Overview
This is one of the books that I hold dear. I read it as a child and absolutely loved the story. Since it was before I developed the habit of writing book reviews, I decided to reread it and put my thoughts into words. Here, I’ll provide a summary and my reflections.
Summary
- The story is set in a small Nordic village called Västerby (meaning "the western village").
- Katri Kling, 25 years old, is a brilliant woman with yellow eyes. Her excessively honest and straightforward personality makes her intimidating, and she’s often called a witch. She deeply cares for her younger brother Mats and wishes to buy him a boat, but she has no money.
- Mats Kling, 15 years old, has blue eyes and a heart as pure as snow. Though he struggles with communication, he is kind, talented at repairs, and absolutely loves boats—so much so that he draws his own blueprints for them.
- Katri owns a German Shepherd with yellow eyes. The dog is fiercely loyal to her, and the two share a mutual respect.
- The cover illustration featuring Katri and the dog walking together is simply stunning.
- The villagers of Västerby mostly keep their distance from the Klings. While they sometimes rely on Katri for practical matters, they fear her because she often uncovers their hypocrisies. They view Mats as odd and are uneasy around the dog.
- Edvard Liljeberg is a local who holds a positive opinion of the Klings despite their reputation:
- "Sure, they’re not the easiest people to get along with."
- "Still, the Klings are honest folk, and there’s always a reason behind what they do."
- "No way I could abandon that little witch." (What a cool guy!)
- Anna Aemelin is a wealthy elderly picture book artist with an unparalleled talent for depicting forest soil. She lives in a large mansion called Kaninvilla (meaning "Rabbit House"). Her privileged upbringing has made her naive about money, and she pays whatever price is asked without a second thought. Katri sees an opportunity in this.
- Katri persuades Liljeberg, who works as a delivery person, to let her take over deliveries to Anna’s home to get closer to her. Anna finds Katri’s bluntness appealing:
- "I’ve somehow come to like your way of never saying what people expect."
- "There isn’t even a trace of politeness in you… Sometimes politeness can be a form of deceit, don’t you think?"
- "You’re different from others. You’re someone I can trust."
- When a string of burglaries occurs nearby, Katri takes the chance to secretly disrupt Anna’s home. Concerned, the villagers suggest someone should live with Anna for her safety. Naturally, Katri ends up moving into Rabbit House with Mats and the dog, starting a shared life with Anna.
- As Katri helps Anna with her administrative work, she points out how people around Anna exploit her kindness and manipulate her finances. Anna, who has always avoided conflict, initially resists but eventually agrees to let Katri handle her affairs:
- "It makes me sick to see you casually throw money away. What you’re discarding is potential."
- "I don’t understand. Katri, do as you wish."
- Katri, meticulous in her work, efficiently resolves Anna’s stalled contracts and doubles her income. Mats, meanwhile, remains his pure self, wandering around and bringing warmth to the two women.
- Over time, tension arises between Katri and Anna. Anna grows consumed by the disturbing idea that everyone is deceiving her, leading to discomfort for herself and those around her. This is, in fact, the very reason why the villagers fear Katri. In a moment of confusion, Anna undermines the dog’s dignity by teaching it to fetch, causing Katri to lose her trusted companion. Witnessing this, Katri begins to question whether her actions have been truly right.
- Katri uses the money she has saved to buy Mats a boat. However, Anna, who has grown fond of Mats, also decides to gift him a boat. This causes an overlap in plans, and Katri silently breaks down in tears. Anna quickly retracts her offer and suggests that the boat be named after Katri to honor her:
- "How about naming it Katri? After all, it’s a gift from you to Mats."
- This incident marks a turning point for both women. Katri retracts her claims about Anna being deceived by others. Anna resumes her work as an artist but stops adding unnecessary details to her illustrations just to please children.
Reflections
- It was amazing as always! I absolutely love this story.
Katri Kling’s Growth
- I might be interpreting this incorrectly, but in my view, Katri’s final statement—"No one is deceiving you"—is a lie. Anna is, in fact, being deceived.
- However, because Anna was tormented by her suspicions, Katri lied to help ease her burden.
- Katri, whose principle has always been honesty, bends her own beliefs in this instance. I think this reflects the conclusion she reaches through her experiences.
- To simplify, what Katri learns in this story is that “just because something is right doesn’t mean you should always say it.” It’s a lesson even ordinary people learn as they mature.
- Put another way, if your goal is “to say what’s right,” then saying the truth is correct. But if your goal is “to have a conversation where both you and the other person make some compromises and end on good terms,” then you should consider not just your principles but also the other person’s feelings when speaking.
- Until now, she had been acting solely in accordance with her own principles, doing things the way she wanted. But as life goes on, even Katri needs to compromise.
- Through this experience, she comes to realize that people like Edvard Liljeberg—kind-hearted and understanding—had been accommodating her all along. There’s even a scene that illustrates this realization:
- "She could’ve just said she was out with the dog. That would’ve made things simpler."
- In this sense, this story is one of the "post-growth narratives" that I love so much.
- A post-growth narrative features characters who have already developed a solid way of thinking, cultivated their own philosophies, and established their independence. Even so, they encounter events that force them to bend their core beliefs and face those challenges head-on.
- People with strong convictions often encounter such events repeatedly in their lives. They also tend to have the mental resilience to confront these challenges without hesitation. I love stories like this. Among the reviews I’ve written so far, these examples come to mind:
- (2017-02-17) Yusuke Kishi, Lesson of the Evil: Watching the ultimate psychopath struggle with the realization of his own “wavering” is oddly endearing.
- (2020-12-22) Ghost of Tsushima: Completing the Game: The sight of a mature samurai bending his principles to protect his homeland is heart-wrenching.
Katri Kling’s Personality
- Katri’s excellence stems from her sensitivity to dishonesty—it’s as if she can smell its stench. I love characters with clearly defined logic like hers:
- "Anger, shame, and fear—they all have a strong odor. Dogs can pick up on it instantly. If I were a dog, I’d find it unbearable. But Mats has no smell. He’s pure like snow."
- Katri’s problem-solving routine is superb:
- "It’s just a matter of observation. By noticing missing elements in habits or behavior, addressing them, and putting in effort to improve, all that’s left is to wait and see."
- While it may seem straightforward, not everyone can do it—just like dieting. It’s not just a matter of knowledge; it’s about having a strong aversion to not doing it.
Katri’s Flaws
- But hey, breaking into Rabbit House is definitely not okay!
Katri and Anna’s Growth
- Katri learns from Anna’s kindness—"How about naming it Katri?"—and chooses to bend her principles. Perhaps she sees this as "kindness" or even "sincerity."
- Anna, in turn, is moved by Katri’s quiet tears and willingness to compromise. This helps her accept that she doesn’t need to always accommodate others.
The Coolness of Edvard Liljeberg
- Edvard is the understanding and dependable older brother everyone wants. He’s not only reliable but also open about his vulnerabilities. He’s the kind of person you’d want at a gathering—a stable, well-rounded individual.
- Katri should definitely consult him in the future!
