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A review by ninarg
Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige by Bertil Lybeck, Selma Lagerlöf
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Selma Lagerlöf is the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for literature, and it is well deserved. The woman could write like nobody's business. Her writing is full of beauty, kindness, nostalgia, lores and legends, memorable scenes and even more memorable characters. I would recommend her works to anyone.
In this story we meet Nils Holgersson, a boy of about 14 years, who is good for nothing. He only wants to eat, sleep and do mischief. But in the very first chapter, a tomte (kind of little leprechaun/elf) turns him into a tomte-like boy only as high as a hand is broad. Too ashamed to stay at home, Nils jumps on the back of a white goose that is eager to join a flock of wild geese, and together they all travel through Sweden. They visit islands, mountains and forests, farms, a university city and the capital. They learns about the history of Sweden, the myths behind the creation of the different parts of the country, and meet strong, resilient, lonely, kind and helpful people. Nils visits a city lost in the sea, he helps bears, birds and cows, and learns of the found family between a goose and an eagle. It's a lovely journey, and Nils' inner journey is no less wonderful to behold.
In this story we meet Nils Holgersson, a boy of about 14 years, who is good for nothing. He only wants to eat, sleep and do mischief. But in the very first chapter, a tomte (kind of little leprechaun/elf) turns him into a tomte-like boy only as high as a hand is broad. Too ashamed to stay at home, Nils jumps on the back of a white goose that is eager to join a flock of wild geese, and together they all travel through Sweden. They visit islands, mountains and forests, farms, a university city and the capital. They learns about the history of Sweden, the myths behind the creation of the different parts of the country, and meet strong, resilient, lonely, kind and helpful people. Nils visits a city lost in the sea, he helps bears, birds and cows, and learns of the found family between a goose and an eagle. It's a lovely journey, and Nils' inner journey is no less wonderful to behold.