Moominvalley in November | An Analysis

Thought I'd do something a bit different and talk about a very interesting book.
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[@BenCaton]

KZbin pays me nothing, but you can support me by buying my album: bencaton.bandcamp.com/album/sobremesa-de-campeones

[@camperdontcamp6998]

japen still using chinese？

[@FrokenKeke]

I think a really interesting aspect of Moominvalley in November is how the book initially got refused by the publisher, and it wasn't until it was vastly reworked after Signe's death that everything came together. It's clear that death, stagnation and closure are ever present within the book, but throughout the years and by understanding it's background more, I've shifted into seeing it more firmly as an allegory on writing about Moominvalley in general. Toft as an author stand in tries to visualize the valley but fails to do so, and in searching out that place only encounters people who display different conflicting views on what Moominvalley is. In that sense, I feel the vague ending of Toft simply greeting the Moomins as they come home with no detail or specificity to their actual presence is reflective of Tove Jansson finally being able to even finish this book without the family, to signal that this is indeed a Moomin book, but we didn't need Moomintrolls for it to be so. Good job on the video!

[@BenCaton]

That definitely makes sense, especially the idea that over time as the Moomins became more popular it became "less" of Jansson's own work, with everybody who reads it, whether civilian or publisher, imposing their own idea of what the "Moomins" should be

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

This is a rich insight - one which had never occurred to me. Thank you.

[@HenryKathman]

This was a really good watch! I think this story is a good illustration of how idolizing people can negatively effect ones life. Which might be interesting to consider that Jansson was becoming quite famous by this time in her life and maybe was struggling with people idolizing her.

[@BenCaton]

Oh definitely, there's an old strip from the Moomins comic she did, where Sniff tells Moomintroll how he needs to act to be famous and Moomintroll just straight up says he doesn't want fame.

[@peepinginmywindow]

Great essay! I didn't realise how bittersweet the end of the series actually was. I do wonder if some aspects, like parts of the Fillyjonk's character, are Jansson not only trying to contextualise her mother in her own life, but also look at herself as a person and see how her mother shaped who she became. Jannson would have had to reflect on how the loss of the source of her own habits, attitudes, etc. changed how she viewed them as being part of herself.

[@BenCaton]

I think it's telling that much of Fillyjonk's time is spent trying to be Moominmama, be a mother, despite her not quite enjoying the role. She even tries to have a heart-to-heart with Toft at one point, despite secretly knowing she doesn't really like children.

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

This has always been my favourite of the Moomin books - I was less than 10 when I first read it. A gift from my mother, who also loved Moomins. I cannot begin to tell you how much this video means to me. I think it is possible I agree with every word of your analysis. I KNEW in my bones it was a book about grief (amongst many other things), yet never knew that Jansson had lost her mother not long prior to it. As a child, it was like a premonition of how life would maybe be as an adult, to me. As a middle-aged woman struggling to recover from her own mother's death, it means much on yet another level. Thank you for this beautiful and incisive video. Subscribed.

[@BenCaton]

Yo thanks, glad you liked it! I always felt there wasn't enough analysis/talking about the Moomins, so I knew I had to contribute something!

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

@@BenCaton If you ever feel like making another, I think Moominland Midwinter would also be ripe for analysis... it too has more depth/facets than some of the other books; a palpable sense of outsider-ness and isolation.. but then there's the reassuring emergence of Spring at the end - the eternal re-birth metaphor... But if you do make another it's of course important that it's about one of the series (or indeed any content) that matters to you, first and foremost. That's the best thing :-)

[@ashleysmith1276]

My favorite too, though I found it when I was in my mid teens, which made the melancholic angst in it very appealing to me. The illustrations in particular really captured me. I actually have the same version featured in this video. This is a great analysis, and reinforces the amazing depth these 'children's books' have.

[@maggieblair-kraybill4417]

Thanks for making this! I didn't know Tove Jansson made this right after the death of her mother, but that makes a lot of sense.

[@BenCaton]

Glad you enjoyed it! Yeah, I remember as a kid when this was first read to me I was surprised at the book because of how gloomy it was and the lack of the moomins. It's something that was only recontextualised to me as I got older.

[@MizzLola2563]

never thought i would cry from a moomin valley video essay but here we are. masterpiece of a video man, keep it up 👍

[@BenCaton]

Thanks! I'm gunning for those heartstrings!

[@pastapartyify]

I must come back and watch this after I finish reading the book!!!

[@theyakkoman]

Great video, interesting analysis. November is one of my favourite Moomin-books too. I find it to be a bittersweet farewell to the valley, as well as an interesting deconstruction of the Moomin-family and a meditation on grief. I just wanted to add some parts of my own readings of the text. First of all, the Numelite, the creature or monster that Toft creates. And yeah, Toft is a clear stand in for Jansson. He looks a lot like her self-potraits, and the similarities in their names (Toft and Tove) can't be coincidental. Compare another character Jansson based on her self, Tofslan (Thingummy in the english translation), who also shares the beginning of their name with Tove, since Tofslan and Vivslan (Thingummy and Bob... Sorry, but I do not like Portch sloppy translation) are based on Tove and her girlfriend Vivica Bandler. But I'm getting of topic. The Numelite I've always read as an allegory for the Moomin-stories, in how they become too big, like Jansson felt like the characters became too big and overwhelmed everything else she wanted to do. Also, point of interest, in the original text Toft doesn't tell the Creature that they can't hit, but can't bite. Don't feel like there's much loss in the meaning, but just an interesting point. Speaking of translation, in the original text Hemulen asks if there isn't "a world of meaning/significance that the Moominpappas boat is called The Adventure", so the japanese translation was very on point. Also, I never thought of it before you pointed the translation out, but it wasn't even Moominpapa who named the boat, it was Moominmama.

[@WafflesX3XD]

moominvalley in november is also one of my favourite books, and your analysis was really interesting! i’d thought similar things, but didn’t have the words or smarts to put them together so cohesively and clearly, the way you’ve framed it makes things much easier to comprehend now! also, the moment you called the hemulen a dom daddy i had to subscribe lmao, i nearly spat out my drink

[@BenCaton]

Someone on the Moomins subreddit once said "you can take bisexual Snufkin from me when you pry him out of my cold dead bisexual hands" and that phrase never left me

[@antonstupivtsev3553]

Thanks Ben! You don't come across such pondering on this amazing book often on the web. In fact, this is the first I see. So I truly appreciate your work ☀️

[@saltycashew2826]

I just discovered your channel looking for an audiobook and I’m enjoying these videos! amazing analysis

[@Alberrtinee]

Wow, que hermoso video, nunca había conectado tanto con un libro y un video. Realmente admiró muchísimo tu trabajo en este video, la edición, el guión, tu narración, el tema, todo. Todo es bellísimo. Felicidades.

[@MJsaBitterLemon]

im sorry but what did you say about the hemulin being a dom daddy???? XDDD

[@talic-os5899]

A bit odd how this book seems to fit well with this social media society we live in, always thinking people on Instagram live perfect lives.

[@BenCaton]

Moominpapa was the original Influencer

[@crispywithinthemeat]

YOOOOO THIS IS SO COOL!! Amazing video dude!!! I remember a year ago you made a Synth song based on Mooninvalley in November! Keep it up!! You’re incredibly underrated! I’m definitely subbing and staying for more content!

[@BenCaton]

Yo, thanks for the kind words!

[@mrblue6085]

Astounding

[@pdokik4952]

''Iam might be in pain. But at least they're aren't.'' (10:59)

[@isaacacosta4308]

The Mymble in this book is Mymble the older or the younger? So confuzing sometimes, these "trolls" are like pokemon

[@BenCaton]

The Mymble in this book is the older sister of Little My. The character names in this book are a bit inconsistent with the rest of the series. They're basically all new characters in this book, except for Snufkin, even if you've seen the name before in other books.

[@Enel97]

​@@BenCatonshe isn't a new character. She is in Exploits of Moominpappa and Moominsummer Madness & Midwinter(sleeping mentioned). She is the person who in Exploits & moominsummer is called Mymbles daughter and in Midwinter simply Mymble just like here. To answer the person question she is Mymble the younger. Not the mother of snufkin but his half sister

[@nacheefoxy8388]

Wow thisvid the last book to isn't

[@user-sk6jt3wh1g]

Ben, the music those be used in this video are so terrible . got too much dizzy and headache listening . this video create terrible bad mood , bad feeling