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ferna's review against another edition
3.0
I had high expectations for this book, but even though I do like YA literature, this is a bit for children; in my opinion.
I had read this author was recommended for readers who liked Stieg Larsson, but this is not a mystery novel. It is a coming of age novel. However, I find some incoherences with the protagonist, a boy not yet 15, who realises he is his own mother (because the mother is out of the picture) and he must also take care of his father, but hardly enough to understand, he daydreams so much! Maybe it's a way of escaping reality. I also do not understand why he doesn't have any friends his age. There is one, though, who comes into the picture as a first same-age crush; but they do not start off as friends.
So, maybe this novel is not that bad, but not that interesting either.
I had read this author was recommended for readers who liked Stieg Larsson, but this is not a mystery novel. It is a coming of age novel. However, I find some incoherences with the protagonist, a boy not yet 15, who realises he is his own mother (because the mother is out of the picture) and he must also take care of his father, but hardly enough to understand, he daydreams so much! Maybe it's a way of escaping reality. I also do not understand why he doesn't have any friends his age. There is one, though, who comes into the picture as a first same-age crush; but they do not start off as friends.
So, maybe this novel is not that bad, but not that interesting either.
dairyqueen84's review against another edition
3.0
Henning Mankell, the successful adult mystery writer, is trying his hand at the lucrative young adult market. While the writing in When Snow Fell is evocative and beautiful, it is hard to imagine young readers engaging with this book. Additionally, the setting is the 1950s in a small town in northern Sweden, not a sure-fire attention grabber. Thirteen-year-old Joel Gustafson celebrates his own personal New Year’s Eve when the first snowfall of winter comes with resolutions and all. As always, this year’s snowfall took him by surprise and he sets out to make his resolutions: to live to be a hundred years old which will require him to toughen himself up; to see the sea for the first time; and to see a lady naked. The rest of the book consists of Joel’s adventures in trying to fulfill his resolutions. The book is a mix of the melancholic and laugh-out-loud funny, especially Joel’s exploits to see the young shop assistant, Sonja Mattsson in transparent veils like Salome. Joel is his own mum and takes care of his father since Mummy Jenny left and his father is prone to go on drinking binges. This book might be appropriate for students who like good writing and quiet stories.
charlieb's review against another edition
3.0
Sweet little book
This is a fairly odd little book. Joel Gusafsson is a 14-year-old boy whose mother packed a bag and left several years ago. Joel and his father Samuel live a frugal existence in a small Swedish town in the late 1950s. When I borrowed this e-audiobook from the library I didn't realise that it was the third one in a series, and I don't think it really mattered. The plot is fairly pointless and meandering but overall I liked this book, but I am not sure why.
This is a fairly odd little book. Joel Gusafsson is a 14-year-old boy whose mother packed a bag and left several years ago. Joel and his father Samuel live a frugal existence in a small Swedish town in the late 1950s. When I borrowed this e-audiobook from the library I didn't realise that it was the third one in a series, and I don't think it really mattered. The plot is fairly pointless and meandering but overall I liked this book, but I am not sure why.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
4.0
Joel Gustafson makes three important New Year's Resolutions in the cemetery at midnight: (1) he will toughen up and live to be 100, (2) he will see the sea, and (3) he will see a naked lady. Then he sets out to try to make them all come to fruition. Along the way, he introduces us to all the quirky people in his life in the 50's small-town Sweden: a woman without a nose; his father who drinks to excess; his enemy Otto; his friend who runs as fast as the wind, Greyhound; and the beautiful and desirable cashier, Sonja, at the grocery.
My husband and I listened to this audiobook during the six hours of driving we took on a trip last weekend, and the story held us both spellbound. We loved Joel, a boy just moving out of childhood and into adulthood, who was ever hopeful that Greyhound would teach him to kiss and that the mysterious Sonja would appear before him, covered only in transparent veils.
My husband and I listened to this audiobook during the six hours of driving we took on a trip last weekend, and the story held us both spellbound. We loved Joel, a boy just moving out of childhood and into adulthood, who was ever hopeful that Greyhound would teach him to kiss and that the mysterious Sonja would appear before him, covered only in transparent veils.
charlieb's review
3.0
Sweet little book
This is a fairly odd little book. Joel Gusafsson is a 14-year-old boy whose mother packed a bag and left several years ago. Joel and his father Samuel live a frugal existence in a small Swedish town in the late 1950s. When I borrowed this e-audiobook from the library I didn't realise that it was the third one in a series, and I don't think it really mattered. The plot is fairly pointless and meandering but overall I liked this book, but I am not sure why.
This is a fairly odd little book. Joel Gusafsson is a 14-year-old boy whose mother packed a bag and left several years ago. Joel and his father Samuel live a frugal existence in a small Swedish town in the late 1950s. When I borrowed this e-audiobook from the library I didn't realise that it was the third one in a series, and I don't think it really mattered. The plot is fairly pointless and meandering but overall I liked this book, but I am not sure why.
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