Brothers Lionheart

[aceofkittens]

I grew up reading a lot of Scandinavian children's books — a lot of Astrid Lindgren, Selma Lagerlof, Tove Jansson — but I couldn't say that I had read all of Lindgren's books. There are still some vast gaps in my Lindgren reading, which is why I picked up a copy of The Brothers Lionheart when I happened to be at the bookstore yesterday.

Holy shit, Batman! I'd been expecting a pleasant story along the lines of Kalle Blumqvist or maybe even Ronia, the Robber's Daughter. No... not exactly. As fillyjonk said, "Brothers Lionheart is not an uplifting book." Yes, I was sobbing like a baby on the train. I think it would have shattered me even harder if I'd read it as a kid. Imagine Bridge to Terabithia, only more so.

I'm tired of whining about how sick I am and how I'm coughing out my lungs every time I breathe. Let's talk about children's books. What are the books you read as a kid which affected you, shattered you, changed you forever?

Comments

[fillyjonk.livejournal.com]

hey, who is Selma Legerlof? I can't believe I've never heard of her. Ah - I bet she's not in English, right? Darn. I could really go for a good, new children's book at the moment.

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

Sure, she is. The Wonderful Adventures of Nils! I don't know if it will let you click through to this link (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0486286118/qid=1101244748/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-8808222-2556920?v=glance&s=books&n=507846), but there you go. :)

[fillyjonk.livejournal.com]

huh. Was there a film of this back in the 70s? My German neighbors had it on TV, I'm willing to bet - a vague memory from when I was 7 or 8, I think. But being in German, I of course didn't get much out of it....

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

Film? No idea. :)