Tove Jansson - The Summer Book

Tove Jansson (1914-2001) is the author of the well-known Moomin books (see more about them on my blog here). For many years she lived on a tiny little island called Klovharu. You can find out more about it and her life on Tove Jansson's official website.
The little Summer Book tells episodes of the way of life on a tiny rock island from the perspective of a grandmother and granddaughter Sophia (autobiographical parallels are apparent). It has a foreword by the editor who visited the island and was surprised how small it was considering all the stories of the book taking place there.
The book captures the atmosphere and the two very special characters beautifully. Hidden under a level of apparently just everyday events and problems there are deep thoughts of grandmother and child about life and getting along with other people, letting them be and not losing oneself in the process (a topic that was most pressing for Tove herself). There are a lot of truths on these 172 pages and the book is definitely one that you want to come back to and read again.
Preferably on a small rocky island.

Tove Jansson, The Summer Book. Kindle edition 2011.