I think you would love The Art of Joy (l'arte di gioia) by Golliarda Sapienza. It is heaven and about a 1920s peasant girl in Sicily becoming a lesbian nun. xx it is a must
In Sweden (and most of Scandinavia), children grow up reading Tove Jansson's Moomin series. It fits perfectly into this style of 'children's literature for adults', with quite a bit of underlying melancholy. Moominpappa at sea is a particularly beautiful one :)
I am eagerly awaiting my daughter reaching Moomin age, as I never read the series as a child. But I adore The Summer Book and it is a perfect example of this micro genre. Sweetness and sadness and mystery.
Funny how the official histories always circle the architecture, the marble, the sanctioned brilliance. What stayed with me here wasn’t Wren or the dome—it was the quiet confession of a woman who knew she had a mind built for deeper work and lived in a world that kept handing her errands instead. The hidden library feels like the right metaphor: the place she might have belonged, just out of reach, beautifully preserved for someone else.
I can relate to this, as I’m from the Northern hemisphere and no matter how long I live in the Southern, I feel disoriented as Easter arrives in w & Halloween in Spring. The transitional phase of seasons is always the most magical. I love your selection here, especially the Graham Greene 🤍
Growing up in Australia, the majority of our books/TV was from the UK or US too, so when I moved to the US there was something that just felt so “right” about the holidays taking place in winter, Halloween in the fall. It did feel like stepping inside a storybook. Glad you’re a fan of the Greene, too!
It’s so funny. I’ve been thinking of children’s books that remind me of films (for adults but not adult films) after reading the new Mac Barnett Carson Ellis Rumplestiltskin. I can’t remember if the original mentions that the father is a miller but for whatever reason I just immediately pivot to thinking about Tuesday Weld in this movie called Pretty Poison where she seduces Anthony Perkins and a pulp mill is involved (I believe) no real connection just some tangential something working behind the mother seams. I love that country bunny book so much so much I remember it from my childhood. And I really want to check out that Jaggery. This has nothing to do about books and seasons I’m going to have to circle back. All I know is we are still reading Santa’s First Christmas by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen and I’m now considering it a book for all seasons because who doesn’t enjoy being treated to a whole day of celebration and 20 fishing poles!
I think you would love The Art of Joy (l'arte di gioia) by Golliarda Sapienza. It is heaven and about a 1920s peasant girl in Sicily becoming a lesbian nun. xx it is a must
Wait this sounds amazing. Thank you for the recommendation!
In Sweden (and most of Scandinavia), children grow up reading Tove Jansson's Moomin series. It fits perfectly into this style of 'children's literature for adults', with quite a bit of underlying melancholy. Moominpappa at sea is a particularly beautiful one :)
I am eagerly awaiting my daughter reaching Moomin age, as I never read the series as a child. But I adore The Summer Book and it is a perfect example of this micro genre. Sweetness and sadness and mystery.
Winnie the Pooh for me.
Funny how the official histories always circle the architecture, the marble, the sanctioned brilliance. What stayed with me here wasn’t Wren or the dome—it was the quiet confession of a woman who knew she had a mind built for deeper work and lived in a world that kept handing her errands instead. The hidden library feels like the right metaphor: the place she might have belonged, just out of reach, beautifully preserved for someone else.
I can relate to this, as I’m from the Northern hemisphere and no matter how long I live in the Southern, I feel disoriented as Easter arrives in w & Halloween in Spring. The transitional phase of seasons is always the most magical. I love your selection here, especially the Graham Greene 🤍
Growing up in Australia, the majority of our books/TV was from the UK or US too, so when I moved to the US there was something that just felt so “right” about the holidays taking place in winter, Halloween in the fall. It did feel like stepping inside a storybook. Glad you’re a fan of the Greene, too!
It’s so funny. I’ve been thinking of children’s books that remind me of films (for adults but not adult films) after reading the new Mac Barnett Carson Ellis Rumplestiltskin. I can’t remember if the original mentions that the father is a miller but for whatever reason I just immediately pivot to thinking about Tuesday Weld in this movie called Pretty Poison where she seduces Anthony Perkins and a pulp mill is involved (I believe) no real connection just some tangential something working behind the mother seams. I love that country bunny book so much so much I remember it from my childhood. And I really want to check out that Jaggery. This has nothing to do about books and seasons I’m going to have to circle back. All I know is we are still reading Santa’s First Christmas by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen and I’m now considering it a book for all seasons because who doesn’t enjoy being treated to a whole day of celebration and 20 fishing poles!