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readingoverbreathing's review
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Usually, I can understand why a book has such a high average rating, even if I wouldn't personally be so generous. But the 4.41 on this book, a 20th-century Modernist work I as an English speaker have barely ever heard of, really has me scratching my head.
I, admittedly, did not read this in its original Danish, so there is a good chance that this translation simply has not done it justice. The writing was good and the characters fascinating, but the plot was slow and a little all over the place. I will admit that I was thoroughly invested in Per's fate, especially the middle part where it was so closely intertwined with the Salomons, but I never quite felt like I got the point, and I found Per's own hindrance of his goals extremely frustrating. I was so curious to see how this would end, but when I got there, I was thoroughly disappointed; the last chapter or so rushes through time only to culminate in a lackluster end.
As I said, though, the characters are really the strongest part of the story here. Per and Jakobe are two of the most strong-willed, vivid characters I've ever encountered. Jakobe, in fact, is one of the best women written by a man that I've ever read. She was so sharp and so brilliant — her presence likely saved this a star for me.
But again, beyond that, there wasn't really a lot here for me. Overall, there were some elements that I enjoyed, but a lot of I just felt apathetic about. I am glad that I got to read this as I was in Copenhagen, but even that special in situ satisfaction wasn't quite enough to get this to land with me.
I, admittedly, did not read this in its original Danish, so there is a good chance that this translation simply has not done it justice. The writing was good and the characters fascinating, but the plot was slow and a little all over the place. I will admit that I was thoroughly invested in Per's fate, especially the middle part where it was so closely intertwined with the Salomons, but I never quite felt like I got the point, and I found Per's own hindrance of his goals extremely frustrating. I was so curious to see how this would end, but when I got there, I was thoroughly disappointed; the last chapter or so rushes through time only to culminate in a lackluster end.
As I said, though, the characters are really the strongest part of the story here. Per and Jakobe are two of the most strong-willed, vivid characters I've ever encountered. Jakobe, in fact, is one of the best women written by a man that I've ever read. She was so sharp and so brilliant — her presence likely saved this a star for me.
But again, beyond that, there wasn't really a lot here for me. Overall, there were some elements that I enjoyed, but a lot of I just felt apathetic about. I am glad that I got to read this as I was in Copenhagen, but even that special in situ satisfaction wasn't quite enough to get this to land with me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism, Death of parent, Child death, Abortion, and Death
millaaaby's review against another edition
4.0
They don’t make ‘em like this anymore!
Lykke-Per er en fortælling om en snotforvirret ung mand, der bare gerne vil finde et sted, hvor han føler sig hjemme. Pontoppidan lykkes med at skrive deltaljerede og levende karakterer, så man som læser er investeret i fortællingen❤️
Årsagen til 4/5 er, at den til tider også er lidt kedelig (ingeniørsnak
Lykke-Per er en fortælling om en snotforvirret ung mand, der bare gerne vil finde et sted, hvor han føler sig hjemme. Pontoppidan lykkes med at skrive deltaljerede og levende karakterer, så man som læser er investeret i fortællingen❤️
Årsagen til 4/5 er, at den til tider også er lidt kedelig (ingeniørsnak
checkie's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. Pontoppidan creates a cast of vivid, interesting and complex characters, not least Per himself as we follow him throughout his life. An interesting take on a typical Bildungsroman, rather than striving to succeed in the artistic world as an artist, a writer or a poet, Per moved from the countryside to cosmopolitan Copenhagen with dreams of becoming an engineer. Through Per's encounters with a variety of vivid characters, Pontoppidan paints a detailed portrait of life in the Danish capital at the turn of the century, and the changing, increasingly industrial and mechanised world that Per lives in. Per's changing relationship with the Christian faith was a particularly interesting and valuable element of the novel that played out into an almost parable-like ending.
I particularly enjoyed reading the translator's note at the end of the Everyman edition for shedding light on how the novel fits in to the wider Danish literary canon, particularly with relation to the significance and influence of fairytales in Danish literature.
In my opinion this is an unjustly neglected novel that should be recognised as a real European classic. It also served as a reminder to me just how much I enjoy reading pre-twentieth century literature...when I get around to reading it...
I particularly enjoyed reading the translator's note at the end of the Everyman edition for shedding light on how the novel fits in to the wider Danish literary canon, particularly with relation to the significance and influence of fairytales in Danish literature.
In my opinion this is an unjustly neglected novel that should be recognised as a real European classic. It also served as a reminder to me just how much I enjoy reading pre-twentieth century literature...when I get around to reading it...
trish33's review
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
hollasan's review
5.0
Masterpiece! Peak storytelling and character building! Highly recommended to everyone on my list.
sophiabjarklev's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
5.0
julierasmine's review against another edition
5.0
“For det vidste han nu, at han var født til på sit område at blive morgenvækkeren og banebryderen i dette dorske samfund af tykblodede præste- og degnesønner. Den lille Ivan havde ret. Der ventedes på ham. Netop på ham”.
Et mesterværk. Ganske enkelt❤️
Jeg har næsten ikke ord fine nok til at beskrive Henrik Pontoppidans Lykke-Per. Hans sans for sproget og menneskers åndsliv er som en behagelig mavepuster, der efterlader læseren fascineret og ordløs. Lykke-Per er en almengyldig fortælling om præstesønnen Per Sidenius, som i slutningen af det 19. århundrede rejser til København for studere til ingeniør og følge sin drøm om et nyt banebrydende kanalprojekt, der for alvor skal sætte Danmark på verdenskortet. Her forelsker han sig i den reserverede og jødiske rigmandsdatter Jakobe Salomon, og her følger vi så Per, når han skal forsøge at se, sejre og erobre. En rammende fortælling om en ung mand, der forsøger at frigøre sig fra barndommens religiøse skygger og blive til noget i kraft af sig selv. En verdenserobrer. En Lykke-Per. Det er videnskaben mod troen. Fredløs være den der trodser Herren. Lykken er idiotens formynder og heldet sorgens fader. Gør dig selv den tjeneste at læse romanen. Den er alle 800 sider værd, og med den nye udgave med moderne retstavning vænner du dig hurtigt til det gamle sprog. Romanen er som I nok ved blevet filmatiseret af Bille August med Esben Smed i hovedrollen som Per. Jeg skal se den på mandag og vender selvfølgelig tilbage med en anmeldelse. Men man må altså ikke snyde sig for værket her, bare fordi filmen kommer (senere også som mini-serie på TV2). De smukke dialoger er dog heldigvis blevet beholdt i filmen: “De skal være min, ikke sandt?” Åh, Per. Åh, Pontoppidan.
Et mesterværk. Ganske enkelt❤️
Jeg har næsten ikke ord fine nok til at beskrive Henrik Pontoppidans Lykke-Per. Hans sans for sproget og menneskers åndsliv er som en behagelig mavepuster, der efterlader læseren fascineret og ordløs. Lykke-Per er en almengyldig fortælling om præstesønnen Per Sidenius, som i slutningen af det 19. århundrede rejser til København for studere til ingeniør og følge sin drøm om et nyt banebrydende kanalprojekt, der for alvor skal sætte Danmark på verdenskortet. Her forelsker han sig i den reserverede og jødiske rigmandsdatter Jakobe Salomon, og her følger vi så Per, når han skal forsøge at se, sejre og erobre. En rammende fortælling om en ung mand, der forsøger at frigøre sig fra barndommens religiøse skygger og blive til noget i kraft af sig selv. En verdenserobrer. En Lykke-Per. Det er videnskaben mod troen. Fredløs være den der trodser Herren. Lykken er idiotens formynder og heldet sorgens fader. Gør dig selv den tjeneste at læse romanen. Den er alle 800 sider værd, og med den nye udgave med moderne retstavning vænner du dig hurtigt til det gamle sprog. Romanen er som I nok ved blevet filmatiseret af Bille August med Esben Smed i hovedrollen som Per. Jeg skal se den på mandag og vender selvfølgelig tilbage med en anmeldelse. Men man må altså ikke snyde sig for værket her, bare fordi filmen kommer (senere også som mini-serie på TV2). De smukke dialoger er dog heldigvis blevet beholdt i filmen: “De skal være min, ikke sandt?” Åh, Per. Åh, Pontoppidan.
jpog_blue's review
4.0
one of the great assholes of literature. a level of complex human characterization comparable to george eliot, or dickens
missapples's review
I keep putting it aside and picking it up again. As a fan of the classics and 19th century style writing, I was excited to dive into this Bildungsroman. Yet... the protagonist, Peter, is just too unlikable, and not in a fascinating way. I mean, I didn’t mind George Duroy‘s awfulness in “Bel Ami” and he WAS awful. I could kind of understand where Heathcliff was coming from in "Wuthering Heights" and he was not a good man. But Per? Here we have a charmless jerk personified. I almost don’t care to find out whether he will get lucky in the end or not.