish, she was part of the Swedish-speaking Finns minority. Thus, all her books were originally written in Swedish.

Although known first and foremost as an author, Tove Jansson considered her careers as author and painter to be of equal importance.

Tove Jansson wrote and illustrated her first Moomin book, The Moomins and the Great Flood (1945), during World War II. She said later that the war had depressed her, and she had wanted to write something naive and innocent. Besides the Moomin novels and short stories, Tove Jansson also wrote and illustrated four original and highly popular picture books.

Jansson's Moomin books have been translated into 33 languages.

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've known of Moomin for a long time now. Been aware of its cultural importance as a comic. But I've never picked it up before.

I bought these for Oot, actually. And he devoured them. After reading them myself, I found that I enjoyed the odd, low-key surrealism.

These aren't action-packed comics. People plant flowers and sail around. Someone tries to write a book. There's a ghost that can't scare anyone. A family moves to a lighthouse and tries to learn the job. Mice live in the radio. They paint the lighthouse to make it more festive...

It's interesting to me that he likes these stories. He's such a little sponge at this point. I like that he's enjoying all sorts of stories, not just the more cookie cutter adventure books and comics full of superhero battles.

[Drew Canole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time Moominpoppa has decided to take the family to a lonesome Lighthouse so he can write his epic novel. But even on the sea he can't get over his writer's block.

The lighthouse is pretty creepy with dead birds, Loch Ness's widow, a creature invisible except for its feet. There's a lot of loose story strands throughout this one. The Moomin's do their best to make the island cheerful, but that eventually gets them fired from the job. Moominpoppa gives up one his epic to great relief and writes a personal story instead.

[Knigoqdec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Вдовицата на чудовището от Лох Нес, не могаааа :D :D :D

[Габриела Манова · Rating 5 out of 5]

В книжката "Мумините и морето" Татко Мумин и Мама Муминка отиват на самотен остров, където Татко Мумин става пазач на фар, за да пише роман за морето. И тъкмо стигат, когато Мама Муминка възкликва:
— Ето го... Доста е изолиран, нали?
— Скъпа, аз ще съм там.
— Знам, но няма да има с кого да те сравня...

[Dov Zeller · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a touch of Oscar Wilde in here (a little hats off to the Canterville Ghost) and a lot of comedy about Moomin Papa's attempt to live a very writerly life at a lighthouse in need of an attendant. Moomin Papa thinks he will be inspired by this romantic, solitary existence, but that's not quite what happens.

I love the landscapes, Moomin Mama's gardening sprees no matter what the terrain, the overstated and understated adventure, the family of rats living in the radio, the frustrated ghost, the widow of the Lochness monster, the quarreling and compromises made, the decorating, the party, the big boss's complaint.

One of my favorite lines -- Mrs. Lochness: "Please, couldn't you turn on the foghorn again! It so reminds me of my late husband's voice when in a temper."

Jansson has a way of getting at the absurdity and deep imperfections of love while still keeping the world of the Moomins sweet and light. And there is a deeper intimacy if one wishes to look for it. In my experience Jansson's address on the writer's life isn't impersonal in the least.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading my way through these lovely full-color editions of selected Moomin tales as a pre-Christmas exercise: my six year old niece is a book lover with a current fondness for comics. That makes it too hard to resist the urge to introduce her to a world of characters I love so dearly. The advantage of these editions, beyond the beauty of the format and the convenient size, is that it makes it easier to pick and choose which tales to share. Tove Jansson has a wicked imagination with a sometimes dark streak of humor - this book, for example, dwells for several pages on the deaths of hundreds of birds that crashed suicidally into the lighthouse beacon. The illustrations are unashamed depictions of little birds lying in clusters, their beaks open, eyes x'd out, and feet poking sadly in the air. It's one of the things I admit I love best about Jansson, and in a few years, I'm sure my niece wouldn't hesitate in her peaceful reading of this delightful little story. In the meantime, I don't mind keeping the copy for myself.

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

So lovely and magical.. I love the Moominworld. Tove Jansson is one of my all time favourite authors with her whimsical stories!

[Nan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moominmama makes the best of it. Always. Even when there is no chance of a good cup of tea.

[Книжни Криле · Rating 5 out of 5]

За познавачите на Туве Янсон е повече от ясно, че за художничката намирането на уют в усамотението, островът като новото начало далеч от суетата на света, както и пътеводната светлина на фара в съчетание с присъствието на Тоо-Тики са все близки, лични, дори до голяма степен автобиографични теми. Ще откриете и много допирни точки с романа „Татко Мумин и морето”. Безупречният превод и на двете заглавия е дело на Анелия Петрунова, която се е погрижила за това всички Мумин творби на Туве Янсон да звучат приказно и плавно на български език, запазвайки еднородни не само стила и изказа на авторката, но и всички специфични названия. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...

[Rana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A literary masterpiece critical of masculinity and a woman’s place in the household. Moominpappas dream of becoming a great novelist is characterized as selfish; he remains blind to his privilege, despite never writing a satisfactory work due to his lack of experiences. Moominmamas sweet temper is revealed to be a result of years of posturing, which the lack of a both physical and metaphorical growth has finally torn down. Let her shine! Meanwhile, snorkmaiden also sacrifices herself for male counterpart, who eventually learns that masculinity is not defined by what one lacks, but what one has. Thank you

[Detski Knigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Мумините и морето” е типична за Туве Янсон история, в която муминското семейство се забърква в морско приключение. На муминските фенове татко Мумин е известен като неспокойна душа, която все мечтае за пътешествия и приключения. За капак е решил да пише и роман за морето. Обявата за пазач на фар на малък безлюден остров изглежда точно каквото му трябва, за да се усамоти близо до морето и да роди своя шедьовър.

Цялото ревю - http://detskiknigi.com/muminite-moret...

[Anna Nesterovich · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I love Tuve Jansson and everything about Moomins, those comics looked much better in black and white and in bigger books, but that's only my opinion. Though as a way to spread this cultural phenomena this might work (I asked around and the vast majority of Americans I talked with never heard of Moomins!) My public library in Iowa bought two of those little books.

[PJC · Rating 4 out of 5]

With all the excitement online about the movie, I decided to read some of the series! I love the Moomins. I think they were what I was feeling so nostalgic for the first time I saw a Ghibli film. It's the same vibe of gentle freedom and beautiful nature and loving family.

[Boyka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Това не е детска книга, не се заблуждавайте като мен, за деца качествата й са основно художествени и като част от вселената на мумините. След като прочетох писмата на Туве Янсон ми е интересно и да следя някои герои по образец от живота. Толкова.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I want is to find a transistor radio and set up shop in it! The Moomins stole my heart again, that's all I can say.

[Magareshko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Подготвям се за морето с подходящата литература...

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Caterina · Rating 3 out of 5]

che tipi, i Mumin. Ironia e umorismo particolare, ma molto simpatici.

[Eric Hinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe my favorite of the 5 comic books I’ve read from her.

[Alex! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favourite, but it has Too-ticky and is undoubtedly a moomin comic, with all the whimsy and wackiness that entails :)

[Gabriele Della Torre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fumetto molto divertente, mai banale e anche critico della società!

[Andante · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mumin vi amo

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Che bello ritrovare i Mumin! Non ho resistito e mi sono procurata queste strisce, davvero in tema con la stagione estiva. I Mumin trascorrono un periodo al mare, più precisamente su un isolotto sperduto in qualità di guardiani del faro, e ne combinano di tutti i colori. Mi diverte scovare un po' di me in ognuno di loro (papà Mumin e le grandi aspirazioni, mamma Munin e l'amore per le comodità domestiche, le paure del giovane Mumin e i desideri vacanzieri della sua fidanzata Grugnina), forse perché non manca mai una sana dose di ironia.

Il mio pensiero qui:
https://perseinunbuonlibro.wordpress....

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moomin and the Sea by Tove Jansson -graphic novel – interesting to read. Some inappropriate words sprinkled throughout. Such a funny, random book- moving to a lighthouse to get inspired to write a book about the sea…

[Yi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful and sweet!

[Sem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another instalment in the delightful colour reworking of the Jansson strips. Beautifully designed, reasonably priced, irresistible.

[Katri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toven sarjakuvaa englanniksi. Kivaa iltalukemista ja sopivan tärähtänyttä minulle. Tykkäsin.