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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
I sobbed as I approached the end of the book and I felt a huge sorrow and sadness for a while after. It was very late, past midnight, and I really needed my sleep, but I could not put the book aside for the next day.
I listened to this book read in Danish, but I am writing in English because this book is universal. I borrowed it because I have only read Nils Holgersson once many, many years ago, and I thought I ought to read more from Lagerlöf. I almost regretted borrowing it and was going to ignore it. Then I decided I needed a audiobook to entertain me while making dinner or cleaning house.
Selma Lagerlöf writing and storytelling mesmerised me from page 1. Her description of Jan meeting his daughter a few hours after her birth (he was relegated to a shed while his wife gave birth, as one did in 1914 when the book came out) was magic. His naming of his daughter was even more beautiful. The christening by the sun was also an indication of Jan's mental fragility. I would say there is nothing wrong with imagining the setting sun's rays giving Jan the inspiration for Klara Fina Gullaberg's name. That is so poetic. But it shows Jan's nature and you know that his view of the world after Klara Fina was born is in danger of colliding with the real world and its harsh realities.
I would strongly encourage everyone to read this book about the unconditional love of a father for his child. However, stop reading any blurbs about the story if you have managed to avoid more in depth knowledge of the contents. I think the story becomes much more powerful if you know as little as possible beforehand. I accidently learned one key thing after I started the book, and it did slightly spoil the revelation of that information in the story line. Lagerlöf tells the story gently, but it packs a power punch all the time with the language. Just incredible. I want her to reveal all the elements of the story and no one else! Fortunately, I overlooked another key element (to me) in the small blurbs about the book. When it was revealed in the storytelling, I was shocked and felt the impact of the news so much more. That was as it should be, in my opinion.
Maybe you do not think these are spoilers, but I simply didn't know them beforehand. As I wondered, like Jan, why Klara Fina didn't write home, I happened to read somewhere that Klara Fina became a prostitute in Stockholm. That sort of spoiled the unfolding of that part in the book. Jan is unaware how others know what has happened to Klara Fina, and when he realises what people are whispering about, he turns things around in his mind and changes her story. Maybe it is not much of a spoiler, but it is to me. I wanted to be by Jan's side as his heart was longing for the daughter that kept him going. Maybe I was as upset as Jan and wanted to call everyone a liar?
The other spoiler that is stated in the blurb here on Goodreads is that Jan went to the docks to wait for Klara Fina for 15 years. I missed that completely. We follow him going to the docks all the time at the beginning. When Selma Lagerlöf wrote that Jan did this for 15 years, I was bowled over by this doggedness, this madness, this love, this obsession. My heart ached even more for Jan.
When she finally comes home, I was in agony when she first meets Jan. In her eyes, he is a pathetic creature. I still saw Jan as the worker toiling away in the forest. I had not thought of him aging. Seeing him through Klara Fina's eyes almost made me weep for him because he did seem old and pathetic. When he went charging down the hill at the docks and fell into the water, I was in anguish for him. Then the tables turned and it was Klara Fina waiting at the docks for her father's body to appear once again. I felt only pity and had a heartache for Klara Fina. When the guy (I forget his title - his name was his job) tells Klara Fina the real story behind Jan's rushing after Klara Fina at the docks, the floodgates burst. She wasn't leaving him, he thought. He thought the evil agents against the empress had captured her and he had come running to save her. I cried through her mother's funeral, the discovery of her father's body, and the double burial. And of course at Klara Fina finally recognising the love she had been given all her life and only now truly recognised and understood. I was close to sobbing myself to sleep that night. Selma Lagerlöf definitely knew how to write about love and heartache and hope.
I listened to this book read in Danish, but I am writing in English because this book is universal. I borrowed it because I have only read Nils Holgersson once many, many years ago, and I thought I ought to read more from Lagerlöf. I almost regretted borrowing it and was going to ignore it. Then I decided I needed a audiobook to entertain me while making dinner or cleaning house.
Selma Lagerlöf writing and storytelling mesmerised me from page 1. Her description of Jan meeting his daughter a few hours after her birth (he was relegated to a shed while his wife gave birth, as one did in 1914 when the book came out) was magic. His naming of his daughter was even more beautiful. The christening by the sun was also an indication of Jan's mental fragility. I would say there is nothing wrong with imagining the setting sun's rays giving Jan the inspiration for Klara Fina Gullaberg's name. That is so poetic. But it shows Jan's nature and you know that his view of the world after Klara Fina was born is in danger of colliding with the real world and its harsh realities.
I would strongly encourage everyone to read this book about the unconditional love of a father for his child. However, stop reading any blurbs about the story if you have managed to avoid more in depth knowledge of the contents. I think the story becomes much more powerful if you know as little as possible beforehand. I accidently learned one key thing after I started the book, and it did slightly spoil the revelation of that information in the story line. Lagerlöf tells the story gently, but it packs a power punch all the time with the language. Just incredible. I want her to reveal all the elements of the story and no one else! Fortunately, I overlooked another key element (to me) in the small blurbs about the book. When it was revealed in the storytelling, I was shocked and felt the impact of the news so much more. That was as it should be, in my opinion.
Spoiler
If you really must know what I don't want you to know before reading the book itself, I will tell you. And more.Maybe you do not think these are spoilers, but I simply didn't know them beforehand. As I wondered, like Jan, why Klara Fina didn't write home, I happened to read somewhere that Klara Fina became a prostitute in Stockholm. That sort of spoiled the unfolding of that part in the book. Jan is unaware how others know what has happened to Klara Fina, and when he realises what people are whispering about, he turns things around in his mind and changes her story. Maybe it is not much of a spoiler, but it is to me. I wanted to be by Jan's side as his heart was longing for the daughter that kept him going. Maybe I was as upset as Jan and wanted to call everyone a liar?
The other spoiler that is stated in the blurb here on Goodreads is that Jan went to the docks to wait for Klara Fina for 15 years. I missed that completely. We follow him going to the docks all the time at the beginning. When Selma Lagerlöf wrote that Jan did this for 15 years, I was bowled over by this doggedness, this madness, this love, this obsession. My heart ached even more for Jan.
When she finally comes home, I was in agony when she first meets Jan. In her eyes, he is a pathetic creature. I still saw Jan as the worker toiling away in the forest. I had not thought of him aging. Seeing him through Klara Fina's eyes almost made me weep for him because he did seem old and pathetic. When he went charging down the hill at the docks and fell into the water, I was in anguish for him. Then the tables turned and it was Klara Fina waiting at the docks for her father's body to appear once again. I felt only pity and had a heartache for Klara Fina. When the guy (I forget his title - his name was his job) tells Klara Fina the real story behind Jan's rushing after Klara Fina at the docks, the floodgates burst. She wasn't leaving him, he thought. He thought the evil agents against the empress had captured her and he had come running to save her. I cried through her mother's funeral, the discovery of her father's body, and the double burial. And of course at Klara Fina finally recognising the love she had been given all her life and only now truly recognised and understood. I was close to sobbing myself to sleep that night. Selma Lagerlöf definitely knew how to write about love and heartache and hope.
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What I mostly liked about this book, were the mesmerizing and vivid descriptions of the northern landscape and of course the fatherly love which often reached abnegation levels.
On the other hand, it was a bit too full of lessons, almost trying to make one feel bad about leaving the homey nest and going to discover the world.
This is probably a very sensitive topic and each reader resonates or not with it, but I am sure it cannot not leave at least some thoughts behind.
On the other hand, it was a bit too full of lessons, almost trying to make one feel bad about leaving the homey nest and going to discover the world.
This is probably a very sensitive topic and each reader resonates or not with it, but I am sure it cannot not leave at least some thoughts behind.
En ganska sorglig historia om felslagen kärlek och själviskhet. När hans älskade dotter Klara-Gulla flyttar till storstaden blir Jan först besviken och sedan börjar han hitta på allt mer vidlyftiga historier om varför hon aldrig hör av sig. När han till slut får veta vilken bana hon slagit in på, blir han galen och utnämner sig själv til "Kejsaren av Portugallien".
Vacker berättelse om en faders kärlek och hur livet såg ut på landet förr. Känner igen mig mycket i berättelser jag växt upp med och från historieundervisningen. Väldigt fint slut som påminner en om viktiga värderingar och hur viktigt att acceptera varandra som en är.
Per definire questo libro in poche parole potrei dire che si tratta di una storia d’amore, dell’amore di un padre per la sua unica figlia. All’interno, però, c’è molto di più.
Lagerlöf, autrice premio Nobel, con questo libricino ci trasporta nella Svezia rurale di metà Ottocento. Il protagonista della storia é Jan, che dopo aver avuto una figlia in tarda età, comincia a vivere in sua funzione. Si sente rinato proprio grazie alla figlia, Klara Gulla.
Per problemi economici, la figlia dovrà partire per Stoccolma per lavorare. La mancanza della figlia e le dicerie che arrivano su di lei fanno immaginare al padre che Klara Gulla sia ora imperatrice della fantomatica Portugallia - e che lui sia quindi imperatore.
La “pazzia” di Jan ci trasporta in un mondo tutto suo senza però distaccarci dalla realtà dei fatti. In fin dei conti, ci troviamo in un paesino sperduto nel centro della Svezia con le proprie “classi sociali” e i suoi problemi climatici, religiosi e di rango.
L’autrice ha inoltre saputo riportare, probabilmente attingendo dalla propria vita, dei personaggi che sembrano reali. Nonostante ci vengano introdotti vari concittadini, alcuni che sembrano anche inutili alla trama, tutti avranno poi un collegamento al rapporto tra Klara Gulla e Jan.
Oltre all’amore paterno, il tema che più riecheggia all’interno di questo romanzo é la gioventù e la voglia di indipendenza ed emancipazione. Lo vediamo in personaggi differenti, che non sempre hanno fatto la scelta giusta ad andarsene, ma ne vediamo anche i diversi risvolti.
Lagerlöf, autrice premio Nobel, con questo libricino ci trasporta nella Svezia rurale di metà Ottocento. Il protagonista della storia é Jan, che dopo aver avuto una figlia in tarda età, comincia a vivere in sua funzione. Si sente rinato proprio grazie alla figlia, Klara Gulla.
Per problemi economici, la figlia dovrà partire per Stoccolma per lavorare. La mancanza della figlia e le dicerie che arrivano su di lei fanno immaginare al padre che Klara Gulla sia ora imperatrice della fantomatica Portugallia - e che lui sia quindi imperatore.
La “pazzia” di Jan ci trasporta in un mondo tutto suo senza però distaccarci dalla realtà dei fatti. In fin dei conti, ci troviamo in un paesino sperduto nel centro della Svezia con le proprie “classi sociali” e i suoi problemi climatici, religiosi e di rango.
L’autrice ha inoltre saputo riportare, probabilmente attingendo dalla propria vita, dei personaggi che sembrano reali. Nonostante ci vengano introdotti vari concittadini, alcuni che sembrano anche inutili alla trama, tutti avranno poi un collegamento al rapporto tra Klara Gulla e Jan.
Oltre all’amore paterno, il tema che più riecheggia all’interno di questo romanzo é la gioventù e la voglia di indipendenza ed emancipazione. Lo vediamo in personaggi differenti, che non sempre hanno fatto la scelta giusta ad andarsene, ma ne vediamo anche i diversi risvolti.
Väldigt, väldigt fin berättelse om riktig fin familjekärlek. Älskar faktumet att narren är klarsyntast i byn och att kärlek alltid är kärlek, oavsett vad.
hopeful
sad
Moralistic, religious and conservative, androcentric like Zweig's stories (Katrina is like a mirror/support to Jan's benevolent greatness), equates beauty with virtue, but still old-fashioned in a charming way, reads like Dickens
The way the book is written is outdated and generally not great, it doesn't do justice to its own profound idea. Still the idea behind it is amazing, even if poorly executed, and the book allows you to engage with important questions regarding child-parent (especially daughter-father) relationships
The way the book is written is outdated and generally not great, it doesn't do justice to its own profound idea. Still the idea behind it is amazing, even if poorly executed, and the book allows you to engage with important questions regarding child-parent (especially daughter-father) relationships