Starred review from April 15, 2011
In this novel brilliantly translated from the Swedish by Teal, Finnish-born author Jansson, whose Moomin childrens books may be familiar to some readers, gives us a spare, rich collection of vignettes. A novel, a short story collection, and an autobiographical journey, Fair Play centers on the lives of two creative womenMari, the writer, and Jonna, the artist. In just over 135 pages, we learn of the womens lifelong partnership, their studios joined by an attic passageway, their love of old western movies, and their summer cottage on an island somewhere between Finland and Estonia. In one episode, the two elderly partners take a trip to Phoenix, where they ingratiate themselves with the locals; both comical and touching, Mari and Jonna are foreigners but entirely at home among strangers. For those who have yet to discover Jansson, her writing is a true pleasure, and her characters, although sparse on dialogue, are complex, passionate, and deeply empathetic. Recommend Jansson to readers of Anita Brookners similarly introspective novels.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)