Mona Minum and the Smell of the Sun

by Janet Frame, Robin Jacques (Illustrator)

Recipient of the prestigious Commonwealth Writers Prize in 1989, Janet Frame has long been admired for her startlingly original prose and formidable imagination. A native of New Zealand, she is the author of eleven novels, four collections of stories, a volume of poetry, a children's book, and her heartfelt and courageous autobiography -- all published by George Braziller. This fall, we celebrate our thirty-ninth year of publishing Frame's extraordinary writing.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction

94 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

The fate befalling the young woman who wanted "to be a poet" has been well documented. Desperately unhappy because of family tragedies and finding herself trapped in the wrong vocation (as a schoolteacher) her only escape appeared to be in submission to society's judgement of her as abnormal. She spent four and a half years out of eight years, incarcerated in mental hospitals. The story of her almost miraculous survival of the horrors and brutalising treatment in unenlightened institutions has become well known. She continued to write throughout her troubled years, and her first book (The Lagoon and Other Stories) won a prestigious literary prize, thus convincing her doctors not to carry out a planned lobotomy.

She returned to society, but not the one which had labelled her a misfit. She sought the support and company of fellow writers and set out single-mindedly and courageously to achieve her goal of being a writer. She wrote her first novel (Owls Do Cry) while staying with her mentor Frank Sargeson, and then left New Zealand, not to return for seven years.

Reviews

[Arlen]

This is Janet Frame's first story for young people. As with her adult fiction, Frame's poetic prose is multilayered and she always gives you more to ponder and think about.

[Harry Kennedy]

This was the first chapter book my mommy ever read to me. Mona’s tale is so fun and interesting. Now everytime I see an ant I wonder what their life is like - are they a house ant lost in the wild or a garden ant looking for their friend? The artwork is very pretty as well.

[Guilherme Semionato]

Truly fascinating. Quite odd. Some glorious ideas, a bit of a half-baked execution. But it's an oddity that deserves to be read.

[taro]

so very cute and beautiful and i have whiplash from reading faces in the water to this, maybe janet frame is the opposite of roald dahl😭

[Eric Hinkle]

"It is easy, isn't it, to be brave when you are tucked up warm in your little ant-bed?"

This was Janet Frame's favorite of her books, and is her only children's book (aside from The Mijo Tree, a great wee book published posthumously). It's quite a charming and clever book, full of adventure, change, weirdness, and ant puns.

[MM]

Did you know that Janet Frame wrote a children's book? Was thrilled to find this in a used book shop, and it's as odd and lovely as one would think. S is enjoying it.

[Isa Rive]

Revered NZ author Janet Frame wrote this children’s book about a little house ant who falls through a crack on her first outing and is adopted by the garden ants. She cleverly uses italics to highlight the ‘ant’ disguised in words (eg/ attend’ant’). The slow paced story is whimsically illustrated and ended up teaching me all sorts about the lives of ants. I enjoyed it although the end lacked satisfaction for me.

[Julie]

Bleak in the way old kids' books are and deeply strange. Imagine Charlotte's Web, if Charlotte was obsessed with fashion and a bit dim. I'm not sure who this book is for but it's very imaginative and provides an interesting perspective on the world.

[Jessica]

Loved this book, feel this is great for any age i just never want to put it down such a great read

[Simon]

So much more than a children’s book.

Any student of simple yet perfect modernist literature should read this.

[Caitlyn]

A sweet story from the point of view of an ant out of the nest for the first time and what happened when she fell through a crack in the stairs. Made for younger children but still worth the read enjoyed every minute of it. A great classical novel.

[Brad]

Hot pics of ants chugging from flasks.

[nicole]

Interesting, weird, slightly disgusting art. Beautiful title. Too boring to actually finish reading, however.

[Ann]

the book that began my love of reading...

[J Anderson]

Enchanting. Janet Frame's imagination is the dimension I could live in. A delightful book that tickled my fancy.