Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Helsinki : WSOY, cop. 2014
Description
The Grump, at 80 years old, is more focused on death than life; building his own coffin and keen to write his will in ink--who can trust technology, after all?--he knows that everything was much better in the old days. But when the Grump finds himself in hospital after falling down his basement steps, his life passes before his eyes. Thinking of the people closest to him and reflecting on the changes to the world, he starts to see things a little differently. But can an old Grump learn new love? With warm humor and a loving look at family and relationships, this book is sure to bring a smile to even the grumpiest faces.
User reviews
LibraryThing member busylizzie2
The Grump is an eighty year old man, who like many people believes things were better in the past. The book is made up of the constant stream of his thoughts, sometimes expressed out loud to those around him without reserve, except where emotions are involved. This makes him often trying company
The translation by Hildi Hawkins is excellent (despite one or two sentences that don't quite make sense) so only the Finnish cultural references remind us that English is not the Grump's first language.
Although billed as a black comedy, presumably due to the time the Grump spends planning for his own death, the book is more gently amusing than this label might suggest. There are also plenty of positive messages to be drawn from the philosophy of this endearing grumbler, who is not as wedded to the past as it might first appear.
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for his son and daughter-in-law, but his actions show him to be very caring both to his family and others, whether an Estonian taxi driver, a neighbour's Thai step child or a confused lady in the care home with his wife. The translation by Hildi Hawkins is excellent (despite one or two sentences that don't quite make sense) so only the Finnish cultural references remind us that English is not the Grump's first language.
Although billed as a black comedy, presumably due to the time the Grump spends planning for his own death, the book is more gently amusing than this label might suggest. There are also plenty of positive messages to be drawn from the philosophy of this endearing grumbler, who is not as wedded to the past as it might first appear.
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Subjects
Language
Original language
Finnish
Physical description
248 p.; 20.2 cm
ISBN
9789510407622
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